There are so many places and things to see and do when on vacation on St. John . Here we made a list of 10 of our favorite things to see and do, while enjoying your vacation.
The list is in no particular order.
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Relax on the Beach
The beautiful beaches seem endless on St. John, and there is nothing better than relaxing on the beach, doing absolutely nothing. There are a wide variety of beaches for every taste. Trunk Bay is the main tourist beach, and is picture postcard perfect. Jumbie beach is nearby and small, whereas Hawksnest Bay has good snorkeling opportunities and is easy to visit. You can rent kayaks and SUPS at Cinnamon Bay, Maho is calm and quiet, Waterlemon Bay has amazing snorkeling, and Oppenheimer beach is deserted (with a tire swing)!
2. Walk to Salomon Beach Right From St. John Escape
If you haven’t rented a jeep , or would rather not use a car to get to the beach, then a hike directly from St. John Escape to Salomon beach might be for you. It’s a beautiful, palm-fringed beach with turquoise water and it is just an easy mile-long hike. If you get really lucky, you might even have the beach to yourself. If you like, you can continue on to Honeymoon Beach, check it out, and then take a taxi home if you don’t feel like walking back.
3. Go Snorkeling
Even if you are not an avid snorkeler, give it a try for at least one day (warning it’s habit forming!). As with the beaches, there is snorkeling for every possible taste and level of ability. Snorkeling in the calm waters of Hawksnest Beach, or more advanced snorkleing at Haulover North or Waterlemon. No visit to St. John is complete without swimming with the sea turtles, which are usually found close to shore at either Maho, Francis, or Salt Pond.
4. Take a Hike
Even if hiking isn’t your thing, go on at least one hike during your stay on St. John. You will be amazed by the beautiful nature and wildlife. Only a few minutes walk or drive from town you can find yourself in complete wilderness. Another benefit of staying at St. John Escape, is the ability to start your hike right from our villa, such as the Caneel Hill or the Lind Point trails. Another favorite hike of ours is the Ram’s Head Trail. It is a beautiful hike which starts at the very remote East End of St. John at Salt Pond Beach. The most well-known hike on the island is arguably along the Reef Bay Trail.
5. Go Island Hopping
Why settle for a one island vacation? One of the top appeals of choosing St. John for your vacation is its proximity and convenient access to other U.S. and British Virgin Islands. Perhaps our favorite day trip is to get out to the nearby BVIs, the home of the Soggy Dollar Bar, Foxys and The Baths. There are several ways to get to the BVIs, including public ferry, by private charter of a powerboat, or on a group day sail with the larger boats. Another option is to rent a dinghy and just explore the North Shore beaches on St. John.
6. Explore the Island
Leave town and go wandering about. The best way to really see St. John is by renting a jeep, if only for a day. You don’t even have to venture far from St. John Escape to see iguanas, donkeys, deer, peacocks and the mongoose. Many historic sites and ruins like Annaberg Plantation, the old windmill at Peace Hill (one of my favorite photo ops) or the ruins at Cinnamon Bay or Caneel Bay don’t even require a long hike. The island is 9 miles of twisting and turning roads; with scenic overlooks dotting much of North Shore Road. So get out and explore!
7. Watch the Sunset
Sunsets on St. John are spectacular, the kind you will never forget. Of course you can watch them from one of the North Shore Road overlooks, from a boat during a sunset cruise, while sitting at the waterfront bars, but our hands down favorite spot is from the terrace of St. John Escape with a drink in your hand!
8. Rent a Kayak or Stand Up Paddleboard
St. John is largely undeveloped. To put some perspective on it, get out on the water and discover the stunning scenery from your kayak or SUP. There are several great kayak rental and ecotour operations on island. Yes, sitting on the beach is great but sometimes to you need to paddle out to see the true beauty of a beach from the water, plus you still get to see the underwater world.
9. Enjoy a Tropical Drink
Vacation means relaxing with a cold island cocktail, best served at one of the island’s beach bars! We recommend you try The Beach Bar, Joe’s Rum Hut, Drink, and High Tide. They all share wonderful views of Cruz Bay harbor and are only steps from St. John Escape. Or look for St John’s only floating bar, Angel’s Rest. usually anchored up in Hansen Bay. But then again, there’s always the terrace at St. John Escape!
10. Shopping
If shopping is your preferred entertainment, you won’t be disappointed. Just a short walk from you villa you will find cute boutiques and gift shops selling everything from diamonds to spices. Mongoose Junction is a beautiful, multi-level, outdoor shopping plaza with jewelry stores, art galleries, clothing boutiques and cafes. You might want to get yourself the iconic St. John hook bracelet to remember your awesome vacation. While shopping, consider an ice cold beer at St John Brewer’s Tap Room, followed by a wonderful meal at one of the great restaurants.