Salt Pond vis Vie's beach

shoemak38 · Post by **shoemak38** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:54 pm

With all the talk about shells my wife is now thinking about walking over to Drunk bay (her idea of a vacation would be a week at Sanibel looking for shells, I spend a week there one day

as she and my mother-in-law went shelling

), if we were to go to Salt Pond. We would go there instead of Vie's. Comments

thanks

deejayjay · Post by **deejayjay** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:36 pm

I too like to shell at sanibel. However shelling loses a bit of its fun when you can't keep them. It is against the law to remove any shells from any of the virgin islands. If you try to sneak, they will likely be removed from your posession at the airport.
We found many, many, live starfish and conchs at both Vies and salt pond. Never walked to drunk bay, because I couldn't keep the shells anyway. You can however keep sea glass. I have found a few pieces of that at Maho.

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:47 pm

I found a sandwich bag full of little shells at our villa, threw it in my suitcase when we left and no one batted an eye at them. I don't feel guilty, since I only took what someone else collected, and who knows if they're even from St. John, but my point is that no one at the airport seemed to give a flying you-know-what that I had them. The same thing in the Cayman Islands. I had some great big conch shells that TSA & customs both saw, yet no one said a word.

I agree its not right to pick up shells in the Nat'l Park (which most of STJ is), but certainly no one at the airport seems to care. I think they're too busy watching out for gels and liquids that aren't over 3 oz.!

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:01 pm

I would choose Salt Pond over Miss Vies. At Salt Pond, you get a three-for-one! You can walk the flat path over to Drunk Bay to check out the coral sculptures (note that there are not shells over there, it is coral rubble), you have the main beach at Salt Pond itself to enjoy, with shade, good snorkeling, and sometimes turtles. Finally, if you are up for a little bit of a walk, you can hike about 15 minutes further from Salt Pond on the Ram Head trail to Blue Cobblestone beach, which you will likely have all to yourself! Some of the best snorkeling on St. John is off Blue Cobblestone, in my opinion.

JT · Post by JT » Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:07 pm

I'm a little slow here. Why would we have a poll of Salt Pond vs. Vie's? They're two totally different things, both great. You can do both. Go to Salt Pond in the morning, before it gets too hot. It's a 10-15 minute walk from there to Drunk Bay. Walk back to your car. Drive to Vie's. Eat lunch. Go to her beach. Rent one of her glass bottomed kayaks. They're easy. Stop at Skinny's on the way back and have a soda pop.
By the way, there is much more washed up coral on Drunk Bay then shells.

JT · Post by JT » Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:11 pm

liamsaunt wrote: Some of the best snorkeling on St. John is off Blue Cobblestone, in my opinion.

SHHHH!!!

shoemak38 · Post by **shoemak38** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:59 pm

JT I like your idea

chicagoans · Post by **chicagoans** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 4:22 pm

I like JT's idea too, but add in the hike to Ram Head. Our very first day on STJ we went to Salt Pond in the a.m., hiked to Blue Cobblestone then on to Ram Head, chilled at Salt Pond until lunch (Miss Lucy's) and then headed over to Vie's beach for the afternoon. A perfect start to our trip! (We went back to Salt Pond and did the hike to Drunk Bay on another perfect STJ day.)

JT · Post by JT » Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:51 pm

Hey, don't get me wrong. I think of Ram Head/Blue Cobblestone as part of every trip to STJ, but some folks can't walk the walk, if'n you get my drift. Drunk Bay is very easy. Cobblestone is fairly easy. Ram Head is moderately difficult for the physically challenged. On a hot day the Ram Head walk/ Cobblestone snorkel will sweat out a lot of poison left over from the night before! Do Drunk, Ram Head,the Cobblestone snorkel, and Vie's in one day and you are now getting too close to work for my vacation tastes.I'm also of the firm belief when on St John that the best plan is: there is no plan.
Shoe, you'll have a blast. Just get off the ferry, get your car, keep left and live slow!

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 6:02 pm

The best shelling is at Grootpan Bay, just past Salt Pond. Drunk Bay is too rough.

Cheers, RickG

msgcolleen · Post by **msgcolleen** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:29 pm

Good to know Rick!
In Oct. we are staying at Sea Spirit villa just minutes away from Grootpan Bay. I have never seen a shell on STJ so this will be an interesting change of scenery!

JT · Post by JT » Wed Jun 11, 2008 9:02 pm

Be careful at Grootpan. It is a turtle egg hatch area and is a fragile environment. Also, if you have car trouble there and are not renting a villa there you are technically in violation of your terms of rental.

mrsb · Post by **mrsb** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 6:12 am

Depending on when you go bring the bug spray. I was attacked by the no see ums! Lots of shells though and it is a rocky beach.

JT · Post by JT » Thu Jun 12, 2008 7:41 am

I found a picture of Grootpan. I also have some from close up. As you can see there is a salt pond next to it, which contributes heavily to the bugs. I also have hit it on hot days where the water was filled with Jelly fish.

JT · Post by JT » Thu Jun 12, 2008 8:12 am

Sorry to get so far off topic, but I found a pretty good shot showing Grootpan's " beach".

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