USVI National Park

More than half of the land on St. John is contained within the U.S. Virgin Islands National Park. A large portion of submerged land surrounding the island is also federally owned. That ensures this spot of paradise will be protected, accessible to all and safe from commercialization. I have visited St. John and basked in its beautiful park for a wedding, for a getaway and for a vacation with small children. It proved its versatility to me by making all three very different visits equally enjoyable.

Famous for:

Underwater Coral Reef Snorkeling Trail @ Trunk Bay.

Admission:

Free for park. Trunk Bay day fee is $4 for (Adults 16+, free under 16).

Families with young kids will like:

Trunk Bay, providing a gorgeous beach and snorkeling trail for the grown-ups. The snack bar, bath house, water rentals and souvenir shop to make it easier to keep the kiddies happy & entertained.

Families with teenagers will like:

Windsurfing and sun bathing at Cinnamon Bay.

Other travelers will like:

Visiting the Annaberg School and hiking to the Sugar Mill Ruins to take in a view of the British Virgin Islands.

Easy site seeing:

Safari taxi drivers offer 2 hour driving tours around the island.

Best hotel in the park:

Caneel Bay Resort is the only hotel in the park, though amenities are not flashy. Maho Bay Campground offers Harmony Studios which are essentially small hotel room/apartments. Their sister facility, Estate Concordia, offers studios as well. The Westin is not in the park but is close enough, in Great Cruz Bay.

Best campground in the park:

Maho Bay – offers tent cottages and studios. Cinnamon Bay – offers bare tent sites, prepared tents and cottages.

Lodging experiences:

Cinnamon Bay is noisier and a more traditional camping environment while Maho Bay is spiffier, as well as eco-friendly.

Best months to visit for weather:

December – May

Best months to visit to avoid crowds:

May is still safe from hurricane season, but the snow bird tourists are winding down and school vacations have passed.

Nearest major cities:

The closest thing to a city on St. John is Cruz Bay. Take the ferry back over to St. Thomas if you want city living.

More info from the National Park Service:

http://www.nps.gov/viis/index.htm

Related posts:

Trunk Bay Underwater Snorkeling Trail


By Molly G. @ The Bumbles Blog

Photo credited to Molly G. @The Bumbles Blog