Our sleepy little quirky town on the quieter side of the island just received some well-deserved accolades in a very popular publication. The New York Times featured Coral Bay in a great article earlier this week.
Described as a place that has a “backwater vibe” and where flip-flops are optional, Coral Bay was featured as a little-known gem off the Caribbean that is uncrowded, relaxed and simply perfect.
The article begins…
Ever daydream about vacationing alone on a tropical beach, where it’s just you, fluffy clouds and welcoming waves? That quiet relaxation is what I was looking for this fall on St. John, the smallest and wildest of the U.S. Virgin Islands. It has a reputation for being an off-the-beaten-path Caribbean gem. But I wasn’t sure what I’d find.
The piece spoke of hurricanes Irma and Maria, as well as the island’s resilience and ability to bounce back from two category five hurricanes, plus a worldwide pandemic. The article was very well-written, and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I always appreciate when St. John get’s the praise and recognition it deserves. We truly live in, and many of you vacation in, one of the most amazing places in the world. How fortunate are we?
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.
Open House: Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 from 10 a.m. to noon. Please email me at jenn@explorestj.com if you would like to attend.
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I am super excited to share today’s post with you. This is something I have been working on for a while, and we are finally ready to share it with all of you! This is the first time this property has been listed for sale, so it’s a really big deal!
Joy of Life Villa is an extremely successful, income-producing property that has, arguably, some of the best views on island. It is located on a lush, professionally landscaped 1.5+ acre parcel that’s just minutes from Coral Bay. Located in the serene setting of Freemans’ Ground, Joy of Life Villa is the ultimate couples retreat. Joy of Life Villa has two income-producing living spaces – Joy of Life Suite and the Sunrise Sweet – in addition to a caretaker’s suite, which can easily be converted into an income-producing living space should you choose to.
Joy of Life VillaJoy of Life Villa is beautifully & professionally landscaped.Freeman’s Ground is a private and quiet neighborhood located minutes from Coral Bay. (Joy of Life Villa is in the center of this photo.)An aerial view of Joy of Life Villa
Joy of Life Suite
The Joy of Life Suite is a spacious, one-bedroom suite located on the main level where you can enjoy the best of indoor and outdoor living. Enjoy panoramic, 180-degree views spanning from Coral Bay Harbor and Hurricane Hole to St. John’s East End, and all the way out from Tortola to Virgin Gorda and Norman Island. I’ve been to a lot of villas around St. John over the years; the views from Joy of Life Villa stopped me in my tracks.
For those of you who enjoy your morning coffee with an unbelievable view or perhaps you prefer to indulge in a glass of wine in the evening while listening to the frogs peeping at night, this spot is for you. And making this suite even better is a very private, outdoor nook that would be perfect spot for a hot tub.
Coral Bay ViewsViews of Hurricane Hole, the East End and all the way out to the British Virgin Islands……and beyond.Yes, please!The bedroom at Joy of Life SuiteThe living space at Joy of Life VillaThe kitchen at Joy of Life SuiteThis would be the perfect spot for a hot tub!
The Sunrise Sweet
The Sunrise Sweet is a generously-sized studio suite located on the lower level of Joy of Life Villa. It, too, has an expansive deck with panoramic views and multiple seating areas. This well-appointed suite is perfect for a romantic getaway. There is even a cute little water garden beside its main entrance.
The Sunrise SweetOne of the outdoor spaces at the Sunrise SweetPrivate, quiet & perfect.The sleeping area at Sunrise SweetThe living space at Sunrise SweetThe kitchen at Sunrise Sweet
The Caretaker’s Suite
The caretaker’s suite is located on the top level of Joy of Life Villa. This space features a loft bed and a living space that opens up to a 1,000 square-foot deck. This area is set up so you can easily complete it to your liking. It can easily be converted into a large outdoor living room, or you could enclose it to expand your living space even more. The possibilities are truly endless. And the views – you guessed it – they’re incredible up there!
The caretaker’s suite is located on the upper level.The caretaker’s suite features a loft bed.Endless opportunities for completing this space!
Extra Details
Joy of Life Villa consists to two parcels that total 1.51 acres. It is an all-masonry home with an 18,000-gallon cistern. There are terraced gardens beside the villa with mature fruit trees among other plantings. This is in additional to the professional landscaping that surrounds the villa. There is a large, flat driveway with parking for several cars below the villa, and there is an additional parking area beside the caretaker’s suite on the upper level. The road to Joy of Life Villa is partially paved and partially gravel, so a four-wheel-drive is recommended.
