new to forum st. john questions

dreamin · Post by **dreamin** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 8:00 am

mindehankins I meant how far are Cinnamon and Frances from the road parking area to walk not from Cruz Bay and also the south and east beaches. And how is parking at these beaches thanks

stjdeb · Post by **stjdeb** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:11 am

Cinnamon is an easy walk from the parking area, you won't have a problem. Francis has a parking area right at the beach, but it only holds 5-6 cars, if you arrive early enough it shouldn't be a problem. Some of the parking is farther away and a little more of a walk. Hawksnest is also an easy walk from the parking area. Honeymoon, Saloman, not so much.

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 4:39 pm

Actually, Francis has enough space for anywhere from 10-20 cars depending on how well people park. The average is around 15. There's also room on the road leading up to Francis where people will squeeze in, so that you don't have to go all the way to the end of the road and park at Mary Creek. We made the mistake many years ago of thinking the parking at Mary Creek at the beginning of the road to Frances were the only ones. Not so much.

As with any of the beaches on STJ one must be more aware that the NPS is ticketing if you aren't well off the road when you park. So if you get to a parking lot and it's full just keep going utnil you find another one that's less full.

Our trick is to go early. That way there's rarely and issue with finding a good spot at any beach.

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 6:39 pm

Oh, OK. I'm sorry I misunderstood! Maybe with the group's help, we could make you a list of fairly easily accessible beaches then?
Correct me if I'm wrong, forum...
Hawksnest (has parking lot)
Trunk (has parking lot)
Cinnamon (has parking lot)
Maho (parking on road but close and a lot soon come)
Francis (has a lot and a boardwalk if you look up Samoka's recent posts)
Vie's (East end, park across street by her snack shack)
Hansen (East end)
Little Lameshur (rough road to get there, parking near beach)

I'm sure that "easy access" is subjective, but I'd say these were really easy access. Also sure I missed some, but hope this helps!

If you don't get alot of responses, it might help to repost with a title like "easily accessible beaches".

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 4:30 pm

Bump!
Can someone else help our new forumite by naming the beaches that have easy parking and access?

samoka · Post by **samoka** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 4:55 pm

We found Francis to be very accessible - even with a stroller and a wheelchair. We also went to Vie's easily - Maho was crowded or we would have stopped there and we ran out of time before we could get to Lameshur but I am sure that it is easily accessed - good luck!

dreamin · Post by **dreamin** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:14 pm

Mindehankins-thanks for the detailed beach info. That is the type of info that is helpful. The more I read about St. Johns it does sound more crowded and congested than the other caribbean places I have been. Have not been to the Arubas, Jamaica, Atlantis, DR< Cancun or other touristy tyoe places.

Iluvstjohn · Post by **Iluvstjohn** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:22 pm

If st. john is crowded and congested...I'd love to know what other places you have been. I've been there 8 times and most of the times we are the only ones on the beach!! Or maybe an additional family or couple! Also depends on what time of year you go...but soooooo not congested!

dreamin · Post by **dreamin** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:17 pm

The reason I said it sounds congested is reading that.
cant find parking spaces at the beach or cruz bay. parking tickets. friend who goes to st john said dont go to trunk due to cruise ship crowds, etc.

Iluvstjohn · Post by **Iluvstjohn** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:34 am

ahhh, I see. The reason some can't find parking spaces at some beaches is because many of them don't have lots...you park along the edge of the street...hence why "there's room for 5 or 6 cars". Trunk bay, actuality, has a farily large paved lot....but if you go in the middle of the day, you might have trouble finding a spot. We tend to go early in the morning and never have been shut out. THe cruise ships do like to visit trunk because of it's notoriety. The taxis drop them off in groups. But if you want to avoid "the crowds" then go to Trunk in the mid to late afternoon, after the cruise ship folks depart to get back to their boat. Or, go to trunk on a day when there aren't any scheduled cruise ships in port in St. Thomas! There are a ton of beaches that don't have the crowds...no worry! Cruz bay is a teeeeeny tiny little town....and it is not impossible to find parking....just have to be patient. St. John is a lovely place that is def. NOT crowded!

strat62 · Post by **strat62** » Sun May 29, 2011 12:36 pm

Gromit wrote:Our trick is to go early. That way there's rarely and issue with finding a good spot at any beach.

what time would you say is "early?"

EagleRayLover · Post by **EagleRayLover** » Sun May 29, 2011 1:10 pm

strat62 wrote:
Gromit wrote:Our trick is to go early. That way there's rarely and issue with finding a good spot at any beach.
what time would you say is "early?"

when my hubby and I go alone- we are usually in the water by 8 and there is often no one on the beach when we get there and sometimes no one is there when we finish our first snorkel depending on where we end up. If we have a teen in tow- we might get a little later start and it might be a tad more crowded. We do pick our beaches based on cruise days and snorkel conditions but I agree with earlier posts that STJ is not crowded at all compared to most Caribbean places that we have visited. Hope this helps!

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