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The Legend of Easter Rock

Easter Rock

I can say with 100 percent certainty that Easter Rock was indeed wet this morning, proving that the legend is true!

It’s that time of year! Time for the annual story about Easter Rock!

For those of you who are not familiar with Easter Rock, it’s a large boulder that’s perched on the side of North Shore Road above Hawksnest Bay. Legend has it that every year on the night before Easter, Easter Rock makes its way down to Hawksnest Bay where it takes a drink of water and then rolls back up to its perch on North Shore Road. This all happens before the sun rises over the hill, according to the legend, so no one is around to actually witness it. So even during the driest of droughts, Easter Rock will still be wet on Easter morning.

Legend aside, here is the geological backstory straight of Easter Rock. The following is courtesy of SeeStJohn.com:

Although geologists have not yet succeeded in explaining Easter Rock’s propensity to go down to the sea on Easter Sunday for a drink of water, they can tell us about the origin of this massive boulder, which is the only one of its kind in the valley.

The outer crust of the Earth consists of large masses of slowly moving rock called tectonic plates. About 100 million years ago, one of these plates, called the North American plate, which was moving towards the west, encountered another tectonic plate called the Caribbean plate, which was moving in the same direction.

Life in the Caribbean has long been classified as slower moving than in the fast-paced world of continental America. This phenomenon apparently has a historical and geological foundation because a significant factor in the creation of many of the Caribbean islands, including St. John, is the fact that the Caribbean plate happened to be moving at a slower pace than its continental counterpart.

Consequently, when the North American plate overtook the slower moving Caribbean plate, the American plate, being denser and heavier, slid under the Caribbean plate and pushed it up. The friction from the two giant masses of solid rock grinding against one another produced a heat so intense that it melted some of the rock between the two plates. The fiery, liquefied rock, called magma, built up in enclosed pockets, called magma chambers, and exerted an ever-increasing pressure on the surrounding rock. When that pressure became so great that it could not be contained any longer, the magma broke through its rocky chamber and spewed forth violently into the ocean. This event is called a volcano.

Normally, when super-hot magma comes in contact with cold ocean water, the magma explodes and is dispersed over a great area. In this case, however, the eruption occurred at a depth of 15,000 feet, or nearly three miles, below the surface of the ocean. At this great depth the water pressure is nearly 7,000 pounds per square inch, a pressure that was sufficient to keep the magma from exploding on contact with water and instead causing it to be deposited on the ocean floor in giant solid sheets.

Coinciding with this volcanic activity and the laying down of rock, the action of the American plate sliding under the Caribbean plate caused the latter to bulge at the edges. The combination of these events resulted in the beginnings of a mountain range that was to become the islands of the Greater Antilles. This process of volcanic activity and uplifting continued for millions of years and caused the newly formed mountains to move closer to the surface.

It was during the next period of St. John’s development that Easter Rock was born. A series of volcanoes erupted in the area of what is today called Pillsbury Sound. This time the water was relatively shallow and the volcanoes erupted explosively. The shower of rocks, solidified volcanic ash, and molten lava added substance and height to the older solid sheets of rock and, in conjunction with the continued uplifting of the area, eventually brought parts of the rocky underwater mass above sea level to form islands.

The awesome power of these violent eruptions also served to break off huge chunks of the older rock, heaving them into the air. One of these massive fragments ended up just above what was to become Hawksnest Bay. That majestic boulder, now known as Easter Rock, not only goes down to the sea every Easter for a drink of water, but also serves as an enduring reminder of the fiery beginnings of the island of St. John.

Love it!

Have a wonderful holiday everyone!


Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with me!

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour

See the island of St. John with a resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Click Here to Book Now

 

Serenity at Francis Bay: Brand-New Vacation Home Located in National Park

Serenity at Francis Bay is just a short walk from Francis Bay beach in the Virgin Islands National Park.

How does staying within the boundaries of the Virgin Islands National Park sound? Picture yourself waking up in the morning and taking a short stroll to Francis Bay beach, a nearly deserted spot in the early morning hours. Walk along the beach and watch the pelicans soar across the bay while small schools of fish swim mere feet from the shoreline. Grab a snorkel and explore St. John’s underwater world where you can often find turtles, blue tang, parrotfish and even the occasional shoal of squid pass by in the bay. Perhaps you prefer to birdwatch over at the nearby salt pond – again, just a short walk away – an area where you can spot ducks, stilts, moorhens, and migratory shorebirds. All of this is possible and more when you’re staying at Serenity at Francis Bay.

