Inspiration: Why should folks go?

St. John is the least developed of the U.S. Virgin Islands and two thirds of it is a lush National Park. It’s a quick ferry ride from St. Thomas (which is much more commercial – your flight or cruise ship will arrive here). And while you could do a day trip from St. Thomas, St. John is a good place to go for a quiet, no-frills Caribbean experience, particularly if you like to rough it. While there are nice hotels on the island in Cruz Bay, the eco-tents and lodges are the place to go for a true St. John experience.

Itineraries

Make it either a park day, a beach day, or a water day. Rent snorkeling equipment from a local vendor and visit Trunk Bay or Cinnamon Bay. Walk down to a secluded beach and just relax. Or, spend the day hiking trails in the Park. Then do a little shopping and dining in Cruz Bay while the sun sets.

Activities/Sights/Museums/Landmarks

The beaches are famous for their clear, blue-green waters. The National Park is full of meandering trails. Just take along plenty of water – it gets hot.

Restaurants/Food

Lots of little places along the road that are great for lunch or dinner. Skinny Legs is a must in Coral Bay. For lunch, ask for the grilled Mahi-Mahi sandwich and an ice cold beer. Miss Lucy's is also good, and just down the road from Coral Bay. Try to get a seat by the water. Great breakfast.

Hotels

Some big hotels in Cruz Bay, but St. John is also known for its camping and green resorts.

The eco-tents and lodges have solar- and wind-powered electricity. Hot water is heated by the sun in a tank above the shower and the toilets are self-composting. If you want a five-star Caribbean experience, these green resorts are not for you, but if you’d rather make a minimal impact on the environment and be cooled by ocean breezes and not an air conditioner, then these lodges are for you.

Shopping

Shopping really happens in Cruz Bay, but you’ll find other little shops around the island.

Nightlife

Live music in Coral Bay, but most of the nightlife happens in Cruz Bay – pubs, restaurants, music.

Smart Travel Tips

If you go to St. John, be ready to leave your hectic lifestyle behind. It can take a while to unwind and do nothing, but once you do, the island is full of possibilities. Stay in one of the eco-lodges or tents scattered throughout the island for a real get-away experience (but only if you like roughing it).

Off the Beaten Track

Rent a small four-wheel drive car (the driver sits on the left, and drives on the left in St. John), and take the dirt road south of Coral Bay to find hidden beaches. Or, rent a sea kayak and explore Coral Bay.

I rented a red kayak one morning and, while paddling around the bay, saw what I thought to be the shadow of a plane passing overhead. Instead, it turned out to be a giant manta ray beneath my kayak gliding swiftly through the bright blue water.

I agree St. John is an excellent spot! We visited with kids and fell in love. We stayed at Maho Bay Camps - an eco resort in the Virgin Islands National Park. We got the recommendation off of a family travel DVD we watched - Travel With Kids Caribbean - available through www.TravelWithKids.tv - that also gave us insight into the activities in the Virgin Islands, how to get around - we tookk the ferry from St. Thomas and then on to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. In St. John, the water was so calm, our young boys were able to learn to snorkel with no problems, the hiking was great, the beaches impeccable and the town was fun. I defeinitly recommend it. And Maho Bay Camps is a great place for families - they are tents spread over a raised wooden pathway in the jungle. They do all the work as far as preparing you for camping - you just get all the fun!

Some accomodations on
St. John are offering discounts up to 25%.


Hillcrest Guest House, St. John, US Virgin Islands

bethrainbowfrontsuite.jpg (129 KB, 0 downloads) St. John, US Virgin Islands

St John, has got to be the best kept secret, and most who have gone wants to keep it that way.
If you want your usual vacation hot spot, this is not it. St John is the laid back Hakuna Matata Island.

It is the caribbean gem.

shhh - don't tell anyone about St. John!

Don't tell them about the best place to eat (Shela's Pot), the best place to watch the world of St. John (the Beach Bar), the creamy sand on the beach (Hawksnest), or the hot dogs and beer with the locals (the Tourist Trap).

If you like a vacation filled with activity, awesome night life dancing with the jet-set and drinking with the beautiful people, dressing to the nines for a white table cloth dining experience - don't go to St. John.

lol - "Hakuna Matata Island"