USVI-On-Line

Day 3: Sunday - Maho, Skinny Legs, and Woody's

Today felt like our first real full day. Finally my mellow was on! Woke to the sounds of goats and the quiet of Coral Bay. We toasted up some bagels and had a quick breakfast at home. Cereal for the kids. Of course, being our first day our typical first day beach is always Maho. It is the best for the kids and honestly, I would be totally fine going there every single day! ON our way from Coral Bay to Maho I managed to confuse myself and we ended up by Annaberg!

Yes, this was my 8th trip and it still takes me awile to get the 2 roads straight. Sad but true. Fortunately for us, I am clueless, because soon I noticed a handsome couple walking two beautiful puppies and immediately knew it was PIA & Les! We said quick hellos and made plans to see each other later in the week for dinner! They headed off on their walk and we headed to Maho. Really, this time!

Maho.

Or as we call it in our family ... Maaaahhhhhhho emphasis on Ahhhhhhh.....

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I really, really love Maho. The island was a bit browner than usual from the lack of rain (we didn't have a DROP the entire time we were there ... well during the day, I think there were a few night showers). Still, so very beautiful.

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Soon the little man was busy at work in the sand

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Happy People

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I truly enjoyed the independence both kids displayed on this trip. I was still mama and responsible for organizing the herd (packing lunch, dry clothes, drinks, and towels), but they really held their own and enjoyed floating, digging in the sand, playing with critters and generally could entertain themselves for HOURS on the beach. It was also VERy nice to not have to plan for naps. Well ... for their naps. This was our first family trip to St. John without diapers and naps! I thought 2.5 years was pretty easy, but looking back, a 2.5 year old is a LOT more work than a 4 year old!

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FACT: I read THREE and 1/2 books on this trip. 'Nuff said!

We lounged, read, played, relaxed, jelled for a few hours and before we knew it our bellies were rumbling.

Lunch time! Also, somewhat of a loose tradition - Skinny Leg's for lunch on the first full day. I know there is also great debate about Skinny's, particularly the NASTINESS of the bathrooms. I realized on this trip (having two lunches there and using the left and right bathroom) that the RIGHT HAND bathroom is WAY grosser than the left. Aim for the left. The right, also a true fact, smells like pee. Just remember...as with all things on St. John, keep left!

I don't care if the bathroom smells, I love, LOVE, LOOOOVE their burgers. I don't know if its the "beach hungry" or what, but nothing tastes finer to me than a big, fat, juicy blueburger and an ice cold beer or as was the case this day, a Coconut Swizzle.

We've ordered and are waiting

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Mr. Flip-Flop decided on the special of the day - bacon BBQ swiss burger. I think he approved.

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Did I already mention that I was having the blue burger? I did didn't I? I heart the blue burger. Totally. I know its just a burger but for me its my "I am here, I have arrived, this is for real, I am on St. John" moment. Weird, I know, but true.

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Post burgers we shopped around. I am not a mama that is above bribery and more than once the statement "do you want to stop at Skinny's (or Lilly's) and get your treat? Then you better be nice and behave!" Worked like a CHARM. The kiddos picked out a treat and soon we were off.

We decided to drive out to the End of the East End and take it all in...again.

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Someone just couldn't hang

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Love it out here. So simple and peaceful.

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We took a drive up Dreeket's (or Drekett's? or maybe there's a c in there?) to take a look see.

Don't forget to KEEP LEFT.

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Eventually we made our way back to the cottage and relaxed. Relaxing on this trip for the most part = Kids watching a movie while the hubby and I alternated between reading and napping. PERFECTION. 3 1/2 books, I say!

My little man was eager to unpack his goodies

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Post-relaxation/napping/reading/movie watching, we decided to take a trip to town. Primarily because I was displeased with the coffee in the house and needed to get to St. John Spice for some Kiss of the Jumbie coffee and to HOPEFULLY say hello to Ruth.

From our house to Cruz Bay, via the North Shore was almost an hour. In my mind, it was shorter. I was thinking 30 minutes from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay + 10 minutes further to the house. In reality it is more like 40 minutes from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay (using Lilly's as the Coral Bay marker) and another 10 from there to our Cottage. This was, for the most part, fine for us. We did have a couple of "my tummy hurts" from the back seat through out the week, but no actual tossing of cookies. Something to think about if you have people with you who may be sensitive to the hilly, windy ride. I was grateful it was just the 4 of us on this trip and I wasn't playing tour guide to newbies. I would have worried they were not happy, had I been.

So we head to town.

How did they know we were in town?