Serenity at Francis Bay is a newly-constructed villa designed specifically to blend with the natural setting in which it lives, providing a panoramic view of the landscape and wildlife that surround the home. Serenity at Francis Bay is a traditional Caribbean-style, yet modern home. It is fully air conditioned with high-speed wifi and satellite television in addition to its solar power. The rolling outages that sometimes plague the islands do not affect the guests staying here. What outage, you may think to yourself. What a glorious thought!

Serenity at Francis Bay is a three bedroom, four bathroom home. It can comfortably sleep up to six guests. Floor-to-ceiling windows and terraces encircle the home, including the spacious and partially-covered pool deck. The steady trade wind breezes cool the home, allowing you to fully immerse yourself and your guests in this very private setting that’s surrounded by St. John’s natural beauty. See for yourself.

Surrounded by nature
Private & gated
Lush landscaping surrounds the home.
Large living spaces with beautiful Caribbean-style ceilings
The second floor primary bedroom
Views from every room
Beautiful ocean views
Large pool with a covered seating area
Picture yourself here…

Serenity at Francis Bay at a Glance

  • Located within walking distance of Francis Bay beach
  • Two king-sized beds
  • One queen-size bed
  • Four bathrooms
  • Fully-equipped kitchen
  • Pool with large outdoor living space
  • Outdoor kitchen
  • Solar power
  • Ocean & sunset views
  • Snorkeling, hiking, birdwatching & historical sites are all less than five-minutes away.
  • Maho Bay is a five-minute drive.
  • Cruz Bay is a 20-25 minute drive.
  • Coral Bay is a 10-15 minute drive.

Nightly rates start at $1,200 a night and vary based on season. To learn more or to book your stay at Serenity at Francis Bay, please visit serenityatfrancisbay.com.

Sunrise at Serenity at Francis Bay

The Island is So Busy, No Booze Friday & More!

Cinnamon Bay, April 14, 2025

Hello everyone, and happy Tuesday! It’s been a bit since I posted a quick island update, so here we go!

Let’s start with the crowds… The island is so busy! Like unbelievably busy! It’s Spring Break in many towns up in New England on the East Coast, and those families are currently visiting us in droves! It’s great seeing so many children enjoying our beaches and everything the island has to offer. Thank you for coming!

But with the crowds comes crazy parking problems, and the past few days have been no exception. The biggest piece of advice I can give you when visiting the island is that no parking truly means no parking. If you parking in front of a no parking sign, you will likely return to a $150 ticket from the National Park. If you park in front of a tow away sign like we have at Trunk Bay, you will likely get towed. And if a tow truck isn’t available to tow you, the park rangers will simply take your license plates off of your vehicle. I am absolutely serious about this. I saw what appeared to be a St. Thomas rental vehicle parked in the tow away zone at Trunk Bay last week, and the ranger removed the plates and dropped them off at the motor vehicle department. Now that will easily ruin a vacation. During weeks like this, it’s always best to take a taxi.

Please do not block the road when parking anywhere in St. John.

For those of you on island this week, certain types of alcohol are prohibited from being sold until 4 p.m. on Good Friday. Beer and wine can be sold, but no spirits. That means no Painkillers until 4 p.m., so please plan accordingly. The British Virgin Islands has a similar law on the books, so there won’t be any Painkillers at the Soggy Dollar Bar on Friday until 6 p.m.

Speaking of holidays, all government offices will be closed on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. This likely will not affect you if you are here on vacation, but it does affect those of us who live here. Ferries, barges and businesses will be operating as normal.

Most retail shops will stay open on Easter, however some restaurants will close. Check your favorite to be certain.

And while we are talking about restaurants, we have our first seasonal closing in. ZoZo’s will close even earlier this year. They will close for season at the end of May this year, so make those reservations now.

That’s it for now. Have a fantastic day everyone!


Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with me!

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour

See the island of St. John with a resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Click Here to Book Now

 

I Saw So Many Flamingos Today!

Steve Simonsen captured this picture a few days ago.

I have such great news to share with you all today. The flamingos are still here on island! Woohoo! I saw at least 20 of them today hanging out over at the salt pond near Grootpan Bay while I was out and about on an Explore STJ island tour. 

For those of you who are new to reading Explore STJ (welcome & thank you for reading!), we hadn’t seen flamingos on St. John in years. One would show up here or there, but it would quickly disappear, and we would, once again, become a flamingo-less island. Well, that was until February 2023 when a flamboyance of flamingos (that’s what a group of them are called) was spotted near Salt Pond, sending the island into a bird frenzy!

Flamingos are actually native to the Virgin Islands, but all were eaten or lost to development until the reintroduction on Anegada in 1992 and then another flock later on Necker Island. Anegada and Necker Island – which is a private island owned by Sir Richard Bransonare located over in the British Virgin Islands. According to Gail Karlsson – a St. John resident who is an environmental lawyer, author, photographer and avid bird watcher – there is currently a “smallish” flock on Beef Island (near the airport on Tortola), the Necker Island flock and about 300 on Anegada, according to a bird count a few years back.

