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St John for the day #24520
01/04/2014 07:06 PM
01/04/2014 07:06 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,250
sxmsandbum Offline OP
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sxmsandbum  Offline OP
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Posts: 1,250
What are the must do's for a day on STJ? We will have a car. Planning on taking an early ferry over. Thanks in advance!

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Re: St John for the day [Re: sxmsandbum] #24521
01/05/2014 09:29 AM
01/05/2014 09:29 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 195
zhawk Offline
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zhawk  Offline
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Hit the north shore beaches. Great snorkeling. Then drive to east end and have lunch at Skinny Legs. Then hike to Ram's Head to walk off lunch. Driving on St. John is an adventure all by itself....

Re: St John for the day [Re: zhawk] #24522
01/05/2014 10:07 AM
01/05/2014 10:07 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,250
sxmsandbum Offline OP
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sxmsandbum  Offline OP
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Do any of these beaches have bars/restaurants or do we need to pack a cooler? Facilities at any of them or all pretty much just undeveloped? Thanks again!

Re: St John for the day [Re: sxmsandbum] #24523
01/05/2014 11:40 AM
01/05/2014 11:40 AM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,493
VIRGINIA
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BEERMAN Offline
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BEERMAN  Offline
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VIRGINIA
I'll post some photo's here in a bit, but as far as beach bars/restaurants you have very limited options, cooler is not a bad idea for at least drinks. Trunk Bay has a grill/bar area just off the beach. They sell burgers, fries, frozen drinks. Trunk can be very crowded when cruise ships are in STT, check the schedule! Trunk has showers to freshen up for your drive back.

Cinnamon Bay has a restaurant, commissary and a small beach shack with water, beer, chair rentals, watersport rentals etc.. They also have nice bath houses with showers.

Maho is our favorite beach, only amenity is a new fancy jiffy john!

Most other beaches offer just their unique pristine charm!

Are you guys up for hiking, short flat hikes or an hour up hill walking on switchbacks?

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

Re: St John for the day [Re: BEERMAN] #24524
01/05/2014 12:53 PM
01/05/2014 12:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,250
sxmsandbum Offline OP
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sxmsandbum  Offline OP
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For couple joining us should be short flat hike. Thanks for the info

Re: St John for the day [Re: sxmsandbum] #24525
01/05/2014 02:31 PM
01/05/2014 02:31 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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sail2wind  Offline
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GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
The big cruise ship days are Monday-Wednesday.

Re: St John for the day [Re: sail2wind] #24526
01/05/2014 04:03 PM
01/05/2014 04:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,250
sxmsandbum Offline OP
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sxmsandbum  Offline OP
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Thanks so do you think it is best to go to STJ on those days and stay away from Shopping in STT and magens bay on M-W?

Re: St John for the day [Re: sxmsandbum] #24527
01/05/2014 04:54 PM
01/05/2014 04:54 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
yes, my son worked in the industry. All those days have anywhere from 3-5 ships in, you do the math. Thursady is a little slower and generally no large ships Fri-Sun. In STJ Cinnamon and Trunk will be packed. The south side beaches should be quiet even on cruise ship days.

Re: St John for the day [Re: sxmsandbum] #24528
01/05/2014 04:58 PM
01/05/2014 04:58 PM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,493
VIRGINIA
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BEERMAN Offline
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BEERMAN  Offline
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VIRGINIA
IF I had only one day... and if I had a vehicle... I'd eat my breakfast early enough to catch an early car ferry...I'd have some BEER and some water already on ice in a cooler, maybe some snacks and as soon as my tires exited the ferry I'd drive straight through Cruz Bay and out along the North Shore road. It will be tempting to stop in town, but resist you'll be back in a few hours. There are many scenic overlooks so I hope you bring a camera, put it in park, hop out and look around!

***TRUNK BAY
[Linked Image]


***CANEEL BAY
[Linked Image]


***MAHO BAY
[Linked Image]

After passing Maho Bay start looking for signs to Annenberg Ruins and Leinster Bay. This is where I would want to stretch my legs. Park in the lot and walk up the boardwalk through the trees and explore the ruins.

***RUINS

[Linked Image]

After touring the ruins, I'd leave the car where it is and walk the trail to Leinster Bay and Waterlemon Cay. It's a flat trail right on the water, perhaps a mile to the bay. Take a bottle of water and your snorkle gear, starfish and turtles love this bay!

**** TRAIL TO LEINSTER BAY

[Linked Image]

Have to start thinking about lunch.....time to head over the island to sleepy Coral Bay. It's hard to get lost here, but get a map! From the ruins it's all lefts!

***CORAL BAY

[Linked Image]

We really like Skinny Legs burgers and blackened Mahi sandwiches. They have a few shops at Skinny's and horseshoe pits, there are no water views but it has a charm all to itself!. If you want a view I'd continue driving out to Shipwreck Landing, they have great fish and chips and are just off the water. There are a couple shops here as well. There are other places that offer good food around Coral Bay, there's an upscale roadside stand that offers up some West Indian home cooking yum! It sits at the split in the road across from the historic Moravian Church in this photo.

***MORAVIAN CHURCH CORAL BAY

[Linked Image]

Since your friends aren't into bigger hikes I would skip Salt Pond and the hike to Rams Head. Perhaps now it's time to head back to the North Shore and chill out on a white sandy beach? If Trunk Bay is not crowded with cruisers? Trunk would be my choice so that we could shower before heading back to Cruz Bay, if there are ships in I would stop at Cinnamon Bay, wonderful long beach with amenities.

