Trip report - part 2 - Caneel

[jmq]

Day 3 June 20 we check out of Gallows, stop at Deli Grotto for lattes and have some Nature Valley bars on the ride out to Coral Bay. We don’t bring much, but that’s one of the snack items that we do bring that can get tossed into the beach bag. We also bring large Nalgene bottles and powder mixes of Gatorade, Snapple diet ice tea, and Crystal Light lemonade and lemonade with raspberry flavor, which mixed up pretty well with the citrus flavored Cruzan, maybe some Ting, and sliced limes. That’s about the extent of my kitchen duty on vacation – mixing that stuff up for the beach and refilling the ice trays.

I think it’s in the forum rules that you have to take and post this photo everytime you go to St. John
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We stop at the Jolly Dog and other shops at Skinnys, then onto Great Lameshur (my choice) for a pretty decent snorkel. This turtle kinda hung with us as he surfaced.
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On the way back in, first time seeing a spotted eagle ray. Water was pretty deep, not the best visibility, plus clouds at that moment yields poor quality photos. This is about the best I can edit within the limitations of Picasa.

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Watching it for awhile, they are much different than the other common rays. Distinct head, with sharper, more muscular and aggressive movements. Impressive.

After the snorkel, head to Shipwreck for an early lunch – a “must do” for us. BBQ chicken sandwich, beer battered grouper platter and sandwich with good tartar and Cajun sauces. The grouper was quite good.
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Then off to the check in at Caneel. Tried not to act like the Clampets. Smooth, early check in to ocean view upper #48. They had the requested mini fridge and extra bed set up (a real bed, not a pull out or cot), and bottle of Cruzan estate dark. The girls are so excited about the nice toiletries, robes, etc. that they start giggling madly, high five each other, and shout “YES!”

While I am happy that they are happy, I’m thinking that once they get a sample of the breakfast buffet, it’s gonna be difficult to go back to a place like Guavaberry on VG or Neptunes on Anegada. Suddenly, I’m very afraid just simple and clean may not cut it anymore.

Caneel from the north shore overlook
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The room

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The view – not much, but nice enough to chill while getting ready on very comfy reclinable chairs.

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Short walk over to beautiful Scott Beach where we hang and dive into our books and snorkel.
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Reservations that night for Zozo’s. We had some kind of goat cheese app; giant shrimp with sweet corn and white truffle oil risotto and herbed butter topped with parmesan crisps; pine nut crusted mahi on goat cheese salad with polenta; and a halibut special topped with olive tapenade on tomato orzo. Desert was a shared blueberry semifreddo with fresh cream and sliced almonds. Everything was awesome and we all agreed it was one of the top 5 meals of all time for us.

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Back to Caneel, beds are turned down, ice bucket and cooler refilled, and flip flops are placed beside the bed. Another round of high fives commences.

Next day June 21: BACON. Applewood smoked, great quality, not too salty, and cooked perfectly. BACON. Omelet station. BACON. Eggs benedict. BACON. Multiple kinds of fruit. BACON. Thick sliced French toast. etc. etc.

Of course, I’m talking about the Caneel breakfast buffet. Did I mention they have bacon? I know, you’re thinking: big deal; so what; whoopee-dam-do -- you’re talking about bacon like you never have it. Well, that’s about right – I don’t. We really don’t eat red meat or pork. We have bacon like once or twice a year in the summer when the Jersey tomatoes are exploding from the garden for BLTs. Even the girls give into that. So at the Caneel buffet, my Irish genetics and meat and potatoes upbringing kicked in and I indulged. Hey, if they can get excited about toiletries, I can get excited about bacon.

I realized I didn’t take any photos of the buffet or the food. Guess I was trying to be on good behavior. Another nice thing about the breakfast scene is they have coffee set up before the buffets starts and to-go cups for take away after. Are there many things better than a having a nice cup of coffee on the beach in the quiet early morning light?

Off to Turtle Beach at the far end of the property. That’s a beautiful beach that feels almost secluded. Very healthy coral on both sides and this unusual fish Bob and Sharon tell me is a Scrawled Filefish.

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For dinner, we want to use up some of the resort credit we have so we grab eats at the pavilion next to the Caneel Beach bar. Very average chicken caprese salad, crab cake sandwich, and a burger for me (yes, I’ve fallen completely off the wagon).

