Author: Jenn Manes

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.

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.

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 Branson – are 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!

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.