USVI-On-Line

Any recommendations on planning a day trip to JVD with a 4 year old? We've been to St. John several times with her and always wanted to visit JVD. Not sure what the best way to do it would be though. Snorkel stops would be great but probably not feasible....any thoughts?

we did this with our 4 yr old this past april and he really enjoyed it. we didn't do any snorkel stops but found plenty to do. we stopped at smuggler's cove off tortola and swam in to the beach. very easy swim. then we went off to foxy's on jost for lunch and then off to soggy dollar. i would say that wondering around the "town" in jost and foxy's were my kids favorite. we went with palm tree charters and capt brandi was great!

Is she OK at the beach for a day???

If so then I would lean towards a day trip using the local ferry. It is a short ferry ride & then you could split your time between White Bay & Foxy's.
It is not a long day, ferry leaves Cruz Bay around 8:30 & then leave Jost at 3:00.

The Shopper

we are doing basically the trip that gymnastika just mentioned.....we are taking our 3.6 year old and our 5 year old on Palm Tree Charters boat NEXT Sunday to Jost.....mostly for the experience...some swimming and snorkeling...and drinks at the soggy dollar bar! I think the kids will like the boat experience.

Gymnastika.....did the kids wear life vests for the whole ride? Trying to picture my feisty 5 year old daughter who says "everything is too tight"...dealing with THAT!

llovestjohn,

Yes, our kids had to wear life jackets as long as they were in the boat, since it's the law. It didn't bother them because they understood it came with the territory. But, they would take them off and jump into the water when we would swim into shore and just use a noodle for the younger one. They had so much fun. We actually tried to snorkel at waterlemon and then move onto the Indians, but the swells were really bad and we had to change plans. Our kids did actually brave it at Waterlemon for awhile before we gave up with the swells. Next time, we will only go back in summers because the seas are just so calm and lovely.
juli

thanks gymnastika! Also...were the life vests the big orange kind? I wonder if they have some that are slimmer or less bulky....again, for my "too tight" girl....

holly

llovestjohn,
The vest palm tree had were that big bulky kind you are talking about. we had brought one life vest with us, just in case they didn't have one that fit our little guy. i wish walmart still sold that blow-up vest in their cheapy section. it was small, light, perfect. they prob stopped selling it because it prob wasn't the best life saver, but i tried to extend its life with duct tape as long as i could. ha! In all honesty though, the time they wear the vest is really very little. we didn't spend much time on the boat. 15-30 min here, there, it seemed. most of the time is at the stops itself, unless you are taking a long haul to the bathes.
you can watch my video with them and take a look at the vest they provided for my seven year-old.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcvmjHyjCJA

thanks for the video..I did see it before...I think when you originally posted it. That's what gave us the idea to try it with our 2 little ones. Maybe I should see if I can find something and try to pack it???hmmmmmm...

Hey, how long was the boat ride to Jost? We were thinking of clearin' customs, Foxy's and then sandy spit (maybe) and soggy dollar bar. Not sure if that is aiming toooooo high or not.

thanks for all of your help
Holly

Holly,

Because I was in "island mode", it just seems like the ride from Tortola to Jost wasn't that long. I could be WAY off, but it seemed like it was in the 15-20 minute category. Not sure if that's right. I might have a lot of boaters laughing at me right now with my misinformation, but it really seemed quick. The longest stretch is always the way home, back to STJ, but even that seemed quick, like 30 minutes or so, maybe.
I don't think you're aiming to high at all with your agenda. Since you don't have snorkeling stops in there, that seems really do-able. Sandy spit is not too far off of Jost.
Wow! what a fun day you have planned. I am jealous.
Have fun!

Concerning life vests for kids, we picked up a not so bulky life vest for our 2.5 year old at Bass Pro. I can't remember the brand but it was relatively inexpensive ($30 or less). I was pleasantly surprised that he didn't complain about it.

I remember seeing slim ones for children, Body Glove I think, the I liked but the sizes were too big for him - might work for a 5 year old though.