ExploreSTJ.com

Earlier this week, I introduced you to Monarch Cottage, a brand new, luxury waterfront vacation rental in Fish Bay. Well today, we’re raffling off a week-long stay at this fabulous new vacation rental here in St. John! How amazing is that??!

Everyone who knows me knows I love holding raffles. I’ve held several over the years and, together with your help, we have raised more than half of a million dollars, which have been donated to a variety of organizations, including the Animal Care Center, St. John Rescue, Island Health & Wellness, Love City Community Network, Carolina Coral, Caribbean Oceanic Restoration and Education Foundation (CORE), All Hands and Hearts, and so many more. So let’s do it again, shall we??!

What You Can Win

• A seven-night stay at Monarch Cottage
• A $500 VISA gift card courtesy of Explore STJ
• A $100 gift certificate to Cruz Bay Landing
• A $100 gift certificate to The Tap Room
• A $100 gift certificate to The Windmill Bar
• A Trunk Bay puzzle

For just $25, you can enter to win a seven-night stay for up to six people at Monarch Cottage plus a variety of gift certificates. Monarch Cottage is a three-bedroom, four bathroom home that was just completed in December 2024. It is modern and furnished beautifully. Monarch Cottage is located on the shores of Fish Bay, and it is less than a 10-minute drive to Cruz Bay. Not only do you have the bay in your front yard, which is great for kayaking and paddle boarding, but you also have a large plunge pool and a spa too.

(Click here to read more about Monarch Cottage.)

This raffle has an estimated value of $7,900.

Who We Are Supporting

Our latest raffle will support the Animal Care Center (ACC) and St. John Rescue.

St. John Rescue is an all-volunteer organization that offers medical support to St. John’s Fire and Emergency Medical Service, the National Park Service and the Virgin Islands Police Department. St. John Rescue is in need of financial assistance that will allow it to offer advanced emergency medical courses on St. John. In order to do, they need to become a nationally and locally-certified EMS Training Facility. That will allow St. John Rescue to teach courses such as Emergency Medical Technician and Advanced Emergency Medical Technician along with recertification classes for those certifications. The initial outlay for the EMT and AEMT courses will be substantial because of the national and local requirements. For example, the mannequin that is required for the AEMT course costs $73,000. The heart monitor is $10,000. Together, we can help St. John Rescue purchase those items.

The Animal Care Center recently learned that it will not receive $75,000 in government funding they were promised several months ago. A huge chunk of that money is typically earmarked for the shelter’s spay and neuter program. There is a reason that you do not see any stray dogs roaming the island on St. John, for example. It’s because we have an incredible shelter, and I hope to provide them with critical funding.

How to Enter

You can enter by filling out the form below. You will receive one entry into the raffle for every $25 donated. You can choose to purchase one entry or up to 99 entries at once! You will be directed to a confirmation page after a successful payment. That page is confirmation of your entry/entries. Please print that page for your records.

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 Friday, April 4, 2025 at 9 p.m. AST. The winner will be announced on explorestj.com on or about April 8, 2025. All tickets purchased will be treated as donations to the Animal Care Center of St. John and St. John Rescue. Now go ahead and enter! Good luck!! And thank you for supporting the Animal Care Center!

The Fine Print: 

• The winner must adhere to the individual property/business rules and restrictions.
• The one-week stay at Monarch Cottage is based on availability. If Monarch Cottage requires a deposit, the winner is responsible for paying that fee. Blackout dates apply, including holiday weeks. 
• The $500 Visa gift card will be emailed to the winner. 
• 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.

Good luck!

You can bookmark this page at www.explorestj.com/raffle.

Hello everyone, and happy Monday. I am super excited to tell you all about a brand new vacation rental that’s now available here on St. John. It’s a modern, beautifully-designed home that sits directly on Fish Bay. Let me introduce you all to Monarch Cottage…

Monarch Cottage is a three-bedroom, four bathroom home that was just completed in December 2024. It is modern and furnished beautifully. Monarch Cottage is located on the shore of Fish Bay, and it is less than a 10-minute drive to Cruz Bay. Not only do you have the bay in your front yard, which is great for kayaking and paddle boarding, but you also have a large plunge pool and a spa too.

