Menu Close

Category: Uncategorized

St. John Real Estate: Impressive, Immaculate & Panoramic Views of Three Bays

Jenn Manes 0 Comments
Three Bays Villa is located on Roman Road, a small, private neighborhood between Great Cruz Bay and Chocolate Hole.

If you know me, you know how much I love real estate. I absolutely love to see what properties list for sale, how they’re designed, what their outdoor spaces look like, and whatnot. We are fortunate here on St. John to be surrounded by dozens, if not hundreds of incredible homes. But even so, every once in a while, a property becomes available that truly takes your breath away. This is exactly what happened when I walked into Three Bays Villa earlier this month. If you love real estate as much as I do, you are absolutely going to love this home.

Three Bays Villa is an impressive six-bedroom, six-and-a-half-bath home with panoramic views of Great Cruz Bay, Chocolate Hole, and Hart Bay. It is located on Roman Road, a small, quiet, and private neighborhood that sits between Great Cruz Bay and Chocolate Hole. From the moment you pull into the large driveway, you can see that no expense was spared when designing this home, from the landscaping to the structure itself.

What a beautiful, grand entryway.
The landscaping is gorgeous.

As you step inside the main house, you are immediately greeted by the grandeur of this home. The first floor has an expansive Great Room with high ceilings and has views from every side. There are two en suite bedrooms on the main floor and a sweeping internal staircase that leads to two additional en suite bedrooms, plus quite possibly the coolest kids’ bedroom I have ever seen. The sixth bedroom is located below the main floor. It can double as a very secure hurricane shelter, but let’s hope it’s not needed for that purpose anytime soon.

Every corner of this home was thoughtfully designed to provide a seamless and elegant living experience, both inside and out. Check out a few images…

The Great Room includes a large kitchen, dining, and living room areas.
Top-of-the-line eat-in kitchen.
Gorgeous views everywhere!
One of the two main floor bedrooms
The view from one of the upstairs bedrooms.

Just steps from the Great Room is a large, infinity-edge pool, which is surrounded by ample outdoor living space, both covered and outside in the Caribbean sun. I nearly jumped for joy (seriously, true story!) when I walked around the corner and saw a large grassy area. There aren’t many properties in St. John that have a grassy yard that you can actually walk on. I definitely kicked off my flip-flops and enjoyed it for a few minutes before checking out the rest of the house.

Views of Chocolate Hole and Hart Bay to the east
On a clear day, you will be able to see St. Croix too!
This is absolute heaven to me… a grassy yard!
Croquet, anyone?

This owner-occupied home is so amazing that I think it would be best to show you a video, rather than me continue to chat about it. So please take about three minutes or so to check out how truly remarkable this property is.

Amazing, right? I told you that kids’ room was cool!

Three Bays Villa even has an adorable one-bedroom caretaker’s/guest cottage on site. It also has a large two-car garage (another feature that you do not see often on St. John), a workshop, and Tesla battery wall.

The caretaker’s cottage overlooks Great Cruz Bay.

Three Bays Villa is listed for $6.75 million. If you would like to know more, please contact Tammy Donnelly, owner of 340 Real Estate Co. at 340realestateco@gmail.com. You can see more of Tammy’s listing by visiting www.340RealEstateCo.com.

Side note: I am fairly certain that Kit Kat, this adorable rescue kitty comes with the house! Happy house shopping everyone!

Kit Kat is the resident kitty at Three Bays Villa.

Looking to take a St. John island tour?

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj

Where to Watch the Super Bowl in St. John

Jenn Manes 0 Comments

Hello everyone! It’s another soggy day here in St. John. Rather than dwelling on the weather, let’s look ahead at the weekend, a time when the sun is finally expected to return!

