Cruz Bay w/ no car ideas?

ColoradoMom · Post by **ColoradoMom** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 6:20 pm

We are crazy excited about our trip! We already have on our list the hike to Solomon/Honeymoon. Does anyone have other ideas for carless adventures from Cruz Bay? We will have a rental later when the rest of the fam joins us and we move to Coral Bay for a week.

Thanks for your time!

loria · Post by **loria** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 6:32 pm

hitch hike! always works for us.... or if you want to go over the Coral bay use the VITRAN bus (somewhat unreliable and sort of like the Cyclone at coney island but less safe probably_

54b · Post by **54b** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 6:53 pm

Never done it myself...but you can rent a dinghy at a couple different places in Cruz Bay and go beach hopping all up and down the North Shore...a lot of people go all the way around to Waterlemon Cay.

Love the hike to Salomon and you might also see if there's a place to rent a sea kayak in Cruz and kayak around to Salomon.

Cabs can certainly get you down the North Shore road to Hawksnest, Trunk or Cinnamon beaches and back to Cruz Bay rather easily.

Walk a dog from the Animal Care Center in Cruz Bay.

And if memory serves, the guided Reef Bay Hike offered by the National Park Service picks people up in Cruz Bay, drives them to the trailhead on Centerline, leads you down the 2 mile trail to Reef Bay (stopping by the Petroglyphs) and then has a boat take you back to Cruz Bay...it's a fantastic trail and if you do it this way, it's all downhill.

Tracy in WI · Post by **Tracy in WI** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 7:47 pm

I agree with all of the above! And I'd like to add that if you're up for a more challenging hike, try the one just past Mongoose Junction up to Margaret Hill. We did this a few times and it is a hike that requires some effort but has some amazing views from a few places.

We hiked from the start (with sandwiches from Deli Grotto and water) all the way to Solomon Beach and it took us two hours.

You could also look into Dolphin Water Taxi as they take people over to Jost for the day. It's my understanding that they run if they have six or more people and you get to stay a bit longer than the regular ferry.

Have fun!

Capn Dan and Ruby · Post by **Capn Dan and Ruby** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 8:48 pm

54b wrote:Never done it myself...but you can rent a dinghy at a couple different places in Cruz Bay and go beach hopping all up and down the North Shore...a lot of people go all the way around to Waterlemon Cay.

Love the hike to Salomon and you might also see if there's a place to rent a sea kayak in Cruz and kayak around to Salomon.

Cabs can certainly get you down the North Shore road to Hawksnest, Trunk or Cinnamon beaches and back to Cruz Bay rather easily.

Walk a dog from the Animal Care Center in Cruz Bay.

And if memory serves, the guided Reef Bay Hike offered by the National Park Service picks people up in Cruz Bay, drives them to the trailhead on Centerline, leads you down the 2 mile trail to Reef Bay (stopping by the Petroglyphs) and then has a boat take you back to Cruz Bay...it's a fantastic trail and if you do it this way, it's all downhill.

Wow 54B I love these ideas... need to do that some time!

ColoradoMom · Post by **ColoradoMom** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 12:24 am

Thanks all! Good ideas! Except maybe hitching. Not sure I want to teach my kid how to do that!
And 54b, love your Arch pictorial. Made me anticipate this trip even more!

TouristTrapCheryl · Post by **TouristTrapCheryl** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:46 am

Hitchhiking on St John is a form of public transportation.

Due to government funding cuts, currently there is only one bus running which
means a bus comes along every 2 hours, and no buses on Saturday or Sunday, It's
terrible they have cut back our public transportation so much. No buses on the
weekends is horrible.

That said, if you can plan your outing to correspond with the
bus schedule, it is the best way to and from Cruz Bay and Coral Bay,
including door to door from the ferry dock to Salt Pond for only one dollar each
way. Just ask the bus driver when the next bus is when they drop you off and
plan to meet it 15 minutes earlier than the driver tells you. The bus can be up to
15 minutes earlier or later than expected. It all depends on how many stops it
makes as it goes along it's route. The fewer the stops, the earlier it will run off
schedule. More stops and it will show up later than scheduled.

To north shore form Cruz Bay taxi's, the Mahoo jitney, and hitch-hiking are the way to go. -c

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:19 am

100% agree with Cheryl - perfectly safe to hitch hike on STJ (would not do it on STT or STX) - I hitch hike and pick up hitch hikers - just remember to point in the direction you want to go don't use your thumb

Pia

ps: for all the visitors reading if you see someone pointing you will really be helpful (and quite possibly make someones day) if you stop and give them a ride - you can meet a lot of great locals with great information (and stories)

EagleRayLover · Post by **EagleRayLover** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:31 am

Last time on island, we picked up a sweet "young" lady who was about 70 who was hitching and she was adorable! She talked to us for a bit, then talked to herself the rest of the ride to Cruz Bay!! She was wonderful!!! And she was so grateful!!

silverheels · Post by **silverheels** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 4:01 pm

Hitched a ride from Maho to Cruz in March because our boat had broken down and I had to get into town for supplies. Got picked up by a lovely couple from MA. I live in CT so we had a lot in common. It wasn't the first time I've done it. On the other hand when I'm driving on island I often pick up riders. No problem what so ever. I might add that for the ride back I did enlist the aid of that wonderful Captain Brandi, who just happened to have the day free.
Heading back in just a few days so, if you see an old blue jeep and need a ride-point that finger!

mnfun2bme · Post by **mnfun2bme** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 4:03 pm

I LOVE picking up hitchhikers on St. John. We have met so many nice people who are so grateful for the rides. Not something I would do back home in MN.... but I have ZERO hesitation doing so on St. John.

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