• YEAR VISITED:
• 2022-Saint Thomas and Saint John

In June of 2022 we traveled to the island of Saint Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Other than the fact we knew the island was located in the Caribbean, and was the home to world class beaches, we had no idea of what to expect. The most exciting part of our trip was driving on the left hand side of the road. Once I got used to it, I was fine. The only tricky part was making turns and muttering to myself, “stay to the left.”

Between the beaches, snorkeling, and other tropical experiences we truly felt like we were in paradise. Of all the places we have traveled, personally this is one of my all time favorites.

———- Saint Thomas, U.S.V.I ———-

HOTEL/APARTMENT: We stayed at the Club Wyndham Elysian Beach Resort. Our room came with a view of the water. On site amenities included a tennis court, game room, and a massive size pool with bar.

Additionally, the beach front along Cowpet Bay was stunning. The palm trees, beach chairs, and beautiful water truly made it a vacation paradise.

Snorkel gear, as well as sea kayaks were also available to rent.

On the beach, directly across from our hotel was Sangria’s Beachside Bistro. This was a relaxed atmosphere that served umbrella drinks and ‘bar food’. We ate multiple meals there and absolutely loved the location. The fish tacos were as good as it gets.

Also located on the property was the Caribbean Fish Market. This is a upscale fine dining restaurant also close to the beach.

Both restaurants were fantastic options with world class Caribbean views. We couldn’t have been happier with the resort property and feel that it played a major part in us absolutely loving our week in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

EXPERIENCES: We stayed on Cowpet Bay, roughly 20 minutes from downtown Charlotte Amalia (the capital of the Virgin Islands). When exploring the city it is evident the portion visited by cruise ships and tourists. The streets are cobblestone, the properties are beautiful, and you feel as if you are walking into a real life Caribbean post card.

We drove our rental car downtown, parked in a lot, and explored the city on foot. We accumulated thousands of steps and the following day we were a tad sore, but overwhelmingly this is the best way to experience the city. We started by exploring both the Palm Passage Retail Mall and the Riise Mall very near to the port. Stores range from Rolex and Louis Vuitton to your run of the mill t-shirt and souvenir store(s).

Following our mall adventure we walked the grounds of Fort Christian. The building of the fort in 1672 signaled the beginning of Dutch colonialism. This is the oldest building in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Throughout history the fort has been the governors mansion, a dungeon, police station, and is currently a Dutch historical museum.

Following the tour of the fort we crossed the street to the Emancipation Garden and began venturing up the hill. While the views of the Caribbean were incredible, it also became apparent the entire island is not all upscale and fancy.

Many residents live in poverty and properties are vastly different in appearance the further away you get from downtown. We made our way to the 99 Steps which led the way to Blackbeard’s Castle at the crest of the hill.

The steps, made from ballast bricks from tall ships, were installed in the 18th century. The wear and tear of 200+ years of use are evident, but only adds to the charm. Unfortunately when we visited Blackbeard’s Castle, it was closed for repairs due to hurricane damage earlier in the year.

The castle was built in 1679 and served as a watchtower to protect the island from piracy. This entire region has a rich history of pirates. Once at the top of Government Hill we walked around Hotel 1829. This location was originally built as a private residence. In 1848 it was at the center of the Emancipation of slaves tied to the Dutch Empire.

On the same block is the Three Queens Statue. Three women who have come to be known as, Queen Mary, Queen Agnes, and Queen Mathilda, led a revolt in 1878 against inhumane working conditions. The revolt has become known as “The Fireburn” and this fountain is a memorial to three women standing up for human rights.

One afternoon we drove to the Mountain Top to watch the sunset. Saint Thomas is exceptionally hilly, and this is the tallest mountain on the island. The switch backs on the road were intense and the drive was slow going. However, once we arrived the views did not disappoint.

Besides the amazing views, there was a massive gift shop that also housed multiple eateries. We enjoyed shopping but unfortunately the World Famous Banana Daiquiris stand was closed.

BEACHES: The beaches on any of the islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands are some of the best in the world. Our beach days were spent at:

• Cowpet Bay – This is where our resort was located and therefore where we spent a majority of our beach time. Snorkel gear as well as kayak’s are available for rental. The beach and palm trees resemble something from a postcard.
• Magens Bay – Cruise ships dock nearby so depending on when you visit this beach can be busy. However, it is the #1 ranked beach on St Thomas. Bathrooms and other amenities are nearby and the beauty of the water, sand, and surrounding area make this a must see destination.
• Coki Point Beach – This beach is near Coral World Ocean Park. The parking lot would best be described as ‘rough’. Don’t let this deter you as the beach and the sand are absolutely amazing.

