We've added a few here, but this website is great for detailing everything about the island in one place!
MONGOOSE JUNCTION
Mongoose Junction, located in Cruz Bay, is St John’s premier shopping area. This attractive, stone-and-mahogany center features…
-
Great restaurants (Sun Dog Café, Deli Grotto, St John Brewery, Greengo’s, Scoops)
-
Live music and performances several nights a week at the Sun Dog Café
-
The Bajo el Sol Performance Bar for treats, special art, and cultural presentations.
-
Numerous shops for those wanting something very special (island jewelry), something fun (t-shirts galore), souvenirs, clothes, elegant housewares
-
And more!
THE REEF BAY TRAIL
Reef Bay Trail is a 2.2 mile out-and-back trail located near Coral Bay. The trail is primarily for hiking and bird watching, and features some great trees, like a huge kapok tree. The trail goes through two forests and past the remains of deserted sugar mill. It ends at the beach. The trail is mostly downhill.
Because the trail is in the Virgin Islands National Park, park rangers lead hikes, providing interesting information about the flora and fauna and history. Visit Friends of Virgin Islands National Park for information about taking a guided hike. They provide a ride to the top of the hike and even a boat at the bottom to pick you up so you don't have to climb back up! Unless you want to.
The best part of this hike is the PETROGLYPHS! keep reading...
ST JOHN PETROGLYPHS
As part of the Reef Bay Trail hike, you will encounter a group of Taino petroglyph carvings. Some of the carvings are located above a reflection pool of water and were thought to be the symbols for "water". There is no exact way to confirm they are authentic Taíno carvings but the most popular theory is that they are from pre-Columbian inhabitants. The petroglyph symbol has come to be widely used in jewelry and other articles as the “symbol” of St. John.
ST JOHN'S NORTH SHORE BEACHES
St John is known for its glorious beaches, and many famous ones are along the North Shore in the National Park. Several are often found on lists of “the world’s most beautiful beaches!” These are a few of the North Shore beaches closest to Cruz Bay. Further along the North Shore Road you’ll find more great ones, such as Maho and Waterlemon Cay (out near Annaberg Plantation). Other parts of the island also have beaches you don’t want to miss.
Drink a Proper Pusser's Rum Painkiller
No vacation starts on St. John until you’ve had your first painkiller of the trip. The original painkiller cocktail was created at the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke in the neighboring British Virgin Islands. Therefore, you will see painkillers on virtually every cocktail menu on St John. Recipe Here
Take a day trip to the "east end" of the island and visit Coral Bay
This link will tell you all about it. Its about a 30 min drive but you can stop and visit a few of our favorite spots like Francis Bay Beach, Salt Pond and Hansen Beach. Take your snorkel gear, towels and a cooler. If you make it all the way to Hansen, there is not an entrance fee, but a tip jar. We usually put $20 in and stay for an hour or so to snorkel. Say hello to the locals under the big tree when you arrive. This beach is amazing! Drive slow, about 17-18 MPH. If someone is tailgating, simply pulll over and let them pass. Enjoy the journey over there, it's incredible. The shopping/merch at Skinny Legs is the best for t-shirts, souvenirs, lunch and drinks!
ANNABERG SUGAR PLANTATION
As of 1780, the Annaberg Sugar Plantation was one of 25 active sugar producing factories on St. John. One of the biggest plantations on St John, Annaberg also produced molasses and rum for export. Slave labor was used to clear densely forested hillsides and to terrace the slopes around Annaberg to make farming possible. Slave labor was also used to plant, harvest and process the sugarcane. When slavery was abolished, the 518 acres that were once Annaberg Plantation were divided into smaller farms.
Today the plantation ruins are protected by the Virgin Islands National Park. The extensive ruins include a windmill tower, factory, slave quarters and other structures associated with sugar production. Trees have reclaimed the hillsides which were once used for growing cane around Annaberg. A trail leads through factory ruins, slave quarters, windmill and other remains. Placards and signs along the trails describe how sugar was produced and discuss plantation life and the history behind sugar plantations on St. John.
