Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cinnamon Bay
Site of the National Park campsite, Cinnamon Bay was
named for the trees that once grew here. There is a one-mile,
self-guided trail which you can follow. Start across the road
from the main entrance. This area was home to two tribes of
Pre-Columbian Indians - the peaceful Arawaks and the can-
nibalistic Caribs. The big treat at Carib ceremonial dinners
was an Arawak child for the main course. Many artifacts
discovered here when the camp was being built are on dis-
play in the Park Office in Cruz Bay. A short way up the trail
on your right is the estate house and, near it, a tree that pro-
duces a large green calabash, a fruit eaten by slaves. The
house was made of stone, but unfortunately was nearly de-
stroyed in a hurricane. The mill and a bay rum still are not
far away. Along the trail, are charcoal pits used during the
time when charcoal was burned as fuel. Beyond the dry river
bed, you'll come to an old Danish cemetery with all sorts of
grave stones. The size of the stone denotes the deceased's so-
cial class. Butterflies, birds, spiders, hermit crabs, mamee
apple, hog plum and lime trees, as well as bay leaves, all live
and grow along this trail.
Coral Bay
Coral Bay, the “other town” on St. John, was actually the site
of the original Danish settlement. One of the places to visit
here is the ruins of Fort Berg , which are atop a hill above
the harbor. It was captured and held by slaves during the
bloody 18th-century revolt. The Moravian Church , a large
yellow building you'll see as you enter town, is built over the
ruins of an old estate house. The owners of the estate were
murdered during the revolt and because of this the church is
“haunted” by a jumbie, a West Indian ghost.
The town itself is fun to explore. It makes Cruz Bay look fre-
netic. There are a few shops and restaurants and lots of
yachts and sailboats. It's a popular hangout for crews of day
sailboats.
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Bring water and wear a hat .
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