| Reviews and photos of St. John attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for St. John sightseeing. Map |
 | St. John Things To Do | Tips 1 - 10 of 72 |  |
This park was established by US presidnet Eisenhower in 1956 & has grown in years to encompass about 75% of the island. There are multiple trail hikes, hidden beachesm seashore strolls, snorkelling opportunities right off shore and if you are feeling very environmental, nature talks at both Cinnamon Bay campground and Maho Bay Campground nightly. Leave a Comment
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Described by many as the most beautiful beach on the island. Trunk Bay may have been rated in the top ten beaches in the world but many people that we spoke to prefered Cinnamon Bay as there were less crowds and if you walk to the end of the beach, the sand meets a coral reef and you can do some unbelievable snorkelling almost right from the shore, just put your face in the water. There are windsurfing, kayaking, beach chairs, floats, hobie-cats and many other beach activities for rent when you arrive. Leave a Comment
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We found a deserted beach that I think is Jumbie Bay. We were driving along and saw a set of stairs leading down to the beach. We stopped, got out, and walked down and found ourselves completely alone. It was so beautiful and peaceful.
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Stunning Maho Bay has some of the calmest waters on St. John. This is a great beach for families with small children since the water is shallow a long way out and extremely clear.
Also this is a great beach to try and spy and swim with turtles as they nest around here. There are no facilities at this beach, just nature at its best, so come prepared with drinks and everything else you'll need Leave a Comment
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I highly recommend snorkeling Watermelon Cay which is touted as the best snorkeling on the island. First however you must hike along Leinster Bay Trail, unless you have rented a boat to get to the Cay. You can park your car or get a ride to the parking lot for the Annaberg Sugar Mill Ruins and the clearly marked trailhead starts right off the road and continues along the water's edge for a solid 20-30 minutes. You'll hike along pebbly Leinster Bay, pass a sandy stretch of shoreline, and finally emerge at a rocky beach marked by a large tractor tire. From there it is an easy swim out to Watermelon Cay.
The snorkeling here was GREAT! You'll see starfish dotting the ocean floor, spotted eagle rays, fan and brain coral, nurse sharks, stoplight fish, parrot fish, barracudas, leatherback turtles, and many other species I am unable to identify. This is an ideal place for the whole family to snorkel as there is only a mild current that is easily manageable for a moderate swimmer. To go with the current swim it counter clockwise.
A word of warning. Have someone watch your pack if it has any food in it as the mongoose will be ready and waiting for unsuspecting snorkelers to leave their packs and food unattended. They are quite adept at opening packs and will steal your food if you give them the chance. Leave a Comment
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One of the first things we noticed about St. John was that the beaches were much more crowded. We still managed to find some quiet moments, but as a rule, there were more people on the beaches here. It may be because these beaches are considered to be some of the best in the Virgin Islands.
Maho Bay was so calm and peaceful. The water was a bit cloudy because of the amount of people kicking up sand, but we still had a great time snorkeling. Check out my pictures to see what we saw here!
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To reach this beach/island, you have to hike the Leinster Bay Trail and continue past Leinster Bay. It's not far until you reach Waterlemon Bay. In the distance you can see Waterlemon Cay. It is great fun (and a bit scary) to swim out to this island and snorkel along the way.
I am usually someone that sticks as close to possible to shore, so this was an impressive feat for me. It was amazing to look down and see the ocean floor 50-60 feet below you. As you get close to the island, the current is stronger, so be careful.
There are tons of sea urchins and rocks when you enter this beach, so take caution until you get farther out into the water.
I highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys adventure. The hike and snorkel are a great combination.
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This beach seemed to be packed during the day. We went after hours (around 5 pm), and there was still a bit of a crowd, but nothing like during the day. There is an admission fee to this beach ($4/adult).
Trunk Bay is popular because of its underwater snorkeling trail. There are signs identifying coral and fish that you may see while underwater. Needless to say, this area has been damaged, and we didn't think the snorkeling was very good here.
It's still a neat experience, but I would highly recommend going early in the morning or later in the day to avoid the crowds.
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You park at Lameshur Bay and begin an uphill climb to Reef Bay Trail. It's about a 5 mile roundtrip hike. There are overlooks and other trails along the way. We stopped and saw petroglyphs along this trail. It is one of the most popular hikes in the Virgin Islands, but we didn't see many people along the way. Make sure you take plenty of water and try to go in the morning.
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Caneel Bay is probably most recognized as home to the Caneel Bay Resort. If you are not staying at the resort, you are still allowed to visit Caneel Bay. You just have to check in with the security guard at the entrance. Caneel Bay was very pretty, but it was crawling with people and boats, so we didn't stay long.
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on August 28, 2004
on August 4, 2008
on December 28, 2005
