Last day on St. John (2013)

So, today is my last day before I have to head back to the states and we saved one of the best beaches for last. Cinnamon Bay. It’s one of the largest beaches on the island and the cool thing is they have a campground, bathroom facilities, showers (cold water showers …hey, this IS camping), a restaurant and a small convenience store.

On the outside of the restaurant is a HUGE 300 year old rain tree. Here’s a picture with Michelle in front of it so you can get an idea of the size of this beautiful tree!

The campground has bare spaces where you can set up your own tent , tent rentals and small cottages to rent all within walking distance of the beach. Half of cottages have a small refrigerator and coffee maker, the others an ice chest, all have electricity but no running water. Bug spray is an absolute must!

We’ve arrived on one of the rare days when the waves are large enough to 🏄‍♂️ surf. Yay!! I love watching surfers ride the waves. It always amazes me their balance and lack of fear!

There are not too many beaches that are ‘surfer’ beaches on St. John so I am lucky to catch this. I get in the water to body surf….what a blast! After about an hour or so in the water, it’s time to grab a happy hour cocktail from the bar and relax on the beach. We meet people who are traveling from places all over the U.S., Europe, Australia, Japan and even Russia. And that’s the ones I can remember! St. John is definitely a destination hot spot.

After a few more jumps in the ocean, we shower in the outdoor showers, dress and get on our way back to Cruz Bay for dinner at a great restaurant , Vista Mare, on the upper level of Wharfside overlooking the ocean.

We arrive in time to catch the end of the sunset, have a delicious dinner and Painkillers, of course😁. Though the dinner prices are high, the food prepared is exceptional so it doesn’t hurt so much when the bill comes.

It’s time for a final walk around Cruz Bay. It’s been a whirlwind visit but I know I’ll be back because as I walk the streets, I feel like this is my second home already. They say the island always “pulls you back” after one visit. I can feel it and I haven’t even left yet! It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later St. John!

**** since this writing was about a visit prior to Hurricane Irma (September 2017), I need to say Vista Mare and the Cinnamon Campground were destroyed by the hurricane. Currently, rebuilding is still going on 4 years later. Fortunately, the 300 year old Raintree survived 🙌🏽