Why We Keep Going Back to St. John

If a friend called me tomorrow and said, “We’re thinking about going to St. John. What should we know?” this is pretty much the conversation I’d have with them.

First, I’d tell them not to overplan it.

St. John is one of those places where you can have a great day without much of a plan at all. Pick a beach, pack a lunch, find a shady spot, and see where the day takes you.

Leave room for a long afternoon in the water, a stop you didn’t plan on making, or dinner somewhere with a good view.

That’s a big part of why we keep going back.

St. John is beautiful without feeling overly developed. More than half of the island is protected as part of the U.S. Virgin Islands National Park, so instead of high-rise hotels and big resort areas, you get green hills, winding roads, incredible views, and some of the prettiest beaches in the Caribbean.

It’s just an easy place to enjoy.

Getting to St. John

We’re a little spoiled because getting to St. Thomas from Atlanta is relatively easy. Regardless of where you’re traveling from, though, you still have one more step.

St. John doesn’t have an airport, so you’ll arrive by boat. You can arrange a private water transfer, but the most affordable option is the ferry from St. Thomas to St. John. There are several options, but our personal favorite is the Crown Bay Marina Ferry, just five minutes from the airport. To me, it’s the most relaxing way to start the trip.

You’re on an island. The water is bright blue. And in about half an hour, you’ll be pulling into Cruz Bay.

This is where the vacation really starts.

The Beaches We Always Come Back To

There are a lot of beautiful beaches on St. John, and part of the fun is figuring out which ones you like best.

Some are better for snorkeling. Some are great for swimming. Some are quieter. And some are simply beautiful enough that you’ll want to stay all day.

Here are a few of our favorites.

Maho Bay

Maho is probably the beach I recommend most often to friends visiting St. John for the first time.

It’s just easy to love.

The water is calm and shallow, and you can snorkel with sea turtles. We’ve spent hours here without doing much of anything, which, honestly, makes Maho just about perfect.

We like getting there earlier in the day, finding a shady spot, and settling in.

Rent a paddleboard. Pack a lunch. Take a book. Grab a drink at the bar.

Or just get in the water and float around.

You really don’t need much of a plan.

Gibney Beach

If Maho is the easy favorite, Gibney feels a little more tucked away.

Parking is limited — by limited, I mean about three parking spaces — which helps keep it quieter. A short path through the trees leads down to the beach.

There are palm trees, beautiful water, and that feeling that you’ve found a little corner of the island that not everyone knows about.

It’s one of those places where I always want to stay a little longer.

Trunk Bay

If you’re visiting St. John for the first time, I’d definitely put Trunk Bay on the list. It’s iconic for a reason.

The view from the overlook is one of those classic St. John scenes: bright blue water, white sand, and green hills in the background.

There’s also an underwater snorkeling trail, which is one of the things that makes Trunk Bay so popular.

And it does get busy.

If you can, go early. Stop at the overlook for the photo, then head down to the beach. Once you’re in the water or stretched out on the sand, the crowds don’t seem nearly as noticeable.

Cinnamon Bay & Hawksnest

Both are easy to get to and worth adding to your list.

Cinnamon Bay is a good choice if you want a little more activity, with options for water sports, snorkeling, and nearby trails.

Hawksnest is a little simpler. Beautiful water, soft sand, and a great place to spend an afternoon.

And that’s one of the things I like about St. John. You can have a completely different kind of beach day depending on where you go.

Explore Beyond Cruz Bay

One of my favorite things about St. John is how different the island can feel once you leave Cruz Bay.

The drive to Coral Bay takes about twenty-five minutes, but it feels like you’ve gone somewhere completely different.

Coral Bay is quieter and more rustic, with a little less polish and a lot of personality.

If you’re exploring that side of the island, here are a few things I’d consider.

And if you’re feeling really adventurous, take a day trip over to Tortola or Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands.

Salt Pond Bay

A short walk takes you to a beautiful, peaceful beach with good snorkeling and generally fewer people.

It’s a good option when you want a beach day that feels a little removed from the busier parts of the island.

Ram Head Trail

If you like to hike, this is one I’d put on the list.

The trail takes you along the coast to some incredible views, and it’s especially beautiful around sunrise.

Just keep in mind that this is a hike, not a stroll. Bring water and be prepared for the heat.

