usvi-on-line
First post...7 more days!
First post...7 more days!
OK, I guess I should first say hi to everyone!I haven't been on here too long, but I sure am glad I found this forum. Everyone seems to be very welcoming.
My husband and I go to St. John every 18th week (timeshare...another story), and May 1st will be the day we go this year! I am super excited to go this year, and sorta sad that we only get to stay for a week. However, we will stay for another day due to flight schedules (I know...poor us). We still have to find a place for our one extra day, but I'm not too stressed about it. I'm made for this island already.
This will be OUR 3rd year, MY 4th year going to St. John. This year...I want to do more stuff! We hike and snorkel, of course, but I think we miss out on a lot of other activities I see here on this forum. We go to the Beach Bar, but I know there is so much more to this island that I want to take advantage of this year. If I had KNOWN all the possibilities, I would would've loved to just go to Maho Bay camp, teach art (I just found out a friend of mine goes there for a month every year to teach), or just stay there to save money!
We are thinking of possibly renting a kayak, but not a motor boat. We normally rent a car for a few days, but not the whole week. TRYING to eat healthy this time, we may mail/pack food from home to save money/limit temptation. So, where are the places we shouldn't miss in the 7/8 days we will be there?
My husband and I go to St. John every 18th week (timeshare...another story), and May 1st will be the day we go this year! I am super excited to go this year, and sorta sad that we only get to stay for a week. However, we will stay for another day due to flight schedules (I know...poor us). We still have to find a place for our one extra day, but I'm not too stressed about it. I'm made for this island already.
This will be OUR 3rd year, MY 4th year going to St. John. This year...I want to do more stuff! We hike and snorkel, of course, but I think we miss out on a lot of other activities I see here on this forum. We go to the Beach Bar, but I know there is so much more to this island that I want to take advantage of this year. If I had KNOWN all the possibilities, I would would've loved to just go to Maho Bay camp, teach art (I just found out a friend of mine goes there for a month every year to teach), or just stay there to save money!
We are thinking of possibly renting a kayak, but not a motor boat. We normally rent a car for a few days, but not the whole week. TRYING to eat healthy this time, we may mail/pack food from home to save money/limit temptation. So, where are the places we shouldn't miss in the 7/8 days we will be there?
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California Girl
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Xislandgirl
- Posts: 4163
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:03 pm
- Location: Slightly left of center
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Capn Dan and Ruby
- Posts: 1006
- Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:08 pm
- Location: PC Florida
Xislandgirl - thanks for the tips! I don't think we've done any of the items you listed. We did visit another ruin, but I can't remember the name and it definitely was not Annaberg. That will be on our list for sure. Miss Vie's I've read in other places, and Drunk Bay looks like a really cool spot so I'll check both of those out as well.
I'm not sure what the Treasure Hunt is...I googled it and didn't come up with anything for 2011 at least. My husband and I have a soft spot for animals, so we'll try to help out the animals at ACC (as long as we don't try to take one home!)
Thanks again!!!
I'm not sure what the Treasure Hunt is...I googled it and didn't come up with anything for 2011 at least. My husband and I have a soft spot for animals, so we'll try to help out the animals at ACC (as long as we don't try to take one home!)
Thanks again!!!
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Xislandgirl
- Posts: 4163
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:03 pm
- Location: Slightly left of center
First off, welcome...your post was like deja vu all over again because I basically had the same reaction after my wife and I's first trip to STJ. So forgive me if I ramble for a while...
The first time we went, we had no plan and just went where ever the wind blew us, which was wonderful. In fact a lot of people who've been to STJ tons of times still do it that way.
But same as you, I came back from my first trip hungry to experience all of it. Really hungry.
So before my second trip to STJ, I basically read everything I could on forums like this one and in the few books available. I practically memorized Feet, Fins and 4WD by Pam Gaffin (definitely get a copy if you haven't already). Anyway, if I had 7 days and wanted to get a real feel for all of STJ, I'd divvy it up like this (and I did):
NORTH SHORE DAY - Park near the National Park HQ in Cruz Bay, grab some lunch sandwiches at Deli Grotto, hike to Salomon (about a mile) for a morning snorkel and lunch. Then hike back to Cruz around 1pm, cool off with a drink at the Beach Bar or the Tap Room and then head back out the North Shore road to hit another beach like Hawsknest or Jumbie. Or even Gibney if you can find a parking place. Gibney's my fave.