RESTAURANTS: Besides the restaurants we visited at our resort, we only went out for a couple of meals. The first time we ate out was near the shopping mall in downtown Charlotte Amalie called Greengo’s Caribbean Cantina.

It was a Mexican restaurant that served handmade tortillas and stiff margaritas. We were fascinated by the day of the dead decorations and overall Caribbean feel. Great place for good food and drinks in a relaxed atmosphere. The second outing came the last night we were on the island. We wanted something special and made a reservation at Prime at Paradise Point. This is the #1 ranked steakhouse on the island and the views were absolutely spectacular. Keep in mind it is a 4.5 star restaurant and expensive. However, the combination of the view, friendly and attentive service, and of course the food made it absolutely worth it. This was one of our favorite outings in USVI.

ADVENTURE(S) AND/OR NOTABLE DESTINATIONS: The Pirate Treasure Museum was fascinating and the only museum dedicated to pirates that I have ever visited.

I do remember feeling like admission tickets were expensive, but the girls and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit. There were multiple rooms to the museum and each room had a theme. A couple of the themes I can remember are 1) individual stories of particular pirates, 2) interactive maps showing many shipwrecks throughout the region, and my personal favorite was 3) a vast collection of artifacts recovered from ship wrecks. Each artifact told a story and we found the stories to be interesting.

Coral World Ocean Park is another destination worthy of a visit. It is a marine park located on Coki Beach, located on the east side of the island. Main attractions are a massive Caribbean reef fish tank as well as a nature park that features an iguana habitat.

I have never seen so many iguana’s in one place and was fascinated watching their movements.

Other animals housed here are sea turtles, stingrays, baby sharks, and sea lions. However, the hands down highlight for us was participating in what is known as the Sea Trek. For an additional fee you are lowered to the bottom of the ocean where you get to walk along a path on the ocean floor. While we had all sorts of questions and claustrophobic concerns before hand, it was absolutely an amazing experience. This is one of our favorite excursions of any trip we have ever experienced.

Another fun excursion was the Tree Limin’ Extreme Zipline. The property is located in the rainforest at the top of Saint Peter Mountain. The girls had a blast and the view of the coast below was unreal.

———- Saint John, U.S.V.I ———-

We went round and round whether we should even visit the island of Saint John or not. Ultimately we decided to go, and we are so glad we did. Hands down, the beaches on Saint John are the prettiest we have ever experienced. The ferry ride leaves from the town of Red Hook and arrives in Cruz Harbor. From start to finish, the trip takes roughly 30-minutes.

When we arrived on the island there were a line of trucks with benches attached in the bed of their truck, which felt like a combination of a bus and a taxi. The bus-taxi will escort you around the island, stopping at each of the fifteen designated beach stops. You simply select which beach you want to visit, pay accordingly, and sit back and enjoy the scenery.

Following our beach excursion(s), we ate dinner at the High Tide Bar and Seafood Grill. It is located in town, next to the ferry dock, right on the beach. It is so “on the beach” that the floor of the bar is sand. We were especially drawn to their motto of “Living the Dream” and their extensive collection of souvenir’s with their motto prominently displayed. If I ever open a beachside bar it would be modeled after this establishment.

BEACHES: Simply put, the beaches on Saint John USVI were some of the prettiest we have ever experienced anywhere in the world. This is truly island paradise. Of the fifteen or so beach options. there is simply not a bad choice. We selected:

• Trunk Bay – This is part of the USVI National Park. There is a long white sand beach that looked like it was right out of a postcard. Amenities were near by and you could rent snorkel gear, beach chairs, and even kayaks. Personally, what I thought was the coolest aspect of this beach was the underwater snorkel/dive park. There were markers on the sea floor outlining what to look for along the snorkel/dive path.
• Cinnamon Bay – Snorkel gear, beach chairs, and kayaks are available for rent. There was no snorkel trail but open waters, beautiful clear water, and a fairly private beach to relax.
• Honeymoon Bay – A gift shop and food is available. The sandy beach is long and the signs advertise this location as a great place to see sea turtles.
• Salomon Bay – This beach is only accessible by trail and is therefore much more secluded. There is a parking lot and then you hike to the beach.

• OUR LIST TO VISIT OR RETURN TO:
• Virgin Island National Park (Saint John)
• Trunk Bay (Saint John)
• Buck Island National Monument
• Saint Croix