Next up: wrap up last few days, more bacon, a beautiful dawn, a fortuitous meeting with other forumites, and the girls discover the pleasure of the “afternoon tea”.

[sherban]

JMQ- Very nice report and photos, thanks for sharing...
Cheers-
Sherb

[SusanNJ]

Great trip report so far! Gotta love the Jersey Tomatoes! I just hope with all this rain they're not shot this year. Will it ever end?

[mbw1024]

that is a GREAT shot of the Caneel overlook with the sailboats out yonder.

Am I kicked off the forum? I did not take the Trunk overlook shot this time. First stop was a bad day for me and I didn't feel in a picture taking mood and I'm pretty sure I didn't return to the overlook.

[CariBert]

Very nice! Caneel sounds really good. I wonder if just anybody can partake of the breakfast (bacon) buffet?

Thanks for posting! I'll be seeing it in a few days!

-Bert

[mbw1024]

Very nice! Caneel sounds really good. I wonder if just anybody can partake of the breakfast (bacon) buffet?

Thanks for posting! I'll be seeing it in a few days!

-Bert

yes anyone can for breakfast or lunch. I think you pay a diff. rate than guests. last time we did the breakfast buffet when we weren't staying there was in 2006 and I want to say it was $23/person.

[PA Girl]

Very nice! Caneel sounds really good. I wonder if just anybody can partake of the breakfast (bacon) buffet?

Thanks for posting! I'll be seeing it in a few days!

-Bert

When staying in a villa, we go to breakfast specificallly for the bacon.

I am only slightly kidding. My husband LOVES a big breakfast.

I think we paid $27 pp last time in 2008. We usually eat breakfast twice a trip at Caneel.

[star2515]

Great pictures! We loved the breakfast buffet as well, it nice to start your day off with a big meal....then you can last longer on the beach. We only made it over to Turtle Beach when we went on the Turtle Bay hike, now I wish we had made it back over there after seeing your pictures. Oh and by the way...we checked in on the same day into #49. We were neighbors and I don't even remember seeing anyone from that room the whole time we were there!

[liamsaunt]

More great pictures! Interesting to see the views from the top floor of that building. Both times we have been in it we have been on the bottom floor.

CariBert, the breakfast buffet is now $32 per person, plus gratuity. Having it included in the package was a very nice perk.

[Bob & Anita]

Great reporting and beautiful pictures as usual. It was joy to finally meet you and your family at Honeymoon, especially after all of our past correspondences.

[jmq]

Great pictures! We loved the breakfast buffet as well, it nice to start your day off with a big meal....then you can last longer on the beach. We only made it over to Turtle Beach when we went on the Turtle Bay hike, now I wish we had made it back over there after seeing your pictures. Oh and by the way...we checked in on the same day into #49. We were neighbors and I don't even remember seeing anyone from that room the whole time we were there!

Ha! Small world. Guess we were mostly out at one of the 7 beaches (we got to six of them).

[jmq]

Great reporting and beautiful pictures as usual. It was joy to finally meet you and your family at Honeymoon, especially after all of our past correspondences.

Likewise! Special thanks to Anita for the college advice. And if I hadnt recognized you in the parking lot, we wouldnt have made it over to Honeymoon to meet the forum peeps. I know you took photos - will you post?

[flip-flop]

1 - I resemble that remark about the Clampets! (You saw the picture Ruth took at honeymoon, didn't ya)

2 - The pic from Caneel Overlook is in a nutshell why I keep coming back to STJ

3 - You and my hubs had the same entree at Zozos. Always the best meal we have on STJ and really anywhere for that matter.

4 - Simple and clean is always good enough for me if STJ is involved! Keep those ladies in line

5 - If I wasn't in vacation mode at Honeymoon I would have remembered what an AMAZING photographer you are and insisted you take family portraits for me on the spot!

[jmq]

that is a GREAT shot of the Caneel overlook with the sailboats out yonder.

Am I kicked off the forum? I did not take the Trunk overlook shot this time. First stop was a bad day for me and I didn't feel in a picture taking mood and I'm pretty sure I didn't return to the overlook.

Thanks. Thats 2 images photostitched together. Its true for me too about photo motivation, and if the lighting is bad, I dont even bother. Maybe you couldve cheated and posted one from a previous trip - who would know?

[msgcolleen]

Beautiful pics! I have always wanted to stay at Caneel but they are closed this October! Boo-hoo~

Great trip report jmq!