This home, which sleeps up to six guests, offers all of the amenities one could want when booking a relaxing, luxury vacation. The kitchen is fully-equipped and even includes an ice maker, because we all know the importance of keeping our island drinks cold! It is stocked with everything you need for a casual meal at home or perhaps a dinner party with friends. (Monarch Cottage is available to book for parties and events. Parking is limited to two vehicles, so guests would be asked to taxi to and from the event.)

Just off of the kitchen is a screened-in dining area with seating for six. There is expansive indoor and outdoor living spaces throughout the cottage, which includes both covered and open deck space. Monarch Cottage has two additional outdoor showers, which are great when returning from the beach or even for a quick rinse under the night sky.

Each of the three en suite bedrooms have amazing water views in addition to air conditioning, large showers and smart televisions. There are also ceiling fans for those of you who prefer gentle breezes while on vacation. Whether you are lounging outside under the pergola or inside in the great room, the Caribbean breezes can easily flow through the house simply by opening a sliding patio door.

The grounds at Monarch Cottage are truly beautify. A tropical garden features stone paths that lead through vibrant palms, banana trees, and flowering plants, creating a serene ambiance.

Additional conveniences include a washer and dryer, linens, beach chairs, coolers, beach bags, and even a paddleboard for seaside adventures. Monarch Cottage is fully air conditioned and has backup power, so the island’s impromptu power outages will not affect your stay. Whether you’re lounging by the pool, exploring the garden, or dining with a view, Monarch Cottage offers a seamless blend of comfort and Caribbean charm.

How amazing is this property??! I know many of you are ready to book!

Rates for Monarch Cottage start at $7,050 per week and vary based on season. Please visit www.monarchcottagestjohn.com for more information and to book.

**We are raffling off a week-long stay at Monarch Cottage. Please visit www.explorestj.com/raffle for details.**

A Cruz Bay bar that’s extremely popular with residents sold Thursday afternoon. Ryan Sharkey, owner of 420 to Center, a tucked away watering hole that pays homage to the Boston Red Sox, made the announcement on Facebook Wednesday afternoon. In it, he thanked his customers for all of the love they’ve provided him over the years.

“For nearly 13 years you all have been the backbone of 420 to Center, after all, I built for us,” Sharkey wrote. “I started this thing with the mindset that it was for us, locals and transplants alike, nothing fancy just a drinker’s bar with a no bull—- attitude…and with out even trying, she became an entity all her own… and I’m pretty sure that we succeeded. I do mean ‘We.’

“We’ve been here for each other,” he continued. “I’ve heard over and over again ‘We’re here for you’ and you have been every step of the way… When it was bare bones and infantile, you were here. During and after the storms, you were here. During the closers, the health department, covid / 422 (420 Too) you were here… if you weren’t here, I wouldn’t be either. Thank you all so very much…”

While we are all sad to see Sharkey go, I am excited to share that three familiar faces purchased 420 to Center. So the bar will keep on keeping on.

Laura Valente, her husband Chef Nathan Bohning and Michael Beeman are the new owners of 420 to Center. Beeman has been tending bar at 420 for the past 10 years. Laura and Chef Nathan have been working at 420 for the past several months. Prior to that, they ran Joe’s Rum Hut over on Cruz Bay beach. The three officially became owners Thursday afternoon.

The bar will be closed for the next week or two while it gets a minor facelift inside, Laura told me Thursday night. Much of the decor in the bar are Sharkey’s personal items, which he plans to take along with him. So while they do plan to spruce the space up a bit, they hope to keep some of 420’s memorabilia to remind everyone of the home they shared at 420 to Center.

Once they reopen, people can expect a small cocktail menu and expanded bar selection. In terms of food, you can expect similar items to the food Chef Nathan has been serving for the past few months. They hope to expand the kitchen as they reorganize, and will continue offering daily specials. Be sure to stop by to see what they’re cooking up!

420 to Center is located between Slim’s parking lot and the Catholic Church in Cruz Bay. The bar itself is located at the end of a small driveway.

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.