In order to visit our 37th national park we decided to visit the US Virgin Islands National Park the week after Christmas.
Day #1
We landed in St. Thomas around noon, took a taxi to Red Hook to board the ferry, and were met at the St. John ferry terminal by a lady from the Jeep rental company. After getting the Jeep, we headed to the grocery store to stock up on breakfast and lunch foods. We arrived at our Airbnb, Allemande 4 of the Seagrape Vista, at 4pm where the host met us to get us checked in. The Seagrape Vista is a beautiful property within walking distance to the shops and restaurants of Cruz Bay. And one of the best things about this Airbnb is they had a closet full of ice chests, snorkel equipment, beach chairs, etc. that we could use during our stay which was very convenient.
 |
The view from the balcony of our Airbnb
|
After getting settled, we walked down into Cruz Bay to get a lay of the land and had dinner at Greengos.
 |
| The Virgin Islands National Park visitor center is right along the water in downtown Cruz Bay. |
Day #2
After breakfast at the condo, we started the day by walking into Cruz Bay to visit the national park visitor center to get information regarding the best beaches and hiking, and to purchase our national park magnet.
Our first hike of the trip, the Lind Point Trail, left right from the visitor center and took us to two beautiful beaches - Honeymoon Beach and Salomon Beach.
After the hike, we got the Jeep and drove along the north shore of St. John stopping at several overlooks and beaches.
 |
An overlook with the popular Trunk Bay behind us.
|
We drove to Francis Bay where we had a picnic lunch on the beach and then did some snorkeling.
We then drove the short distance to the Annaberg Sugar Plantation Ruins which was a Danish owned sugar plantation in the 18th-19th century. The ruins tell the history of the violent displacement of indigenous people, European settlement, and the enslavement of Africans.
 |
Gorgeous views from the sugar plantation.
|
On the drive back toward Cruz Bay, we stopped at Maho Bay which is known as a great spot to see sea turtles while snorkeling.
Day #3
Today we got an early start since we wanted to do the Ram's Head hike which is on the other side of the island before the heat of the day.
The hike starts at Salt Pond Bay where you walk along the beach before beginning the climb up to Ram's Head.
 |
| View from the trail to Ram's Head. |
 |
There was one section of the hike that had tons of these Turk's Cap Cactus growing.
|
 |
Made it to Ram's Head
|
 |
| Pretty scenery in all directions from the top of Ram's Head |
After the hike, we went back to the car to get all of our beach gear and then found a nice spot on the beach at Salt Pond Bay. We spent most of the rest of the day, snorkeling and reading in our beach chairs.
Day #4
On our last day on St. John, we walked into Cruz Bay to do a little shopping and then walked back to the condo along the water.
Back at the condo, we got the Jeep and drove up to the Windmill Bar to enjoy a drink surrounded by beautiful views and live music.
 |
| The Windmill Bar is at the site of the historic Susannaberg Windmill. |
 |
| The view from Windmill Bar. |
Afterwards, we drove back along North Shore Road and made a quick stop at Peace Hill and then continued on to Trunk Bay where the national park has an underwater trail consisting of plaques on the bottom of the bay that you can read as you snorkel.
 |
| From the top of Peace Hill |
In the evening, we had dinner in Cruz Bay and then enjoyed the New Years Eve celebration with a live band on the beach and a ball drop at midnight.
