USVI-On-Line

With that said, my very good friend had surgery on her calf about 8 months ago to remove a benign but very aggressive tumor. She lost a lot of her calf muscle to this surgery and some mobility. If you were taking someone with limitations, tell me where you would go. I know Salt Pond and Leinster are out. I know I will take her to Francis to bob and snorkel,
Big Maho. What are some other easy venues? She doesn't walk or act like she has limitations and wants to do everything!

Let's start with the Beach Bar!

You can drive very close to Little Lamshure. The drive will be just as bad for those with limitations as those who are able-bodied. Stopping off at the Tourist Trap would also be good.

I don't think that Hawksnest is too much of a challenge.

You might ask if you could drive her down to the beach at Cinnamon Bay.

Have a great trip.

JIM

I was going to say Little Lameshur also.
Hawksnest
Like you say Francis should be ok.
Vie's beach might be ok. It's a little walk down a relatively flat path.

As one with a very bad knee I would caution that her biggest challenge might be getting out of the water. At many beaches there is a natural "shelf" of sand to climb over on the way out. If you have any leg weakness it is a challenge, trust me. Make sure she has a strong arm to hold on to when trying to get out of the water. It may not be graceful but it's better than losing backwards and tumbling backwards.

mbw1024 wrote: As one with a very bad knee I would caution that her biggest challenge might be getting out of the water. At many beaches there is a natural "shelf" of sand to climb over on the way out. If you have any leg weakness it is a challenge, trust me. Make sure she has a strong arm to hold on to when trying to get out of the water. It may not be graceful but it's better than losing backwards and tumbling backwards.

This is what we have always found at Francis. I remember having a really hard time getting out of the water carrying our son.

I vote for Maho, Hawksnest and maybe Caneel. Caneel has a massage package that includes a massage, lunch, parking and all day use their beach chairs and towels. If you gals are interested in that type of thing, it could be a good way to spend the day.

I thought about Caneel also, but I remember a very long from the car to the water walk carrying all that stuff.

That reminds me, make sure she brings her HC parking tag. There are a number of spaces that she can use on STJ that will make life a little easier for her.

JIM

Some beaches have a rocky edge at the water like Little Lameshur and they can be somewhat slippery. Have her take some water shoes so she can feel more stable going in and coming out...(Land's End has real inexpensive ones.) For easy access you can't beat Maho.

i went last oct with a seriously mobility limited 75+ yr old friend. he must have a cane to walk. found francis, hawksnest, and maho doable for him. had learned from prior visit that at cinamon they will allow a vehicle to drive down to the beach shack area for dropoff which we did.

in addition to normal cane i packed 2 pieces approx 28" long 1.5" pvc pipe in by suitcase, one with a connection union and a tee at top for gripping and some pvc glue. put together on stj, so he had dual canes for rough spots and a waterproof one for going into water at maho, hawksnest and francis. i custom measured pvc pipe so finished product was ideal for him to leaverage his upper body strength so longer than his walking cane.

also used a 1 story villa with min access steps, nauilus on maria bluff. master bedroom wc is tall boy that is major benefit for those with lower body impairment.

stj is intimidating to those with mobility issues and some great places are out of question (waterlemon & saltpond) but the vistas and generally touring island for a first timer filled our stay for him.

papabou