Together with one of our newest sailing friends we are venturing down to the Virgin Islands at the end of the month for our kids’ spring break. Together we have four children ages 7 to 9 and four adults. I have enjoyed reading these blogs about a number locations that would be appropriate locations to spend overnight and some of the local activities/restaurants that we may consider and I am now aware that we definitely can’t do a fraction of what we would want to do if we could stay a month or more... alas, we have 1 week.

What would be the on shore/water activities you would recommend we absolutely put in our “do not miss out on” list? Specific snorkeling spots for novice snorkelers? Hikes with cool views/memorable photo opportunities? Special restaurants that are kid friendly and doing the right things to be COVID safe?

Appreciate your thoughts and ideas!

Leinster Bay St. John is a great anchorage. There are starfish, cuttlefish, octopus, stingray, etc. You have access to the Johnnyhorn Trail with Danish guardhouse ruins and a view right down the Drake Channel. A walk down a flat trail takes you to Annaburg Plantation with its windmill, bread oven, and interpretive agricultural garden.

Lameshur and Little Lameshur Bay St. John have great snorkeling, a ruin of a sugar boiling house, flat hike to Europa Bay, and some more challenging trails.

Reef Bay St. John has the great Reef Plantation and a hike to the Petroglyphs.

The Maho/Francis Bay mooring field is a crowd pleasure. My kids and nephews love it there.

More in St. John Logistics.

Cheers, RickG

We saw families having a very good time on the Salt Deck day boat, which would be perfect for kids your ages.

This may be our first US Virgin Islands sailing adventure itinerary - feedback/comments are welcome. Thank you RickG for comments and additional links.

In particular - any info on best anchorages/mooring locations along the route would be helpful. Any cool things to do with 7-9 year old kids is appreciated.

1. Compass point to Buck Island (snorkel?) to Druif bay. Overnight flamingo pond?
2. Sail to Christmas Cove for lunch at pizza pi, swim —> honeymoon beach or Hawksnest, STJ (rent kayaks). Lunch or dinner at Zozo’s?
3. Trunk bay and coral reef underwater trail, enjoy beach —> little cinnamon bay for afternoon hike.
4. Mayo Bay or Francis bay to snorkel (turtles!). —> water lemon cay/Leinsters bay
5. Salt pond bay + rams head hike. Or lameshur or coral bay
6. Cruz bay - mongoose junction? —> compass point (stop secret harbor?).


Really liked the link below to get an idea of what was available and could see where most boats seem to be (safest harbors?) on satellite mode.

https://www.noonsite.com/place/us-virgin-islands/st-thomas/red-hook-vessup-muller-bay/