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Beautiful beaches, premier accommodations and
a rich culture and history all help to make this Island, the smaller
of the three main Islands, the perfect place to visit. Under the
United States flag as a territory, it enjoys all the benefits
of the US, yet doesn't have the restrictions and demands of a
State.
Lazy days and quiet afternoons under the palm
trees is what this Island is all about. Don't plan on getting
anywhere fast while you are here. Take your time and enjoy some
of the most beautiful and pristine beaches in the World, or walk
along the quiet streets where local fare surrounds you. Local
crafts, native West Indian crafts and things you just won't find
anywhere else.
Besides crystal-blue waters filled with colorful
marine life, St. John' beaches boast some of the finest luxury
resorts in the world. Incredible views, fabulous dining and every
amenity imaginable are the hallmarks of these legendary properties-and
all make for the vacation of a lifetime. When only the finest
accomodations will do, make it a vacation villa!
Want all the comforts of home while you're away?
The villas and cottages of the Virgin Islands provide the ultimate
in privacy and luxurious living for just the two of you, the whole
family or even a group of your friends-all in a beautiful tropical
setting. Check out 800villas.com
or Kingsbluff.com
for a sampling of this wonderful Island's villa accomodations.
The most popular location on St. John is Cruz
Bay. This is where all the connections to St. John begin. If you
arrive on ferry, which is how most arrive to this Island, you
will arrive at the heart of downtown St. John. Situated on a picturesque
harbor at the west end of town, is this laid-back town. Quaint
shops and restaurants bring local flare to the town and local
crafts to market. The local streets are lined with shops, cafes
and juice bars.
The National Park center is also located in
Cruz Bay where exhibits will introduce you to the park's flora,
fauna and history. Park rangers can tell you about the weekly
activities, including adventure hikes, snorkeling trips, history
programs and nature walks. One of the most popular programs is
the Reef Bay Hike. A moderate three-mile downhill trail passes
through moist forest and cactus woodland before reaching the shore.
You can stop along the way to observe petroglyphs and sugar-mill
ruins.
Another popular place for visitors is the Annaberg
Plantations. These ruins, located on the northern coast, will
make a memorable stop. Here you can tour the factory buildings
and windmill of this 1733 estate and take in sensational views
of the British Virgin Islands.
The Bordeaux Mountains peak on St. John at a
height of 1,277 feet, the highest point on this small Island.
At the top you'll get a splendid view of the sea, as well as of
the bay trees along the road; the leaves are used in the production
of bay rum, the major industry on the Island.
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No trip to St. John would be complete without
a trip to one or two of its world-famous beaches. Check out these
fine beaches:
- Caneel Bay - located next to Cruz Bay
- Hawksnest Bay - Locals often head to this
beach during high tourist season. Located relatively close to
Cruz Bay on the north shore, it is a smaller and quieter beach
than some of the others.
- Trunk Bay - by far the most popular beach
among visitors, the beach itself is pure white sand and is bordered
by lush tropical foliage. Trunk Bay is known for its underwater
snorkel trails comprised of fifteen plaques that identify corals
and fish that inhabit these waters.
- Cinnamon Bay - A National Park with campground,
this incredible beach has excellent snorkeling, a park store,
water-sports rentals and scenic views of neighboring Islands.
You can rent windsufing equipment, kayaks and mountain bikes.
Across the road from the campground are many nature trails that
take you adventuring through the mountains through lush tropical
forests, old rum mills and some of the finest views in the Caribbean.
- Maho Bay - another National Park with campgrounds,
this beach is also a must see. Very quiet with the ultimate
pristine beauty.
- Francis Bay and Leinster Bay - these are
also lovely spots to check out on the north shore.
Nightlife here is not what you will find elsewhere.
Upscale, elegant restaurants with World-renowned chefs and the
finest foods greet you with gentle tap on the shoulder. After
dark there are many places for food, drink and light activity.
Each year on St. John during the month of June
and culminating the first week of July, St. John celebrates Carnival.
During the weeks leading up to the finale, there are celebrations
and activities such as Food Fair, Pan-O-Rama (a steelpan music
showcase), bike races, swimming and road races, beauty and talent
pageants and much more. Most locals are busy preparing native
West-Indian foods for the fairs and making and crafting costumes
for Carnival parade.
Carnival is usually held in "Carnival Village"
located in the Customs parking lot a block from the Cruz Bay ferry
dock. The village opens at 7pm and hosts such local delites as
beef pates, conch in butter sauce or fried flying fish. Later
in the evening you have local steele pan bands and reggae bands
play until late into the night.
Festivities reach their peak with J'Ouvert,
usually the first Monday in July, which is a boisterous pre-dawn
tramp to music, followed by late morning Grand Parade where costumed
troups, colorful floats and steele-pan bands and mocko jumbi stilt-walkers
dance and wind their way to music throughout Cruz Bay. The excitement
is capped by a fireworks show later that night and more music
and celebration in Carnival Village to cap off the celebration.
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