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Ginny:
1) Desperate Voyage by John Caldwell
I met John Caldwell prior to reading his book when I was working at a dive shop in St. Thomas. He bought quiet a lot of dive equipment, and at the time I was working on commission so I remembered him quite well. Reading his book, I thought it was phantastic fiction until I got to know him. John leased an island from the St. Vincent and Grenadines government for 99 years. He worked to make this deserted island into a resort, and through his planning and hardscape transformed it into a fantastic place. He even changed the name of the island from Prune Island to Palm Island and plugged up every single fiddler crab hole on the island. Through his hard work and determination, he was able to make the impossible happen. This go-to attitude inspired me to reach for the stars.
2) The Incredible Voyage by Tristan Jones
Tristain was a real character. One time he came into a harbor with his dog at the helm and it looked like the dog was steering the boat. It was an entertaining read and another example of a person who would do whatever it takes to “make it work.”
3) The Rainy Season: Haiti Since Duvalier by Amy Wilentz
Experiencing culture through the eyes of a fantastic writer is a wanderlust inducing experience.
Neil:
1) A Naturalist's Voyage Round the World: The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin
A classic book inspiring my dream of living on a boat.
2) Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana
When I read this book, I realized how hard it was to be a sailor and I wanted a challenge. It gives the reader a real picture of life at sea.
3) Moby Dick by Herman Melville
Yet another classic book with fantastic adventures on the high seas.
4) The Painted Canoe by Anthony C. Winkler
I loved to fish and this title is about a Jamaican fisherman and was a take off from the Old Man and the Sea.
5) The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
The perfect book for anyone to experience the struggles of the sea through the eyes of a classic writer.
6) Don’t Stop the Carnival by Herman Wouk
We lived in St. Thomas for a number of years and this book is about St. Thomas.
7) Wind from the Carolinas by Robert Wilder
A very interesting historical book about the loyalists who left the US during The Revolutionary War. Most of them moved to Eleuthera.
Sarah:
1) Mimi Ikonn, Blogger/Vlogger: www.mimiikonn.com
Mimi is my go-to travel muse. I first discovered her when looking for travel videos on Prague, the city my then-fiancé/now-husband and I were planning on spending our honeymoon. There is a saying in French, “la joie de planifier quelque chose,” or “the joy of planning something.” Pre-pandemic, this is what drove my life, always planning for the next travel adventure and taking pleasure in the art of planning.
Now I have a little "pandemic baby" and we are adjusting to this new life with limited travel. Luckily, I live in a really cool city, Charleston, where there's plenty of activities to do. Sailor's Rest is the perfect choice for domestic vacation.
Mimi’s YouTube channel opened up a new world of life-inspiration, business advice, travel and fashion tips. I even randomly ran into her when our family visited Positano! I was completely speechless and star-struck.
1) Rick Steves: www.ricksteves.com
Does he even need an introduction? Rick Steves has been my travel inspiration forever. I remember renting his travel documentaries on VHS at the library.
2) Any title by Arcadia Publishing: www.arcadiapublishing.com
Want to really delve into the history of a place in the USA? Arcadia Publishing is your go-to publisher for all things local history. They have history on practically every city as well as helpful travel guides especially in their History & Guide series. Check out their Classic Carolina Road Trips from Columbia: Historic Destinations & Natural Wonders or A Gullah Guide to Charleston: Walking Through Black History. Many of their publications can be found on the coffee table of Sailor’s Rest.
*If you'd like to purchase any of these books, make sure to check with your local bookstore such as Itinerant Literate, and they should be able to order them for you.
-Sarah
November 8, 2021
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