best of st. barth's

There is nothing hard about St. Barth's--except getting there from Los Angeles. One red-eye, a connecting four-hour flight and a (harrowing) prop plane later, I landed mid-afternoon, rumpled and tired. Despite my fatigue, I made a quick presto change-o and met up with friends, who were well into a wine-steeped lunch at Shellona, a gorgeous restaurant perched above the idyllic Shell Beach (pictured below). The meal instantly perked me up and got me into the island's happy groove! The sun-soaked days that followed served up all of my favorite activities: yoga, swimming, shopping, sailing, and long decadent lunches. Check out the glorious highlights below.

After my scrumptious first meal on the island of salad nicoise, burrata, grilled zucchini, and homemade french fries (possibly the finest I've ever tasted!), I swam off a few calories in the Caribbean Sea, then made a beeline for the chaise lounges. That's when the rose wine started flowing and basically didn't stop till I departed!

The next day kicked off with swimming at the secluded Colombier Beach, followed by--you guessed it--another yummy lunch and shopping at the super chic pink and white-accented Cheval Blanc, above, where I snapped up the insane lace caftan, below.

Shopping in St. Barth's was my sport. I boutique hopped in Gustavia (my faves included Vanita Rosa, Lolita Jaca, Poupette, Gisele, and MC2 St. Barth's) and St. Jean (Terra, Cabane, Filles des Iles).

Another must-stop was Le Guanahani Hotel, above, where the view of the reef-protected lagoon and turquoise blue water is postcard perfect and the fried calamari rocks.