ST JOHN and JOST VAN DYKE — Country Nights & City Lights

My favorite island in the world, St John, got hit hard in hurricane Irma. I was so excited to go back and so impressed with how much they have rebuilt and recovered. Cruz bay looks nearly the same with only a few exceptions, and Beach Bar opened back up this week.
Coral Bay on the other side of the island is not in such great shape. It took a big hit in the hurricane and is trying to recover. A lot of devastation is still evident from destroyed structures to the dead trees that line many of the beaches on this side of the island. They could use our tourist dollars or a donation to one of the many foundations helping to rebuild, including Kenny Chesney's foundation. www.loveforlovecity.org

St. John is a hard place to get to. It usually requires at least one plane change and then a ferry ride from Saint Thomas. The island is 60 percent national park which makes the majority of it unspoiled beauty. Because of its size, it has a safe neighborhood feel. It is not like Hawaii or Mexico with big hotels and pampering resorts, it is small quaint hotels and many villas to rent.

Hotels-
There are a few nice hotels to stay at on St. John, the Westin reopened from the hurricane this week and is located about 5 minutes from Cruz Bay. Gallows Point is another great hotel with an excellent location right on the harbor of Cruz Bay. There are many many villas on the island that can be rented, most of them with pools and many with beach access. Sadly, Caneel Bay was destroyed by the hurricane and it hasn’t been decided what will happen with the property.
If you stay anywhere but Cruz bay I would recommend renting a jeep. The money spent on taxis seems to add up fast and having your own transportation is way more convenient and efficient. They do drive on the left side of the road, but the steering wheel is still on the same side as in America which makes it less confusing. Using a jeep, you can explore the other side of the island, and many of the beaches empty. The North Shore Deli in Cruz Bay is a great place to pick up sandwiches and drinks for the day, and then you can have a picnic at whatever beach you heart desires.

Fair warning- the majority of the beaches are still without working amenities or never had them. Trunk Bay has a bar and a snack shop and bathrooms. Honeymoon Beach has kayak rentals and paddleboards. The rest are pretty much fend for yourself which makes for the most beautiful quiet and untouched scenery.
One of the best ways to experience the islands is to rent a boat for the day and have a captain take you to some great snorkel and drinking spots. We used Love City Excursions with Captain Joe and were so impressed with the service, his knowledge of the island and what spots to visit, www.lovecityexcursions.com We spent two of our excursions on the British Virgin Islands, and you will need a passport.
Willie T's- Is a pirate ship in the bay that is a floating bar and restaurant. It has a plank that you can jump off of and is an enjoyable place to stop for lunch and drinks and to watch people jumping right past the no jumping sign. It is on the list of must do's while in Saint John.

Sandy Spit- A fantastic place to stop, it is a little tiny island that has good snorkeling. Basically a big sandbar with a few palm trees.
Jost Van Dyke- Jost is always a must do for me, because I love the vibes, the bars, and people you will find on this island. I also like to stay on this island when possible because it is like being in another world. In the mornings and the evenings before the boats come into party for the day, you have the beach to yourself. Then when the boats come in it becomes a party with people drinking in the ocean, at the bar, good music, good food, world famous painkillers, it is perfection. The island is small enough almost to walk around, although I did that once and would not recommend because there are some tough hills.
Soggy Dollar- Soggy Dollar bar is named the Soggy Dollar because there is no dock to get to the bar, so you have to jump off the boat and swim in making your money soggy, hence the name. It is a place for people to sail in for the day, enjoy the food, popular painkillers, amazing white bay, and then sail out around sunset. It is an absolute blast! There is nowhere else I would rather waste a day.

Foxy's-While you are on Jost, you should make a trip to the other side of the hill and visit Foxy. Foxy is a local legend, he has many many children on Jost and around the islands. He is quite the character, always ready with a joke or a song. His bar is very fun, especially at night time, and he has one of the best New Years Eve parties in the world. He is also mentioned in Kenny Chesney’s Somewhere in the Sun, song.

Ivans- Ivans got destroyed in the last hurricane, and they are struggling, but are worth a visit. You can follow the trail from Soggy over the rocks to Ivans (just like in the Bar at the End of the World Song). I hope that he will get it rebuilt and back to where it was, but they could use our help. Ivan is referenced in the Be As You Are song, by Kenny Chesney, and pre-hurricane it was handwritten and framed in the bar.

I am sure I will have more to write about, never can seem to get enough of this island. It is a hard place to not fall in love with and a harder place to leave. Can't wait to be back in July for Carnival.