Suggestions for short first trip?

[Illyse]

This forum has been so helpful in planning for our first trip to STJ. My husband and I will be arriving the afternoon of Feb 1 (a Monday), renting a jeep in STT and taking the car barge. We are staying in a "cottage" at Cinnamon Bay Campground, leaving Friday afternoon for a 6pm flight.

I'm sure everyone has their own ideas of the ideal 3 1/2 days on STJ - but I'd love to hear some suggestions. We will have snorkel gear. We'll probably eat all dinners and some lunches out.

Favorite snorkel places? Best drives? Fun beaches we might not know about? Funky places to eat (on a somewhat limited budget)? Stores not to miss?

Watching the snow fall outside my window right now, and dreaming of STJ!

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

Illyse

[msgcolleen]

3 1/2 days is tight but better than 0 days! Since you are right on Cinnamon Bay, I would spend the first day exploring the beach, campgrounds & hiking trails. You can snorkel to the left past the rocks to Little Cinnamon Beach. There is an old Cessna airplane propeller that you can see if you snorkel out just a few yards. Ask others on the beach if you can't find it. You can grab lunch & drinks at the top of the hill and enjoy back at the beach.
Since you have a car, I would clean-up and head back to Cruz Bay for sunset & dinner. Zozo's would be wonderful, or the Balcony. I've heard great things about LaTapa or Lime Inn! So many choices, so little time!

Day 2: I would hit every North Shore beach that I could! Go early to Trunk Bay to miss the crowds, seclusion at Gibney Beach or over to Caneel Bay at Honeymoon Beach and lunch. Maho Bay would be wonderful in the late afternoon. Freshen up back at Cinnamon then drive over to Coral Bay to Island Blues for dinner and maybe a band.

Day 3: Drive through Coral Bay over to Salt Pond Bay. Hike over to Drunk Bay. Drive a little further over to Little Lamshure Bay. Enjoy and on the way back, stop at the Tourist Trap or Skinny Legs for lunch. On the way back to Cinnamon, make a stop at Francis Bay for an afternoon snorkel. Freshen up and maybe go back to Caneel Bay for sunset drinks & dinner.

Last day: Pack up and check out and head back to Cruz Bay to shop, eat and get ready for the barge ride back to STT!
Whew! What a trip!
Whatever you miss, just start planning your next trip when you return!
Cheers & have a blast~

[mahojim]

Not much time, but one heck of a lot better than none!
Snorkel-
I'd hit Maho, francis, and waterlemon.
Restaurants/grub-
Uncle Joe's bbq, Gecko gazebo,Beach bar, and Skinny Legs.
While on STT, if you happen to have time, hit Duffy's Love Shack for great Sweet & Tangy Fiji wings. It's close to the ferry at Red hook.
Good luck, have fun, and always
Smiles-
MJ

[Lindy]

I agree with snorkeling at Maho, Waterlemon/Leinster and you might want to try Hawksnest as a first easy starting point - look for the dark area in the middle and along the rocks on the far right. Personally I don't think Trunk is all that great unless you are very, very new to snorkeling and need an easy place to start with the added security of having lifeguards around. I just find that the crowds there are a major turn off and the snorkeling is a little ho-hum compared to some of the other beaches. If you get crunched for time you won't miss much by skipping Trunk.

If you like Mexican food, especially seafood - try Margarita Phil's for dinner - a few doors down from Mongoose Junction and you can get some of the hugest Margaritas I've ever seen. We had the yummiest tuna tacos there in November (seared Ahi!). For sushi and martinis - Happy Fish upstairs from Starfish market. Skinnylegs for burgers and beer. If you want delicious, cheap and big quantity but want to take-out or not bother with being seated and waited on, try Sheila's Pot (little stand across from the taxi area) or Candy's Barbeque as you head out of town toward the south shore. Uncle Joe's barbeque right in Cruz Bay was good according to some in our group but they liked Candy's a little better. I've never really had BAD food anywhere there so you'll do fine.

[Berlingirl]

lllyse, my advice will be a little shorter than previous posters. You have limited time. I would spend my first afternoon and evening at Cinnamon, getting to know your surroundings. A beach not to miss is Maho which is the next beach onward from your Cinnamon location. On the Coral Bay side of the island, Id have a nice lunch at Shipwreck Landing. I think Salt Pond is a great snorkel over in that direction. For a dinner in town, we've never been disappointed at the Lime Inn. Middle of the road prices, but the food is great. If you want to check out a Happy Hour, then Woodys wins that title.

I wouldn't plan on doing too much, after this one taste of St John, you'll be back.

[California Girl]

I also recommend hanging out at Cinnamon your first day, there's a lot to see around there. I also recommend Maho and Trunk Bays.

Don't miss getting a smoothie "St. John Style" (with rum) at the smoothie truck at the intersection of North Shore Road and Centerline. I highly recommend lunch or dinner at Shipwreck Landing in Coral Bay or The Banana Deck in Cruz Bay. I've heard good things about the High Tide Cafe (by the ferry dock) as well.

