Things To Do
Beaches
All of the beaches in St. John are free except for Caneel Bay and Trunk Bay (card only for Trunk, $5 per person. Caneel is $12 per person, or free if you hike there via Lind Point Trail). Trunk Bay, Caneel Bay, Maho Bay, and Cinnamon Bay offer food concessions and equipment rental (paddle boards, snorkel gear, chairs, food/drink). Your rental should include beach chairs for you to bring. Phone service can be limited on most beaches- this is a good thing :-) Pro Tip: arrive to the beaches early! There’s plenty of space on the beaches but the parking lot spaces are limited. Another Pro Tip: purchase snorkel gear on a website like Amazon and bring with you- some of the best snorkeling spots do not have concessions.
Hiking
There are so many beautiful hikes on St. John. The earlier you get to the trails, the better. It gets hot fast. Bring water, sunscreen, sneakers, and a hat! Our favorite hikes are Rams Head, America Hill via Cinnamon Bay Trail, and Reef Bay Trail (this one is challenging and takes about 2.5 hours). If you're interested in learning more about the history, walk the ruins of the Annaberg Sugar Mill.
Downtown Cruz Bay and Coral Bay
Take advantage of Happy Hour daily in downtown Cruz Bay. There are many places to explore and always live music. Mongoose Junction has many retail stores and restaurants and is located walking distance from downtown. There are parking spots available on site. Not located in downtown but just a quick drive, The Windmill Bar is a favorite of ours and offers food, drinks, live music, and an insane view that cannot be beat (it gets very busy at sunset). Coral Bay is located on the other side of the island and has some great restaurants and activities. It’s much quieter on this side. For grocery shopping, we recommend StarFish Market in The Market Place. This plaza has a drug store, grab and go food places, and some other retail options. StarFish Market also offers online ordering. Download The St. John Experience App for tons of information, or please reach out to us for any questions!
Random Information
You must have a shirt on while in the car. You do not need a passport, however it can make your time at customs faster when leaving the island. There are no open container laws. No glass bottles on beaches. The currency is USD, but tell your bank you are traveling to the USVI before leaving. While driving, listen for horns. That is how big work trucks let you know they're coming around the corner. Also while driving, watch out for donkeys, goats, and deer along the sides of the roads and around corners! If you are given the opportunity to swim with sea turtles in the ocean, respect their space and do not touch them. Please remember it is a National Park! We know all of you will be respectful and mindful of the land, people, and creatures.
Our Favorite Things
Breakfast: We love St. John Provisions. They offer amazing baked goods, grab and go breakfast sandwiches, lunch sandwiches, smoothies, and coffee. North Shore Deli is a great place to stop before the beach. Restaurants: Skinny Legs (get the Josephine's Local Greens salad with their house dressing with your food. It's life changing.), Lime Inn, Lime Out (located in Coral Bay- floating taco bar accessible only by boat or water taxi), Sam & Jack's Deli (call ahead for a great prepared dinner for a night in, or go there for the sandwiches), Lovango for pizza, and Banana Deck. Treats: Irie Pops. Just go. Get a pop-tail. Snorkeling: Trunk Bay, Francis Bay, Salt Pond, and Maho Bay. The earlier morning hours is when you’re most likely to swim with some turtles.