Guide to Traveling St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Beautiful white sand beaches, a lush national park, and snorkeling for even the most amateur adventurers await you at St. John, part of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Traveling to St. John can be a bit time consuming, and usually requires a stop in San Juan, Puerto Rico and another flight to St. Thomas. Once in St. Thomas, St. John is less than an hour away by ferry. If you tend to get queasy on rough waters, be sure to bring along your Dramamine or sea bands. The trip is short, but the ocean waters surrounding these islands can be a bit rough.

When you arrive on St. John, you will have several resorts and hotels are available for your stay, or you could opt to rent a condominium, villa, or guest house for your stay. If you are feeling truly adventurous, you can also camp on the island.

I recommend the Westin, St. John. The resort has 174 guest rooms and suites, as well as 92 villas. If you opt to stay in the villas, be sure to choose one with a patio or balcony. During my stay at the Westin, I found the one-room villa to be very spacious and comfortable. We enjoyed a full kitchen, a washer and dryer, two full baths, and separate bedroom and living areas. If you stay in a hillside villa, be warned that even though the view is terrific, getting around the grounds can be cumbersome. The hills are extremely steep. The resort staff is more than happy to drive you where you need to go, but be prepared to wait for your ride.

If you decide to venture off the resort, St John has over 31 beaches. One of my favorites is Cinnamon Bay. Be sure to ask the concierge about when the cruise ships will be visiting the area. While Cinnamon Bay is normally a quiet getaway, it soon gets overrun by guests when the cruise ships are in the area.

When you are at Cinnamon Bay, you can rent snorkeling equipment, sea kayaks, sailboards, and small sailboats. You can even get a lesson. If you get tired of the beach at Cinnamon Bay, take the Cinnamon Loop Trail. The trail passes through an old sugar factory and an old Danish cemetery. Since the trail is shaded by tropical trees, it provides a nice escape from the sun.

Shopping on St. John is as relaxing as laying on the beach. At Mongoose Junction, you will find dozens of shops featuring local crafts, clothing, gifts, and jewelry all set in stone terraces and surrounded by tropical plants.

When you are ready for dinner, try the Fish Trap seafood market. The Fish Trap is a casual restaurant featuring a covered patio setting that is as casual as the rest of the island. If you prefer, you can eat in the air-conditioned bar instead. The Fish Trap has some of the freshest fish available, along with a wide variety of seafood.

If you prefer something less casual, Stone Terrace is an elegant restaurant that overlooks the waterfront at Cruz Bay Harbor. The chef at Stone Terrace offers a variety of dishes from coconut corn soup to a lamb duet or pan roast sirloin.

No matter how you choose to spend your days and nights on St. John, you are sure to enjoy this island's relaxed atmosphere and natural beauty.