St. John, the smallest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, retains a tranquil, unspoiled beauty uncommon in the Caribbean or anywhere else in the world. Settled in the early 1700’s by Danish immigrants attracted to the island’s potential as a sugar cane producing colony, St. John soon blossomed into a thriving economy. The island’s unspoiled forests and stunning beaches attracted the attention of wealthy families who sought privacy and tranquility on the island. In 1956, Laurence Rockefeller was so moved by the island that he bought and donated broad expanses of land to the National Park Service to keep St. John “a thing of joy forever.” St. John was recently voted “Best Island in the Caribbean/Atlantic” by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler in the publication’s prestigious annual Readers’ Choice Awards poll. The following are some of the island’s highlights and attractions: Virgin Islands National Park Two-thirds of St. John’s 19 square miles is designated as protected national park land. Laurence Rockefeller deeded approximately 9,500 acres of rolling green hills and underwater preserve to the federal government more than 40 years ago. There are 22 self-guided hiking trails within the Virgin Islands National Park, where visitors can discover ancient petroglyphs and beautiful foliage along the way. Ecotourism Sustainable tourism programs and environmentally safe practices keep the island pristine and clean. Visitors are encouraged to appreciate the previous resources of the natural environment while enjoying the island’s beauty. Numerous ecotourism activities and attractions ensure the preservation of natural resources and ecosystems. Unique Accommodations St. John offers a variety of accommodation styles to suit all tastes and preferences. The island has two major luxury resorts – Caneel Bay Resort, and The Westin St. John. In addition, there are a plethora of villas, condominiums, and bed and breakfast inns from which to choose….
There is no question that the turquoise waters and alabaster shorelines of St. John are some of the most beautiful scenery one can enjoy. There are few things in this world more relaxing and more awe-inspiring than dipping one’s toes in the clear Caribbean Sea as the tropical sun shines down from above with lush green hillsides all around. But step off that beach and walk into Cruz Bay in nothing but your bathing suit, and you’ve likely offended someone. It is customary here for ladies to don their coverups and men should put their t-shirts on after they leave the beach. Traditionally, U.S. Virgin Islanders are a conservative people who aren’t particularly pleased to watch bikini-clad women walking down the street. Although the cooks at Skinny Legs never mind when one of those bikini-clad vacationers walks into the restaurant, you’ll get more smiles from people if you throw on a coverup when you leave the beach. It’s also customary for people to greet each other when they walk down the street and definitely when they enter a shop or restaurant. A friendly “Good Morning” or “Good Afternoon” is all it takes. And don’t get confused when someone says “Good Night,” they mean “Hello” not “Goodbye.” That one confused me for a while when we first moved here. Manners and friendliness are the name of the game here. Virgin Islanders are so friendly, in fact, our recently installed roundabout in Cruz Bay often comes to a standstill when one motorists stops mid-way around to let a friend or relative to enter the circle. The fact that circles are not supposed to function is beside the point entirely. The overly courteous maneuvering certainly makes for friendly, albeit confusing, motoring. Since we’re on the topic of driving, you know of course that…
In May we had the opportunity to visit St. John, USVI and stay at two terrific villas, One in Cruz Bay the other in Coral Bay. The first week we stayed at Las Brisas Caribe on the south side of Cruz Bay with a beautiful view of the island of St. Thomas in the distance. The second week we went to the east end of the island and spent a week at Blue Palm Villa overlooking Coral Bay. I know that this is not your typical “road trip” as it involves flying 5 hours to get to the destination, however the roads of St. John are an adventure in themselves. The island is 19.61 sq miles in area with two-thirds of the island owned by the National Park Service, so most of the island is undeveloped. Some of the most picturesque beaches in the Caribbean are located along the island’s north shore. The most spectacular and well known of these is Trunk Bay, which has been consistently voted one of the ten best beaches in the world. Since the beaches are located on National Park land, they are all open to the public with the exception of Caneel Bay, which is privately owned. The reefs near St. John beaches are also world-famous for their snorkeling and marine activities. In some areas, such as Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay, signs identifying various marine flora and fauna have been placed by the National Park Service among the many offshore coral reefs to assist snorkelers and divers. The beaches on the east end are mostly pebble and coral with a few sandy spots scattered around. In most cases to get to these secluded beaches requires a short hike through natural terrain. St. John is a volcanic island and has many hills and sharp…