Forums39
Topics38,687
Posts312,726
Members26,570
|
Most Online2,218 Jan 21st, 2020
|
|
29 registered members (NumberCruncher, hokiesailor, MrEZgoin, StMartinFan, George1234, TomGarvey, YachtReprise, nevar37, GeorgeC1, John, MACC60, OceanSong, Kennys, onlymedication, wct49, bbeach, Flotsam, xrayman67, Scubacat, RichiT, IWIWSE, MikeBiondo, Memphré, Fitzhughlaw, 5 invisible),
1,236
guests, and 109
spiders. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Must do's
#94003
04/12/2016 08:53 PM
04/12/2016 08:53 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 248
steve74
OP
Traveler
|
OP
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 248
|
Hello all! This is my first post in this forum, so let me start by thanking you for the wealth of information that I have aready received from your thoughtful posts. My wife and I are heading down in June with our two daughters (10 and 12) for our first bareboat adventure. We have traveled to St. John annually as a family trip and aleady have so many cherrished memories. On our last trip, we realized that most of the things we like to do are on the water, so after some discussion we decided to bareboat next (no captain). My uncle has had large offshore fishing boats for years, so I am comfortable driving the 38 powercat we are renting from MarineMax. We have also explored the BVI on private charters from St. John with Capt. Cleve (Local Flavor). He is the best by the way! My question for the forum requires you to put yourself in our shoes as an active family that likes a balance of fun family activities, snorkeling, partying and peaceful time with just the 4 of us. Beyond the norms for St. John day charters (Baths, bubbling pool, caves, indians, Jost), what are the must do's in the BVI? So far, the north sound, Guana, Cooper, and potentially Anegada are jumping out. I am trying to finalize a loose itenerary, so if you have must do's and top anchorages, I would enjoy your thoughts on both. We also tend to prefer less formal dining at places that have really good food. Thank you in advance for your replies!
|
|
|
Re: Must do's
[Re: SoggyDollarScott]
#94005
04/13/2016 12:15 AM
04/13/2016 12:15 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 296
Kryssa
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 296
|
We like mooring at Bitter End, renting a Hobie Cat in the afternoon, and having pizza in the evening at Crawl Pub.
If you haven't yet snorkeled over the Rhone, that's a fun activity.
If you are feeling really adventurous, you could do a discover scuba dive. Sounds like the girls are great in the water so I'd bet they'd take to it faster than you guys. This would take most of a day, since you would need to do a short lesson, shallow water practice, and then the real thing.
Last edited by Kryssa; 04/13/2016 12:17 AM.
|
|
|
Re: Must do's
[Re: steve74]
#94008
04/13/2016 11:24 AM
04/13/2016 11:24 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 177 Georgia, USA
GeorgiaTing
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 177
Georgia, USA
|
Cane Garden is nice as well. Nice beach and bars and plenty of mooring's. There is also an old rum distillery you can tour - Callwoods (it think it has been there since the 1700's). As Kryssa noted below, we are doing the scuba this year. We have two boys 13 and 15 that can't wait to try out scuba diving. We are using Sail Caribean Divers at their Cooper Island location. We will be sailing 5/30 to 6/8 - maybe we will cross paths. We'll be on a 46 mono - named Xenia.
“Dawn comes early on a boat, right Captain? That’s right it happens everyday just about sun up!”
|
|
|
Re: Must do's
[Re: steve74]
#94009
04/13/2016 11:28 AM
04/13/2016 11:28 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 177 Georgia, USA
GeorgiaTing
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 177
Georgia, USA
|
Don't forget to check out the CBG webcam post to see a real time shot of Cane Garden.
“Dawn comes early on a boat, right Captain? That’s right it happens everyday just about sun up!”
|
|
|
Re: Must do's
[Re: GeorgiaTing]
#94010
04/13/2016 11:29 AM
04/13/2016 11:29 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 177 Georgia, USA
GeorgiaTing
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 177
Georgia, USA
|
That's CGB not CBG of course.
“Dawn comes early on a boat, right Captain? That’s right it happens everyday just about sun up!”
|
|
|
Re: Must do's
[Re: Breeze]
#94012
04/13/2016 11:39 AM
04/13/2016 11:39 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 177 Georgia, USA
GeorgiaTing
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 177
Georgia, USA
|
very true - everywhere you are - that's where the party is.
“Dawn comes early on a boat, right Captain? That’s right it happens everyday just about sun up!”
|
|
|
Re: Must do's
[Re: steve74]
#94014
04/13/2016 11:57 AM
04/13/2016 11:57 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 105 New York, NY, USA
pk5352
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 105
New York, NY, USA
|
We've just returned from our 3rd charter with our daughters, now 12 and 10. Highlights are always Bubbly Pool on JVD, snorkeling Cistern Point at Cooper Island, and Norman. They really love Norman and jumping off the Willy T (we go for early lunch before it gets too crowded). As for North Sound, Leverick is great, but we also like staying over by Saba Rock and getting them onto the beach at Prickly Pear. Beach trips on Anegada over to Cow Wreck are fun for everyone. We also added Scuba Certification in on this trip (did classroom and pool sessions up north and referral dives down there). This was a huge addition to the trip, but not a small commitment from a time and financial standpoint. Still, watching my 10 year old figure out Scuba diving was pretty cool. The truth is, there are very few places down there they have not enjoyed. The way we try to do it with the kids is wake up, light breakfast, get going early and get to our days destination by 11-12. Quick swim, then lunch on board followed by whatever fun thing we are going to do (hike to bubbly pool, snorkel cistern point, whatever), then chill on and around the boat until 630 dinner ashore because EVERYONE is usually too cooked to go any later than that. Its really a great way to do a family trip, and I found this last trip to be the most satisfying yet because 12 and 10 are great ages for boats. Hope you have an amazing time! -pk
|
|
|
Re: Must do's
[Re: pk5352]
#94015
04/14/2016 08:20 PM
04/14/2016 08:20 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 248
steve74
OP
Traveler
|
OP
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 248
|
Thank you all for replying! It sounds like Anegada is worth it. We have the boat for 10 nights, so we should be able to fit it in. How far in advance should I rent the car if we plan to arrive mid-morning? Can you get them that day in case we alter our itenerary and go on a different day? I have also read that it is fun to rent a car for the day on VG. Any thoughts on this are also appreciated!
Last edited by steve74; 04/14/2016 08:24 PM.
|
|
|
|