REEF BAY DAY - Hike Reef Bay in the morning (go early before it gets too hot) or sign up for the guided park tour where you don't have to hike back up. (They have a boat take you back to Cruz Bay). If you're in decent shape, no reason why you can't hike down and back up though, just know that it's two miles from trail head to bay (with a short side trip to the Petroglyphs/waterfall). The first mile is basically straight downhill. The second mile from the petroglyphs on down is pretty flat. You'll be pretty wiped out, so I'd suggest lunch over at Skinny's at the crossroads in Coral Bay (a burger never tasted so good as it does after the reef bay hike) and then go back over to the North Shore and just crash the afternoon away at Maho (beach is right next to the road and the water is very shallow, great for just Limin' and playing get in the water and drink a beer.)
LEINSTER BAY DAY - Pack a lunch and take the North Shore road out to the Annaberg Ruins parking lot. Near there, you'll find the trailhead to a path that follows the coast line and will allow you to hike to a point on Leinster Bay where you can enter the water and snorkel around Waterlemon Cay (widely regarded as the best snorkeling on the island). After that, take the tour at the Annaberg ruins. Extremely interesting and lots of great photo ops. After that, head the back way to Centerline and stop at the Smoothie Shack for a frosty bev. Then head down into Cruz Bay and just walk around Wharfside Village or Mongoose Junction (St. John Spice is always a fun place to go, I also like stopping by Uncle Joes BBQ for some take out).
SALT POND DAY - Get there as early as you can and hike out to Rams Head, great hike and awesome views. On your way back you can stop about halfway and snorkel off of Blue Cobblestone Beach or go on over to Drunk Bay (not good snorkeling, but cool views), or just go back to the beach at Salt Pond and snorkel from there. Lots of fun and almost assured of seeing turtles. After that retrace your steps back to the Tourist Trap or Shipwreck Landing for a late lunch (both have this hot sauce that is crazy delicious and good on everything).
If time permits, you might dare to really go off the beaten path and keep going out past the Salt Pond trailhead to where the road turns to dirt and try to go snorkel Little or Great Lameshur or Grutpan. That's a lot of muscle though and the roads get pretty bad.
EAST END DAY - Head out to Haulover North or South, good snorkeling at both depending on the waves. For lunch, keep on going to Vie's Snack Shack - garlic chicken, conch fritters, and fried pies - it's Heaven and i like sitting at the big table for 8 and just having lunch with strangers who won't be strangers for long. Afterwards, head out to Vie's beach across the street or get back in the car and keep going even further to Sloop Jones Art Gallery...think Tommy Bahama vs. Rainbow Brite in a paintball fight.
TRUNK DAY - Got to do STJ's most notable beach. I like to get breakfast sandwiches and go eat them at the top of Peace Hill overlooking Trunk. Then head on down to Trunk and snorkel the cay. Hopefully you'll go on a non-cruise ship day and go early in the morning when you can still have a lot of the beach to yourself. When it gets crowded, take off for another less crowded North Shore Beach like Francis (good snorkeling out to Mary's point). You may want to hit Cinnamon too. That's where you'll find the kayaks you mentioned. Cinnamon and Trunk also have decent snack bars and changing facilities.
BVI CHARTER DAY - Charter a trip to the Baths, several fun snorkel spots, Sandy Spit, Jost Van Dyke, etc. Always a good day. Got to have a passport though.
Okay, most of the people on this forum just had a heart attack and are probably calling Anthony to get me banned for blasphemy. They look at that itinerary and think it's tantamount to trying to see the entire Louvre in 45 minutes (done that too by the way...hey, what can I say, I was 16 and so was the drinking age in France.)
And they're not wrong. It's a blistering pace to be sure and they'd be just as right to tell you take it slow. It does pay to stop and smell the Frangipani.
But if I had 7 days, that's how I'd do it and did do it on my 2nd trip.
Now when we go back, we do a lot of the same things, but take it a little slower. We also mix in an "All New Day" where we go to beaches, bars and restaurants we've yet to try. And the nice thing is, there's still a ton we haven't experienced.
Good times. Have fun.
The first time we went, we had no plan and just went where ever the wind blew us, which was wonderful. In fact a lot of people who've been to STJ tons of times still do it that way.
But same as you, I came back from my first trip hungry to experience all of it. Really hungry.
So before my second trip to STJ, I basically read everything I could on forums like this one and in the few books available. I practically memorized Feet, Fins and 4WD by Pam Gaffin (definitely get a copy if you haven't already). Anyway, if I had 7 days and wanted to get a real feel for all of STJ, I'd divvy it up like this (and I did):
NORTH SHORE DAY - Park near the National Park HQ in Cruz Bay, grab some lunch sandwiches at Deli Grotto, hike to Salomon (about a mile) for a morning snorkel and lunch. Then hike back to Cruz around 1pm, cool off with a drink at the Beach Bar or the Tap Room and then head back out the North Shore road to hit another beach like Hawsknest or Jumbie. Or even Gibney if you can find a parking place. Gibney's my fave.
REEF BAY DAY - Hike Reef Bay in the morning (go early before it gets too hot) or sign up for the guided park tour where you don't have to hike back up. (They have a boat take you back to Cruz Bay). If you're in decent shape, no reason why you can't hike down and back up though, just know that it's two miles from trail head to bay (with a short side trip to the Petroglyphs/waterfall). The first mile is basically straight downhill. The second mile from the petroglyphs on down is pretty flat. You'll be pretty wiped out, so I'd suggest lunch over at Skinny's at the crossroads in Coral Bay (a burger never tasted so good as it does after the reef bay hike) and then go back over to the North Shore and just crash the afternoon away at Maho (beach is right next to the road and the water is very shallow, great for just Limin' and playing get in the water and drink a beer.)
LEINSTER BAY DAY - Pack a lunch and take the North Shore road out to the Annaberg Ruins parking lot. Near there, you'll find the trailhead to a path that follows the coast line and will allow you to hike to a point on Leinster Bay where you can enter the water and snorkel around Waterlemon Cay (widely regarded as the best snorkeling on the island). After that, take the tour at the Annaberg ruins. Extremely interesting and lots of great photo ops. After that, head the back way to Centerline and stop at the Smoothie Shack for a frosty bev. Then head down into Cruz Bay and just walk around Wharfside Village or Mongoose Junction (St. John Spice is always a fun place to go, I also like stopping by Uncle Joes BBQ for some take out).
SALT POND DAY - Get there as early as you can and hike out to Rams Head, great hike and awesome views. On your way back you can stop about halfway and snorkel off of Blue Cobblestone Beach or go on over to Drunk Bay (not good snorkeling, but cool views), or just go back to the beach at Salt Pond and snorkel from there. Lots of fun and almost assured of seeing turtles. After that retrace your steps back to the Tourist Trap or Shipwreck Landing for a late lunch (both have this hot sauce that is crazy delicious and good on everything).
If time permits, you might dare to really go off the beaten path and keep going out past the Salt Pond trailhead to where the road turns to dirt and try to go snorkel Little or Great Lameshur or Grutpan. That's a lot of muscle though and the roads get pretty bad.
EAST END DAY - Head out to Haulover North or South, good snorkeling at both depending on the waves. For lunch, keep on going to Vie's Snack Shack - garlic chicken, conch fritters, and fried pies - it's Heaven and i like sitting at the big table for 8 and just having lunch with strangers who won't be strangers for long. Afterwards, head out to Vie's beach across the street or get back in the car and keep going even further to Sloop Jones Art Gallery...think Tommy Bahama vs. Rainbow Brite in a paintball fight.
TRUNK DAY - Got to do STJ's most notable beach. I like to get breakfast sandwiches and go eat them at the top of Peace Hill overlooking Trunk. Then head on down to Trunk and snorkel the cay. Hopefully you'll go on a non-cruise ship day and go early in the morning when you can still have a lot of the beach to yourself. When it gets crowded, take off for another less crowded North Shore Beach like Francis (good snorkeling out to Mary's point). You may want to hit Cinnamon too. That's where you'll find the kayaks you mentioned. Cinnamon and Trunk also have decent snack bars and changing facilities.
BVI CHARTER DAY - Charter a trip to the Baths, several fun snorkel spots, Sandy Spit, Jost Van Dyke, etc. Always a good day. Got to have a passport though.
Okay, most of the people on this forum just had a heart attack and are probably calling Anthony to get me banned for blasphemy. They look at that itinerary and think it's tantamount to trying to see the entire Louvre in 45 minutes (done that too by the way...hey, what can I say, I was 16 and so was the drinking age in France.)
And they're not wrong. It's a blistering pace to be sure and they'd be just as right to tell you take it slow. It does pay to stop and smell the Frangipani.
But if I had 7 days, that's how I'd do it and did do it on my 2nd trip.
Now when we go back, we do a lot of the same things, but take it a little slower. We also mix in an "All New Day" where we go to beaches, bars and restaurants we've yet to try. And the nice thing is, there's still a ton we haven't experienced.
Good times. Have fun.
It’s not about yesterday or tomorrow...It’s about today, for come what may – Sun, rain, or hurricane – we've only time for a smile, and none for sorrow