A lot of time has been since this first sighting, so I wasn’t sure if they were still hanging around the island. I’ve heard of a spotting or two here or there, but never en masse like I witnessed today.

Steve Simonsen must have received a tip too, because he told some incredible photos of this flamboyance yesterday. Check them out:

And here is a quick video I took Sunday morning:

Incredible, aren’t they??!!

So the point of today’s story is, yes, the flamingos are still here! If you would like to see the island and possibly spot one of these beautiful birds, please consider taking an island tour with me! You can learn more about Explore STJ’s island tours at www.explorestj.com/tour.

Have a fantastic day everyone, and happy birdwatching!


 

 

New Bar & Restaurant Opens in Cruz Bay

St. John Back Bar has opened in the former 420 to Center space in Cruz Bay.

A brand new bar and restaurant recently opened in Cruz Bay! And from what I have heard, the food is amazing!

We told you last month that 420 to Center had closed, and that a new establishment was opening up in its place. Well St. John Back Bar has officially opened, and the reviews are all great!

St. John Back Bar is owned by Laura Valente, her husband Chef Nathan Bohning and Michael Beeman, a longtime 420 to Center bartender. Laura and Nathan are no strangers to the food business here on island, as they ran Joe’s Rum Hut for the past few years before it sold. (Joe’s Rum Hut is now home to a restaurant called Karma.)

Chef Nathan has created a pretty impressive menu that includes everything from sushi and poke bowls to soups and wagyu smash burgers. Check it out:

They have a nice cocktail menu too and really good wines! Sancerre is my absolute favorite, so I was ecstatic to see that they serve it here!

Thank you for offering good wines St. John Back Bar!

Looking for another happy hour option? They have that too! Happy hour is daily from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. During that time, you can get a Coors Light for $4 and a house rum cocktail for $6.

St. John Back Bar opens at 2 p.nm. daily. The kitchen is open until midnight. The bar closes at 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. It stays open until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

St. John Back Bar is located across from Wharfside Village in Cruz Bay. It is nestled between Slim’s parking lot and the Catholic Church.


Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with me!

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour

See the island of St. John with a resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Click Here to Book Now

STJ Brewers Launch New Drink to Support the Donkeys

You know we love our donkeys here on St. John. Well today, I am happy to tell you that our friends over at St. John Brewers love them too, so much that they just launched a new drink that will help support the rehabilitation of our island’s most popular residents.

St. John Brewers just launched its newest ready-to-drink canned cocktail – the Moscow Mule. Crafted with St. John Brewers’ popular Ginger Beer, premium vodka and natural lime, this locally-canned cocktail brings a refreshing twist to one of America’s favorite drinks. The island’s new Moscow Mule is perfect for any island adventure.

This drink is more than just a delicious cocktail – it’s handcrafted with a purpose. A portion go the proceeds from every can will support St. John’s iconic donkeys. Our donkeys are an important part of our community, as they are cherished symbol’s of the island’s history and culture. I’m overjoyed that St. John Brewers is committed to ensuring they remain healthy and safe.

“The wild donkeys are an essential part of St. John’s character,” said Kevin Chapman, co-founder of St. John Brewers. “We wanted to create a product that not only tests great, but also makes a difference. The Moscow Mule does just that. It’s crafted with love and gives back to our home.”

Chirag Vyas, co-founded of St. John Brewers, added, “Our Ginger Beer has always been favorite, so creating a Moscow Mule felt like a natural step. It’s also been a popular cocktail at The Tap Room for years, so we’re excited to share that same great taste in a can while supporting a cause that’s close to our hearts.”

Where to Buy the Moscow Mule 

The new Moscow Mule canned cocktail is available at a variety of local bars, restaurants and retail stores throughout the US Virgin Islands. You can obviously find it at The Tap Room at Mongoose Junction, too. 🙂

About St. John Brewers
Founded by island residents Kevin Chipman and Chirag Vyas, St. John Brewers has been a cornerstone of the Virgin Islands’ craft beverage scene for over 20 years. With a passion for quality and a commitment to community, the island brewery produces drinks that reflect the vibrant, laid-back spirit of St. John. The Moscow Mule has long been a favorite cocktail at The Tap Room, St John Brewers’ iconic brewpub, known for its laid-back atmosphere and island- inspired drinks. Now, customers can enjoy this beloved cocktail on the go, while also giving back to the community. Cheers to that!


Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with me!

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour

See the island of St. John with a resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Click Here to Book Now