A Few Insider Tips from One of Our Own
Over a birthday weekend aboard our VORADO catamaran, we got to talking about our favorite spots and things to do around St. John…
That conversation inspired us to share some of these tips with you, and our very own Deb Moore — who you’ll often connect with when you reach out or book a day trip — took the helm to share her insights and personal favorites for your next visit. Deb knows the island inside and out, and she’s always excited to help you make the most of your time here. Read on!
It’s not easy to narrow down the best of St. John, but here are some faves…
My Kind of Beach Day: Honeymoon or Maho Beach
St. John has so many great beaches to explore and take in a relaxing day on the sand and in the surf.
Honeymoon Beach for rest and repose.
One of the beaches we visit a lot while on island is Honeymoon Beach.
This is a very peaceful spot to watch the boats cruise by in and out of Cruz Bay. You can rent beach chairs from the small gift shop, and they have bathrooms and showers available. There are even a couple trailers serving drinks and food items. There’s definitely some decent snorkeling from the beach, but my favorite thing to do is listen to crashing waves while gazing at the beautiful ocean in front of me. It’s such a pretty spot.
Honeymoon Beach is accessible by walking from Cruz Bay on the Lind Point Trail which is a ¼ mile easy walking trail. You can choose at one point to go the upper Lind Point Trail, which has a little more incline but does reward you with a breathtaking lookout. There’s a shuttle too if you want to skip the short hike. From the Caneel Bay parking area you’ll find a pay shuttle that’ll take you straight to the beach.
Maho Beach for shallow water snorkeling.
Another beach we often visit is Maho Beach. It’s also a beautiful white sand beach looking out over Maho Bay and her neighbor Francis Bay.
This area is primarily covered in sea grass so it is a favorite spot for turtles and rays. Grab your mask, snorkel, and flippers and head into the water to check out the marine life big and small.
Turtles are amazing creatures to watch and usually don’t pay much attention to us humans as long as we give them space. Watch as they pop their heads up to catch a breath (usually 3 times) before diving back down to munch on some grass.
If you get hungry or thirsty while at Maho, stop by Maho Crossroads for yummy food, cool drinks, and gear rentals. The gift shop also offers cute souvenirs.
You can find limited parking here or grab a taxi in Cruz Bay. Arrive early to stake out a spot with a little shade as the Caribbean sun is strong.
Honeymoon Beach from above
Take a Hike, See Some Ancient Ruins
I already mentioned Lind Point Trail which is an easy trail that is accessible from Cruz Bay and an perfect way to get out into nature.
There are many, many more challenging trails on St. John. I tend to slow down a lot on big inclines, lol, but I have tried several trails and hikes to see some of the islands beautiful views and even ancient ruins.
My favorite hike has to be the Ram Head Trail.
Ram Head trail starts in Salt Pond on the South side of the island. It is a dirt trail that starts near the water and ends up on the peak of the hill with breathtaking views. I love to make this hike at sunset to watch the sun set over the water.
Another interesting trail is Reef Bay Trail.
This trail winds its way down to the water where you can see the sugar mill ruins and there’s usually some interesting wildlife on the trail like birds, iguanas, hermit crabs, mongoose, very tame deer, and more.
There is an offshoot trail that leads to Petroglyphs (ancient drawings on the rocks) that are near a waterfall that is running when island rains have been good.
The tropical trails of St. John
Some of My Favorite Eats and Drinks in Cruz Bay, St. John
St. John has food and drinks for everyone with everything from basic bar food to fancy sit-down meals and everything in between. I’ll highlight just a couple of my personal favorites, but it’s fair to say I have never had a bad meal on St. John.
I could go on and on about restaurants I enjoy, perhaps more to come in the future!
Looking to grab a pre-dinner or post-dinner cocktail?
Try out Drink in Cruz Bay. This bar only does drinks — no food served here. They have a fun, lively vibe with delicious cocktails made with fresh-squeezed juices right in front of you at the bar. The bartenders are hopping when it is busy but they’re always super friendly. Drink features live music from local musicians, prompting many an island sing-along.
The Beach Bar is a personal favorite.
