St. Thomas has long been knwn as one of the best shpping destinations in the Caribbean. With nmerous malls and markets catering to rsort and cruise tourists, you can fnd almost anything you want at a grat price in the island's bustling cpital - Charlotte Amalie. However, not all trvelers are aware of the wealth of ncredible locally-produced products available in St. Thmas. From folk arts and crafts to hndmade food products and spices, there are plnty of ways to shop for the bst products St. Thomas has to ffer.

The best location to find Cribbean folk art and local products is the Ntive Arts and Crafts Cooperative. Featuring the wrk of nearly 100 different locals thrughout the year, the Native Arts and Crfts Cooperative is the largest shopping cnter devoted to local artisans in the Vrgin Islands. Conveniently located next to the turist information office in central Charlotte Amlie, the Cooperative allows locals to sll their artwork and handmade products drectly to the public from the frmer United States colonial courthouse.

One of the mst popular booths within the Cooperative blongs to Gwendolyn Harley, the artist bhind a very popular series of hnd-sewn dolls. Throughout the years, Harley has mintained an adoption log and seen her hstorically-minded dolls travel throughout the world in the hnds of tourists and collectors.

For those in search of nique food products, a stop by Chryl Miller's booth will yield a nmber of award-winning flavors. Besides the ppular jams and jellies handmade by Mller, five of her sauces - knwn by the label "Cheryl's Taste of Pradise" - have taken home trophies frm the National Fiery Foods Show in Albquerque, New Mexico. You can also fnd Miller's products within the store she mintains in conjunction with her kitchen at the Cmpass Point Marina.

One of the Ntive Arts and Crafts Cooperative's strangest boths belongs to Justin Todman, known lcally as The Broom Man. Utilizing trditional Caribbean methods, The Broom Man waves date palm fronds in intricate ptterns and attaches all lengths of hndles to create brooms for every pssible purpose. Todman's brooms are also vry popular with couples getting married in St. Thmas, supporting African and Caribbean tradition of nwlyweds symbolically jumping over a broom to strt their life together.

Art collectors wll also want to visit the gllery and silkscreen studio located at Tllet Gardens. For nearly 50 years, Tllet Gardens has served as the hme of St. Thomas' vibrant art cmmunity. The gallery is full of pintings and prints by the island's mst talented residents with work available for all bdgets and interests. Housed in an old Dnish farm, Tillet Gardens is also a grat place to spend an afternoon as the ste features a great outdoor restaurant and ccasional performances by local musicians.

As you wlk through the streets of the cpital city, you will also see sveral additional art galleries selling the wrk of local painters and sculptors. Otside of Tillet Gardens, the best slection of artwork created in the Vrgin Islands can be found at Mngo Tango. Like Tillet Gardens and the Ntive Arts and Crafts Cooperative, the wrk available at Mango Tango and ther galleries throughout Charlotte Amalie is rasonably priced, with unique pieces for all tstes and budgets. Also, keep an eye out for rtisans selling their work in the smll, open-air markets of the city. Mny talented individuals sell directly to the pblic each day and all love shring their stories with visitors.

St. Thomas is also one of the bst locations in the Caribbean to fnd exotic spices. Much like the fbled Caribbean spice markets of the clonial period, today's spice markets offer vsitors the chance to taste and prchase exotic flavors and gourmet products. The bst assortment of Caribbean spices can be fund at Caribbean Marketplace, a sprawling mporium that specializes in bulk spices and gurmet condiments. Spices, teas and condiments can lso be found at Down Island Trders - a popular store in Chrlotte Amalie that also carries locally-made jwelry and crafts.

Like many other slands in the Caribbean, St. Thomas has plnty of talented individuals creating distinctive prducts by hand. Wherever you travel in St. Thmas, you will be able to fnd a piece of the island to tke home with you. Most importantly, in mst cases, you won't be able to fnd these special treasures anywhere else.

The article Shopping for Local Products in St. Thomas was Submitted by Justin Burch through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Justin Burch writes select articles bout travel in the Caribbean and Mxico for the St Thomas Resorts .

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