If you have ever been to the U.S. Virgin Islands (or any of the Virgin Islands, for that matter) you know they are spectacularly beautiful and incredibly relaxing – a perfect getaway from the hustle of everyday life. This summer I had the chance to go to Saint John and visit a handful of other Virgin Islands along the way. Saint John is the smallest of the USVI’s at only 7 miles long and 3 miles wide. Fortunately, this makes it totally possible to see the entire island in one visit. Saint John’s perimeter is adorned with a series of little bays and secluded beaches, you could easily spend a whole week on this island going from beach to beach, lounging, snorkeling and swimming with sea turtles.

I stayed at the Westin resort, but even if you aren’t staying there it is a great place to visit. The resort sits on a sheltered bay where they set up a water trampoline, slide, inflatable pyramid and other fun activities in the ocean just a couple yards off the shore. Plus, with the beautiful pool and cheap rentals of kayaks, paddle boards, and hobie cat sailboats (aka small sailboats that only fit 4 people and sit very low on the water) it’s definitely a fun spot to visit.

There are numerous other bays surrounding Saint John’s that are absolutely worth a visit, but the easiest way to do so is to rent a car for a day or two and make your way around the island. Snorkel gear typically costs $10 per day and most hotels have rental shops. My favorite beach was Maho Bay, which is known for always having sea turtles.  They are very friendly creatures and not at all afraid of people so they typically swim pretty close to you as they go to the surface for air, but make sure not to touch them – they are endangered and it’s important to keep your distance so the population of turtles there can continue to grow. Of course, there is Trunk Bay, which is one of the most well-known bays on the island because of the beautiful beaches and its proximity to the main town, but this one costs around $5 per person to enter and the other bays around the island are equally beautiful and have fewer people!

Cruz Bay is the main town on the island where the ferries come and go and there are tons of restaurants – my favorites were, Rhumb Line, High Tide and Cruz Bay Landing. Rhumb Line is a great spot for something a little different – their food has Thai inspired flavors and some of the best seafood around! I had the salmon and it was probably the best salmon I’ve ever had. In Cruz Bay there is also a great market called Starfish that has lots of groceries if you want to save some money on meals. If you like hiking, on the opposite side of the island from Cruz Bay, there is Coral Bay that has many easy to moderate level hikes that go to some great views that are worth checking out.

From any of the Virgin Islands it is easy to take a boat charter to the other islands nearby – just keep in mind that if you are going from the US virgin islands to the British (or vice versa), 
remember to bring your passport. I took a tour from St. John’s to Virgin Gorda and Norman Island (British Virgin Islands) and I’m so glad that I did. Virgin Gorda is well-known for its incrediblebaths, which are caves and pools of shallow blue water created by beautiful granite boulders. Norman Island is a phenomenal place to snorkel with more underwater life than you could explore in one day.

Saint John is a beautiful island that is just secluded enough to have a slow island pace but plenty to do to keep you busy for a week. If you are looking for a beach vacation that’s a little more laid back than the typical Mexico trip, definitely think about the Virgin Islands!

The adventure continues,

Lauren