1st Beach Tradition

[Agent99]

I also recall they had several strengths of Pain Killers.

I remember! 1, 2s and 3s I think- right? And they served it as a floater if I'm remembering right. Ahh the good old days.

After setting our stuff down, I go get in the water. It's usually fairly calm, like glass, that early in the morning and I just float, hardly moving a muscle, about chest deep out.

That's when the world finally stops and I feel like I've arrived and on vacation.

I know that exact sensation and I call up that memory back many times throughout the year. It's my happy place.

[Agent99]

I was Just thinking about Pussers and wondering how many years it's been gone- maybe 12?

1998? It was there in 1997 and gone in 1999.

Cheers, RickG

Now it's coming back to me. Wasn't there a fire? Then it reopened but not for long? Or maybe just the downstairs shop re-opened but not the bar? I'm sure Ruth and Ron would remember because didn't STJ Spice go where the Pusser's shop was? Don't know why I'm obsessing on this...

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

The Balcony is gone. It is Spyglass now.

[BillVT]

Okay so let's see if I can name all the iterations of the space since Pussers:
Cafe Wahoo
Knot Heads
The Balcony
Spyglass

Did I miss any? It is still a great spot to have a drink.

[Agent99]

I still remember an excellent dinner we had at Cafe Wahoo. Was the first time I had ever had Wahoo. Right off the boat. Was delish!

[michigan girls]

The Michigan Girls have only been to St John for the past couple years but we are coming again in April, making it our third year and we have already decided that our first beach day is Maho. We love this beach and of course Heidi loves to snorkel with the turtles. We are going to venture to a few new beaches this trip so we'll see if Maho stays our favorite!!!! See you soon St John!!!

Yep, what she said. I also took my boys last summer and Maho was the first then too. For me, it's all about the turtles. No better place to get with my turtles than Maho!

[Kentuckygirl]

Gotta put my feet in the sand at Maho on arrival day! We usually stay closer to Coral Bay, so once we pick up the jeep we drive the north shore towards our villa...not the fastest route, but love the scenery! Sometimes we pull over at the overlooks, but always at maho

[mahojim]

First Painkiller, right off the ferry at Woody's. Then food shopping after we check out the villa. We usually cook in for the first night's supper,grilling immediately and getting that 'feel at home' feeling.
First full day- breakfast at the villa, followed by a bloody, or dark and coke at Aqua Bistro.
Then we hit Maho.
If Maho is too crowded, it's Francis.
Just SO wish we were there,- been 2 years!
Oh well-
Smiles-
MJ

[Wanda Creech]

Always Maho. It is hard to pass when it is so close to the road.

[Barb Y]

Pussers was my absolute favorite place to sit and chill. Painkiller #3 please! It has been awhile for sure. I thought that the new X bar is located where Pusser's was?!?!?!?!

[ColumbiaSCTraveler]

First beach for us is always Maho....husband's orders. I don't mind - I love hanging out with all the turtles. We are early risers (on island), so we're usually there by 8am, if not before, to make sure we get "our spot."

And actually, most years, Maho is usually our LAST beach as well.

No worries, though. We hit all the other goodies between the book-ends.

[nikkiki]

Maho is my first beach, but Jumbie has to be my last beach. ColumbiaSCTraveler, thanks for the reminder! Last beach is the last moment of happiness in STJ (since I'm a total chump and I always start crying when I get on the ferry!)

[chicagoans]

My first day / first beach on all my trips (4 so far) has been Salt Pond Bay. I love getting there early when it's nearly empty and taking the hike to Ram Head. Then some snorkeling, beach time, lunch, and maybe another trip to Ram Head or off to another beach for the afternoon.

My next trip (just a few days!) will be the first since we lost DH last year and the first that my sister and niece will come to STJ, so maybe we'll make some more 'firsts' and go to another beach on our first day. I've never been to Gibney and I'm an early riser so maybe that will be the one!

Another tradition is that every first dinner is at Skinny's. (I've always stayed on the Coral Bay side.) Bleu cheese burger and a Pain Killer (or a couple) for moi. I'm looking forward to buying my sis her first Pain Killer ever.

I'm trying to step back from my anal-planner mode and take things more as they come. But I'll admit that last weekend when my sis asked about what to expect on arrival, I went through a litany of 'first is the Spice Shop and we'll get some Forum wristbands, then get the cars, then we'll go to Starfish, then drive to the house, then Skinny Legs...' My son rolled his eyes so much I think they almost fell out.

[michigan girls]

Maho is my first beach, but Jumbie has to be my last beach. ColumbiaSCTraveler, thanks for the reminder! Last beach is the last moment of happiness in STJ (since I'm a total chump and I always start crying when I get on the ferry!)

Yep - everything said above holds true for me. Looks like we may run into each other an awful lot on this upcoming trip!

[Barney&barbara]

Hi all .....our 1st beach tradition is trunk bay......setting up the chairs in the shade and a painkiller at the snack bar ...ahhhhh love that

Barbara