St. John – Home to the Virgin Islands National Park and some of the Best Beaches in the World!
Like St. Croix and St.Thomas, St. John is littered with red roofed houses strewn about amongst rolling green hills with splendid views of white sandy beaches and crystal clear, turquoise waters. Many believe the 28 square miles of St. John is the loveliest of the U.S. Virgin Islands with its hiking trails and lush scenery of the Virgin Islands National Park which covers approximately two-thirds of the island. Take a short ferry ride from St. Thomas or Tortola and explore emerald cays, the bluest of waters and the undeveloped national parkland of the U.S. Virgin Island’s smallest island. Take it all in and lay back to the soothing sounds of ocean and book your very own St. John vacation rental home, villa, vacation cottage or luxury resort.
History
On his second voyage to the Americas in 1493, Christopher Columbus first came upon the island of St. Croix, and later discovered the islands of St. Thomas and St. John. The Island of St. John would later be claimed by the British until the Danish government took possession in 1684. Still, Britain refused to give the island up to the Danish until Danish planters from well colonized St. Thomas settled the island in Coral Bay, excited to establish plantations.
In 1762 the British let go of their grip on St. John and passed it over to the Danes to keep good relations with the people. The next couple decades became history and St. John expanded with over 100 cotton and sugar cane plantations over the entire island, clearing out the rolling green hills and replacing them with African slaves and indentured servants who worked the land. In 1733, a revolt against slavery took place killing almost a quarter of the population and St. John soon took initiative to fizzle out slavery and improve conditions for slaves.
By 1848, slavery was abolished in the Danish West Indies bringing the decline of St. Johns plantations and its population. St. John would then be purchased later by the United States during WWI in 1917, creating a wide spread American interest in tourism to the Virgin Islands. Interest in preserving natural resources led to a donation of land by Laurence Rockefeller in 1956 that would establish the nation’s twenty-ninth National Park named Virgin Islands National Park.
Attractions
Today, the Virgin Islands National Park covers 7,200 acres of land (nearly two-thirds of the total landmass of St. John) and 5,600 acres of underwater trails. The national parkland forbids hotels and resorts, but theirs plenty of land activities for those who book St. John vacation rentals. Plan a hiking excursion, horseback, or take a donkey trail ride to historic ruins amongst lush parkland. The Trails of Reef Bay, Lind Point, Francis Bay, Cinnamon Loop, and Salt Pond will take you through awe-inspiring scenery and there are opportunities for rock climbing as well.
In order to enjoy the splendor of St. John vacation rentals, take a ferry ride from St. Thomas to Cruz Bay, the main entryway into the island. Once there, see why they call Cruz Bay the “Love City” with its authentic restaurants, gift shops, and small shopping centers. Guests can get a similar experience at Coral Bay, a natural port where previously it had been St. John’s main source of economic activity. Get the most spectacular views from the peak of St. John’s highest mountain and book a private and tranquil Bordeaux Mountain vacation rental. Book a vacation rental on the southwestern end of the island at Hart Bay, Chocolate Hole, Fish Bay and Rendezvous Bay to experience breathtaking views of the ocean.
St. John is known for its spectacular beaches, particularly Trunk bay which has frequented the list of 10 best beaches in the world. St John’s northern and eastern shores contain the most popular beaches, home to private St. John vacation villas and St. John vacation cottages. Camp along the beaches of Maho Bay or Cinnamon Bay or snorkel and scuba dive amongst tropical marine life along the Virgin Islands Coral Reef: a marine reserve on the north coast. St. Johns is also home to snuba diving, a cross between scuba diving and snorkeling.
With plenty of beaches and temperatures ranging from the low 80’s to low-mid 90’s, be sure to take advantage of many water activities. Visit a marina and book a power, sail, or yacht charter complete with tubing and waterskiing or relax and paddle your way along the reefs in a kayak. Whale watch from your oceanside vacation villa or test your luck and cast a line for a variety of fish in the warm waters of the Caribbean. 24 sport fishing records have been set on the Virgin Islands by those looking for dill fish, blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish.
Visit unspoiled lands and fabulous beaches and book a St. Johns vacation rental today!
|
