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How About a Little Island Update?

Jenn Manes 13 Comments
The island is so green! No filters ever. These colors are real!

Hello everyone, and happy Wednesday! I think it’s about time to post our very first, but certainly not our last, Island Tidbits island update!

Ok, so I have to start with the obvious… We have had SO MUCH rain lately. Our cisterns are full, and the island is super green and lush. Enough already Mother Nature, you can stop now. We need our blue skies to return on the regular please.

For those of you who are new to island life, the majority of us here on St. John live off of collected rainwater. Those living right in Cruz Bay are the exception. The rest of us, however, rely on the rain to collect water for our homes. The rainwater is then funneled through a gutter system and into a cistern, which can be likened to a basement in a way. But rather than be living space, it’s typically a big ole’ concrete room (most of the time – some people have plastic ones beside their homes) that holds our water. And when we run out of water, which happens from time to time, but certainly is not happening for anyone right now, we call the water truck to fill us up.

And when it rains like this, we often get runoff into some of our bays and onto our beautiful beaches. Check out this brown water we saw at Maho Bay earlier this week. When you see water like this, you do not want to swim nearby.

Maho Bay runoff earlier this week

Want to know what I think are the best sites to monitor our weather? Click this link to check that out. You can also check out our webcam page at www.IslandTidbits.com/webcams to see what’s happening live on island.

Ok, so now back to the positive stuff. Nearly everything has reopened on island at this point (after being closed for slow season). The island is starting to fill up again, but it is in no way super busy. It’s still relatively easy to get a parking spot at the beach or a reservation at a restaurant that requires one. (You also have time to book an island tour!)

For those of you planning to stay at the Westin over the next month or so, you are very lucky because the sun is setting, once again, directly in front of Great Cruz Bay. This is also great for the folks staying in parts of Chocolate Hole, Virgin Grand Estates and areas on Gifft Hill as, you too, will have a direct view of the sunset. And as we get closer to Christmas, you will even have the opportunity to see the sun set over the water which means one thing… the potential for a green flash! Exciting stuff.

Sunset at the Westin earlier this week

Now can we talk about the butterflies? There is an insane amount on island right now. I chatted with my friend Charles, the gardener up at Annaberg, and he said we have so many butterflies because the island is so green. Makes total sense. But seriously, if you are currently on island (lucky you!) or if you have a trip coming up soon, you are going to be absolutely stunned by the amount of butterflies here right now.

And lastly, I truly want to thank each and every one of you for reading Island Tidbits. When I sold News of St. John back in 2020, I never thought I’d write about the island again. I missed it tremendously, and I am so happy to have the ability to share all of these fun stories with all of you again! If there is anything you’d like to know more about, please feel free to email me at anytime at jenn@explorestj.com.

That’s it for today, folks! Tomorrow is my birthday, so I may or may not post. Let’s see how much fun I have tonight. 😉

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Island Tidbits would like to introduce you all to our latest advertiser Mystical Mermaid vacation rental. Mystical Mermaid is one of my favorite St John vacation rentals. It is ultra private, and located in a very quiet section of Fish Bay. The home has two bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, and very generous indoor & outdoor living spaces. Click this link to learn more.

Where to Stay: Livin’ the Dream Overlooking Cruz Bay

Jenn Manes 0 Comments
For just $25, you can enter to win a stay at Grande Bay in Cruz Bay.

I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love looking at all of the different vacation rentals that are available here on St. John. And today, I’d like to tell you about the spot you can enter to win for just $25! Seriously, it’s true! One lucky winner will win a pretty amazing St. John vacation. Curious? Then read on!

The winner of Island Tidbits’ inaugural raffle will win a six night, seven day stay at Living the Dream’ at Grande Bay. Livin’ the Dream consists of two units – a one bedroom suite and also a separate studio suite. The winner of our raffle can choose to stay in either of these units. This means that there is more flexibility when choosing your stay, as you have two separate calendars to choose from.

The one-bedroom suite features a large living space, plus a a full-sized, well-equipped kitchen. It features a large, eat-in deck, plus a smaller patio off of the bedroom. The eat-in deck features stunning views of Cruz Bay and Pillsbury Sound, as well as numerous islands in the distance.

Livin’ the Dream One Bedroom: Living space & balcony view
Livin’ the Dream One Bedroom: Fully equipped kitchen
Livin’ the Dream One Bedroom: Bedroom with en suite bathroom

The studio suite has one king-sized bed, a convertible couch and a smaller kitchenette that features a coffee maker, toaster and microwave. There is also a full-sized grill on the outdoor patio, which has a table and two chairs. The studio, like the one-bedroom suite, also has amazing views of Cruz Bay and beyond.

