7 Perfect Christmas Gifts For Your Island Loving Rum Bum

If you listen closely you can almost hear it, the sound of cash registers ringing and warming up to the point of becoming a fire hazard. Yes today is Black Friday. I’ve decided to barricade myself indoors instead of braving the long lines and busy streets. I can see my road rage rearing its ugly head today, so I will do my shopping online and then take a nice bike ride to the beach. No stress here.

If you’re reading this Caribbean travel blog then chances are you or someone you know is crazy about the islands, rum drinks and warm blue water washing over sandy toes. It’s a lifestyle that is hard to resist but easy to buy for this holiday season. Below is a short list of great gift ideas for the island lover in your life. You’ll find things like island jewelry and footwear to groovy t-shirts and home furnishings. I hope this helps you scratch a few things off your Christmas shopping list.

7 Perfect Christmas Gifts For Island Lovers

1. Caribbean Jewelry and Accessories

Sun Lyon Studio is a great line of island inspired jewelry. You’ll find unique designs for necklaces, bracelets, sea glass and much more. I have two items myself which I wear with pride. The artist Jan Bennett splits her time between St. Croix and New Orleans, two places that have been inspiring artists for decades. Visit the Sun Lyon Studio website and check out the many one of a kind items she has.

I’m also  fan of Freebird Creations on St. John. They have a large selection of rings, pendants, necklaces and more. You’ll find items inspired by pirates, dolphins, Spanish gold coins, flip flops and geckos.

 2. Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville

If I didn’t mention the online Margaritaville store I flat out wouldn’t be doing my job. Jimmy Buffett has put is name on everything from potato chips to hotels. Why? People buy it. We Parrotheads flock to the brand with enthusiastic glee. The Margaritaville store is a shopping wonderland. I can easily spend 30 minutes just browsing the t-shirt pages. You’ll be able to find items from the different Margaritaville stores like Key West, Hawaii, New Orleans, Grand Cayman, Las Vegas and many more. From t-shirts, office accessories and shoes to hats, beach chairs and furniture, you’ll be able to find just about everything you’ll ever need for your Jimmy Buffett fan.

3. Team Cocktail

Break out the rum and get ready to party, Team Cocktail is a drinking company with a clothing problem. This cocktail and island inspired clothing company is based out of my home town of Kansas City and they know how to make great clothing. Their t-shirts are unbelievably comfortable and have fun designs and phrases on them. I’m not sure why but I’m a little partial to their “Rum” inspired t-shirts. They also have cool board shorts, drinking glasses and nice button down shirts. Team Cocktail is also giving away a $250 shopping spree on their Facebook page. Click here to register. Check them out and join the team!

4. Cushe

My shoe/sandal/flip flop addiction is well documented. Cushe Footwear is one of the biggest instigators to this problem. Cushe has men’s and women’s shoes, sandals and flip flops. They have shoes for everything, cool streetwear to keep your feet warm in the winter, stylish beach sandals and even good looking rugged all-terrain footwear for the adventurous types. Don’t tell my girl friend, but I have my eye on these cool beach shoes. I think I’ll have these delivered to my work address so she doesn’t see the new addition to the collection.

5. Blue Chair Bay

Another great Christmas gift idea for your island lover is Kenny Chesney’s Blue Chair Bay. The island cowboy has a cool line of clothing for men and women that will instantly make the person sporting the gear feel more relaxed and will want to crack open a cold beer in Mexico. If anyone reading this has me on their Christmas shopping list (cough cough), I’m really diggin’ this “Laid Back” t-shirt.

6. Caribbean Inspired Home Furnishings

We all want to feel as if we’re in the islands all the time right? The best way to do that is give our homes that warm relaxed vibe. Two companies that do this really well are Island Arts & Treasures and Caron’s Beach House.

Island Arts & Treasures have a wide range of items from paintings, coasters and even a cool ipad case. The art on all these items was created by actual Caribbean artists. Check out their website and I know you’ll love it as much as I do.

Caron’s Beach House is a goldmine for gift ideas. You’ll find beach inspired gift ideas like pillows, glassware, rugs, bedding, and other coastal decor. Any island lover would be thrilled to have a high quality item from Caron’s Beach House.

7. Castaway Collection

I may be a bit shameless but I think every island lover needs a Castaway t-shirt, hat and koozie for Christmas. We Castaways are Parrotheads, rum bums, island cowboys, Caribbean explorers and sand between our toes pirates all rolled into one. If that sounds like you or someone on your Christmas shopping list then some Castaway gear will a perfect gift idea.

If you’re like me today and doing your shopping online instead of braving the stores and fighting the insane traffic, then I hope this list helps you with some gift ideas. We island lovers are a pretty easy group to buy for, after all we are simple creatures that are happiest when enjoying life in the slow lane wearing our favorite old pair of flip flops, beach shirt and a cold drink in our hand.

Cheers!
RumShopRyan

NOTE
Don’t forget to sign up for the Castaway Winter Beach Bash! This break from the cold will take place January 20 – 23, 2012 at the beautiful Bolongo Bay Resorton St. Thomas in the USVI.

The fun will be hosted by yours truly and will include a rum tasting, a complimentary bottle of Cruzan Rum in your room, a sunset sail, a rum snorkel scavenger hunt, nightly entertainment and Castaway room discounts. Take a break from the Winter and come lime Castaway style in the US Virgin Islands! Click here for booking and details.

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