Within close walking distance of where we usually stay, The Beach Bar has a super friendly staff and their style of waiting on guests as a group means you are never waiting to get a drink or food. Whether at the bar or on the beach picnic tables, the views are amazing as you look out over the water. The food service is quick and delicious — I love the shrimp tacos and chicken nachos the best!
The Beach Bar features local live musicians often, so stop in for a listen. While at The Beach Bar, be sure to notify friends and family back home to pull up their webcam online and give a wave to the folks back home. This is also a great way to get my island fix when I am back home in a Midwest winter.
Morgan’s Mango is a favorite spot for a nice sit-down white-tablecloth dinner.
It’s situated in Mongoose Junction and has a welcoming atmosphere and friendly waitstaff. The bartenders craft beautiful cocktails with an excellent wine selection.
From appetizers to desserts, this menu is delicious from start to finish, and you will not walk away hungry. They feature a little Caribbean flair in many of their items from the land and sea.
On Tuesdays and Saturdays, they feature Lobster Night with fresh lobster sold by the pound, butter for dipping, and seasoned rice, beans, and plantains.
Reservations are usually needed for a table here in advance of your trip. You can always ask to be seated at the bar if they have open availability — we did this once and had a great conversation with the bartender who was very entertaining.
If you are craving pizza…
There are two spots I recommend: The Tap Room and Lovango Rum Bar.
The Tap Room is in Mongoose Junction and offers pizza, burgers, salads, and wraps. They also serve craft beer and their own Love City Seltzers on tap. You can find their seltzers all over the island sold in cans as well. They have TVs in the restaurant in case you have a game you want to watch in a fun laid-back atmosphere. They are open for lunch and dinner most days.
Lovango Rum Bar also serves pizza, salads, and appetizers. They feature specialty cocktails using their signature Lovango rum. The atmosphere here is comforting with indoor and outdoor seating. They are open from 4 pm – midnight most days and feature live music outside most nights as well.
Make the Sunsets Their Own Events
One of the main objectives of vacation is to relax, of course! What is more relaxing than gazing out over water and watching the sun go down?
Sunset dining at Ocean 362
You can catch a sunset on one of the many beaches, sitting on your villa veranda or at a restaurant. Ocean 362 the restaurant at Gallows Point has gorgeous sunset views (as does their pool deck if you are lucky enough to be staying there). If you can get a reservation at Ocean 362 at the bar for sunset drinks, I promise you will not regret it.
Or a sunset cocktail and a bite at The Windmill Bar
Another great sunset spot is the Windmill Bar. It is a short drive or taxi ride from Cruz Bay and has amazing views spanning from St. Thomas, Lovango and The BVI. This place has grown substantially over the last several years adding more and more seating to enjoy the sunset. They serve basic food and cocktails to help you relax while you take in the views and snap a few pictures.
This is another spot that has a live web cam so you can enjoy the views even when you are not on vacation. They often feature live music by local musicians as well. They have recently started serving breakfast so you can enjoy the vibes and views starting at 8am (Thursday-Sunday). They are open to 8pm everyday and just a word of warning, if you are taking a cab pay attention to when the last ride leaves or you will have to rely on a friendly local to get you home.
View from the Windmill Bar
Short Road Trip to Coral Bay (about 30 minutes or so on windy roads)
If you have a car or want to take a tour to the other side of the island, Coral Bay is a fun place to visit and interesting drive.
Keep left!
Along the drive to Coral Bay you will probably encounter donkeys and goats, remember they have the right of way, so take your time and enjoy the drive.
A pretty okay place…
A favorite restaurant to visit in Coral Bay is Skinny Legs (self proclaimed “A pretty ok place”). This place is known for its burgers although they serve other sandwiches and salads. You can get your burger any way you like with lots of topping choices. They serve the burgers with chips (no fryers here) or sub a salad.
The burgers are yummy and drinks are refreshing! They get super crowded and parking is limited so you may have to wait to get a table, but it is a fun experience and worth the wait.
They also have one of islands best gift shops here featuring Skinny Legs, St. John and Coral Bay merchandise. Check the website though as they are not open every day.
