Weather forecasts might have you thinking that January and February is the time to jet away to St. Croix, but gourmets will suggest April as prime-time for visiting this warm and wonderful part of the US.  April is when the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience happens, a six-day gustatory extravaganza, which annually prompts noted chefs and food and wine lovers to go dashing to the island. St. Croix is at its most festive and hospitable then and vacation packages abound.  Divi Carina Bay Resort offers the ideal location because it plays host to the week’s premier event: The Taste of St. Croix on Thursday, April 10th.

How does sampling regional fare, celebrity chef creations and special vintages from wineries around the globe sound on a starry night cooled by the ocean breeze on the sandy beach just steps from your balcony or patio?  Thought so.  That is precisely why the Taste of St. Croix is a sell-out year after year and therefore requires a little advance planning to score a ticket.   So Divi Carina Bay Resort has made it easy for 2014.  Their Taste of St. Croix package not only gives a free night stay as part of a six-night (or more) booking, but packs a free ticket into the Taste, too.  Book your stay and Bam! You are going to the biggest party on the island all year. Prepare to sip and sup the night away.

The Taste of St. Croix started 14 years ago on the Divi Carina Bay beachfront as a little get-together to raise funds for the St. Croix Foundation.  It has evolved into what Forbes.com called one of the world’s best food events.

I am definitely not alone in thinking that this is an ideal vacation. Warm days.  Warm nights. Beach. Pool. Food.  Wine. And, this being the Caribbean, there is also rum. On St. Croix, home to Cruzan Rum, (It’s not part of the official event, but the distillery tour is always worth it.) there are many concoctions.  We favor Lime in the Coconut, which Divi bartenders proffer in an actual coconut shell and is best enjoyed at Dockside Cafe.  Can’t wait for April to try it?  Here’s the recipe:

• 1 1/2 oz. Coconut Rum
• 1 1/2 oz. Vanilla Rum
• Dash of Coco Lopes
• 1/2 oz. Lime Juice

Combine all the ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake well, and pour into a freshly cut coconut.

View the line-up of St. Croix Food & Wine Experience events.