Our St. John Favorites We Never Skip

If you’ve spent more than five minutes around me, you’ve probably heard me talk about St. John.

We’ve been several times now, and somehow we’re usually talking about the next trip before we’ve even made it home.

Of course, the beaches are incredible and the water is about as blue as it gets. But what keeps bringing us back is the whole feel of the island.

Coffee outside in the morning. A day at the beach or exploring without much of a plan. Dinner in Cruz Bay, a glass of wine, and a sunset.

We’ve been asked more than once, “We’re going to St. John. What shouldn’t we miss?”

So here’s my list.

This definitely isn’t a complete guide, and things change. It’s also been more than a year since our last visit. But these are the places and experiences we’ve enjoyed enough to return to again and again.

Where We’d Stay: Rent a Villa

If your budget allows, I’d absolutely consider renting a villa or home instead of staying in a traditional hotel.

One of my favorite parts of St. John is that you actually enjoy where you’re staying. Morning coffee on the terrace, dinner by the pool, a sunset from the balcony, and the sound of tree frogs at night.

For us, having our own little spot on the island is part of the experience.

Getting There: Start Your Vacation Early

After a long travel day, I want the rest of the trip to be easy.

We’ve found the Crown Bay Marina ferry to be one of the easiest ways to get from St. Thomas to St. John. The ride is beautiful, and honestly, stepping onto the boat feels like the vacation has officially started.

By the time you get to St. John, you’re already in island mode.

Exploring the Island: Rent the Jeep

I’d consider a Jeep a must on St. John.

The roads are steep, winding, and occasionally a little exciting, but that’s part of the fun. Some of the best beaches and overlooks require getting out on those roads.

We’ve always had good experiences with Aquarius Car Rental, and having our own vehicle means we can come and go whenever we want.

And don’t be afraid to take the long way. Some of our favorite stops have been the ones we made simply because we saw a view we liked.

Where We’d Eat Again

After a day in the sun, a good dinner is hard to beat.

Here are a few places we’d happily go back to:

Longboard

If I’m ordering one drink in Cruz Bay, there’s a good chance it’s the Heart & Sol from Longboard. It’s bright, refreshing, and just different enough to be memorable.

Grab a seat outside and settle in.

Lovango Rum Bar

Beach day + wood-fired pizza = a pretty good combination.

Lovango Rum Bar is relaxed, the pizza is excellent, and it’s exactly the kind of easy dinner I want after a day on the water.

Morgan’s Mango

If you’re looking for one nicer dinner, put Morgan’s Mango on the list. But make reservations in advance!

The atmosphere is warm, the seafood is excellent, and if your timing happens to line up with lobster night, even better. We’ve always enjoyed coming back here.

North Shore Deli

One of my favorite ways to spend a day on St. John is to pack lunch and explore.

North Shore Deli makes that easy. Grab sandwiches, snacks, and drinks, throw everything in a cooler, and head out.

Some of the best lunches are the ones eaten with sandy feet and an ocean view.

The Beaches We’d Put on the List

Choosing a beach on St. John is not exactly a bad problem to have. There are so many good ones.

But these are a few that stand out for different reasons.

Maho Bay

If it were someone’s first trip to St. John, Maho would probably be one of the first beaches I’d recommend.

The water is calm, access is easy, and you have a good chance of seeing sea turtles. It’s also a great spot for paddleboarding, snorkeling, or just spending the day in the water.

Gibney Beach

Gibney feels a little more tucked away.

Parking is limited, which helps keep the beach from feeling as crowded. If you get there early enough to find a spot, it can feel like you’ve found your own little stretch of St. John.

Salt Pond Bay

Salt Pond takes a little more effort since you have to walk down to the beach, but it’s worth it.

It’s quieter than some of the more accessible beaches, with beautiful water and good snorkeling. It’s one of the places I’d make the effort to visit.

Experiences Worth Making Time For

You can make a St. John trip as lazy or adventurous as you want. We’ve done a little of both.

A Boat Day

A boat day is one of our favorite St. John experiences.

You can explore quieter beaches, snorkel remote coves, and see parts of the island you simply can’t get to by car.

It’s also just a really fun way to spend a day.

Mangrove Snorkeling

This isn’t necessarily the first excursion people mention when they talk about St. John, but it’s one of the most unique we’ve done.

Snorkeling through the mangroves feels completely different from snorkeling a reef. It’s quiet, the scenery is different, and there’s plenty of marine life to see.

Ram Head Trail

If I could recommend one hike, it would probably be Ram Head.

The trail is beautiful, but the view at the end is what makes it worth the effort. You get out there with the ocean in every direction, and it’s one of those views you’ll remember.

A Day Trip to Jost Van Dyke

If you have time for a day trip to the British Virgin Islands, I’d definitely consider Jost Van Dyke.

Beach hop, have lunch with your toes in the sand, and order a Painkiller at Soggy Dollar.

It’s pretty hard to have a bad day there.

Don’t Overplan It

This might be my biggest piece of advice.

Don’t feel like you need to fill every day with plans.

Some of our favorite St. John memories have come from staying at a beach longer than we expected, pulling over because we liked the view, or heading into Cruz Bay with nowhere we needed to be.

Leave yourself some room to do whatever sounds good that day.

Why We Keep Going Back

I think the easiest way to explain it is that St. John just feels good to us.

We love the beaches, obviously. We love being outside all day. We love the restaurants, the views, the little adventures, and having nowhere we need to be.

And after several trips, we still haven’t run out of things we’d like to do.

So if you’re planning your first trip to St. John, I hope this gives you a few ideas to start with.

And if you see us there, there’s a pretty good chance we’ll be the people heading to the beach with a cooler full of lunch.