Travelingwith Kids

Ready2Go · Post by **Ready2Go** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 10:16 pm

The hubby and I enjoyed our trip so so very much in Sept, we are already planing for next year. This time we will be bringing our 3 kids 6,10 and 13. They all love the beach and enjoy outdoor activity so I'm not realy concerned about them having something to do they will enjoy being at the beach or hiking trails just fine. My question is where are some good places to take them for dinner. Since we kept it fairly simple (ex: Skinny legs and the beach bar,and the little cafe on the street in Cruz bay,forgot the name) on the adult trip, we really didn't get to visit many reasturants. Just wanted some ideas for some kids friendly resturants. Thanks to all

Bigcheeze · Post by **Bigcheeze** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 5:10 am

Welcome to the island...the kids will love it...ours have for the past 11 years. They are now 16 and 13...hard to believe.

We like the following; High Tide, Beach Bar, Skinnys, Banana Deck, Tourist Trap, Joes or Candy's BBQ, Shipwreck...and we like bugers or pizza at our villa too...LOL

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 8:49 am

I travel with my niece and nephew in the summer. They were 13 and 10 last trip. Their favorites are Shipwreck Landing, Miss Lucy's, Banana Deck, and, oddly enough, Waterfront Bistro. Ocean Grill for desserts. They also really like the casual beach front grill at Caneel Bay.

Honestly, almost every place on St. John (with the possible exception of Zozos) is kid-friendly.

PA Girl · Post by **PA Girl** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 10:08 am

liamsaunt wrote:Honestly, almost every place on St. John (with the possible exception of Zozos) is kid-friendly.

I agree.

We never had a need for kid-specific menus but simple requests to alter a dish were always granted.

The exception being Zozo's but in that case, it was an adult that wanted "kid food" and that special request was turned not so nicely refused!

At some places, the staff went overboard "treating" our son. Morgan's bartenders kept him well hydrated with all sorts of little smoothies.

News of St. John · Post by **News of St. John** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 10:16 am

Zozo's welcomes children as long as they are not five or under. We are bringing out 13 and 15 years old boys there later this month.

This will be our children's first trip but my guess is that the Beach Bar will be a big hit for them. I remember seeing a bunch of kids there last time. It's nice because you can walk right down to the beach.

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 1:45 pm

CTBeachGirl wrote:Zozo's welcomes children as long as they are not five or under. We are bringing out 13 and 15 years old boys there later this month.

I mentioned Zozo's not only because there is no children's menu, but because they will not make substitutions to anything on the regular menu either, no matter the age of the diner. The setting, food, and service are all great. Zozo's is probably my favorite St. John restaurant, but there is nothing on their menu that my niece and nephew would enjoy with the sauces, etc. they are presented with.

http://www.zozos.net/menu.shtml

bdkane · Post by **bdkane** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 2:19 pm

PA Girl wrote:
liamsaunt wrote:Honestly, almost every place on St. John (with the possible exception of Zozos) is kid-friendly.
I agree.

We never had a need for kid-specific menus but simple requests to alter a dish were always granted.

The exception being Zozo's but in that case, it was an adult that wanted "kid food" and that special request was turned not so nicely refused!

At some places, the staff went overboard "treating" our son. Morgan's bartenders kept him well hydrated with all sorts of little smoothies.

I'm going to agree as well, there is no place on St john I have gone with my children (6,12) that I felt uncomfortable - like they shouldn't have been there. Last month we had stayed at the Westin a couple of days, my wife and I along with our 6 year old went to Cruz Bay Prime (TWICE - YUM) I was a little reluctant to bring him... But the staff was so friendly and playful with him, it was great, he actually enjoyed being there! As did I!

News of St. John · Post by **News of St. John** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 2:46 pm

How was Cruz Bay Prime? I have heard mixed reviews? Is there a menu online? I have not been able to locate one. I thought about bringing the kids and my parents there one night but since I could not find a menu, we made a reservation at Zozo's instead.

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 4:42 pm

I took my niece and nephew to Cruz Bay Prime not this past summer, but the prior summer. They were made to feel very welcome, and in fact they said that the food there was their favorite of the trip. They lobbied pretty hard to go back again this past summer, but I didn't feel like it, and the benevolent dictator always wins

There is no online menu. It is a pretty standard steakhouse selection, with the addition of a "local fish of the day" or two in addition to the usual non-steak options. It was a choice of snapper or grouper the night we went. Sides were typical steakhouse sides: truffled tater tots, mac and cheese, jumbo asparagus, etc--competent but not exciting. Service was good. The room is open to the lobby and also partially vented to the outside, so it is kind of loud, and also, in my personal opinion, overly warm (at least in the summer).

I guess my main gripe with Cruz Bay Prime is that I don't feel like eating steakhouse-style food in a warm tropical environment. I can get that anytime at home. If you are looking for that type of food/experience, though, I think the restaurant is fine for that purpose.

bdkane · Post by **bdkane** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 6:19 pm

We really enjoyed Cruz Bay Prime, I did post a review online, Id post here as well but im not sure how

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserRevi ... ml#REVIEWS

I do agree with liamsaunt as well, I have passed on CBP several trips now because I usually look for more of an "Island Vibe" when dining on St John (Rhumblines, Morgans, DD being a few favorites). We only wound up dining here for we were exhausted from a long day at the beach AND staying at the Westin which made it very convenient (and at this point I had conch fritters coming out my ears!).

That being said, we loved it - as well as my 6 year old, eating there twice in one trip

ABCMom · Post by **ABCMom** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 11:00 pm

We have traveled to STJ with our three daughters since they were 4 and 6 (twins) and we have found the majority of the restaurants to be very kid friendly. Zozo's and Asolare would be the two exceptions that come to mind. We love Rhumb Lines, and there is a kids menu, but they didn't allow for minor changes (leaving the vegetables out of the shrimp noodle bowl). If I remember correctly, Waterfront Bistro (another favorite) just offers kid size portions of their regular menu. If they don't have a pasta dish on the menu that night, my kids are hard pressed to find something they like there.

Our kids don't mind dining out due to the smoothies that most restaurants make. We spend more on smoothies than we do on the bar bill!

Puddlejumper · Post by **Puddlejumper** » Fri Dec 07, 2012 9:00 am

Cafe Roma, Banana Deck, Ronnie's Pizza are a few that come to my mind. Cafe Roma has great food for everyone.

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