Rachel & Tate
Things To Do
Magens Bay Beach
This is the beach where we hold summer camp every year! It's one of the Caribbean's most famous, award-winning beaches - it's an expansive, 1-mile stretch of sand located in a horseshoe-shaped bay. The water is calm and lovely. Get to the beach before 8 a.m. to avoid paying! If you get there after 8 a.m. the fee is $5 for adults and children 12 and up.
Sapphire Beach
A great beach - free to the public at all times! The bar and grill serves burgers, dogs and a full range of beer and cocktails in a newer facility. The water sports rental shack has single and double kayaks, boogie boards, floats, and life jackets. Snorkel sets rent for $5 an hour or $10 a day; chairs for $9 a day.
Coki Beach
Coki has the best snorkeling and scuba diving on the island, and it is free to the public. Amenities include restrooms, changing rooms, and several competing vendors renting out equipment and selling beach clothing and jewelry.
Secret Harbour Beach
Calm waters and decent snorkeling make Secret Harbour a primo draw, but bring plenty of sunscreen, as the beach lacks shade. The Aqua Action Dive Center rents snorkel gear for $20, as well as kayaks and standup paddle-boards. Chairs cost $10. Scuba trips are also available. Secret Harbour is free to the public, and tends to have minimal crowds.
Brewers Bay Beach
This is a great spot to visit if you're looking for a beach without too many crowds. A number of trees provide shade along the long, coved stretch. It is free to access Brewers Bay. Take note that public restrooms are not available, which is something to consider if you plan to spend all day outside.
Barefoot Buddha
$$ - Barefoot Buddha is a breakfast and lunch spot where you can enjoy delicious coffee, smoothies, sandwiches, and other yummy options! There are seating options outside, but there is also plenty of air-conditioned seating inside. Barefoot Buddha is one of our favorite Saturday morning traditions. There is also a little boutique attached to it with fabulous women's clothing!
Pizza Amoré
$ - This is our favorite pizza - maybe of all time. Stop by for a fun and delicious experience!
Tap and Still Havensight
$ - Casual build-your-own burger restaurant. Kind of like Five Guys, but with booze! We love their spicy Korean style wings. There are also other locations in Red Hook and on St. John.
The Smoking Rooster
$$ - If you loved the barbecue at the reception and want some more, this is the place to go! Great barbecue, fun brunch, Frenchtown Brewing on tap.
Hook Line & Sinker
$$$ - Nice place to get some fresh seafood. Come for brunch with us, and then try it another time for dinner! Also a great happy hour with good sushi, appetizers, and drink deals. They serve Frenchtown Brewing on tap!
Bella Blu
$$$ - Good spot for brunch and for dinner. Schnitzel is great! Also have some good fresh fish options.
Salt & Vinegar
$$ - The BEST fish and chips around. Also great poke bowls. Also, some of the best chicken nuggets. They serve Frenchtown brewing on tap!
Banana Tree Grille
$$$ - Nice restaurant at Bluebeard's Castle with a beautiful view of the harbor.
MBW Cafe & Bakery
$ - Good place for lunch while you are in town. Great fresh fried chips. Good sandwiches and dessert treats! Also, supports a great cause! Right around the corner from the church where we will get married!
Gladys' Café
$$ - Good Caribbean food like conch fritters, kalaloo, roti, jerk mahi-mahi, and plantains - just a little on the pricier side for lunch. Great environment, down one of the small side passages downtown. Gladys will be singing the whole time you are there! Also, buy some great Caribbean hot sauce to take home!
Greengos Caribbean Cantina
$$ - Great Mexican food and hundreds of tequilas! Time for some shots!! Easy place to stop while shopping downtown. There is also a location in St. John, if you decide to go shopping over there!
Sibs on the Mountain
$$ - Nice outdoor seating, easy parking, and the best chicken fried steak you will ever have! Also a really great seared tuna sandwich and sweet potato fries!
Duffy's Love Shack
$$ - Have you ever wanted to take shots out of a rubber shark while a car drives 2 feet behind you? If so, then this parking lot bar is the place for you! Average bar food, so would not recommend eating there, just go for a drink and to get lei'd!
