Hello all! I am currently on a plane back home, so forgive me for not posting a real story today. Please take a few minutes to check out our St. John webcams. Enjoy!
St. John Spice Cam – Overlooking the ferry dock & Cruz Bay
The Beach Bar – Bar Cam
The Beach Bar – Panoramic Beach Cam
The Beach Bar – Stage Cam (This webcam is only online when The Beach Bar has live music.)
The Windmill Bar
Coconut Coast Studios – Overlook Frank Bay toward St. Thomas – Sunset Views & Sound
Mare Blu villa – Overlooking Rendezvous Bay
Villa Circe – Views of Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, Sir Francis Drake Channel & more
Calichi at Picture Point – 360 degree views!
Coral Bay Views – Located at Coconut Hill cottage, high above Coral Bay
Grande Bay Resort – Overlooking Cruz Bay
Fish Camp – Overlooking Turner Bay, Little St. James & French Cap
Great Expectations villa – Overlooking Hart & Rendezvous bays
Great Expectations – Sunset cam
La Jolla Caribe – Located in Catherineberg, high above Cinnamon Bay – northeast view
La Jolla Caribe – northwest view
Long Bay Beach Villa – St. John’s East End
Lovango Resort & Beach Club
Maho Bay House
Soggy Dollar Bar – Located over in Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands
Villa Calypso – Overlooking Klein Bay with views of Ditliff Point
Windsong Villa – Overlooking Fish Bay & beyond
Windswept Point Live – Located on a point between Trunk & Cinnamon bays
Coconuts villa – Located in Gifft Hill with views toward Pillsbury Sound & St. Thomas
Happy New Year! Let’s start the year off with a relaxing drive from Skinny Legs in Coral Bay along Centerline Road to the East End. The East End is unbelievably green and lush at the moment, and the seas were F-L-A-T when I recorded this video last week. Please take some time to enjoy this little drive around St. John.
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Hello everyone, and happy New Year’s Eve! I cannot believe that today is the last day of 2023! So many great things happened in St. John this year. Here is a little recap of some of the highlights!
We announced the opening of two great new spots in January – The Upstairs Bar & Grill and VI Wine Shop. Both technically opened in December, but thanks to island time, I let you all know about them in January. 🙂 The Upstairs is a great sports bar and the Wine Shop quickly became one of my favorite spots on St. John. I love wine. What can I say?! Sadly, it hasn’t been able to reopen after closing for off-season last August due to ongoing construction at the Wharfside Hotel. Soon come… I hope!
We had a pretty amazing thing happen in February. We had a flamboyant of flamingos visit! This is a rare occurrence these days, but a very welcomed one! They stuck around for several months, which made this “bird nerd” super excited!
Sadly we lost a business in February when the Coral Bay Fresh Market abruptly closed its doors. Nothing has reopened in that space since.
Ferry service to St. Thomas got even easier in March when the Charlotte Amalie ferry resumed. There are now three ferries that run between St. John and St. Thomas – Red Hook, Crown Bay, and Charlotte Amalie. A couple of new retail shops opened too. The Little Things opened in Cruz Bay and Pirate’s Cove opened out in Coral Bay. And rounding out the month, Lime Out began a new shuttle service making the trip out for tacos on the water even easier.
Even more businesses opened in April here in St. John. In Cruz Bay, we gained a great new coffee shop – Downtown Sips – as well as Dolphin Grab & Go, which is a quick-serve breakfast and lunch spot. Coral Bay gained a new sweet spot when Dazey Drive-In opened. It’s a great dessert shop that specializes in Hawaiian ice.
There will come as no surprise, but Trunk Bay was named one of the world’s best beaches in May. The Saharan dust arrived for the first time in 2023 in May, and Aqua Bistro closed out in Coral Bay. We also learned that Little St. James and Great St. James, the islands owned by Jeffrey Epstein, had sold to a St. John resident, who plans to open a luxury resort on the smaller of the two islands.
