Why Should You Visit St. John?
May 5, 2015
The U.S. Virgin Islands-St. John
Featuring Mattie Little, Travel Insurance Services Marketing Coordinator
Recently, Mattie Little, Travel Insurance Services Marketing Coordinator, visited the U.S. Virgin Island of St. John. She shares with us not only her experience, but the many things to do and see that the island offers. From breathtaking beaches, to shopping, where to eat and stay, what to do, and the best way to get there, journey with us as Mattie shares the best of the best that St. John has to offer.
How We Got There
I visited St. John with my entire family during mid-March. This was a fantastic time to visit as it was still cold in Ohio, where I reside, and hot and sunny in St. John. We flew from Columbus, Ohio to Atlanta, Georgia on a Friday and spent the evening in Atlanta. We had an early morning flight from Atlanta to St. Thomas on Saturday. This quick pit stop in Atlanta really helped break up the trip so we didn’t have the physical burden of traveling all day long. When traveling to St. John, you must fly into St. Thomas and take a ferry ride over to St. John. We arranged to have a private taxi to transport us to the ferry boat. This was about a 30 minute ride. I highly recommend arranging a private taxi from St. Thomas to the ferry boat station. You eliminate lines and you typically end up with a more pleasant taxi ride versus Mr. Toad’s wild ride (from what we have heard and what my parents have experienced in previous trips!)
Once arriving at the ferry boat station, we boarded a private water taxi which was fantastic. Instead of waiting on many other passengers to board the public ferry boat, we arrived, met our taxi driver, and away we sailed off across the island! If you are a person who gets sea sick, no worries, this is only a 10 minute ferry ride if you choose the option of a private water taxi.
Where to Stay, You Ask?
You have the beautiful resorts of Caneel Bay, The Westin, Gallows Point Resort, and of course villas or quaint bed and breakfasts. Our family chose the option of renting a house – a popular option for guests on St. John, as many of the residents build properties specifically to rent. While staying at a resort is nice, renting a house for the week allows so many different bonuses. Ours was located on the private beach of Peter Bay. We walked 10 steps and there we were, witnessing breathtaking, crystal clear water. Our house included all the amenities a normal house would, including a washer and dryer, and water sports equipment, which included sea kayaks and paddleboards. We went to the nearest grocery, Star Fish Market, and stocked up on plenty of snacks, beverages, and good eats for a couple dinners at the house. This helped save gas and money from having to drive into town (about 20 minutes) and eat out.
What To Do
Besides relaxing on white, sugar-like sand and snoozing while getting a tan, what else can you do on St. John? Plenty! One of our favorite activities on St. John was visiting Mongoose Junction. Mongoose Junction is a shopping and entertainment complex that has many vendors from island-fare restaurants, gelato, clothing stores, and those tourist shops that you can’t resist going in and buying from. Cruz and Coral Bay also offer plenty of shopping and more affordable prices, too. A fun shop to visit in Coral Bay is Jolly Dog! Other activities include hiking to see old sugar plantations, sail boating, snorkeling, or hopping on a day or evening catamaran.
Where to Eat?
Whenever you’re on vacation, eating is always a topic of conversation. Trying new foods and drinks, and eating as much as you can because, well, you’re on vacation! My family and I ate at some fantastic restaurants, but I will highlight my top four! For a truly special evening, head to ZoZo’s at Caneel Bay. Located on a sugar mill plantation, this restaurant offers beautiful 360 degree views of the ocean. If you’re looking for a beautiful place to watch the sunset over a fine meal, ZoZo’s is the place to go. For a more laid back, casual evening, try Café Roma. Voted best Italian Restaurant in USVI six years in a row, Café Roma has pizza that will knock your socks off. Who doesn’t love pizza? Plus, this isn’t a typical U.S. chain pizza joint. Perfect for any time of the day, you can’t visit St. John and not go to Joe’s Rum Hut! From sandwiches, burgers, salads, and local fish tacos, Joe’s Rum Hut offers something for everyone. Named one of the best beach bars in America, Joe’s Rum Hut offers amazing drinks that are sure to cool you down on a hot day, too. Lastly, the famous Miss Lucy’s! A true taste of Old St. John, you can enjoy Virgin Island cuisine with spectacular views, or come hungry for Sunday Brunch and enjoy live jazz! You more than likely will have some chickens, cats, and maybe even a goat or two join you.
Why Should You Visit St. John?
Hands down, St. John has the most beautiful beaches in the world. We visited a few that you must see if you vacation to St. John. The first, and my personal favorite, is Francis Bay Beach. If you’re looking for a beach that is less populated, quiet, and has sand that feels like sugar between your toes, head to Francis. Not to mention, the snorkeling is out of this world. It’s not uncommon to be standing just a few steps off the main beach and to have stingrays and turtles surrounding you. Other gorgeous beaches that St. John has to offer are Trunk Bay, which has been featured on The Travel Channel, Maho Bay, and Cinnamon Bay. You can’t go wrong in spending a day at any of these beaches!
Thank you so much for sharing Mattie! This was informative and well written.
Posted by: Tami | May 5, 2015 at 10:38 AM