Things to do Archives | News of St. John

Tips for Planning Your Trip to St. John

August 3, 2023August 3, 2023 by News of St. John

Good Morning! It’s hard to believe August is already upon us, which means that stateside the back to school advertising campaigns are in full swing, and our northernmost friends are trying to enjoy the last month of beach days, bonfires, boating, and camping before the weather gets a little iffy. Before we know it, the Halloween decorations and candy will be lining store shelves and Christmas music will be hard to avoid on the radio.

All joking aside, it’s a great time to start planning a trip to St. John, and whether you’re a seasoned St. John veteran or a first timer, we hope that you find a few tips in this article beneficial in doing so.

St. John’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club: Empowering Minds and Bodies Through Martial Arts

July 16, 2023July 14, 2023 by Bo Ransom

St. John is known for its vibrant culture and active community. However, one of St. John’s hidden gems comes from the St. John Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club, unofficially known as the “Love City Stranglers,” where members learn the fundamentals of the sport and self-defense.

Off the Beaten Path: Exploring Drunk Bay

June 29, 2023June 30, 2023 by Hannah Eckert

Good morning and Happy CARNIVAL!

As a resident of this beautiful island, I love spending my days off beach hopping along the North Shore, but every now and then, I really enjoy stepping off the beaten path and doing a little exploring. A couple of weeks ago, on a picturesque, sunny day, a few friends and I drove out to the southeast part of St. John.

We parked at Salt Pond and walked down the short trail to the beach. I love this area of St. John, because it has a different climate and altogether feel that distinguishes it from the rest of the island. Whereas the north side and closer to Cruz Bay tend to be lush and green, walking the trail to Salt Pond beach reminds me of the deserts found in Utah and Arizona. Cactus and frangipani line the path and the soil is reddish brown, very different from the powdery white beaches of Trunk Bay.

Friends of the Park Celebrates 20th Anniversary Power Swim

May 7, 2023May 8, 2023 by Hannah Eckert

Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Power Swim, hosted annually during the last week of May. The Power Swim was created to support sea turtle protection, marine conservation, and youth swimming programs. This is one of the nonprofit’s biggest events of the year and a kick off to the summer season.

New Options for Island Hopping Beginning this April

April 25, 2023April 25, 2023 by Elise DuPont

There are exciting new options for visiting the islands of St Croix, Anegada and Virgin Gorda starting this month.

Stuff Depot this Saturday (4/29) in Coral Bay

April 20, 2023 by Hannah Eckert

Good morning, good morning! 🌞

Spring is in full bloom (if your sinuses didn’t already let you know) and you might be feeling an urge to start spring cleaning. Instead of taking your old things to the dumpster, bring them to Coral Bay’s Stuff Depot next week.

Next Saturday, on April 29th, there will be a community wide yard sale, coined “The Stuff Depot” from 9am – 12pm at Oasis in Coral Bay. The Stuff Depot is a triannual event hosted by the Coral Bay Community Council to help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the landfill and to repurpose forgotten/unused items around your home. Community members can either donate their items to the CBCC directly or sell them at the Stuff Depot independently.

Friends of the Park’s Annual Earth Week Kicks off April 15th

April 17, 2023April 13, 2023 by Hannah Eckert

Good morning, good morning!

Every year on April 22nd, Earth Day is celebrated across the globe as more than 190 countries come together to promote environmental awareness and take conservation action. Whether on a large scale advocating for national policy or on a smaller scale participating in local trash cleanups, Earth Day unifies people from all walks of life to protect what we all have in common – calling the Earth our home.

Earth Day was originally created in 1970 by Wisconsin junior Senator Gaylord Nelson, Congressman Pete McCloskey, and activist Denis Hayes in an effort to bring environmental awareness to college campuses. They chose April 22nd because it fell between spring break and exams. College students protesting against careless industrial practices such as toxic waste mismanagement gained National attention, leading to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Friends of the Park’s Annual Earth Week Kicks off April 15th 10

Soon after, laws such as the National Environmental Education Act, Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act were created. Over fourty years ago, Earth Day activism pioneered environmental awareness and exemplified how important it is to teach the community, especially our youth, how to protect our planet for future generations to come. We’re still fighting the good fight, and the annual Earth Day is our reminder.

Business Spotlight: A St. John Favorite Is Opening For Lunch!

March 31, 2023March 31, 2023 by News of St. John

Happy Friday! When the sun sets on St. John, there are plenty of places to eat, drink, sing, and dance the night away in Cruz Bay. Lunch options during the day however… much more limited. That’s why we were thrilled to learn that Lovango Rum Bar, which serves hands down some of the best pizza and craft cocktails on Island, is opening for lunch starting Monday, April 3rd.

A Unique Lens: Crystal Kayaking and Paddleboarding at Maho Beach

February 27, 2023February 27, 2023 by Hannah Eckert

Good morning! Peak season is upon us, and I know most visitors will be looking for some unique, outdoorsy activities to do on St. John. I went crystal kayaking at Maho a few days ago and highly recommend it!

Having lived on St. John for two years, you would think I’ve done everything this beautiful, small island has to offer a million times over, and yet I am still pleasantly surprised by the amount of fun activities that I find on my days off. Recently, I spent the day at Maho, one of my favorite beaches, and tried the crystal kayaking and paddleboarding offered at Maho Crossroads.

Love City Yoga – A Growing Practice on St. John

February 13, 2023February 13, 2023 by Hannah Eckert

One of the most important aspects of a community is the accessibility to health and wellness. Practicing yoga – whether at home or in a class, has a multitude of health benefits such as reducing stress, improving cardiovascular health, increasing flexibility, and encouraging mindfulness. It also creates a space to build community and share a collective energy through practice.

Certified instructor and creator of Love City Yoga, Corey Thomas recognized the need for organized, consistent yoga classes on island when she moved here from St. Thomas, four years ago. She started Love City Yoga last season, bringing much needed weekly classes to the Island. I went to one of the first classes, and it’s been beautiful to watch Love City Yoga grow over the last year.