What are your top ten beaches and WHY?

[patches&itchy]

I know this has probably already been done. But I would like to know everyone's favorite St. John beaches and the reason(s) why?

So many to chose from.....

Jumbie
Cinnamon
Maho
Trunk
Honeymoon
Leinster(Waterlemon cay)
Hawksnest
Francis
Caneel
Salomon
Salt Pond
Vie's
Gibney
Denis
Great Cruz
Reef
Fish
Hanson
Brown

sure I'm leaving some out..

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

Maho.

Easy parking, easy access.
Calm waters for floating.
Can't see the Peter Bay McMansions from there.

[Xislandgirl]

Maho.

Easy parking, easy access.
Calm waters for floating.
Can't see the Peter Bay McMansions from there.

Ditto x 10

that is my top ten list

[sea-nile]

Trunk
Maho
Waterlemon
Hawksnest
Cinnamon
Gibney
Salomon
Honeymoon
Frances
Salt Pond

[DELETED]

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[mrsb]

I have not seen them all yet but here are my favorites in no particular order mostly because of good to great snorkeling and few people except for Trunk which is just nice because of the convenience and beauty.

Honeymoon
Francis
Salt Pond
Waterlemon
Little & Great Lameshur
Haulover North
Denis
Trunk
Cinnamon

[RickG]

I'm following MrsB!! Mix me a Blackout Punch!

Cheers, RickG

[traveler22]

1.Honeymoon - Love the hike down also.
2.Salt Pond- Love the view, quiet
3.Grace Bay (Turks & Caicos) Sorry!- baby powder sand
4.Cinnamon- great beach but getting more crowded
5.Maho- easy access
6.Trunk- beautiful but crowded
7.Hawksnest (Caneel)-beautiful and not crowded
8.Scott (Caneel)- Ditto
9.Salomon- love it, especially without alot of boats anchored.
10.Gibney- no parking, so no people

[JT]

Trunk Bay, because it draws the "yellow jackets" away from the rest of the beaches.
I'm with Pete and mrsb otherwise, except I do have a love for the Blue Cobblestone,too. Oh, yeah, I'm partial to Vie's, too.
Pete, It's funny you mention the Peter Bay monstrosities. The last time down there Mrs JT said that they reminded her of some kind of evil cartoon painting.

[flip-flop]

I am with JT in my reasoning for loving trunk. Though I will say it is quite lovely at 7 am when no one else is there. Otherwise, I'll pass.

I can't really rank my favorites as I love them for all different reasons & it really depends on my mood.

Maho - Hands down with kids. Park right there, your stuff is right there, the water is calm and shallow and beautiful!

Gibney - so quiet and lovely

Jumbie - probably my #1 if I had to choose. It is the one where the sum is really so much more than the individual pros, if that makes any sense. I just love it.

Blue Cobblestone for pure coolness & beauty

Francis - another beautiful one that is great for kids.

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

Trunk Bay, because it draws the "yellow jackets" away from the rest of the beaches.
I'm with Pete and mrsb otherwise, except I do have a love for the Blue Cobblestone,too. Oh, yeah, I'm partial to Vie's, too.
Pete, It's funny you mention the Peter Bay monstrosities. The last time down there Mrs JT said that they reminded her of some kind of evil cartoon painting.

Marcia and I used to think that Francis was our favorite beach. But, it has shifted to Maho based almost entirely on the fact that the Peter Bay houses can be seen from Francis, but not Maho.

[LysaC]

Maho- easy access, easy limin'.

Haulover (the one right on the road)- easy access, easy limin', not many people, cool snorkeling, so quiet.

Vie's- chaise lounges, Vie's chicken, cool snorkeling.

[Steve S]

Little Lameshur - Never crowded
Honeymoon - Close to Cruz Bay
Hawksnest - Picture pretty with reef right in front of you
Vie's - because it's Vie's
Gibney - if you can get to it
Leinster - Always turtles
Jumbie - if you can get a parking spot
Francis - plan on leaving before the no-see-ums swarm at 4pm
Maho - on a week day
Cinnamon - used to be up on the list but has had rough water and rougher facilities of late.

The first three are musts for us on a any 6 day visit.

[liamsaunt]

1. Scott Beach, because I always find turtles there.

2. Francis, because it is the first beach we ever visited on St. John.

3. Cinnamon, for the waves and snorkeling around the cay.

4. Trunk, for the soft sand and the snorkeling around the cay. We always go here in the later afternoon through sunset, when it's not as crowded.

5. Blue Cobblestone, for the amazing snorkeling. It even makes the hot hike up from Salt Pond worth it.

6. Gibney, for the shade and the great snorkeling to the right.

7. Solomon, because it is just so beautiful.

8. Maho, for the convenience of being able to park right at the beach.

9. Hawksnest, for the shade and the elkhorn coral on the left.

10. I'm having a hard time picking number 10. I guess I will say Turtle, because it feels out of the way.

[islandchef]

OK Liamsaunt... In my few months of living there i NEVER saw a turtle!!! So where is Scott Beach???!!!