Livin’ the Dream Studio Suite: Living space with balcony view
Living the Dream Studio Suite: King bed & kitchenette
Livin’ the Dream Studio Suite: Balcony view

Grande Bay is located across the street to Cruz Bay and is within walking distance to dozens of shops, bars and restaurants. The complex has amazing views from sunrise to sunset. You can even see the lights of St. Thomas twinkle at night. The resort features a pool, hot tub and gym for you to use should you win the Island Tidbits raffle.

So again, for just $25, you can enter to win the following prize. Proceeds will support the Animal Care Center of St. John, an organization near and dear to my heart.

The raffle has an estimated value of roughly $4,500.

The raffle period has ended. 

How the drawing works: Once the entry period is over, the raffle committee will personally write/type the names of each entrant on a raffle ticket. If you buy one ticket, we will write/type your name on one ticket. If you buy two tickets ($50 total), we will write/type your name on two tickets. If you buy three tickets ($75 total), we will write/type your name on three tickets. And so forth. You will not receive a ticket by mail or email. All of the names will be placed into a secure bucket/basket/box. Once all of the names are written on tickets, we will draw the winner live on video. The winner will be announced on explorestj.com. A video of the drawing will also be posted on explorestj.com. The raffle period will end on Sunday, November 13, 2022 at 9 p.m. AST. The winner will be announced on explorestj.com on or about November 18, 2022. All entries will be treated as donations to the Animal Care Center on St. John. Now go ahead and enter! Good luck!! And thank you for supporting the Animal Care Center!

Looking for more information on Livin’ the Dream? Perhaps you want to support these generous owners who donated a week-long stay to support the Animal Care Center? Then please check out their properties by clicking the links below.

Good luck! And thank you again for supporting the Animal Care Center of St. John!

The Raffle Fine Print: 

  • The winner must adhere to the individual property/business rules and restrictions.
  • The one-week stay at Livin’ the Dream is based on availability. The winner can choose to stay at either the studio OR the one-bedroom unit. If Livin’ the Dream requires a deposit, the winner is responsible for paying that fee.
  • The half-day island tour with Explore STJ is based on availability. Gratuity is not included. 
  • The sunset sail on Palm Tree Charters is based on availability. Gratuity is not included. 
  • All gift certificates will be provided to the winner at check in. 
  • In the event that a property/business becomes uninhabitable due to a storm, fire, or Act of God, the winner agrees to forfeit the prize.
  • We strongly encourage the winner to purchase travel insurance.
  • None of the prizes are transferrable without the business owner’s consent.

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The Tree on St. John that Can Kill You… Seriously.

Jenn Manes 4 Comments
You may have seen this warning sign tucked beside a tree along Centerline Road.

Did you know there is a tree on St. John’s East End that can kill you? It’s true! Introducing today’s island tidbit…

If you have driven down Centerline Road (Route 10 on the map), you probably noticed a large warning sign beside the road at Haulover Bay. The sign is there to alert passersby of the nearby manchineel tree, the most poisonous tree in the world.

The manchineel tree is poisonous in many ways, so you should really keep a good distance from it. Its small fruits resemble an apple, however eating one can be very problematic, even fatal. The name “manchineel” (sometimes written “manchioneel”) as well as the specific epithet mancinella, is from Spanish manzanilla meaning little apple, according to snaplant.com. A present-day Spanish name for the manchineel tree is manzanilla de la muerte or “little apple of death.”

I actually had an island tour guest earlier this year who mistakenly ate a bite of a manchineel while on vacation on another Caribbean island. She said its first bite was sweet, but then she had a very peppery taste in her mouth. She soon felt an intense burning and tightness in her throat. Fortunately she only had one small bite, and she recovered.

The manchineel’s milky white sap is incredibly caustic as well. This is definitely one tree that you do not want to stand under during a rainstorm! Even one drop can cause skin blisters, swelling or burns. Even its bark is poisonous. Burning it releases a smoke that can cause temporary or even permanent blindness. So in a nutshell, stay far away from this one. There is a reason it holds the Guinness record for world’s most dangerous tree.

Now you may be wondering why the tree is still standing in the Virgin Islands National Park. It’s because it’s on the endangered species list.

