This is a journal of the 12 days I spent frolicking through the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.
Day 1 – St. Thomas / St. John
I landed in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, took a 20 minute taxi to Red Hook and a 20 minute ferry ride to Cruz Bay. My buddy Ed greeted me at the dock with a cold one and we walked about 100 yards to Joe’s Rum Hut where he was bartending. Later in the day I went to Morgan’s Mango where Genelle works and had some drinks and dinner before heading back to Joe’s for the night shot you see above. We finished out the evening at Quiet Mon Pub, a bar that’s open 7 nights a week until 4am.
Day 2 – St. John / Whistling Cay / St. Thomas
Today we left Cruz Bay and headed northeast through Salomon Bay, Caneel Bay, Hawksnest Bay and Trunk Bay before getting to Cinnamon Bay. From there we rented paddle boards (read how to choose right best paddle board for you) and headed to Maho Bay and Francis Bay before stopping on Whistling Cay which has a small historic stone structure built in the a 18th century known as the Customs House. We then headed to St. Thomas for dinner in Red Hook at XO Bistro and stopped at Fat Boys for some awesome live music before heading back to St. John.
Day 3 – St. John
The day started off with an early trip to Hawksnest Bay. This beach was perfect for throwing frisbee and just relaxing as not one person was there until we left at 10:30. After that Ed and Genelle has to do some work so they dropped me off at The Westin Resort where I met two lovely ladies Erin and Blair. We drank Voodo Juice which has five different rums in it. Good times.
I had seen an article about the Caneel Trail on outdoorempire.com and was intrigued by it. It is the hardest hike on the island and it takes you to the highest hikeable point on the St. John. After a long day in the sun Ed and I decided to give it a shot. The hike was very difficult because you are basically going straight up for a solid thirty minutes. There was a perfect lookout point from the peak where you could see a 360 degree view so if you come here this is the place to go for that amazing island photo. From there we kept going to the next peek before heading down into Caneel Resort and walking along Honeymoon and Salomon Beach.
Ed and I had dinner was at Uncle Joe’s BBQ. The ribs were excellent and just what I needed after a tough hike. We ended the night with a bar crawl to The Taproom, Castaways, Beach Bar, Woody’s and Quiet Mon Pub.
Day 4 – St. John
Today was my first chill out and do nothing day. I took a towel and went to the beach and laid under a tree. No book, no music, no phone. Just a towel, the sun and the ocean. Very peaceful day.
Day 5 – St. John / Whistling Cay / Jost Van Dyke
Genelle’s friend Captain Chuck aka “Chuckles” picked us up from Cruz Bay and took us snorkeling at Whistling Cay. We saw a sea turtle, a few tarpon and millions of small and other colorful fish. From there we headed to Sydney’s Peace & Love for lunch on Jost Van Dyke. This place is around the point in a tucked away marina which makes it very quiet and slow compared to Foxy’s or Soggy Dollar. We had fresh lobster sandwiches which were amazing and a painkiller which you can make yourself from their honor bar. The walls and ceiling are covered with visitors comments and magic marker art so I left my mark before leaving and heading back to St. John. Perfect day.
Day 6 – St. John / Tortola
Kwasi picked me up from West End with his cousin Ray. I was introduced to Crandal’s a local restaurant that serves only Pate. Very good. Can’t wait to get one on the way out. We took Ray home at Josiah’s Bay in the East End and had a drink at Surfers Paradise Beach Bar. This is where a well known sandy beach break happens during the winter. Next stop was in Road Town where we went to Village Cay, Le Grande, Pusser’s and The Watering Hole.
Day 7 – Tortola / Norman Island / Cooper Island / Jost Van Dyke
First stop today was Cooper Island for morning drinks and darts. It’s a beautiful small island with a single beach resort. From there we headed to Foxy’s on Jost Van Dyke for lunch. I finally got to meet Foxy after all these years of Kwasi talking about him and all of his other family connections throughout the BVI’s. After Foxy’s we went to Soggy Dollar Bar where I crushed some University of Miami chicks in ring toss and a few Painkillers. The final stop was the Willy T at Norman Island. For those of you who haven’t been there Willy T’s is located in Bight Bay off Norman Island. It’s a floating bar that is basically an adult playground of debauchery. They have a ski with holes bored in it for shot glasses, you can jump off the back of the second level of the boat and girls give body shots on top of the bar (clothing optional). If you are in the BVI’s you must go.
As if that wasn’t a full day already we went to the Full Moon Party at Bomba Shack. It’s a gathering that takes place every month on the full moon with live music and the well known mushroom tea. It may not be what it used to be in its prime but locals said it was a very good turnout.
Day 8 – Tortola
Today started a bit late because of last nights Full Moon Party at Bomba Shack. We went snorkeling at Brewer’s Bay, had lunch at Cane Garden Bay and dinner at Sky Restaurant.
Day 9 – Tortola / Virgin Gorda
Virgin Gorda was my next island to explore as I had seen some pictures of The Baths that looked amazing. So I had to check it out and get some for myself. I went with Steph, a British girl I met earlier in the week as well as Helaina, a British girl that Steph met the day before. After seeing The Baths I feel it should definitely be on your “bucket list”. There is no other place quite like it.
Day 10 – Tortola / St. John
Headed back to go to the eco-tents in Concordia. 100% off the grid with solar power and personal cistern’s (water tanks). The view looks out to Rams Head point which is another good hike I would recommend.
Day 11 – St. John
Got up early to hike Rams Head Trail. It’s 1.2 miles each way and goes through two beaches and two peaks. You can see a bunch of islands plus a great view back of St. John’s. I recommend doing this for at least one night if you are here.
Day 12 – St. John / St. Thomas
Went to Hawksnest, played beach games and had some drinks. We had lunch at Deli Grotto. Time to go home. What a trip.
Islands Visited (8): St Thomas, St. John’s, Whistling Cay, Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, Norman Island, Cooper Island, Virgin Gorda
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Lucy Brown says
Norman Island, home of Pirates Bight Bar, Restaurant, and Gift Shop, is perhaps most famous for being the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel, Treasure Island. However, Norman Island also has a rich documented history of acting as a hiding spot for Pirate booty.Documented history for the island dates back to the early 18th century when a Spanish galleon called Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe buried 55 chests of silver coins after the crew mutinied aboard the ship.
Chad says
So you like Pirate booty?