usvi-on-line
snorkeling maybe?
snorkeling maybe?
My sister and I (I'm 28 and she's 18 ) have spent the last 2 years taking care of our dying mom so she wouldn't have to be put in a nursing home. 6 months ago we decided we needed a vacation so we booked a week in June and found a nurse we felt comfortable leaving Mom with. Sadly, Mom passed away last week and we're devastated. I MUST make this the best vacation EVER! We've never had the money to rent a boat of any type or have a guide take us snorkeling, and we still don't, but for this occasion I'm going to find the money (sell a kidney maybe). Does anyone have ideas for an unforgettable experience that won't break the bank? Thanks!
Sadly, I am tickerless 
So sorry about your mom, I can't even imagine.
A snorkeling trip is fun, but I am not sure how familiar you are with St. John...you really don't need a boat to do it. In fact, I think the better snorkeling is from the shore from any number of the beaches. You can bring your own gear or rent it.
So...of course a boat trip would be great, but you might not need to do that. You can have a fabulous time on the island without it.
Have you rented a jeep? Are you in a villa or a condo or hotel? If you haven't rented a jeep, I would say that would be WAY more important than booking a snorkel trip.
A snorkeling trip is fun, but I am not sure how familiar you are with St. John...you really don't need a boat to do it. In fact, I think the better snorkeling is from the shore from any number of the beaches. You can bring your own gear or rent it.
So...of course a boat trip would be great, but you might not need to do that. You can have a fabulous time on the island without it.
Have you rented a jeep? Are you in a villa or a condo or hotel? If you haven't rented a jeep, I would say that would be WAY more important than booking a snorkel trip.
"Sponges grow in the ocean...I wonder how much deeper it would be if that didn't happen."
I am so sorry about your Mom.
djmom is right, there is awesome snorkeling right from the shore at so many of the beaches on St. John. Boat trips are fun, but you can see all kinds of incredible things right from shore! You won't need a guide either. Everything is right there.
djmom is right, there is awesome snorkeling right from the shore at so many of the beaches on St. John. Boat trips are fun, but you can see all kinds of incredible things right from shore! You won't need a guide either. Everything is right there.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
We are all so sorry to hear about your loss. Most people here will tell you that there is a healing quality about STJ. You will enjoy the quiet, the activities, or the absence of activity. Jimmy Buffett said, “It’s a magic kind of medicine no doctor could provide.”
Please, enjoy your trip.
JIM
Please, enjoy your trip.
JIM
Man it's like some dream we live down here....
wow, so sorry about your mom--how lucky she was to have such wonderful daughters to look after her.
I have to say --there is so much great snorkeling from the shore that you'll be plenty busy, butif you wanted a day out on a boat there are some of the larger boats that might be less expensive (maybe cehck out calypso and their tours, or sadie sea?)--if you could possibly get down to the indians it is well worth it and if you could find four others to split a boat with you might be able to do this for about 120-150 per person?
have a wonderful and healing time and celebrate your mom in a wonderful place.
I have to say --there is so much great snorkeling from the shore that you'll be plenty busy, butif you wanted a day out on a boat there are some of the larger boats that might be less expensive (maybe cehck out calypso and their tours, or sadie sea?)--if you could possibly get down to the indians it is well worth it and if you could find four others to split a boat with you might be able to do this for about 120-150 per person?
have a wonderful and healing time and celebrate your mom in a wonderful place.
< leaving on the 22nd of march...but too lame to figure out the ticker thing again!>
Our thoughts and prayers of sympathy to you and your family. You will find St John one of the best places to find some peace.....
As other mentioned there is good snorkeling off of many of the beaches!
You could share a private charter with other who will be on island the same time to reduce the cost......
We will be there June 12-19 and would love to find others to share a snorkeling charter with.....
PM if that is of interest and perhaps others will join in!
As other mentioned there is good snorkeling off of many of the beaches!
You could share a private charter with other who will be on island the same time to reduce the cost......
We will be there June 12-19 and would love to find others to share a snorkeling charter with.....
PM if that is of interest and perhaps others will join in!
Let me add my sympathy for your loss and reiterate that St. John really is a magic, healing place. I am not a big snorkeler, but know there is tons of it right off the beaches. You might want to start at Trunk Bay because it has an underwater trail that identifies some of the creatures for you.
I hope you and your sister have the Best Vacation Ever.
Paula
I hope you and your sister have the Best Vacation Ever.
Paula
Paula
My sympathy goes out to you and your sister. Your Mom truly was blessed to have you both devoted to her care. My last trip to STJ with my family was about 1 1/2 months after our Father had passed away. I absolutely agree with the others who speak of STJ's healing powers. I hope that you both find the peace and beauty that many of have found there.
Very sorry about your mom, we've had similar heartbreak in the last few months, so I can imagine how you're feeling right about now.
