Hey everyone, we've been bareboating in the BVI for several years now, but never crossed over into the US waters. I feel good with clearing through customs, just don't know much about St Johns and all of its bays. What would be a good bay for dinner ashore in the evening and good protection from the seas?

Thanks
Phil

not really a dinner at shore place, more of a dinner on the boat place. Yes, there are many great restaurants, but not really accessible by boat. Coral Bay might be an exception, however, we do not like the anchorage. Maho is one of our favorites, on the south side, Lameshure and Salt Pond are beautiful. BTW, it's St.John.

And if you look at a map for the bays on the south side of St John you will find Lameshur Bay. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Oops, I see that now, I work for a hospital and it was called St. Johns forever till last year. Anyhow, thanks for the info, we'll just plan to cook on the boat. the three bays you mentioned, if the seas are calm would they be a good overnight?

Can't go wrong with Leinster Bay on the north side. Great snorkeling around the little island (Waterlemon Cay), and great hiking on shore including ruins of a sugar mill and an old estate.

and your point? I said it was on the south side <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Since your going to C&I in Cruz Bay you might want to grab a mooring outside the harbor by Canneel Bay ( a bit rocky during the ferry hours)and dinghy into Cruz.
Cruz bay is small and has a very good selection of restaurants.
You could spend the day on one of the beaches in front of your mooring and dinghy in for dinner.
The next day you could sail to one of the beaches on the North shore.
If the winds are out of the North or NW then go to Leinster Bay on the NE side or go to one of the bays on the south shore.
If time permits rent a jeep for a day and tour the island.

"You could spend the day on one of the beaches in front of your mooring and dinghy in for dinner"

dinghy into where for dinner?

I'm guessing he is suggesting Canneel for dinner. With ZoZo's now there can't say I would disagree. Honeymoon would be easy to spend the day at as would any of the Canneel beaches.

Your probably not to familiar with the area but you can dinghy to the Caneel resort or dinghy to the ferry dock in Cruz bay where there are plenty of excellent restaurants.

That's right Zozo's just moved there.
I miss the dinners sitting at the bar with the wild parrots flying into the trees at sunset at Gallow's Point

I just found it humorous that you very politely corrected the poster for adding an "s" - Then made a great recommendation and added an "e" �
No point you just provided me a smile.
Thank you

Imagine what would have happened if the title of this thread had an apostrophe between St John and the S
(St John's).

I have to add that Cruz Bay has more dining options than any one anchorage any where in the chain, US or British. It's worth the dink ride in from the Caneel Bay anchorage. Do it the first time in the daylight, take a flashlight. It helps to leave a cockpit light on in the boat so that you can find it when you return at night. ZoZo's at Caneel would be a great option as well.

37 restaurants in Cruz Bay according to Trip Advisor Trip Advisor Cruz Bay

CaptJay - for many years the Caneel Bay Resort would discourage dinghies from tying up to their dock.

They didn't seem to even be very happy about us dropping people off to catch a taxi to town.

If you're eating dinner at ZoZos are they ok with you tying your dink up at the dock?

ZoZo's is now at Caneel Bay they moved at the end of last season.

Jay

Leinster Bay is our favorite North Shore spot, followed by Francis Bay and Maho Bay (really one huge mooring area). Leinster is also ridiculously close to Sopers Hole. On those moorings we eat on the boat and concentrate on water sports and beach time. The only restaurant in the national park beaches is at Cinnamon Bay Campground.

As Jay said, Cruz Bay is happening. The Caneel Bay moorings are rolly at night if the swell is up. The Caneel moorings off of Salomon and Honeymoon Bay have access to awesome beaches, with some day-trip traffic from St. Thomas. Honeymoon has a concession stand for beach chairs and toys. We like to grab a mooring as close as possible to Lind Point to have a shorter dinghy ride to C&I. The dinghy tie up by the National Park Visitor's Center (left of the ferry wharf and C&I) is better than the dinghy dock next to the ferry wharf (right of the ferry wharf).

Ya, Caneel used to be bitchy about dinghies at their dock - "Go to Cruz Bay and take a taxi." I saw dinghies tying up at the Caneel dock with a stern anchor in November.

The parking lot at Cruz Bay C&I was a construction site in November. If you use the NPS dinghy dock you'll see C&I as you head in. If you use the dinghy dock by the ferry wharf, just keep the beach on your right, C&I is behind the bathrooms you'll run into. The construction had also displace the trash dumpster.

Cheers, RickG