Hansen Bay

Hansen Bay is a quiet, donation-based beach that’s a good choice when you want a relaxed afternoon without a lot of activity.

Sometimes that’s exactly what I’m looking for.

Mangrove Snorkeling

This is a completely different experience from snorkeling off the beach.

The mangroves give you a chance to see another side of St. John and its marine life, and it’s worth considering if you’re looking for something a little different.

You don’t have to do all of these.

In fact, I wouldn’t try.

Pick a few things that sound fun and leave the rest for another trip.

There’s More to St. John Than the Beaches

I know. You’re probably thinking, “Why would I leave the beach?”

I get it.

But St. John has a fascinating history, and some of my favorite stops have nothing to do with swimming.

The island is filled with remnants of its sugar plantation history, old stone ruins, hiking trails, and beautiful overlooks.

The Reef Bay Trail takes you through the forest toward ancient petroglyphs and a waterfall area.

Peace Hill is a much shorter walk and has beautiful views along with the remains of an old sugar mill.

And Annaberg Sugar Plantation is worth a stop if you want to learn more about the island’s history while taking in a pretty spectacular view.

You can easily spend most of your trip at the beach, but I think it’s worth getting out and seeing a little more of the island.

A Few Places We Love to Eat

One of my favorite things about St. John is that meals tend to be pretty casual.

You’re outside. You’re looking at the water. Nobody seems particularly interested in rushing through dinner.

A few places and experiences we’ve enjoyed:

Lime Out

Lime Out is a floating taco bar in Coral Bay, and it’s about as fun as it sounds.

You arrive by boat, get in the water, order tacos, and hang out.

It’s definitely one of those experiences that feels very St. John.

It takes a little planning to get there, but I think it’s worth it.

The Windmill Bar

If you want a good place for sunset, put this one on your list.

It sits above Cruz Bay, so you get beautiful views across the surrounding islands. It’s a great place to end a beach day.

We’ve also enjoyed Lovango Rum Bar, Morgan’s Mango, Lime Inn, The Longboard, and High Tide.

Restaurants can change over time, of course, but we’ve had some really good meals on the island.

A Few Things I’d Tell a Friend Before They Go

Stay in a Villa If You Can

One of our favorite parts of St. John is staying in a villa.

There aren’t large resort areas all over the island, and I actually think that’s part of what makes it special.

Having your own place means you can make coffee in the morning, sit outside for a while, come back from the beach whenever you feel like it, and have a quiet place to relax at the end of the day.

For us, a villa just fits the St. John experience.

Rent a Jeep

I highly recommend having your own four-wheel-drive vehicle.

The roads are steep and winding, and getting around the island is part of the fun.

You can use taxis and safari trucks, but having a Jeep gives you much more freedom to explore whenever you want.

And yes, they drive on the left.

It feels very strange for about five minutes. Then you get used to it.

Reserve Early

St. John is popular, and the best villas and rental cars can book well in advance.

If you know you want to go, I wouldn’t wait until the last minute.

Planning ahead gives you a much better selection, especially if you’re traveling during a busy time of year.

Don’t Rule Out Summer

December through April is a popular time to visit, but we’ve also really enjoyed going in the summer.

Yes, it’s hot.

But coming from Georgia, the weather doesn’t feel all that foreign to us.

The island can feel quieter, and there’s something especially nice about having a long summer day with nowhere you need to be.

One tip, avoid late summer to early fall. Businesses use this time during hurricane season, to let their staff vacation, and a large number of businesses close their doors for several weeks.

Why We Keep Going Back

I think the easiest way for me to explain why we love St. John is that it doesn’t feel like a place where you have to spend your whole vacation trying to see everything.

We can go to the same beach more than once. We can spend an entire afternoon in the water. We can stop for lunch because the view looks good. We can change our plans because we feel like it.

And sometimes our favorite part of the day is simply sitting somewhere pretty with a drink and talking.

That’s what I like about St. John.

You don’t have to work very hard to have a great day.

So if a friend were planning a trip, I’d tell them to pick a few beaches, get out and explore the island, eat somewhere with a view, rent the Jeep, and leave plenty of room in the schedule.

Because the days we remember most aren’t always the ones where we checked everything off the list.

Sometimes they’re the ones where we stayed at the beach a little longer than we planned.