Virgin Island - Some of the Most Beautiful Beaches in the World

St John USVI is the smallest of the three US Virgin Islands. Its sister islands are St Thomas and St Croix. The exotic beaches here are unique among the beaches of the Caribbean and the world.

The island is only nine miles long and three miles wide and two thirds of the island is the Virgin Islands National Park and therefore protected by the USA Park Rangers.

But, most of the tourists arrive in St John for its beaches. They are unspoiled and surrounded by pristine waters touching the while sand beaches.
It is located to the east of St Thomas on a 20 minute ride by ferry from Red Hook to Cruz Bay in St John. Coming from St Thomas that is populated and very busy, you will notice that you arrived to a place totally the opposite, St John is laid back, relaxed and the calm can be felt all over.
Beaches

• Trunk Bay

This is one of the most famous destinations in the Virgin Islands. It is located about two miles from Cruz Bay. It is a hearth shaped spectacular beach. This beach has visitor's facilities, like showers, changing areas, restrooms, food area, as well as picnic facilities.
The white powdered sands are surrounded on one side by coconut pal trees and on the other side by crystal clear blue waters.
When visiting Trunk Bay pay a visit to the Archaeological dig where many prehistoric artifacts were found. You'll see remnants of bones and plant material.
This is an ideal beach for Family Vacations, since the place is children friendly with many water sports and calm waters. And at the same time very popular with groups of cruise lines passengers, that like to spend the day here.
Trunk Bay is easily accessible by public bus, taxi or car; there is a scenic ferry ride across Pillsbury Sound to St. John.

• Cinnamon Bay

Larger than Trunk Bay, this beach offers beautiful jungle like surroundings, featuring mango and cacao trees, as well as great underwater life and water sports.
It is located three miles distance of Cruz Bay on North Shore Road. The beach is great for kayaking, windsurfing, snorkeling, diving or swimming through flagrant corals and colorful tropical fish. You will also find here all facilities for visitors like changing rooms, showers, lockers and a local restaurant. There are also facilities for picnics and family reunions.

• Salt Pond Bay

This is a fairly unknown beach along the southern coast of the island. It features a salt pond where locals take salt from. The salt is formed from sea water that enters the pond via subterranean tunnels. Once the water evaporates it leaves a white foamy residue of sea salt.

• Blue Cobblestone Beach

This beach gets its name from the cobblestones along the beach. It is great for a snorkeling adventure along the large rocks. This area is also renowned for bird watching because the area is more secluded and the birds abound here.

• Caneel Bay

Cannel Bay is am idyllic resort area. The beaches are made of powdered white sands great for sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling.
To get there you will take a ferry from St Thomas provided by the resort and dock in their private pier. Or if you are already on the island you'll take route 20 and turn left where the sign tells you to get to the beach.

• Hawks nest Beach

This beach is very accessible and popular among locals in St John. It is a short drive from Cruz Bay. The parking for this beach is very close to the sea, making it very easy to carry all you need for a great beach day.
They have all facilities for picnics and barbeques. The corals and tropical fish here are incredibly beautiful. Some of the fish you'll find here are the grunt, fry and goatfish. Your entire family will love the scene under the sea regardless of age.

• Maho Bay

This beach offers a lot to families with small children and those who like calm and shallow waters for swimming.
You can get to this beach going past Cinnamon Bay one more mile. You may park below one of the maho Trees and enjoy your day. There are no signs or parking spots, just plain beach. The road is lined by coconut palm trees.
The snorkeling between Maho Beach and Little Maho is great. You'll enjoy and array of tropical fish and exotic coral reefs.
Salomon Beach, St John
It used to be a Nude Beach, but since the new legislation on public nudity, this is no longer possible. Those breaking the law may get fines of hundreds of dollars and even jail time.
It has become a family beach, but it is accessible only by boat or by hiking through a guided trail. This trail is one of many provided by the authorities.
The waters are calm and shallow in Salomon Beach and the coral reefs are spectacular. This is a great place for beginning snorkelers. The reefs between Salomon Beach and Honeymoon Bay are unique.

Villas or Resorts
You will find in St John accommodation for any budget and two luxury resorts. You can find here a large variety of restaurants offering Continental and Caribbean Cuisine and many bars offering entertainment featuring the best musicians attracted to St John.
There are million dollar villas that are available for rent through local agents. These villas offer all amenities expected by those looking for a deluxe vacation including concierge and maid services.
A visit to St John in the American Virgin Islands is an unforgettable experience. You'll be happy you came.

I love Caneel Bay

Racking up quite a few awards and recommendations throughout its existence, the Caneel Bay resort arguably offers low key luxury at its best. Perhaps that’s why it’s been a favorite of discerning travelers for decades now. Hailed as the first eco-resort in the Caribbean, Caneel Bay was the brainchild of millionaire Laurance S. Rockefeller, who conceived the idea for the property in the mid-1950's. It’s found on the glorious island of St John, which is one of the main United States Virgin Islands. Since two-thirds of St John has been dedicated as a U.S. National Park, those seeking the great outdoors on their USVI vacation will certainly find plenty of nature here. According to some, St John is the prettiest of the United States Virgin Islands, and when you choose to stay at the Cannel Bay St John resort, you’ll be enjoying not only a beautiful setting, but also an exceedingly fun and relaxing time.

One of the best attributes of Caneel Bay is its location. An exclusive resort, Caneel Bay offers a pristine setting with no less than 7 staggering beaches to choose from. Since the resort is found within the Virgin Islands National Park, guests can feel free to properly disconnect themselves from the hectic world they’ve likely left behind. With 170 lush acres on hand, there seems little end to the amount of exploration that Caneel Bay guests can enjoy, and when it’s time to refuel, the resort’s excellent cuisine surely hits the spot. Dine at the elegant Turtle Bay Estate House, and you’ll not only savor the sumptuous food, but also the inspiring views out over the peninsula. Perhaps in the afternoon you’ll be up for a nice cocktail or cup of tea on the Turtle Bay Estate terrace. For those looking to enjoy something a bit more action-packed, there are plenty of other things to get into at the Caneel Bay St John resort as well.

As mentioned earlier, seven glorious beaches can be taken advantage of by those staying at the Caneel Bay resort. Regardless of which Caneel Bay beach you choose, you can expect coconut palms and seagrape trees for shade, soft white sand for comfort, and rich blue-green water to round everything out. Chances are good that your experience at a Caneel Bay beach will be an ideal one. Perhaps you’ll just be up for sunbathing, or maybe you’ll grab some complimentary snorkeling gear to see what lies beneath the sea’s surface. An introductory scuba clinic is offered in the rates as a Caneel Bay package bonus, so if you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at scuba diving, the Caneel Bay St John resort is an excellent place to get started. There are also kayaks and small sailboats available to guests free of charge, as well as a list of other complimentary services. If you have room in the budget, there are also scores of activities here to enjoy at an additional charge. They include sailing trips, guided snorkeling tours, tours of St John, power boat rentals, and scuba diving instruction, to name a few.

Of course, if you’re thinking of arranging a Caneel Bay vacation, you might be wondering about the resort’s rooms. There are 166 guest units to choose from at Caneel Bay, and they are spread out over much of the resort’s lush grounds. Each guest room is luxuriously decorated, being mindful of not going way over the top. Hand-crafted furniture, premium fabrics, and native stonework are just some of the added touches that make the Caneel Bay guest rooms so wonderful. Air-conditioning and ceiling fans are standard amenities throughout, but you won’t find any televisions or telephones in the rooms here. No sir, you’re here to unwind and leave it all behind. The rooms here are exceedingly comfortable, though, and since they are equipped with coffee makers, bathrobes, safes, mini-bars, free bottled water, bath products, and more, you’ll certainly enjoy a sufficient amount of modern conveniences. Outside of the rooms, there are telephone pavilions for guests to use, so if you should need to make some calls to arrange tours or things the like, you will be able to do so.

There are different room choices available for those planning a Caneel Bay vacation, and arguably, the 5 rooms in Cottage #7 are the most desirable. You’ll hardly be upset whichever room you choose, though, especially since you’ll likely be spending quite a bit of time outside your quarters. There are a dozen tennis courts on-hand if you like to play, and as mentioned, you can enjoy a number of activities at a Caneel Bay Beach. There is a children’s center that can come in quite handy if you are traveling with kids, and the fitness center and pool are ideal spots to spend some down time. If you can’t make it over to St Croix for a tour of the Cruzan Rum Distillery, you might entertain the notion of attending a rum-tasting demonstration at Caneel Bay. There’s just so much to talk about when it comes to the Caneel Bay St John resort. So plan your Caneel Bay vacation today, and see firsthand why it’s easily one of the top United States Virgin Islands resorts. As a side note, most guests at Caneel Bay fly first into the island of St Thomas. There is a Caneel Bay reception area at the St Thomas airport, and from there you’ll be transported via bus and ferry to the resort on St John.

by : destination360.com

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