U.S. Virgin Islands - St. John
Intro
St. John is the smallest and least populated of the US Virgin Islands. Virgin Islands National Park encloses more than half of the island and provides pristine hiking, beaches and wildlife habitats.
What I Did
After spending some time in Cruz Bay, St. John's largest town, we started driving along the northern shore. On a previous trip, when we had less time, we went for a quick hike at the Annaberg Plantation and then spent a few hours at Trunk Bay. When we had more time, we stopped at Maho Bay to swim with turtles and then continued to drive around and explore the eastern side of the island, swinging through Coral Bay and doing a short walk at the Salt Pond Bay Trail. From there we drove back across the island via the central route through the mountains and spent a bit more time in Cruz Bay before catching our ferry back to St. Thomas.
Getting Around
Most ferries dock in Cruz Bay. From there, you can rent a car in town or catch a taxi. As in St. Thomas, cars give you much more freedom and an ability to have more control over your schedule, which may be key if you need to be back in town at a specific time to catch a ferry back.
Attractions
Beaches
Maho Beach
Cinnamon Bay
Honeymoon Beach
Salt Pond Beach
Trunk Bay
Hikes
Reef Bay Trail - According to the National Park Service, this "is a strenuous hike that will take you past some of the oldest and tallest trees on the island, Danish sugar plantation ruins, stone walls from cattle grazing, and ancient rock carvings left behind by the pre-Colombian Taino." It ends on the beach on the south coast of the island.
Annaberg Plantation - easy-to-moderate hike along the coast to the ruins of an old sugar plantation and other property buildings, with the ability to continue inland into the hills.
Ram Head Trail - trail leading past Salt Pond Beach at the southeastern corner of the island
Other
Mongoose Junction - a shopping center on the outskirts of Cruz Bay with restaurants and shops, including Made in St. John, a shirt and gift company featuring items made on the island.
Neighborhoods/Areas
Cruz Bay - St. John's largest (and, really, only) town, Cruz Bay is the primary entry point to the island and has most of the island's shops, restaurants and businesses.
Coral Bay - A smaller, loosely connected community on the west side of the island. Coral Bay has the air of an artsy hippie area with just enough shops and restaurants to get by.
Food & Drink
Windmill Bar - Bar on the top of one of the mountains outside that offers a view over the water towards St. Thomas and, with clear weather, sunset.
Irie Pops - Ice pop shop in Cruz Bay
Downtown Cruz Bay has a number of restaurants packed into its handful of small blocks, with options ranging from pricey seafood and steaks, to divey island bars.
Skinny Legs - Bar in Coral Bay serving basic American standards.
Places to Stay
The largest concentration of hotels and rental houses are in Cruz Bay and the neighborhoods southeast of town, but there is a smaller smattering of options throughout the island.
