An Online Blog About the Daily Happenings of St. John, USVI
News of St. John 
The Blue Marlin.
We have gone fishing on charters in the Caribbean, Florida, Great Lakes, and other places around the world. It seems on every fishing charter while waiting for the first bite, the conversation turns to wanting to catch a blue marlin (or big tuna).
The Governor has done an excellent job keeping the virus off of the island of St John. There have been only 4 positive tests to date.
However, his office issued a clarification to his statements at the press conference yesterday. It turns out there is NOT yet a policy regarding limiting travel from certain states. There is no need to cancel your flights yet. That said, usually when he mentions that something could be coming in the future, it eventually does. So we should keep a close eye on his weekly statements.
We have been lucky. The reality is that St John still has only four positive COVID tests in total, and hasn’t had any in more than two weeks. The last positive test was on June 17th, and there have been 70 negative test since that date.
This is truly remarkable, especially considering the surge that is happening in hot spots across the country. Many people on the island were concerned in mid-June about whether the virus would come to St John in a significant way now that the doors were open. It hasn’t happened…..yet.
The bad news is that St Croix seems to be having a surge in positive tests that are mostly due to traveling workers at the Limetree Bay Refinery.
As a result of those positive tests, the various government agencies are aggressively enforcing all aspects of the Governor’s Executive Orders, including on St John. Please remember that when a restaurant stays open, they due so at the risk of being held responsible for the actions of its customers. If people are in the establishment without a mask when they go to the restroom, or while standing in line to be seated, then the restaurant is held responsible. So please wear a mask and use the disinfectant even if you don’t like the policy.
The good news is we have all done an excellent job in keeping the virus off the island of St John. We are all in this together. If we can continue to be vigilant, we can continue to enjoy this wonderful island into the summer months.
Our newest contributor, Keri LaMar, submitted these amazing under the sea pics and photography tips for beginners. And we are so excited about these photos!
There is a new(ish) tiki bar in Cruz Bay called Drifters Tiki Bar at the previous Lumberyard location. It is near where there were previously shipping container homes available for tour.
The tiki bar has tents setup this week with capacity limits being enforced, and virtual viewing available for people who want to watch from home and play it safe.
All content can be watched live on the USVI Festivals Facebook page.
Click here for previous post with more information about the Virtual St John Carnival: https://newsofstjohn.com/virtual-st-john-carnival/
The Sahara Dust has been the talk of the island over the last several days. It is widely viewed to be the worst (or best depending on your perspective) case in roughly five decades. The sun looked like the moon, and at times you could barely see the gorgeous views of our beautiful island. But alas, the dust is moving on from St John and headed towards the states. That means today is a beach day!
CNN is reporting:
https://newsofstjohn.com/a-natural-phenomenon-on-st-john/
There were two positive COVID tests last week and the first positive test from community transmission. As a result, some people on island have been a little on edge as their friends and relatives swarmed the health department to get tested, and patiently waited in quarantine for the results.
The first two rounds of results are in, and the results are fantastic so far:
This essentially means that the contact tracing that was implemented in the aftermath of the positive tests last week have so far come back negative. This is a hopeful sign that there was not significant community spread following the two positive tests.
It is likely that a significant number of people will continue to get tested this week. It is quite possible/probable that new positive tests will still be found in the coming days and weeks. But 42 negative tests and zero positive tests this week is a very positive sign that the Governor’s policies are working and that community spread is very limited.
Please continue to be vigilant on island about wearing your mask around other people. Our testing numbers are very good but we are all in this together to keep it that way.
A day at the beach should be relaxing. A cool breeze, waves crashing, sand between your toes. But to fully enjoy your time lounging in the sun on St. John, you’ll need a beach cooler.
Island prices can get expensive and if you plan to stay in the sun all day, having a place to properly store your food and drinks is important. I mean, no one wants a soggy sandwich or a hot drink after being in the heat, right?
So how do you know which cooler to choose? We’ve taken a look at the highest rated beach coolers on Amazon with the goal to help you find the best one whatever your needs, budget, and preferences may be.
Packed with ultimate comfort and portability. This insulated backpack cooler keeps food and drinks cool for hours, even if you’re hiking one of St. John’s many trails. It has multiple compartments for roomy storage and is made of waterproof, durable material.
Dimensions 13 x 7.9 x 17.7”
Weight 1.74 pounds
Why We Like It
This heavy-duty, wheel rolling cooler will meet all of your beach needs. It can keep ice up to 5 days and holds up to 84 cans. Even better? The lid doubles as a seat so you’ll always have an extra place to sit and relax.
Dimensions 23 x 18 x 18”
Weight 14 pounds
Why We Like It
The multi-purpose cooler. Perfect for the beach, grocery shopping at Starfish, and hanging poolside. Its collapsible feature makes it easy to transport. Can hold up to 50 cans of your favorite beverage all while remaining sleek and compact.
Dimensions 18.25 x 12.25 x 12”
Weight 2 pounds
Why We Like It
A cooler that offers high performance and comfort. Adjustable shoulder strap with shoulder pad. Flip open, zipperless lid for easy access. It also comes in 3 other sizes- a 9, 30, and 48 can.
Dimensions 12.2 x 8 x 12.2”
Weight 2.3 pounds
Why We Like It
A cooler that’s also a beach bag? You read that right. Apart from its multiple color options, this cooler has a large, lightweight mesh tote. On the bottom is a detachable insulated cooler.