June is such a great month in St. John as the annual Carnival celebration began. This is such an important time of year on St. John as it truly celebrates the island culture, and without that, St. John wouldn’t be the amazing place that it is. We even had an actual carnival in June complete with a ferris wheel and everything. It was absolutely incredible, and I hope it returns in 2024!
August was an amazing month for me because I bought a house! I never imagined I would ever be able to own a home in St. John, but I now own an adorable little property out in Fish Bay. And I could not be happier!
September is a bit of a fog for me, as I was busy playing construction foreman out in Fish Bay. I do know that many of you stepped up to help our teachers at Sprauve School in Cruz Bay clear their supply lists. A big thank you to all who helped!
We quickly learned on October 1st that Caneel Bay would not become part of the National Park as it should have due to a frivolous lawsuit filed by EHI Acquisitions, the former operators of the Caneel Bay Resort. That lawsuit is ongoing, and no progress has been made since.
The island started to fill up in November, but not without some unexpected changes. Quiet Mon Pub announced it was forced to close after 26 years due to an astronomical rent increase. Lime Inn announced some restaurant changes too, and Midway opened a new breakfast and lunch spot on Centerine Road.
And here we are in December. We had our first cruise visit and a lot of superyachts too. The island is extremely busy and parking has been crazy. I escaped the crowds for a bit, and will be celebrating New Year’s Eve in New England with some of my best friends. But don’t worry, I have friends who are planning to celebrate in Cruz Bay tonight, so I should have some pics and videos to share with all of you tomorrow.
I want to end this by saying that I truly appreciate every one of you. Thank you for taking the time to read what I write every day. ExploreSTJ.com has been viewed well over a million times this year, which is absolutely incredible. And to those of you who took an island tour with me in 2023, I appreciate you all too. You all are helping me live my dream, and I cannot thank you enough.
Happy New Year everyone. xoxo
Looking to take a St. John island tour?
Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tourFull & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.
The New Year’s Eve ball drop will happen in front of Drink.
Tomorrow night is going to be a party in St. John! Here is a list of several fun events happening in St. John on New Year’s Eve.
The party starts early here in St. John. Heading East is hosting a Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on New Year’s Eve day. The cost to attend is $45. Dress to impress for this one, friends. Heading East is located on Centerline Route (Route 10 on the map) and is about two or so miles outside of Cruz Bay. Please call or text Dietra at 340-344-3210 for more information.
Now onto the nighttime events…
Cruz Bay is basically going to be one large party on New Year’s Eve! Da Event Lounge is a brand-new event space located at the Lumberyard and across the street from Hercules Pate. They’re hosting a paid event that will feature RVP Band, Eva & Mark, and Icon Sounds. Entry is just $20, and it includes food and a champagne toast. Please call 340-725-8101 for reservations.
Drink will, once again, host a block party right that will feature music by DJ LS1 and DJ B. Rock. This is going to be a huge party. They even have a ball drop! It’s not as elaborate as Time Square, but it’s pretty darn cool to see! Katie and crew will also have popup bars around the area.
The Beach Bar will hold its annual New Year’s Eve party right on the beach! I don’t know about you, but it sounds pretty amazing the thought of ringing in the New Year with sandy feet! The Beach Bar will have a stage set up directly on the beach, and Miss Fairchild, a band that hails from Massachusetts, will play at 9 p.m.
The Beach Bar is moving its party to the sand on NYE!
And right next door will be a fun Glow in the Dark Party at the Rum Hut! They’re opening at 3 p.m. and will have a special dinner menu until 7 p.m. The Glow in the Dark Party starts at 8 p.m. and there will be a special “drunk food” menu for this too. They’ll have drink specials, black lights, glow in the dark tattoos, glowsticks, and more.
Rum Hut’s special New Year’s Eve menu
Lovango Rum Bar is hosting a ticketed event featuring DJ Chris Karns. The cost is $100 for VIP entry or $500 for a table of four. The ticketed event starts at 10 p.m. Little Big Heart and Mother Goat will be performing from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. There is no entry fee for these two performances.
The Upstairs Bar will be open late night if you are looking for somewhere to go after the ball drops. They plan to be open until about 2 a.m.
Over in Coral Bay, Skinny Legs is holding an earlier party that will feature music by Moss Henry from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Lovango Resort + Beach Club is also hosting a big New Year’s Eve party this year. Guests can go for dinner at their waterfront restaurant and stay for the party, or simply go for the party! The party starts at 9:30 p.m. and will continue until 12:45 a.m. Just Friends band will play while guests dance the night away. Tickets cost $100 and include passed snacks and ferry transportation to and from the island. Alcohol can be purchased separately. Click here for more details and to purchase tickets.
Lovango is located about 10 minutes from Cruz Bay.
Looking to take a St. John island tour?
Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tourFull & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.
If you park over the white line and/or block traffic in any way, you will get a ticket. This Jeep was ticketed at Maho Wednesday.
I mentioned earlier this week that parking has been crazy at the beaches this week. During busy weeks like these, it’s best to take a taxi when possible. I saw an abundance of parking tickets on the North Shore Wednesday, so I figured this is an opportune time to remind everyone about where you can park and what will get you a ticket.
General Parking Rules Straight from the VI National Park
I reached out to the Park for guidance earlier this year, and I was told that when parking along the roadway, all tires and mirrors need to be completely off the road and behind the white line (when there is a white line).
A few other rules straight from the Park: Never park in front of a gate or an entrance, and never push a stone with your vehicle that is being used to make a boundary. When parking along the road, do not push back any trees or break any branches when trying to find a parking spot. And lastly, no parking really means no parking, the ranger stressed. There are numerous “no parking” signs near the beaches. The ranger asked that we all be mindful to the arrows on those signs as well. Some are no parking to the right, some to the left, and so forth.
Tickets
Parking tickets start at $125. They can be higher depending on the violation, a ranger told me earlier this year. The ranger also stated that some car rental companies often charge the renter double the fine, especially when a vehicle is towed.
Tips for Specific Beaches
Soloman/Honeymoon
There is no parking at either of the beaches. You can either walk in via the Lind Point Trail, or take the $6 shuttle provided by the Caneel Bay Beach Club. If you park behind the National Park Visitor Center, you need to get a handwritten pass from the Visitor Center (if they are open). They will ask that you back into the designated spot for permit holders and display your parking permit on your dashboard. You can also park at the top of the hill near the Virgin Islands National Park sign (near a large construction area) and walk down the Lind Point Trail. You do not need a permit to park there. If you opt to take the shuttle, you can park on the grounds of the former Caneel Bay Resort.
Hawksnest
There is a decent amount of parking at Hawksnest. You can park before and after the parking area on the beach side, as long as your tires and mirrors are completely off the road. It is not suggested that you park anywhere across the street as you may damage the trees, a ranger told me earlier this year.
The vehicles parked on the left are ok, per the ranger. There really isn’t enough space on the right without hurting a tree. (Image taken earlier this year.)
Oppenheimer/Gibney
There are only three parking spots, so this is a beach to get to early. Park on the left side. when facing the gate.
Denis Bay
You can park in the small lot for Peace Hill to access Denis Bay.
Jumbie
There is a small parking area across the street from the trailhead. It is not recommended that you park on the beach side, as there is a driveway there and you can also damage trees, the ranger said.
Trunk Bay
This is definitely one of the busier beaches, so you want to get to Trunk Bay early. When parking in the main lot, be sure not to take a spot designated for the taxis. They park along the back of the lot, beside the entry booth, facing the street. There is a small patch of grass to the right of where the taxis park (if your back is to the road.) Do not park on this grassy patch unless you’d like to leave with a ticket or possibly get towed, the ranger said.
You are allowed to park across the street near the plantation building as long as your tires and mirrors are off the road. You will see there are no parking and no parking beyond this point signs in that area. I have seen numerous vehicles ticketed here for ignoring those signs, so keep an eye out and look for arrows.
Also, there isn’t any parking along the roadway on the beach side before of after the Trunk Bay parking lot. I see people create spots, and those vehicles routinely get ticketed too. I saw a man walking away from a Jeep with a ticket in hand here Wedneaday afternoon. There are a few no parking signs up the switchbacks too. Trunk is pretty well marked when it comes to where you can and where you cannot park. If you do not want to deal with Trunk’s notorious parking issues, you can always take a taxi.
Please do not park right next to a no parking sign like this yellow Jeep. The vehicles on the right are fine per Park rules. (Image taken earlier this year.)
Cinnamon Bay
There are two large parking lots, so this is an easier place to find a spot. You can also park along the roadway a bit, but again, all tires and mirrors off the road, and please do not park in a way that you can damage a tree. There are a handful of spots where you can park along the road inside of Cinnamon Bay (near the parking areas) too.
Please do not park over the white line. This Jeep was ticketed on Wednesday.…and another ticket at Cinnamon Wednesday.
Maho Bay
Maho is also extremely busy, and parking is tricky. On the Maho Crossroads side of the beach (closer to Cruz Bay), there are several designated parking spots along the beach. Once you pass the final shade structure, you can no longer park on the beach side. This is a sea turtle nesting beach, and there are also small plantings along the beach that cannot be harmed.
Parking on the sand at Maho is not allowed, per Park rules. (Image taken earlier this year.)
There are also some parking spots across the street in between large boulders along the roadway. Then there is a decent-sized lot at the turtle side of the beach (the opposite side from where the tiki bar is). You can also park along the roadway near the parking lot as long as your tires and mirrors are off the road. This is tricky because there isn’t a ton of space, so there is only room for a handful of cars to do this. There is also a sign that indicates you can no longer park on the side of the road, so please be mindful to that.
I understand that it’s frustrating that there are more people visiting than spaces at the beach. Luckily we have an abundance of taxis who drive between Cruz Bay and Maho and everywhere in between all day, every day. Take a taxi if you can. It’s a lot less stressful in my opinion.
That’s it for today, folks. Have a wonderful day!
Take a St. John island tour with me!
Get to know St. John. Visit beautiful beaches & centuries-old plantations. Perhaps stop at a tiki bar or two. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor. 2023 & 2022 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Winner. Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour
Hello everyone, and happy Wednesday! I hope you all had a fantastic holiday! We did over here at the Manes-Hedy household! I thought I would take a quick moment to catch you up with a little island update.
Let’s start with the obvious – the crowds. Christmas and New Year’s are the busiest weeks of the year, and this year is no exception. It is unbelievably busy here on St. John, which is great seeing that St. John’s economy is based on tourism. Yesterday was the first day this season that I saw ridiculous parking at pretty much every beach I drove past. Here’s a quick rule of thumb: If your tires are on the road or if two vehicles cannot pass each other simultaneously due to your parking job, please move your vehicle. Chances are that a National Park ranger will write you a ticket anyway, which is a quick way to ruin a day at the beach. I hope that didn’t come across as preachy; I am simply trying to help your bank account (while helping myself better traverse the roads here lol).
Now let’s talk about the beauty of St. John. Tuesday was remarkably clear and unbelievably flat, especially on the south side of the island. It looked like I could waterski to St. Croix. It was that flat! Usually, we get the Christmas winds that blow through this time of year, but the winds are almost non-existent at the moment. It’s great boating weather!
We are officially in the midst of high season, so absolutely everything is open on the island. It’s such a great time to be here!
I took a quick peek at airfare over the next few months, and it’s actually not that terrible. It’s not too late to book a winter vacation to paradise!
It’s also not too late to book an island tour with me this winter! I still have some January dates available. February is quite full, but I have a few dates here and there. Please reserve your day earlier than later, so you do not miss out!
Want to know more about my top-rated island tours? Please visit www.explorestj.com/tour. I offer both full and half-day island tours.
That’s it for today, folks. I hope you have a fantastic holiday week!