Here is an up close pic of the leaves and the fruit just so you 100 percent do not go near it…

Image credit: Snaplant.com

We had a second marked manchineel tree on the road to Annaberg prior to Hurricane Irma in 2017. That presumably blew away during the storm.

Want to see just how close this tree is to the road and also to Haulover South? Check out this quick video we took below…

Pretty interesting stuff, right? I hope you are enjoying our Island Tidbits! Have a great day!

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Island Tidbits would like to introduce you all to our latest advertiser Villa Bonita vacation rental. Villa Bonita is a beautiful three bedroom, 3.5 bath vacation home located in the quiet Fish Bay neighborhood. The villa is located on one level, and has water views, a pool and central air throughout. Click this link to learn more. 

Take an Island Tour with Me!

Jenn Manes 0 Comments

Hello everyone, I hope you had a wonderful weekend! This post is all about island tours. 🙂

I know how daunting vacation planning can be. Throw driving on the left into the mix (which is what we do here in the USVI), and many people struggle over whether it’s best to rent a vehicle, or rely on the taxis. Perhaps you decided to go the car rental route, but you aren’t familiar with the island, so you really don’t know where the best beaches are, which spots have the best snorkeling, where you can grab the best Painkiller on island and so forth. Or perhaps you’d like to taxi during your vacation, but you’d like to check out the more obscure spots here on island. That’s where I come in.

I launched Explore STJ island tours back in 2016, and I absolutely love exploring this beautiful island with guests. I offer both full and half day tours in a Jeep Wrangler, so it’s a more personalized experience. I enjoy taking guests off the beaten path and to out-of-the-way spots that they would typically never see. I can only take up to four guests in my Jeep and I never combine groups, so it’s a more private and personal tour. When I am out and about on an island tour, it’s more like I am out with friends. And I love that.

During your ExploreSTJ island tour, we will do a little sightseeing – St. John has some of the most beautiful views in the world! We will check out some of the island’s stunning beaches – who doesn’t want to dip their toes in our beautiful Caribbean waters?! We can stop at one or more of the island’s sugar plantation ruins, and we can even do some light hiking if you’d like. All of my island tours are completely customizable, so we will do exactly what you want during your full or half day tour. I can guarantee some sea turtles sightings, and we usually stumble on some of the island’s most beloved residents – our donkeys! I will share some of the island’s rich history along the way, and I can also tell you all about the current happenings (and some island gossip if you’re interested!) here on St. John. But most importantly, we will have fun!

Explore STJ island tours are great to familiarize yourself with the island during your first trip, but they’re also great for seasoned visitors… I promise I can show you something new.

Want to hear what others have to say? Please check out my favorite TripAdvisor review below. (Click this link to read all of my TripAdvisor reviews.)

Have any questions? Ready to book? Please email me at jenn@explorestj.com. I am looking forward to exploring the island with you!

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Nov. 7-12, 2022 Cruise Ship Schedule

Jenn Manes 0 Comments

Monday, November 7

  • One ship (Voyager of the Seas) – 3,114 passengers in port on St. Thomas

Tuesday, November 8

  • No ships

Wednesday, November 9

  • One ship (Symphony of the Seas) – 5,518 passengers in port on St. Thomas

Thursday, November 10

  • No ships

Friday, November 11

  • One ship (Norwegian Getaway) – 4,028 passengers in port on St. Thomas

Saturday, November 12

  • No ships

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St John Time Change: None Here!

Jenn Manes 0 Comments

Today we’re talking about St John time change. We don’t do it here in the US Virgin Islands. End of today’s post.

Kidding! 🙂

But seriously, the US Virgin Islands, as well as our neighbors over in the British Virgin Island and Puerto Rico, do not observe daylight savings. We are on Atlantic Standard Time, which remains the same year-round. To simplify this, we are an hour ahead of New York City (and the rest of the EST states) from Nov. 6, 2022 through March 12, 2023. When mostly everyone springs ahead in March 2023, we will, once again, be on the same time as New York and the rest of the EST states.

One downside of being an hour ahead of EST is that all of our television shows start an hour late. For example, Good Morning America will now start at 8 a.m. instead of 7 a.m. Another random tidbit right there!

Now this may lead many of you to wonder when the sun will set on St. John. Tonight’s sunset time is 5:44 p.m. The earliest the sun sets on St. John is 5:41 p.m. this year. That will happen between November 15th and December 3rd. We will gain a minute or so of light every day beginning on December 4th.

Curious when the sun will rise and set when you’re on St. John. Check out our sunset page at www.IslandTidbits.com/sunset

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