There are numerous spots to watch the Super Bowl here in St. John this weekend. Nearly every bar that is open that late will be showing the game. Some, however, are throwing Super Bowl parties. Here is what I know so far…

The Tap Room

The Tap Room just screams Super Bowl party, don’t ya think? The boys are offering reserved tables for four for just $100. Included with the table is one round of drinks and an order of their award-winning wings. Have more than four people in your group? You can add a person for $25 each. Call 340-715-7775 to reserve your spot. The rest of the bar/restaurant will be available first-come, first-served. The Tap Room is located in Mongoose Junction.

The Upstairs Bar & Downstairs

The Upstairs Bar & The Downstairs will have the game on all of their TVs with sound. The Upstairs is open-air, and The Downstairs is fully air-conditioned, so pick your poison. 🙂 They do not accept reservations, so get there early. The Upstairs & Downstairs is located in Cruz Bar, directly across from The Longboard.

Sweet Shack

The Sweet Shack is getting in on the action too and will have a rooftop Super Bowl party. This party is limited to 60 people. You can reserve a seat for $25 That includes one 16oz drink, unlimited popcorn and your name on a $5 square. The Sweet Shack is located across the street from Shambles on Centerline Road, or Route 10 on the map. It’s about two miles outside of Cruz Bay.

The Beach Bar 

Want to watch the Super Bowl at the beach? The Beach Bar will have the game on all of its TVs too. They do not accept reservations, so get there early. The Beach Bar is located directly on the beach in Cruz Bay. Not on island? Not a problem! You can see what’s happening at The Beach Bar by checking out its webcams at www.explorestj.com/webcams.

Johnny Lime

Johnny Lime will be open until the Super Bowl ends. They will be showing the game with sound. They do not accept reservations, so get there early. Johnny Lime is located in Coral Bay.

Skinny Legs

Skinny Legs is closing early on Super Bowl Sunday. They will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are closing early for a staff Super Bowl party. They will reopen Tuesday at 11 a.m. Skinny Legs is located in Coral Bay.

Da Event Lounge

Da Event Lounge is holding a Pre-Super Bowl Game Night tonight, February 8th. The party starts at 8 p.m. Wear your favorite jersey and win up to $300 in cash! DJ LS1 will be on hand. There will be drink specials and beer specials all night. Da Event Lounge is located in Cruz Bay just up the hill from the bulkhead and across from Hercules Pate.

Other Spots With TVs That Will Likely Be Showing The Game 

  • Woody’s
  • Tap & Still
  • Greengo’s
  • Drink
  • Lovango Rum Bar
  • Concordia

Looking to take a St. John island tour?

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj

Island Update: Closures, Thunder, Lightning & more!

Jenn Manes 1 Comment
It’s a soggy day in Fish Bay. (Deck railings soon come!)

Hello everyone, and happy Wednesday. I had a great story planned for today, but that went out the window when we lost power and internet last night. 👀 So I’m going to post a little island update instead.

As I mentioned yesterday, there was a ton of rain forecasted for yesterday and today. Luckily it held off until about 6 p.m., but then it came down with a vengeance. It was on and off monsoon rains here in Fish Bay, which is located about 15 minutes from Cruz Bay on St. John’s south side. We also had crazy thunder and lightning, which is very unusual for St. John. At one point, I asked Mike if I thought we’d lose power. He said no and not even five minutes later, we were in the dark. A psychic, he is not! haha

We didn’t have power, which means no internet either at our house, for about two hours. Both of our generators decided they didn’t want to work, so that was fun. (You all sense my sarcasm, right??) I plan to shop for a whole-house backup generator later today. 🙂 If you have any suggestions, feel free to email me!

It’s raining again now, and it’s supposed to continue on and off all day.

All schools on the island are closed today. (So if you head over to The Beach Bar or watch its webcam, you may catch a glimpse of my son helping daddy at work for a bit this morning.) Lime Out is closed. Windmill Bar is closed. Miss Lucy’s is closed. Sweet Shack is closed. Pizza Pi is closed. Trivia at Johnny Lime is cancelled. The kitchen at Sun Dog is closed. Maho Crossroads was closed yesterday, but I hear they are opening back up today despite the rainy weather.