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We hit St. John Spice. NO RUTH but that's ok. We got our coffee and inquired about her schedule. Sorry, Ruth, didn't mean to stalk you!

Belly Flop likes your hats.

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We caught a gorgeous Cruz Bay Sunset

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My cutie pies

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I think they have Rum

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I also peeked into Bamboo jewelry, a first for me. I am not sure if they are new, or just new to me, but I loved their stuff. I have a necklace with 4 charms
- two small disks - one with each of the kids name, a petroglyph key (a gift from Vicki), and a starfish from RI Patton. When I looked into their cases I couldn't believe that they had a very similar idea! I coulda been rich! They have a round disk charm with the longitude and latitude of St. John engraved on it. As soon as I saw it I knew it needed to be added to my collection! I had to order it, but it would only take a couple of days. Order in, we decided we were ready for some eats.

Another first for us on this trip was dinner at Woody's. I have to admit I have been pretty judgy about Woody's. The Happy Hour scene with people hanging out and spilling onto the road just never appealed to me. Ok, honestly, it downright annoys me! However, as we walked around it looked quiet and we decided to give it a shot. Hands down the BEST waitstaff service we had all week. Hands Down!!!! The food was plentiful and very good. Nothing particularly unique but great for us. We ordered several appetizers - Calamari, chicken wings, chicken strips and grouper fingers, and a couple of drinks.

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Flip-Flop ... happy and relaxed

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Beach bunny approved as well

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Grouper Fingers

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Stuffed after dinner, we decided to take a little walk toward Mongoose.

Beautiful Moon

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Somehow we were convinced to hit the playground

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While the kiddos played we watched a group of people playing croquet on the field.

Beautiful CruZ Bay night

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The fields lights went out promptly at 8:30 pm and we took that as our cue to head back to Conrad's to get the car and head back over the hills to our cottage.

Tomorrow: Francis, Tap Room, Island Blues

Flip Flop....Just so lovin your posts! You describe everything so well and the pictures are fantastic! Especially love the one of belly- flop sleeping in the jeep and his sister's facial expression. That's a keeper! So glad you had such a wonderful family time, looking forward to reading your posts each day.

Flip Flop....Just so lovin your posts! You describe everything so well and the pictures are fantastic! Especially love the one of belly- flop sleeping in the jeep and his sister's facial expression. That's a keeper! So glad you had such a wonderful family time, looking forward to reading your posts each day.

I just love the picture of Belly Flop walking on the beach by the ferry dock! That's such a precious picture!

FlipFlop- Love the TR!! I can totally relate to your travels as we travel with 3 little ones. We have never dared to venture into Woody's but after your experience, we just might have to give it a try. I have to admit, Maho is the ONLY beach we have tried!! One of these trips we will get adventurous and broadan our horizons. But for now, it is the perfect beach for our boys and why ruin a good thing
Thanks for sharing!!

I am in love with your TR! I didn't know how it'd be with kiddos (mamma needs a vacation too), but the more I read, the more I'm convinced that the time we go after this we'll bring the girls.

Thanks!

Keep them coming. Love the sunsets and we too have yet to try Woodies for same reason. You convinced me we need to give them a try.

Where did you get Belly's long sleeve t-shirt?

where is Bamboo?

aaaaahhhhhh~ Nothin' like a "Blue Burger in paradise!"
What a great day!

Man your kids are growin up. Enjoy them lots and lots while you are still the center of their universe, they will soon be teenagers nuff said Yep that Woodys happy hour crowd can be a bit scary but it's worth it. Some of the best service around cheap eats cheap beer and it really can be a fun place just to watch the happenings going on around us. But man the place does make me feel like an old timer.

Thanks All.

Marybeth - Bamboo is where Freebird used to be. Wharfside.

I can't remember where I got his longsleeve shirt. Sorry I got it a few years ago.

The kids were really fun and easy going this trip. I've enjoyed all of our trips with them, but this one was way less work. The little one, in particular, was way less clingy/needy!

What a great report! Love them, love the pics too. Gorgeous sunset you captured!

Glad you checked out Woody's- we have gone there several times with our kids (7 and 10) and they LOVE it- the waitstaff is so nice to them, and when it's less crowded they love to spin on the barstools. We love the wings there. Yummmmmmm....

But when it's nuts we just stop by the to go window and keep walking

Love, love, love your reports! You may have convinced me to give Woody's a second chance.

Great report, Flip! I also love ths picture of Belly Flop asleep in the backseat and his sister's expression! So cute! You can blackmail him with that someday!