Mountaintop
Cheap souvenirs, the best view of Magen's Bay, and a daunting drive up the mountain through the rainforest! Open your windows on the way up to hear the coqui frogs. Then get a world famous banana daiquiri and enjoy the view!
SkyRide to Paradise Point
Take the Skyview Tram up the mountainside to Paradise Point! Get a world famous Frozen Painkiller. Enjoy a nice view of the harbor and the surrounding islands (if it is a clear day)!
Phantasea Tropical Botanical Garden
Beautiful flowers, plants, and island birds. Small fee to enter, but well worth the price. Amazing orchids, palms, and other island plants as well as some nice views.
Nirvana Temple
Down a bumpy dirt road you can find a gorgeous Buddhist Temple perched on a cliff, guarded by a massive dragon! Views of Mandahl Salt Pond. If you are interested, you may be able to find time to go to a meditation or yoga class!
Breathe Yoga
If you want to do some yoga while on the island, this cute yoga studio will be sure to put you right to shavasana. Find a class on their website - no charge, just donations accepted.
Virgin Islands Ecotours
If you are interested in kayaking, snorkeling, or hiking, then you should do a VI Ecotours. With great tour guides who give you fascinating tidbits about the ecosystem of the islands. Locations in Red Hook and at Honeymoon Beach on St. John. They will do trips or just renting of equipment, but we would really recommend doing a whole trip!
Drake's Seat
Park on the side of the road, just don't go over the curb!!! Then takes some photos with the beautiful backdrop of Magen's Bay. No shops, no food, just a place where Sir Francis Drake once sat.
St. John Activities
Take a trip on the ferry over to St. John. You can either take the car ferry or the people ferry depending on what you want to do. Call Tate or Rachel if you are interested to get all the crazy ferry details! If you are looking for a more adventurous day, then you should take a hike to Caneel Bay. This is a fairly easy hike that can be even be done in flip-flops with beaches all along the way in case you get hot! Be sure to take a road soda (beer) with you for the hike (get it at North Shore Deli)! A more daunting hike that will take most of the day is a hike down to the petroglyphs (ancient Taino Indian carvings). Along the way you can enjoy the nature and check out some old sugar mill ruins. Be sure to have sneakers and take a lot of water and snacks. Also, you could check out doing a VI Ecotour (see post above) while in St. John! Go to the "Friends of the Park" store in Mongoose Junction for details about the hikes and the beaches!
Beaches of St. John
If you want to take the ferry over to St. John and drive/taxi to the beaches, here are a few we would recommend - Honeymoon, Hawksnest, Cinnamon and Trunk Bay. Trunk does have a fee to enter, however they have nice bathroom and shower amenities. Cinnamon may have bathrooms and showers, however it was damaged in the hurricanes, so they may be rebuilding. Go to the "Friends of the Park" store in Mongoose Junction for details about the hikes and the beaches!
St. John Shopping - Mongoose Junction
Take the ferry over to St. John and enjoy shopping downtown and at Mongoose Junction. In Mongoose Junction you can go to one of our favorite lunch places, North Shore Deli. Be sure to try the gyro and the coconut layer bar! You can also try Greengos Mexican Restaurant (see details in other post) in Mongoose Junction or Tap and Still downtown. Some shops to check out are St. John Spice, Friend of the Park Store, Big Planet Surf Shop, Bamboula (Caribbean Clothing) and Caravan Jewelry. Also, stop at the St. John Brewers Brewtique for some good brewery gear. Any purchase made there gets you a free soft pretzel at the Taproom, where you can enjoy it with a St. John Brewers beer, or Tate's favorite, a St. John Brewers Root Beer spiked with Cruzan Rum!!
Downtown Charlotte Amalie
There are tons of shops downtown to check out. We love to shop at Classic, where you can take free shots while you shop! Head down to the waterfront look left, and see if you can spot a bunch of blue tents. These are the best places to barter a deal on the famous hook bracelet (look for Caribbean Cowgirl), t shirts, sunglasses, and so much more! You could even get your hair braided (ask Rachel about that!)