I assume that the bars and restaurants will be busy, yet again, today. Skinny’s was packed when I stopped there with my island tour guests yesterday. I want to give a public shout-out to the staff at Skinny’s for always treating my tour guests so well when we visit. A big thanks to everyone, but especially to Mary. 🙂

There has got to be an amazing waterfall flowing beside the petroglyphs at Reef Bay. If you are adventurous enough to head down there today, please send me pics and videos! There should also be one on the side of the road just past Cinnamon Bay en route to Maho.

And again, if you are stateside, you can always see what’s happening here by checking out our webcams at www.explorestj.com/webcams.

Have a great day everyone!

Looking to take a St. John island tour?

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj

 

Here’s What To Do on a Rainy Day in St. John

Jenn Manes 0 Comments
Storm clouds roll past Trunk Bay.

Well folks, I have bad news to share for those of you who are currently vacationing in St. John. There is a ton of rain in the forecast over the next couple of days. We’re expected to get two to four inches of rain over the next two days. So today I am going to provide you with some suggestions on what to do on a rainy day in St. John.

This week’s forecast

Shop, Dine & Drink

The shops and 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 over at Scoops. Looking to shop? I love Sugar Birds and Island Fancy 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.

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 Spice Shop, The Little Things, the jewelry stores, and more.

For those of you who enjoy having a shot while you’re on vacation, The Upstairs, which is located across from The Longboard, offers free rain shots. Please drink responsibly!

If you have a vehicle, you can head up Centerline Road and check out Shambles or Mid Way Cafe & Grill. Both have ample covered spaces and are great places to grab a bite or enjoy a few cocktails.

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 Coral Bay Adventures.

Explore the Island

Hawksnest

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 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. Speaking of Cinnamon Bay, they are now serving lunch in the main restaurant. This is a large covered restaurant, so it could be a nice new spot to grab some lunch this week.

Hike to a Waterfall

The waterfall at Reef Bay

If it really does rain as forecasted, 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, 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 temporary waterfall near Cinnamon Bay

“Invite Someone Over Your House”

Dalton, my five-year-old, is sitting beside me and asked me to tell all of you that you can also “invite someone over to your house” when it rains. So there’s that too. 🙂

For those of you who are off-island, you can still see what’s going on. Check out more than 20 live-streaming webcams at www.explorestj.com/webcams.

Stay dry everyone!

Looking to take a St. John island tour?

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj

Spend a Minute at Jumbie Beach

Jenn Manes 2 Comments

I walked down to Jumbie this afternoon, and it was so pretty that I decided to take a video to share with all of you. If you are cold, stressed, or simply need some island in your life, I think this can help. Enjoy.

Looking to take a St. John island tour?

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj

When I’m Wrong, I’m Wrong… (Sorry Trunk Bay!)

Jenn Manes 7 Comments
Trunk Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world!

Well folks, I’m not afraid to admit when I’m wrong, and by god, I was wrong yesterday.

We had more than 17,000 people visit St. Thomas on five different cruise ships yesterday. Everyone was talking about the craziness that was likely to ensue. We expected the masses to come over and crowd our streets, shops, and restaurants. We expected the masses to descend onto Trunk Bay.

And you know what, it didn’t happen. I’m so sorry Trunk Bay!

I told all of you to avoid Trunk Bay yesterday, and I was wrong. A friend who happens to run the concessions over there reached out to poke a little fun at me for that comment, and he mentioned that Trunk Bay was pretty quiet too. So I don’t know where those 17,000+ people were, but it didn’t look like they made it over here.

So if you are looking for something nice to do today, hop in a taxi and head over to Trunk Bay. Grab a drink. Buy some food. Enjoy one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. And when you wander over to the snack shack and bar – happy hour starts in the morning at Trunk Bay FYI – please tell them that Jenn sent you. Maybe it will give me some brownie points over there. 🙂

Have a great day everyone! Enjoy Trunk Bay today!

Looking to take a St. John island tour?

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj