Well, today I am out on my own with Michelle‘s thorough instructions on how to get to the hiking trail that will take me to the small beach where locals like to hang out and then a larger beach that is very popular with tourists.
A short walk gets me to the National Park Dock and the visitors center where employees of the parks department can help answer any questions you have and provide USVI parks department apparel, maps, books about St. John, etc.
They are very helpful as I explain it’s my first time taking the trail. They tell me there are two trails you can take : one is the lower Lind Point Trail and the other is the upper Lind Point trail. They both get you where you want to go but the upper one takes a little bit longer. So ,of course, I choose the lower😂. I am here to see the beaches …not get a work out! They also warned me to look out for donkey poop and if I do encounter donkeys on the trail not to try to interact with them but just walk past them😳
It starts out on a bit of a steep incline and I’m already breathing heavy. This girl needs to work out more!!😅 But as I climb, I reach a point where it starts to even out and you can look through the brush and see Cruz Bay.
It takes about 20 minutes to hike to the first more secluded beach which is Solomon. You really have to watch your footing because the trail has many ruts, vines and rocks. This is not a trail to wear flip-flops on! You have to hang on to tree trunks and vines to take the cut down to the beach. Oh, but what a beach!!!
No one is around!! The sight of seeing the palm trees bending toward the ocean is just incredible! I drop my backpack and jump into the water! So refreshing as that hike was in full sun😎 I stay awhile to enjoy the peacefulness of being alone on a tropical beach and thank God for blessing me this moment!!!
After a bit, I decide I should make my way to Honeymoon Beach since I want to have ample time for my trek back to Cruz Bay. It only takes another 10 minutes or so and I arrive at Honeymoon Beach. I’m greeted by a sand ‘snow’ man 😉
It takes me a second to remember it’s winter! When the average temperature every day on St. John is 84° , it’s hard to remember what season you’re in!
Now this beach is quite different from Solomon Beach. It’s quite large as you can see by the trail map (below) Both beaches are only accessible by hiking in or by water or if you are a guest of the Caneel Bay Resort, by golf cart. (Caneel Bay Resort is , I believe, the oldest and one of the more exclusive resorts on island but that is for another a history lesson blog )
Honeymoon is a much more populated beach with tourists, some arriving by smaller boats from cruise ships that are docked at St. Thomas (waters are too shallow by St. John for cruise ships to get near). This beach has water sport rentals, kayak tours, food and tropical beverages, a little souvenir shop and, most importantly , bathrooms👍. When you look out on the water, it’s filled with catamarans, sailboats, a couple of speed boats, and kayaks. But since it’s such a large beach, there’s plenty of mooring balls for boats and lots of room for swimming and snorkeling.
I’m happy to swim, talk to fellow tourists and discover where they are from and if it’s their first visit or if they’ve been coming for years, talk to locals who are working there and enjoy another tropical drink! The Bay Breeze consists of rum, pineapple juice and cranberry juice. Yummy yet every bartender on St. John so far has a heavy pour when it comes to alcohol. I’m going to have to lay in the shade a bit before my hike back. 🤪
The hike back isn’t too bad since I am still damp from a dip in the ocean and the sun is starting to go down producing a bit of occasional shade along the trail. Then, what’s this? a moving shell???!!!!! Ahhhh, it’s a crab walking along the trail also.
It’s been a full day and yet I can’t wait for tomorrow! I only have a few days left on island and want to fill them with as much as possible!
Until next blog, take care everyone!🌹
Traveling Rose in St. John 