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Re: ***St. John - Must Do-s***
[Re: Charlie2001]
#28178
07/21/2014 04:47 PM
07/21/2014 04:47 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,953 St. John, USVI
RickG
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,953
St. John, USVI
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The National Park has kept the beaches on the North Shore mostly pristine, but that means dining options are few. There's a restaurant at Cinnamon Bay, but you'll want to call for summer hours - (340) 776-6330. Trunk Bay has a snack bar. Caneel Bay and Cruz Bay are accessible from the rolly Caneel Bay anchorage (ferry wakes). Caneel has multiple restaurants, but they usually shutdown at the end of August - 855-226-3358. Caneel may ask you to put out a stern anchor on your dinghy. Cruz Bay has a ton of options, but you pretty much need to grab a mooring at Caneel Bay and dinghy over.
I've gotten a bit bitchy about overnighting at Caneel with the ferry wakes starting before dawn. Cruz Bay is a great night out.
Chocolate Hole is open for anchoring, last I checked. No amenities. It's possible to dinghy around to the Westin on Great Cruz Bay.
Other fun spots are the moorings at Little Lameshure and Salt Pond on the south side. No amenities, unless you're in the mood for a hike. Coral Bay has some good options that are open in the summer. Someone else will have to speak to anchoring in Coral Bay.
Another spot we love is Hansen Bay on East End, just outside of the National Park ending at Haulover Bay. Vie's may be open for a bit - 340-693-5033.
Marine radio is not generally monitored by STJ establishments. Maybe by the Caneel Bay dock.
Renting a car on STJ is straight forward in Cruz Bay. We've rented from Conrad Sutton for 10+ years - (340) 776-6479. St. John Car Rentals and Courtesy are other options. I'd ask about dropoff/pickup for Maho Bay.
Cheers, RickG
Last edited by RickG; 07/21/2014 04:48 PM.
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: ***St. John - Must Do-s***
[Re: RickG]
#28179
07/21/2014 05:15 PM
07/21/2014 05:15 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
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We stopped at coral bay today and had no problems anchoring. If it's crowded it may be a problem but we found room and the holding was good.
We ended up walking around to see what was there before having lunch at skinny legs and heading back to the boat.
Matt
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Re: ***St. John - Must Do-s***
[Re: maytrix]
#28180
07/21/2014 05:27 PM
07/21/2014 05:27 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969 NC, USA
capndar
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969
NC, USA
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Overnight spots? Waterlemon cay area - great snorkeling and calm - reasonable breeze as wel
Capndar Masters 50 GT Sail/Power/Towing 3rd generation sailor
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Re: ***St. John - Must Do-s***
[Re: Murdock]
#28182
07/21/2014 05:37 PM
07/21/2014 05:37 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,884 St. Thomas, USVI
Nutmeg
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,884
St. Thomas, USVI
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Did St. John get moved to the BVI?? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />
Woody's is now owned by someone else and the Cruz Bay Landing is now owned by one of the Woody brothers. As you know, the Maho Campground is gone <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" /> which was one of our favorite places to go to dinner from the boat.
One thing to watch for is that many of the places close late August through September. Last September we spent a lot of time at Morgan's Mango, because they stayed open for the duration. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />
[color:"red"]NUTMEG[/color] Today is the tomorrow you talked about yesterday.
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Re: ***St. John - Must Do-s***
[Re: Nutmeg]
#28183
07/21/2014 07:43 PM
07/21/2014 07:43 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,887 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,887
Central Florida!
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Nope, St. John is now where it belongs, in the USVI. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />
Carol Hill
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Re: ***St. John - Must Do-s***
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#28184
07/21/2014 09:27 PM
07/21/2014 09:27 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969 NC, USA
capndar
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969
NC, USA
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As you know, the Maho Campground is gone which was one of our favorite places to go to dinner from the boat. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />
Miss that place a lot
Capndar Masters 50 GT Sail/Power/Towing 3rd generation sailor
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Re: ***St. John - Must Do-s***
[Re: Murdock]
#28187
07/22/2014 11:44 AM
07/22/2014 11:44 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,953 St. John, USVI
RickG
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,953
St. John, USVI
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The Maho Campground lease was year to year and the land was purchased. Nothing left but the shells of the cabins and demolition left overs. The old glass kiln operation is in a container. Part of the old glass kiln team is now on Cane Garden Bay as part of Green VI.
June is quite busy on St. John. The weeks leading up to July 4 has the Carnival events. It's worth fitting some of that in. We were there for the Food Fair and it was quite the party.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: ***St. John - Must Do-s***
[Re: sail2wind]
#28188
07/22/2014 05:12 PM
07/22/2014 05:12 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
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sail2wind said: Matt, Salt Pond has an excellent dive/snorkel reef at the entrance. We love the south side. We'll have to try that next time. We did see the dive mooring. It was a great spot to overnight.
Matt
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Re: ***St. John - Must Do-s***
[Re: maytrix]
#28189
07/24/2014 01:37 PM
07/24/2014 01:37 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 266 Tallahassee, FL
ReelG8r
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 266
Tallahassee, FL
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anybody done the Reef Bay Trail hike up and down? 6 miles doesn't sound bad, but the grade my be tough. My group doesn't want to do it, so I may go by myself when they are resting one afternoon.
Nothing planned.....please help!
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Re: ***St. John - Must Do-s***
[Re: ReelG8r]
#28190
07/24/2014 02:52 PM
07/24/2014 02:52 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,953 St. John, USVI
RickG
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,953
St. John, USVI
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It's not 3 miles up, if that helps. The trail is pretty relaxed well past the Petroglyphs. The top third is a pretty steep hike up to Centerline Road, but its a hike and not a climb. We've done that hike from Little Lameshur and back and the section between Europa Bay and Reef Bay trail was exposed and very hot. If I had three liters of water I would have drunk it all.
NPS has maintained two day use mooring in Reef Bay. Dinghy landing can be a challenge if there is any swell, but not so hard to swim it.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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