***NAMASTE

[Linked Image]

If shopping is your thing you won't want to miss Mongoose Junction. It offers great architecture, shops, art gallery and more importantly the TAP ROOM for good beer or perhaps their homemade rootbeer!

***MONGOOSE JUNCTION

[Linked Image]

Hopefully you'll have time to walk the town before catching the last car ferry. The park, the sidestreets including Wharfside Village are colorful and fun to walk. I would have to stop at the Beach Bar for an appetizer of fresh tuna bites before calling it a day!

***CRUZ BAY

[Linked Image]

SHEEEW...NOW THAT"S A FULL DAY! Don't forget to breathe! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

Re: St John for the day [Re: BEERMAN] #24529
01/05/2014 06:55 PM
01/05/2014 06:55 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,250
sxmsandbum Offline OP
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sxmsandbum  Offline OP
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Posts: 1,250
Thanks appreciate all the info and the pictures. Getting excited. Think we will head over there on Monday and if we decide we need to go back we can later in the week. Will try to avoid CA those first three days as well and head to the less travelled beaches of STT on those days if we can find some. I know Magens is a big cruise ship stop any others to stay away from? Thanks to all!

Re: St John for the day [Re: BEERMAN] #24530
01/05/2014 08:11 PM
01/05/2014 08:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 225
Michigan
cathym Offline
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cathym  Offline
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Posts: 225
Michigan
Hi Beerman,

Your advice on a day trip sounds great. We are planning two days/nights in Cruz Bay and would be interested in hearing your recommendations for additional fun activities. We will likely stay at the St. John Inn -- is that a good location to walk to bars/restaurants/shops in town? Thanks, Cathy

Re: St John for the day #24531
01/05/2014 08:46 PM
01/05/2014 08:46 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
S
sail445 Offline
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sail445  Offline
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St. John Inn is about a 4 minute walk to town and about a 5 minute walk back due to an incline , so it's an ideal spot for doing Cruz Bay.
But I recommend renting a car to see all of what the island offers.

Re: St John for the day [Re: sail445] #24532
01/05/2014 09:03 PM
01/05/2014 09:03 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
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A


Thanks for the response. We will look into renting a car so we can tour the beaches and see the great views.

Re: St John for the day [Re: BEERMAN] #24533
01/05/2014 10:05 PM
01/05/2014 10:05 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
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pat  Offline
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Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
What a great day and post!!

You've managed to squeeze more into this one day then I think we saw in the full week we were there.

Again, a beautiful post - thanks for making and sharing it.


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: St John for the day [Re: cathym] #24534
01/05/2014 10:58 PM
01/05/2014 10:58 PM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,493
VIRGINIA
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BEERMAN Offline
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BEERMAN  Offline
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Hey Cathy,

I've heard of, but don't know much about the St John Inn so I just looked at their website. I think I know where it is but their map compared to their written directions is confusing me. I think it's just passed the traffic circle? The walk up is easy if you packed light! Should be a perfect spot to walk to town <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

With 2 nights I would do exactly what I said just at half speed <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> Not sure what your interests are? but you can actually hike to 2 great beaches Salomon and Honeymoon from your Inn. I would take a backpack cooler or a comfortable one with a shoulder strap, throw in a couple beers and stop at Deli Grotto in Mongoose Junction for some awesome deli sandwiches and hike to one or both of these quiet beaches, easy hike <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Of course getting a jeep to cruise around in one day would be nice. I would call the Inn and ask which car rental place is closest to them to make it easy on you.

My favorite place in Cruz Bay for dinner is the Lime Inn. We also like Morgans Mango, there are several great restaurants Cruz Bay. We actually like ordering a few appetizers at the Beach Bar for our dinner, they have great fresh tuna apps and they are right on the beach at Wharfside.

If you have some boating experience, we like renting a center console dinghy from www.CalypsoVI.com, they are next to the National Park dock. With a half day rental you can go all the way to Leinster Bay/Waterlemon Cay and see everything in between. Great operation and equipment at Calypso!

So much to see, so little time <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

Re: St John for the day [Re: BEERMAN] #24535
01/06/2014 09:59 AM
01/06/2014 09:59 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 195
zhawk Offline
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zhawk  Offline
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Posts: 195
Beerman: I have stayed at the St. John Inn and liked it a lot. Rooms are nothing special, but has a really nice little pool/deck/breakfast area to hang out and watch the sunset. Free cont. breakfast, beach chairs, beach towels and soft sided coolers to use. VERY nice people and knowledgeable about the island. Past the roundabout and then you hang a right. Easy walk.

Re: St John for the day [Re: zhawk] #24536
01/06/2014 03:42 PM
01/06/2014 03:42 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,040
Charlotte, NC
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NCSailor Offline
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Charlotte, NC
I agree about the St John Inn. Decent place and not too expensive. Also agree about the burgers at Skinny Legs. Wish I was there now!

Re: St John for the day [Re: BEERMAN] #24537
01/06/2014 05:49 PM
01/06/2014 05:49 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 225
Michigan
cathym Offline
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cathym  Offline
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Posts: 225
Michigan
Thanks Beerman!

Can't wait to experience all that - the weather here is brutal today - would like to beam myself to the Beach Bar right now.

Cathy

Re: St John for the day [Re: sxmsandbum] #24538
01/07/2014 06:12 PM
01/07/2014 06:12 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 557
laguna beach, ca
beachmi Offline
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beachmi  Offline
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Posts: 557
laguna beach, ca
we love secret harbour on stt for sun, snorkeling and a great lunch - never been bothered by cruise shippers there.


summer is my fillosophy ;-)

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