Quite Possible the finest National Park On Earth
The Travel Rental Network Presents: St. John Vacation Rentals
Although the words ‘pristine’ and ‘unspoiled’ are often used to describe the US Virgin Islands (USVI), St. John is perhaps the epitome of this term. Much of the area is designated and preserved as National Park land (http://www.nps.gov/viis/index.htm), and, as a result, development has remained tastefully restricted, allowing the region’s natural beauty to shine trough. Though it’s the smallest of the three Virgin Islands, St. John still offers visitors plenty to do and see while on holiday. And with a breadth of luxurious villas and vacation rentals to choose from, there’s no better time to book that St. John vacation than right now.
If you’re coming into St. John by boat, then you’re likely landing in Cruz Bay, a lively port town offering a variety of shops, restaurants and cafes offering great views of the harbor. Take your time and explore this area, as it ‘s always fun to enjoy a few drinks at a bayside bar or some ice cream at Cruz Bay Park and enjoy the sights of happy travelers entering this island paradise for the first time.
Cruz Bay also offers a variety of boating experiences as a result of its harbor. Of course, with those shimmering Caribbean waters glistening, you may feel the urge to sail. This is completely natural. TRN recommends Sail Safaris, whose sailing and snorkeling services are consistently loved by guests and whose friendly and professional staff ensure an unforgettable experience by visiting hidden beaches and unchartered bits of island on your voyage.
Of course, there’s more to explore in St. John besides Cruz Bay. The best way to explore St. John is by car, as much of the island is accessible via easy-to-navigate roads. Driving along the coast will also offer a chance for unexpected views, while also offering travelers the opportunity to go off the beaten track and discover their own slice of paradise. Plenty of car rental companies operate out of Cruz Bay, so finding a car won’t be problem.
Regardless of your transportation method, the first area to hit after Cruz Bay is the North Shore, which is home to the a variety of beaches and lagoons to explore, each offering more peace and serenity then the next. The world-famous Cinnamon Bay offers some of the most exquisite views on earth, as well what is quite-possibly the softest sand this side of the Moon, so pick a spot to relax and watch the hours and days fly by in this sun-soaked bit of paradise. Snorkeling is very popular on this beach as well, so be on the lookout for companies offering sunset dives to enjoy the bay’s stunning underwater gardens.
The best snorkeling in St. John, however, can be found in Leinster Bay and the nearby Waterlemon Cay, a small island offering what is consistently named the highlight of many USVI trips. The snorkeling in this area is truly breathtaking, with magnificent sea grass, sea shells, star fish, squid and other exotic fish sightings occurring at a breath-taking pace. Be sure that the current is not too strong, however, as snorkeling in this area can be dangerous when the weather intensifies. Also, be aware that Leinster Bay offers a truly authentic tropical snorkeling experience – as such, there are no food and drink facilities nearby, so pack plenty of provisions.
Nearby you’ll also find Trunk Bay, which is consistently rated one of the top-ten beaches in the world. It’s so nice, in fact, that the National Park Service (NPS) actually charges those under 17 $4 to enter. Unfortunately, this fee does little to discourage crowds, so arrive early. You could also take a trip to the stunning Trunk Cay, a nearby island featuring rolling cliffs and world-famous palm trees. Trunk Bay is also home to the NPS’s underwater snorkeling trail, which offers breathtaking views of underwater vegetation that novices and experts alike will enjoy.
Trunk Bay is also a stone’s throw away from Annaberg Plantation, a charming site that offers a great deal of history regarding St. John’s colonial past. The former sugar, rum and molasses plantation itself functions as a sort of ruin, with the NPS offering tours four days a week that elaborates on the plantation’s history and its cultural significance to USVI. The 518-acre plantation offers guests a chance to tour colonial-era windmills, a sugar factory, a mill round, and the slaves quarters’, so don’t miss out on this unique learning opportunity. Admission is $4 for those under 17, but if you’ve visited Trunk Bay that day, then admission is free (and vice versa).
Bird lovers will also enjoy the North Shore’s Francis Bay Trail, which is a part of the Francis Pond and Bay region. This delightful nature trail, located amid a beautiful pond nestled within vast tropical vegetation, features some of the rarest birds in existence, including various waterfowl, herons, shorebirds and warblers, and local specialties, the Mangrove Cuckoo, and the White-cheeked Pintail.
Covering the North Shore will be exhausting, so once you’re done exploring its many sights, you may wish to relax in Coral Bay, which is one of St. John’s best undiscovered secrets. Much of Coral Bay remains blissfully underdeveloped, though it should be noted that a series of high-class shops and restaurants have begun popping up in the area. Coral Bay offers a number of luxurious villas featuring unspoiled and private coast line, as well as a few classic historical attractions, including the Emmaus Moravian Church (one of the oldest in the Caribbean), and Fort Berg, the site of the historic slave uprising.
St. John’s East End also offers it’s fair share of serenity, however its landscapes are slightly rockier than Coral Bay. Though it may not be a sun-bather’s dream, those who love rocky beaches with clear-blue waters splashing against high rising cliffs will absolutely adore the East End, which is also home to Hurricane Hole, a protected bay that offers local ships refuge during hurricane season.
Also not to be missed is St. John’s South Shore, which is similarly unspoiled and unpretentious. Salt Pond Bay, a local favorite, is spectacularly uncrowded and remains one of the island’s best-kept secrets (until now). A hike from Salt Pond Bay also leads to Ram’s Head, a marvelous cliff overlooking the ocean that, at 200 feet, stands as the South Shore’s highest point. It’s an excellent site to meditate or exercise, and is also historically significant (slaves held and defended an outpost during the 18th century revolts).
As mentioned, much of St. John has been preserved as the Virgin Islands National Park, a truly splendid nature reserve featuring fascinating historical exhibits and a stunning array of tropical vegetation and wildlife, all bordered by some of the most spectacular beaches, lagoons and reefs in the world. The Park reaches its crescendo in the South Shore, which is home to several caves featuring drawings from the Tainos, an ancient civilization that were eradicated as a result of European rule. If you wish to see these paintings, then take the Park’s famous Reef Bay hiking trail, which also offers stunning view of the Park’s many nationally-protected reefs.
And, there you have it – St. John in a nutshell. However, to truly understand why this area is considered America’s paradise, you have to behold its sights and sounds for yourself. So, go ahead, book that St. John vacation rental while there’s still time. Paradise is waiting…