Shopping.. St. John Spice, Freebird, and Coral Bay Jewelers in Cruz Bay. The Jolly Dog in Coral Bay or the boutique at Skinny Legs (also good for a burger!) are both fun for cool t-shirts.

If all you do is hang out at your cottage and not go anywhere at all, you'll have a magic time! It's called "villa gravity".

[Drumbiker]

Grab a cheap cooler and fill it with cocktails and a lunch. Rent your snorkel gear right next to the Beach Bar, stop in for a pre-voyage drink. Take 3 steps on to the beach from the bar and rent a dinghy from Little Noah's Arc's. After a short safety and piloting video, you're off with a laminated map of all the beaches. There is no better way to see as much of the North Shore in a short visit. You'll be able to get to beaches that would normally require a hike, so it's almost guaranteed that you'll be able to find your own little uninhabited stretch of paradise.

This was one of the best pieces of advice we got before our trip - and it was well worth the $120.00 for 1/2 the day.

As far as Trunk goes, we saved it for the last day and got there at about 6:30 AM - we were able to walk right in without paying, there were maybe 6 other people there, and it was the best send off we could have had.

Have Fun!

[Boston Mike]

HIT THE BRAKES!

If you only have a very short time on the rock spend it wisely and don’t over pack your agenda.

1.)Get There.

2.)Relax.

3.)Pick a beach.

4.)Get rid of any technology you have to the outside world.

5.)Enjoy the feeling of nature’s sand between your toes.

6.)Listen to the gentle sound of the waves as they gracefully clap the shores of magic.

7.)Look to your left or right and whisper to whomever you’re with, “now this is life”.

Think , Drink , and no problems

[Illyse]

You guys are THE BEST! Thanks for great suggestions...and keep 'em coming!

Illyse

[msgcolleen]

Thanks for the wake up call Boston Mike!!

Our best vacations on STJ have always been the ones you don't plan at all. Just get there, get settled, relax, let the wind gently blow while you soak it all up~

[sherban]

Lots of good advice here already.

Mimimize travel/car time for sure.

Cinnamon is a great beach and it has everything right there. There is good snorkeling around the little cay, it is an awesome sunning/swimming/walking beach, there is a little snack shop, rental shop, showers, hiking trail across the street and up the mountain, there is a historic site there...

I would minimize time in the jeep and (as others said) pick a beach and enjoy it.

One of the best "secret spots" we found when we were there was the overlook above Waterlemon cay...up the leinster Point/Brown Bay Trail...

There is a picnic table up there...ssshhhh!

[Boston Mike]

Thanks for the wake up call Boston Mike!!

Our best vacations on STJ have always been the ones you don't plan at all. Just get there, get settled, relax, let the wind gently blow while you soak it all up~

That is exactly what we say and do.

Drink

[mindehankins]

Oooooo....I envy you! You're about to fall in love! We don't really plan what we're going to do, but we make a list of things we'd like to do, and choose daily from that list.
If it was us, we'd spend day 1 at Cinnamon Bay, limin on the beach, and eat with Fabian (hopefully he'd be on) at the restaurant there.
Day 2, we'd be headed for Miss Vie's at the crack of dawn...that's our favorite place, and a fun drive! We'd spend the morning on the beach and snorkelling, and eat a lovely lunch at Miss Vies. Then we'd head to Salt Pond for snorkelling, a walk over to Drunk Bay (you can't really call that a hike). Then we'd go to The Tourist Trap for dinner.
Day 3, we'd go to Waterlemon if possible, or Francis if Leinster Bay was too rough, to Sheila's Pot for lunch. After lunch we'd hit Hawksnest and bring home Candi's Ribs for dinner.
Day 4, we'd rent a kayak and kayak to Whistling Cay. That was the most amazing snorkelling we've done. We'd pack a lunch and spend the whole day on Whistling Cay and the little beach around the bend from Mary's Point. You might be able to do this with a dinghy, too.
That's just us, based on our preferences, which revolve around snorkelling for both of us and plenty of just laying around, for Blaine.
Can't wait to hear what you choose!

[mahojim]

BE COOL, SHERB!!!
It's supposed to be a secret!
Forgot to mention Hawksnest; another all time fave.
Bring along a picnic lunch,drinky's, bugspray, suntan lotions and pretty much hit any of the beaches. The breeze & surf will be all the music/soundtrack you need!
Can't wait,my ticker is evidently on "island time", already...
Smiles-
MJ

[uslight]

Just saw your post and have to jump in. I agree with Minde- make a list of what you'd like to do, then pick from it, but don't feel like you HAVE to do any of it. Don't worry- you will be back!
Sheila's is the best for a great, local lunch. She sets up a little before 12 noon- you'll know because there will be a line of taxi drivers waiting. When the food's gone, she's gone, so don't wait too late to go.
In Coral Bay, I prefer Shipwreck Landing to Skinny's or Island Blues. But if you're planning on making an evening of it (they have great music, too) you should skip driving and take a cab. You do not want to try driving the curves and hills to get home, at night, if you're even pleasantly tipsy. Better to go during the day or a late lunch after exploring the East End or Salt Pond. By the way, did anyone mention that there's no restroom at Salt Pond? Good reason to plan ahead.
ENJOY!!!!