Joy of Life Villa has 20 solar panels, backup batteries, net metering and a backup generator. Losing power should never be an issue at this villa.
Terraced gardens with mature fruit trees & other plantingsAmple parking
Life in One, and Rent the Others, Or Rent All Three!
The top level is the perfect spot for an onsite caretaker or the next owner; however it can also be converted into a third vacation rental. Because this is located on a combined 1.5 acre-parcel that’s zoned R-2, you can build additional units, as well.
Want More Information?
The asking price for Joy of Life Villa is $2,150,000. Joy of Life Villa is listed with me, Jenn Manes. I am a licensed agent at 340 Real Estate Co.. Please email me at jenn@explorestj.com or call/text at 203-376-3786 to learn more. I am happy to answer any questions you may have. Financials are available upon request. All confirmed rental reservations must be honored.
An additional, brand-new cottage can be available to purchase with Joy of Life Villa. More details to come…
Hello everyone, and happy Monday! I hope you all had a nice holiday weekend! Dalton and I spent ours up in Connecticut, and it was lovely; however it was 27 degrees when we left JFK Saturday morning. Brr! So needless to say, I’m happy to be home and back in the sun!
Our friends over at the Windmill Bar have been working hard to redesign the upper bar for the past couple of months, and it is finally complete. I stopped in on Monday with tour guests, and it looks fantastic! A large bar with plenty of seating has replaced the original bar. They’re calling it the Sky Bar, which I love! The deck in that area has been expanded, and a few new tables and barstools have been added. Check it out!
Amazing views at the Sky Bar!Plenty of seating on the new upper deckThat view!Another new bar on the lower levelUpgraded seating too!
The Windmill also launched a brand new happy hour on Monday! The Windmill is now offering happy hour specials from noon to 3 p.m. every day. You can get $4 Trulys, $4 Carib beers and $6 Blue Chair Bay Rum Windmill Breezes. Cheers to that!
The Windmill is open daily from 11 a.m. until they close, which is a few hours after sunset. Sunset today is happening at 5:41pm AST. We are one hour ahead of NYC time at the moment, so keep that in mind if you want to check out their webcam during sunset. You can see that webcam, plus more than two dozen others at www.explorestj.com/webcams.
Want to visit the Windmill with me? I would love to take you on an island tour! I bring guests there almost daily, and I would love to bring you too! Feel free to email me at jenn@explorestj.com or visit www.explorestj.com/tour for more information.
This is a Black Friday flash sale! All Trunk Bay puzzles are $5 off today until 5 p.m. EST. No additional shipping fees! All orders made today by 5pm will ship tomorrow! Save some cash & bring a little Trunk Bay home with you today!
We’ve got a name, and we’ve got a menu. It looks like Karma is coming to St. John!
I woke up Wednesday morning to several text messages with links to a new website – karmastj.com. For the past several months, I have been told that Karma would be the name of the new restaurant that is set to open in the former Joe’s Rum Hut spot in Wharfside Village. Well, it’s official. Karma will be a high-end sushi restaurant just like we have heard and told you all last month.
(The website was taken down after we posted this story.)
Here is the new restaurant’s description straight from its website:
Karma STJ is a world elite seaside restaurant for Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, fresh fish and seafood, top-notch sushi, as well as premium beef cuts. All born from a desire to create impeccable tastes and emotions for a prestigious clientele. An elevated quest for excellence.
According to its website, Karma will be open for brunch, lunch and dinner. The restaurant will feature a Cigar Beach Lounge and a Beach Club. I reached out to get an estimated opening date via the website this morning. I will update you all as soon as I hear back.
If you want to see more of what Karma plans to offer, check out their website at www.karmastj.com. Have a great day everyone!
Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with me!
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.
Villa Circe is a beautiful villa that is up for bid.
Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park is currently holdings its annual Villas in the Park fundraiser. There are currently 35 villas, condos and suites that have generously donated stays. The auction continues through November 29th. All proceeds will support Friends of the Virgin Islands Park and their efforts to preserve and protect the natural and cultural resources in the Virgin Islands National Park.
Here are a list of vacation rentals that are currently up for auction:
