Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SUSTAINABLE ST. JOHN: A ROCKEFELLER DREAM
St. John is the most tranquil, unspoiled
island in the Virgins. All of this came
about in 1956 when multimillionaire
Laurance Rockefeller sailed around the
island with friends on his yacht. Rocke-
feller was so enchanted with the island
that he established his own resort here
and donated 9,500 acres of rolling
green hills and an underwater preserve
to the federal government to be set
aside as a national park that would be
here for future generations to enjoy.
Sustainable tourism programs and
eco-friendly practices keep the island
clean and pristine. St. John, more than
any other island in the Caribbean, works
to ensure the preservation of its natural
resources and ecosystems.
You can live here instead of in over-
crowded St. Thomas. For those who
seek luxury, there is
Caneel Bay resort
(p. 113) or
Westin St. John Resort & Vil-
las
(p. 114). But for those who want
to get back to nature, St. John boasts
several eco-tourism resorts and camp-
grounds. Chief among these are
Estate
Concordia Studios
(p. 119);
Cinnamon
Bay Campground
(p. 120);
Concordia
Eco-tents
(p. 121) and
Maho Bay Camp
(p. 121).
Two-thirds of St. John's 19 square
miles is protected national parkland
today. The island also has some of
the most beautiful beaches in the
Caribbean, including Trunk Bay and
Hawksnest Bay.
Snorkelers and scuba divers come
here to explore underwater St. John,
with its rainbow-hued fish and coral.
Many divers are attracted to Pillsbury
Sound, where the Caribbean Sea meets
the Atlantic Ocean.
To protect this underwater paradise,
in 1962 the boundaries of the National
Park were expanded to include 5,650
acres of submerged lands and waters
around St. John, with their coral reefs
and marine life.
You can explore the park by boat or
foot, especially by hiking and nature
walks. Camping, fishing, kayaking, scuba
diving, snorkeling, and bird-watching
are also possible.
4
If you want to escape the crowds, head for
Lameshur Bay Beach,
along the rug-
ged south coast, west of Salt Pond Bay and accessible only via a bumpy dirt road. The
sands are beautiful and the snorkeling is excellent. You can also take a 5-minute stroll
down the road past the beach to explore the nearby ruins of an old plantation estate
that was destroyed in a slave revolt.
Does St. John have a nude beach? Not officially, but lovely
Solomon Bay Beach
is a contender, although park rangers of late have sometimes asked people to give up
their quest for the perfect tan. Leave Cruz Bay on Route 20 and turn left at the park
service sign, about one-quarter mile past the visitor center. Park at the end of a cul-
de-sac, then walk along the trail for about 15 minutes. Go early, and you'll practically
have the beach to yourself. As we mentioned earlier, people also sometimes shed their
swimwear at
Cinnamon Bay
(see above). Again, rangers frequently ask beachgoers
to put their (only slightly more modest) bathing suits back on.
FUN IN THE SURF & SUN
St. John offers some of the best snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, fishing, hiking,
sailing, and underwater photography in the Caribbean. The island is known for the
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