It's true! St. John heals the heart.
I recommend buying a couple of books about St. John, maybe "St. John Off the Beaten Track" by Gerald Singer, and "St. John: Feet, Fins and Four Wheel Drive" by Pam Gaffin. These books have information on some really great beaches and snorkeling you can reach on your own.
I think a jeep rental would give you more bang for the buck than a snorkel excursion, because you can use the jeep to get to DOZENS of really nice shore snorkels. We did a sail/snorkel excursion and it was nice, but no where near the highlight of our trip.
If you search some of the threads here, you will find advice on people's favorite snorkel locations.
Best wishes for a wonderful, relaxing rest on St. John.
It's true! St. John heals the heart.
I recommend buying a couple of books about St. John, maybe "St. John Off the Beaten Track" by Gerald Singer, and "St. John: Feet, Fins and Four Wheel Drive" by Pam Gaffin. These books have information on some really great beaches and snorkeling you can reach on your own.
I think a jeep rental would give you more bang for the buck than a snorkel excursion, because you can use the jeep to get to DOZENS of really nice shore snorkels. We did a sail/snorkel excursion and it was nice, but no where near the highlight of our trip.
If you search some of the threads here, you will find advice on people's favorite snorkel locations.
Best wishes for a wonderful, relaxing rest on St. John.
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Captain Jack
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:32 pm
- Location: Southern Michigan
So sorry about the loss of you Mom, she must have been very proud to have to loving and caring daughters. As most have said, rent a jeep, get a local map and set out and explore the Island. STJ has a way of soothing the pain and helping you heal. It is a very beautifull Island and has much to offer. Let the Island capture you, and show you its beauty. Enjoy yourselves.
Captain Jack
Captain Jack
Thanks for the great ideas! A friend is letting us stay at their Gallows condo for a super cheap price June 9-15. We had no intentions of renting a Jeep in order to save money, but now I think we might for a few days. I thought of snorkeling because I'm a huge chicken and have never been more than ankle deep in an ocean but I'm trying to now live by Mom's motto, 'Live with Fearless Passion'. Mom was an amazing lady who taught my sister and I to find beauty and humor in everything and I need this vacation to help remind me how to!!
Sadly, I am tickerless
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IslandTime
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:37 pm
- Location: Michigan
Sorry for your loss. I feel your pain. My first trip to St. John was two years ago, three months after my father passed away. It was a bitter sweet trip but what a place for healing! Part of that healing includes this forum which I read on a daily basis up until I went. I fell in love with this Island but it was too painful to post much after that. So of course the logical thing to do was to plan another trip from which I just returned. I guess what I am trying to say is.. my advice to you is to keep on reading this forum. Ask questions. Don't stress about it and no matter what you do you won't go wrong. Now as for snorkeling... I have done both. Two years ago I only did it from the beach and had a great time and saw a lot of cool stuff! This time we did a few beaches but we also did a daysail with Long Distance and saw some of the best stuff ever and I would have never known it was there. So if money is tight I agree with others, rent the jeep and ask where the best spots are. The formites will guide you. Those other places will be there when you return!
What a selfless, special thing both you and your sister did for your mom. I am so sorry for your loss. St John is a perfect place for you and your sister to start to heal.
May your happy memories of her help you to fade the pain and sadness you are feeling.
For me St John has the best snorkeling easily assessable from shore or a short hike. No need to pay for charter.
May your happy memories of her help you to fade the pain and sadness you are feeling.
For me St John has the best snorkeling easily assessable from shore or a short hike. No need to pay for charter.
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Iluvstjohn
- Posts: 397
- Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2007 11:02 pm
- Location: Boston, MA
St john is this weird magical place....that makes worries go away..that puts thins into perspective..and make you hope and wish for better thing in the future.
I am sorry for the loss of your mom. What a terrible loss. I lost my mom 3 years ago..and it still stings. A weird side note..on our second trip to st. john...we went on a snorkeling trip and a man, unfortunatley had a heart attack in the water while snorkeling. We initially thought he drowned....but later tests said he had a heart attack. The point is....the people on the boat went back later in the week and put flowers in the water to honor him.....
if you think your mom would like that...why not rent a dingy for the day or go on a charter and put flowers in the water to represent a honor to your mom?
best wishes
Holly
I am sorry for the loss of your mom. What a terrible loss. I lost my mom 3 years ago..and it still stings. A weird side note..on our second trip to st. john...we went on a snorkeling trip and a man, unfortunatley had a heart attack in the water while snorkeling. We initially thought he drowned....but later tests said he had a heart attack. The point is....the people on the boat went back later in the week and put flowers in the water to honor him.....
if you think your mom would like that...why not rent a dingy for the day or go on a charter and put flowers in the water to represent a honor to your mom?
best wishes
Holly