St. John Will Beckon You to Come Off Shore
Take a Term Charter: Morning, Day, and Night. Repeat.
I love to spend a lot of my island time on the water and first fell in love with St. John and the other Virgin Islands by doing term charters in the USVI and BVI. My husband and I have had a love for catamarans and have been sunset sailing and day chartering since our honeymoon more than 30 years ago.
Over 10 years ago, I was researching a vacation to St. John and searching for lodging on VRBO and came across a listing for a catamaran and told my husband “Did you know you can sleep on a boat like we do day sails on?”.
Hooked! But not for everyone, or every time.
We tried it out for a few nights with our 3 kids and we were hooked! Term chartering allows you to experience several islands in an area without having to pack your bags each day — your hotel goes with you.
A typical term charter has the Captain and mate preparing breakfast first thing, and after a bite to eat you can take a quick dip in the ocean or relax on the boat for a bit before setting off on the day’s adventure.
Typically, moving to the next island spot happens in the morning, and by midday the Captain will have the boat tucked into a quiet bay for the remainder of the day and night where you will gently rock to sleep.
Term chartering lets you explore many areas in one trip and gives everyone onboard the flexibility to do what they want; it is great for families or groups of couples. You can snorkel, swim, float, or relax on the boat and each person can choose what they want to do without loading everyone in the car.
You can even take a dinghy to shore to explore what the island has to offer. Most crewed term charters offer provisioning packages with food and drinks, and the ones we have been on come with 2 prepared meals a day that you eat while enjoying the ocean view from the back of your boat.
Term charters are not for everyone as quarters are small and bathrooms are more basic — think camping on the water — but it is fantastic to explore an island chain. We love term charters so much we have now done them in Greece, Italy, and French Polynesia!
Somewhere in the BVI
Take a Day Trip on the Water to Snorkel, swim, float, Beach Hop, and Cruise All In a Day’s Work Wander…
So many folks visiting St. John want to experience the beauty and adventure of getting offshore while still enjoying comfort and convenience.
They hear that call to explore these turquoise waters (rightyly so) and all the hidden gems just out of site, but they’d also like to spend time enjoying the island itself, chilling out on the beaches, hiking the trails, chatting with locals, and perhaps, just enjoying their beautiful accommodations atop of the hills with stunning views.
Day trips allow you to have the best of both worlds.
On a day trip get the thrill and adventure of snorkeling, swimming, floating and cruising the surrounding seas. But, since you’re only gone for the day, you’ll have the time on island to take a walk or a drive, enjoy the beaches and trails as you wish, relax in your cozy accommodations, enjoy downtown Cruz Bay or explore Coral Bay.
It’s a do what ever you want sort of thing and all of the options are delightful.
Somewhere off the coast of St. John
Ahem… Ideally a Day Trip with Voodoo Charters… (Shameless Plug)
We started Voodoo Charters because we wanted to bring St. John (and St. Thomas) a blend of creature comfort, amazing adventure, rest and repose, and a truly extraordinary overall experience. It’s our ongoing commitment, every day at Voodoo Charters.
With Voodoo Charters you’ll have day packed with plenty of exploration and chill time.
On a day trip with us, you’ll experience what’s waiting beyond that St. John coastline on one of our two spacious, comfortable catamarans. Both are roomy, slick, speedy, clean, effortlessly sexy, and both are great for easy access in and out of the water. Our boats are awesome vessels and they are very much part of the experience themselves.
We want our guests to be able to fully relax while our experienced crew handles anything and everything they might need. Our team puts their heart into each trip, taking their nautical skills and knowledge of the Virgin Islands to be sure every outing suits you and your group’s specific style and vibe.
Comfort and ease is prioritized on your day trip with us.
Our entire business model is designed to make exploring USVI’s and BVI’s incredible offshore surroundings easy, accessible, and absolutely exceptional. Highly (highly) recommend!!
If you’ve got questions about your trip, or you’d like to start planning a day trip with us, give us a call or text at 340-690-8272, or contact us here. You’ll probably be chatting with me, and I’m looking forward to it!
