Are you too cool for Trunk Bay?

[Hawaii]

It is so great to hear how everyone's view is different on trunk and I am sure you could do this with many other beaches too. Our first visit we went to Trunk early before anyone. We arrived and I think there may have been four other people there. It was very peaceful and got some great pictures of the kids. However, I do not think we will go back on our next trip which will be next summer. There are so many other beaches we want to try. I am sure we will do the standard pictures which we already have a million of but you can never have too many. Thanks for a great post as very interesting how everyone is different on how they feel. You can not go wrong with any beach on St. John. Can't wait to return next summer.

[DonnaM]

I vote A!! I agree totally. If I want crowds on the beach, I can go to New Jersey ( no offense, NJ readers, loooove your state, even sending my son to college there! ). We are not People Who Need People so we haven't been back since our first trip. Standing in line at the snack bar with lots of wet, sandy, scantily clad people is NOT my idea of a good time.
BTW - loved your TR about your son! Our sons were 17 and 14 on our first trip so we will have to wait to have those moments with grandchildren..... in 15 years!

[Pat]

We were in STJ the last week of February and visited trunk twice. Been going to STJ since 1994 and were so surprised at the crowds at Francis and Maho. Maho had a paddle board rental concession at the far end of the beach which may have contributed to some of the crowd. It seemed less crowded and more peaceful at Trunk.

[toni]

Our next trip in December (our 9th! ) will be a Cruz Bay stay w/o a car. So we're already planning what beaches we can do via taxi. I think we've been to Trunk once, and that was early am before they start charging and just to say we saw it-didn't hang out or anything. This trip it's a must do, probably in the afternoon after the cruisers have gone. I like the idea of floating with wine in hand

As to the Lime and the Coconut-I LOVE that drink and it rapidly became my go to drink at the villas. So easy to make! Husband became the most wonderful "cabana boy" and is a pro at making them. Ahhh, I'm working this a.m., but wish I had one now!

thanks for posting this 54b

[lazylane]

Honestly, we have never been to Trunk when it was "open", we wait til after it's closed, no people and you have the entire beach to yourselves, just being there alone is amazing!!

[msgcolleen]

I agree that early in the morning or late in the afternoon is the best time to go to Trunk Bay otherwise I'm headed to Little Lameshure for the free spotted eagle ray rides!

[CBama]

great post!!!!

We never made it to Trunk during our week..took pictures from the overlook....parking lot looked crowded when we drove by so we kept going.....

We had been years ago on our daytrip over..but no cruise ships that day, and I don't remember life guards either. 2004 was the year

[jmq]

4) Skinny's Cheeseburger (all the burgers are outstanding in their own way, but I go with the Double Secret Probation Burger: slice of cheddar, slice of pepper jack, lots of eye contact...it's the special du jour, mmm, I'll have that)

I suspect you have to be of a certain age to know immediately what movie that burger name comes from without using Google...

[jmq]

Nobody goes there anymore - it's too crowded...

Thanks Yogi!

[toes in the sand]

Trunk is too crowded for me during the day but I love it in the late afternoon when most people are gone and the sun is starting to set. Floating in the quiet end of day, sipping some wine and watching the sun set....a great ending to a great day. In fact, I will be doing just that this afternoon

LIKE!

[silverheels]

I like to go to Trunk once in awhile but the parking is atrocious. The lot is always full especially with the taxis. This makes me avoid it. Agree that the snack bar is always crowded and if you do get your food and try to eat at the picnic tables the birds are unmerciful.
There are so many better choices if you are not a cruiser or first timer.

[Teresa_Rae]

Firstly, LOL, and secondly, we've been to Trunk twice...once on trip #1, then again last year on trip #9. It's up for grabs on #10 next month. I think it's because we're cheap. Plus, if I forget to bring the cruise ship schedule I'm never willing to risk it (we don't bring a laptop and don't have smart phones so we have no way of checking the schedule once we're on STJ).

[54b]

The lesson as always...ask this forum a question and it will not only be answered, but answered with authority!

I love all the responses and there are definitely some redeeming angles I hadn't really considered...people watching, going late afternoon, sunsets, etc.

I agree with the person who basically said, "I don't plan to go or not go to Trunk, I just go if I'm in the mood." Probably ought to chuck my STJ must do list and simply adopt that as my vacation philosophy.

Thanks again,
54b

PS. And yes, Augie's line about Trunk was genius. Tee shirt worthy.

[Steve S]

Once in 10 visits. No future plans. Don't consider myself too cool for anything, but certainly a student of the "fool me once..." school of thought.

( I will admit that at least half of our visit photo albums have an overlook shot though )

[mit43]

Hey! We like Trunk! We go at least once per trip, but usually twice when we feel like a relaxing day that requires little effort.

Always early in the morning before the crowds hit.

Sometimes we feel like being lazy and not hiking or carrying our coolers to the beach.

Love the gourmet snack shack with the AMAZINGLY friendly counter help.......

Go suck a lime 54b........