Curator’s statement
For the past 10 years, St. John in the US Virgin Islands has been my secret, hidden gem. It is a land full of gorgeous beaches and untouched nature, for Virgin Islands National Park makes up more than half of the island. A visitor can easily have a great burger or a fancy dinner with wine after a day of snorkeling and hiking. St. John checks all the boxes when it comes to a romantic getaway or a family vacation.
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Things to do in St. John
Trunk Bay- ranked one of the world’s most beautiful beaches and check out the self-guided underwater snorkeling trail.
Cinnamon Bay- The longest beach on St. John. Here, you can snorkel to see the wreckage of a small plane crash.
Maho Bay Beach — this beach is always a favorite spot. It’s easy to park at and a great place to spot some sea turtles in their natural habitat.
Jumbie Beach- A true hidden gem with less than six parking sports. Park and hike down to the beach for a near-private beach experience.
The Mermaid’s Chair — There are two ways to get to this hard-to-reach beach — swim/snorkel or boat/kayak.
Eat amazing tacos at Lime Out — This floating restaurant is only reachable by boat and has the most amazing drinks, tacos and of course, merch!
Hiking-Virgin Islands National Park provides a wide variety of hiking experiences and more than 20 trails to choose from. Hikes of various distances, ranging from easy to strenuous! The Reef Bay Trail is a favorite!
Explore- rent a Jeep and explore the entire island on your own time.
Kayak & Snorkel — paddle through protected waters into the hard-to-access white sand beaches of the US Virgin Islands National Park.
Day Trip to islands-Book a charter trip to visit the nearby British Virgin Islands for the day. Some favorite are VoodooVI and Cruz Bay Water Sports.
Take the ferry over to St Thomas for some shopping and visit Magen’s Bay Beach.
Places to eat & drink in St. John
High Tide- The ultimate “start here”(or “end here!”) place on Saint John! Right next to the ferry- breakfast, lunch and dinner- and the best Painkillers on the island!
La Tapa Plage- wonderful spot for a special occasion family dinner.
Skinny Legs- the best burgers on the island. It’s in Coral Bay.
Morgan’s Mango- Tuesdays and Saturdays feature the best lobster dinner on the island!
St. John's fancy drinks for fancy people with a great view!
Banana Deck- great for casual, fun family dinners
The Lime Inn — This is Lime Out’s big sister. Even more tacos, on land, right in Cruz Bay!
The Windmill Bar- The absolute best view on the island.
Extra Virgin-Make reservations for your “date night” here.
North Shore Deli — Grab your amazing sandwiches and salads here and bring them to the beach or out on your charter boat day.
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Travel Advisor
Marci Gelinas
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This guide is part of our ongoing series on US Virgin Islands. Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out Keith Fitzgerald's guide, Family Guide to St. John USVI.