OUT & ABOUT ON ST. JOHN
Come for Unspoiled Beauty, Stay to Create Memories
Though it is the smallest of the three main U.S. Virgin Islands, St. John's unspoiled beauty is perhaps the greatest found anywhere in the Caribbean. The natural beauty of the Caribbean, St. John offers visitors pristine splendor amid modern luxuries. Originally settled by the Arawak and Carib Indians, the island has a history as rich as its landscape. The United States purchased St. John from the Danish West India and Guinea Company in 1917. In 1956, Laurance Rockefeller donated more than 5,000 acres of the island to the National Park Service. With two-thirds of the island designated as a national park, St. John has some of the world's most beautiful beaches, like the much-beloved Trunk Bay. This beach is renowned for its crystal sands and underwater nature trail, and it is just one of the many memorable beaches on St. John.
St. John, USVI
An island that preserves its land and history. The smallest of the three main islands of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. John, enjoys a reputation as the most pristine. With a combination of natural beauty on land as well as in the water, this diverse member of the U.S. Virgin Islands offers travelers an abundance of opportunities for adventures. Trade winds keep the island warm and inviting, as do the friendly people.
“St. Johnians” are always eager to share the history of their communities and culture. The Annaberg Sugar Plantation hosts exhibitions, concerts, and arts and crafts fairs. The self-guided Annaberg Historic Trail takes visitors through restored ruins on the plantation grounds. Petroglyphs created by Arawak Indians can be found along the Reef Bay Trail in Virgin Islands National Park. Volunteers can join scientists at the Cinnamon Bay archaeological dig to help uncover 500 years of ceremonial activity of the Taino Indians.
The beaches of St. John are as breathtaking as they are diverse. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find one to your liking. Have a relaxing time in world-famous Trunk Bay. Enjoy the secluded Salt Pond Bay for a bit more privacy. For a more family-oriented atmosphere, check out Maho Bay, where waters are calm and shallow, perfect for the little ones. Be in the middle of the action in Cinnamon Bay, where snorkeling, windsurfing, kayaking and proximity to land activities provide plenty to do.
The water activities on St. John are just as incredible as the white sandy beaches. Whether newly certified or a more advanced diver, it’s possible to encounter more than 500 species of fish, 40 types of coral and hundreds of invertebrates inhabiting the water. Vibrant blue tang, silvery horse-eye jacks, queen triggerfish, spiny lobster and cleaner gobies are just a sampling of the marine life populating the underwater terrain.
Experience the Best of "Love City" St. John
Home to the Virgin Islands National Park which protects over 7,000 acres of the 12,500 acre island. It offers visitors a unique opportunity to enjoy and appreciate the beautiful natural resources of the island.
Cruz Bay is the main town on St. John and is the location of the ferry docks which connect St. John to St. Thomas. Resorts and vacation villas are found largely in and close to Cruz Bay and Coral Bay.
Cruz Bay & Coral Bay have restaurants, shops, grocery stores and other businesses that cater to the residents and visitors.