This story was originally published on April 13, 2026.
It rained today. And then it rained some more. And then it rained even more. We received more than two inches – 2.1 to be exact – out here in Fish Bay over the past 24 hours. That’s a lot! The island needed rain, so a lot of us residents were thrilled to see it pour into our cisterns. The majority of us live off of collected rainwater, so today’s rain was much-welcomed. I planted 11 trees in my yard last week, so I was especially thrilled by today’s rains!
Before I get into the rest of this rain story, I would like to thank my morning tour guests for being some of the best ever. It absolutely down poured several times during this morning’s tour. So much so that I had to wring out my skort while we were checking out Cinnamon Bay. They are National Park enthusiasts, so they smiled the entire day. I cannot thank them enough. It was a great, albeit soggy, island tour today.
Ok, so the weather forecast is showing more rain for the week. The rest of the week doesn’t look like it will be as soggy as today, but we can have more measurable rain. So what do you do on a rainy day in St. John? Well here you go!
Shop, Dine & Drink
The shops and the majority of the restaurants will remain open even if we receive monsoon rains. Mongoose Junction is a great place to spend a few hours on a rainy day. Enjoy a locally crafted beer from The Tap Room, fresh-rolled sushi at 1864, or an ice cream cone or a popsicle over at Scoops or Irie Pops. Looking to shop? I love Sugar Birds and Portico for unique souvenirs, Big Planet, Just Beach, and Lulee for clothing, and Caravan Gallery for jewelry. There are a ton of other great spots at Mongoose, so check out everything while you’re there. When it rains super hard, the gut that runs underneath Mongoose will become a raging river. It’s a pretty neat thing to check out. It was running wild Monday morning!
Grab an umbrella and head over to Wharfside Village. I am fairly certain that The Beach Bar and High Tide will be rocking. There’s great shopping over there too. Check out the St. John Spice Shop, The Little Things, the jewelry stores, and more.
If you have a vehicle, you can head up Centerline Road and check out Shambles or Heading East. Both have ample covered spaces and are great places to grab a bite or enjoy a few cocktails.The Windmill Bar is located up there too, but they close during super hard rains.
Over in Coral Bay? Head to Skinny Legs and join in on the fun. There is a great retail shop there called Mumbo Jumbo, so you can combine some retail therapy with one of Skinny’s famous burgers. Once you’re done, walk across the street and check out Pirate’s Cove or go around the corner to Jolly Dog and Zemi.
Explore the Island
If you have a vehicle, take a ride around the island. Be careful if it is raining hard because small rocks sometimes fall into the roadway and there can be a lot of water that pools on the roadways. You will definitely need four-wheel drive when it rains very hard. You also have to be mindful of flooding. It flooded today near the tennis courts in Cruz Bay and also in front of Starfish Market. Those are two spots that we see flood a lot.
You can grab a book and sit under the pavilion at Hawksnest, or grab a raincoat and check out some of the island’s rich history. You can explore Catherineberg, Annaberg, or even the Cinnamon Bay Sugar Factory. All are very cool spots, rain or shine. You might even get lucky and catch a donkey in passing.
Hike to a Waterfall
When it rains hard like today, a waterfall will form at Reef Bay. This is definitely a sneaker or sandals with straps kind of hike, as it will definitely be slippery. The trailhead for the Reef Bay trail is about five miles outside of Cruz Bay and about three miles outside of Coral Bay on Route 10, also known as Centerline Road. The trail is 2.1 miles in each direction if you are going from the road to the ocean, and it is quite steep. There is a spur trail on the right that will lead you to the petroglyphs where the waterfall will form. Pack a bag, bring snacks, bug spray, and plenty of water for this hike.
A small waterfall is likely to form between Cinnamon and Maho bays. The water will flow across the road, so be careful when driving in that area.
A rainy day in St. John can be fun. And you know what they say – a rainy day in St. John is a better than a sunny day at home! Stay dry 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 longtime 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.