Dimensions 15.5 x 5 x 18.5”
Weight 15.8 ounces
Why We Like It
This waterproof bag isn’t quite a beach cooler. But it’s one of the best ways to keep your food and drinks dry while you do water sports, whether you are paddle boarding at Cinnamon or kayaking with dolphins. Single strap makes it easy to carry. Waterproof phone case. Comes in 5 sizes – 10, 20, 30, 40, and 55 liter.
Dimensions 16.7 x 5.8 x 2.2”
Weight 12 ounces
Why We Like It
As you can see, there really is no “best” beach cooler. With so many on the market it comes down to what fits your needs. That being said, this list focused on these main criteria:
Being equipped with a beach cooler can make or break your vacation in St. John’s. If you know what you value most in a cooler, then making the right choice will be a breeze after reading this guide. Happy beaching!
If you want to explore St. John’s gorgeous National Parks by taking a hike and you’ve got young kids, you’re probably looking for a trail that fits two 
criteria: it’s short and easy and will be worth the trek. The Lind Point Trail delivers on these two fronts.
We parked just off North Shore Road in one of the gravel parking lots and started our hike by the large brown wooden “Virgin Islands National Park” sign. It probably took us twenty minutes or less to get from our car down to the beach—and that’s with a little one walking at a near-glacial pace.
The hike itself, which offers expansive views of Cruz Bay and the islands and cays of Pillsbury Sound, was easy enough that my four-year-old managed without ever sitting down in protest or demanding a piggy-back ride. It was rocky in many places but is well-traveled and never too steep. There are a few different paths you can take to get down to the beach, but we took the shortest and easiest route by following the signs that pointed to the beaches (even with its relative ease and the beautiful beach ending, I would still recommend sneakers over sandals).
The trail leads to Salomon Beach and Honeymoon Beach. We 
hung out at Salomon since that’s where the trail spit us out and because it looked like Honeymoon was the busier spot. Don’t get me wrong, it was not crowded, and we had plenty of beautiful white-sand beach to ourselves. Tons of folks were snorkeling and taking pictures, and my kids had a great time spotting different fish, sea urchins, and coral. The water was warm from the sun, but the breeze kept us nice and cool.
After a couple of hours I had to beg and plead for my kids to get out of the water so we could go home. They absolutely loved this spot—so much so that they’ve even asked to do this hike again. I would definitely recommend this hike to families with young kids.
It certainly can seem like a daunting task to pick a sunscreen that checks all the boxes. Is it waterproof? The right SPF? Reasonably priced?
But if you’re swimming in the islands, there’s one more question you need to consider: is this a reef safe sunscreen?
Your sunscreen may be hard at work protecting your skin from harmful UV rays. But odds are it’s also damaging the environment. A majority of suntan lotions contain harmful ingredients like oxybenzone and octinoxate. These common UV-blocking chemicals are detrimental to our ecosystem – most specifically, to coral reefs.
Reefs support a vast underwater ecosystem, and they support our life on land. Our reefs are a major defense mechanism against the harmful effects of storms and hurricanes. They protect our coastlines, help prevent erosion, and bring jobs, food, and steady income to local economies.
When we slather sunscreen onto our skin and venture into the ocean, we’re carrying those harmful chemicals with us. These chemicals then wash off into the water. They strip our corals of their nutrients. That damages their DNA and hinders their development, often leading to bleaching and even death.
For all of those important reasons, the USVI legislature unanimously passed, and Gov. Bryan signed, act 8185 in 2019 which banned the sale and distribution of sunscreens containing the “toxic 3 Os” of oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene.
So how do you know if a sunscreen is both safe for you and the environment? We’ve gone ahead and highlighted the 5 top reef safe, eco friendly suntan lotions on Amazon.
Thinksport Sunscreen has it all. Major sun protection abilities. Free of biologically toxic chemicals. Water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. Absorbed seamlessly by the skin. If that doesn’t convince you, this will: it manages to avoid that overpowering smell that many organic sunscreens have.
Why We Like It
Both non-toxic and eco-friendly, this product contains no coral reef toxic ingredients. It also provides impressive UVA and UVB protection. It’s formulated with 23 natural antioxidants that provide a nourishing and moisturizing feel on your skin. All the ingredients are sustainably sourced.
Why We Like It
Budget conscious about your sunscreen? You can’t beat Badger. Manufactured in the USA by a family-owned company, this biodegradable suntan lotion doesn’t contain any chemicals shown to harm coral life. It contains only 5 ingredients: clear zinc oxide, organic sunflower oil, organic beeswax, sunflower vitamin E, and organic sea buckthorn extract.
Why We Like It
The perfect match for those with sensitive skin. This lotion contains no essential oils and is fragrance free. It uses SPF50+ PA++++ and photo stable UV filter to provide soft, yet solid protection from UV rays. PURITO also uses recycled paper packaging and donates a part of its profits in order to spread awareness about environmental issues and help fund eco-projects.
Why We Like It
This product was formulated with active adults in mind, making it a great choice for watersports. It contains 12% non-nano zinc oxide particles, ensuring it won’t leave white streaks on your skin while offering a broad spectrum SPF 30 UVA and UVB protection.
Why We Like It
Still feel like you haven’t found your match?
Here’s the good news: the search for a reliable sun care product doesn’t have to be difficult. Just keep these points in mind when you’re evaluating a sunscreen:
