From STJ to STX for vacay

Hee Hee! That's what I was just thinking reading through all of these great responses. Definitely sounds like there is enough to keep the boys occupied and also allow me to be the sloth I desire to be right now. I definitely want to do some cheney hunting. Rock and fossil hunting was always one of my favorite things to do growing up in Michigan.

What does your off season look like there? Do a lot of places close down? A lot typically do on STJ and I'm not sure what our off season will look like this year. I'm thinking that we would travel mid to late August before the 7 year old has to go back to school.

Julie, you're gonna need a 3 week vacation, minimum!
Wherever you decide, ENJOY!

Um, is Chaney/Cheney only found on STX? Are there petroglyphs on STX?

There's a lot to do on STX. I've always wanted to take the survival course that's offered every year. So many things to do that Tourism doesn't market. Sigh.

What does your off season look like there? Do a lot of places close down? A lot typically do on STJ and I'm not sure what our off season will look like this year. I'm thinking that we would travel mid to late August before the 7 year old has to go back to school.

A few restaurants close for summer and a few more typically take "vacation" some time in Sept/October but most places are generally open.

Good to know. Thanks so much everyone for your input on this. Looking forward to seeing STX with my own eyes. I have a lot of people over there to thank for looking out for us after Irma. You guys jumped into action immediately and made a huge difference for us. My very first thoughts after we knew where Maria hit hardest was "OH MY GOD, they just gave us their surplus supplies and took a lot of our people!!" I was feeling really worried and guilty.

Stjohnjulie, it was absolutely unreal when Maria hit and one of my first thoughts was how UNFAIR it was to have STX relief efforts disrupted because of how hard hit STJ had been, as well as STT and also the BVI, from Irma. You should not have felt guilty - you guys on STJ and STT would have done the same for us, had the situations been reversed.

You are right, we would do the same. I just felt so bad for STX and PR. On St. John we were totally cut off and the only we help we had was from STX's and PR's private community for the first 10 days after Irma. The feds showed up then and then evacuated 3 days later in prep for Maria. Glad they were in the area for that one because everyone needed help then! Those three days we had with all of the Feds was really weird. Sooooo many people walking around with assault rifles. It still creeps me out thinking about it.

Omg yes I forgot to mention that PR was helping STJ also. It was so unfair to have all relief disrupted as it was. I hope we never see two back to back cat 5s ever again!

Um, is Chaney/Cheney only found on STX? Are there petroglyphs on STX?

There's a lot to do on STX. I've always wanted to take the survival course that's offered every year. So many things to do that Tourism doesn't market. Sigh.

Not only found on STX but for sure the quantity. I’ve only found a handful on STT diving - although recently I’ve found good stuff at Coki, near the anchor which is weird.

Nothing like Fsted beach. It was one of my absolute favorite things and kept me sane after the storms. I’d look for an hour a day at the end of the day.

OK St John Julie,
how about the other way.........Im thinking about the other way. Planning on a long weekend in STJ over Thanksgiving. Any suggestions?

See www.starvillas.com.
Lots to do in STJ.
Beaches pretty empty.
Things slowing down but not dead with businesses closed like Sept.
Check VI National Park website.
Love Annaberg Ruins, Leinster and Fancis Bays and Lameshure.
There are hiking trails all over.
You can drive to Lameshure and hike to Reef Bay, check out petroglyphs and old plantation ruins.
Go snorkeling from Leinster Bay out to Water Lemon Cay.
Kayak, sail, fish, be lazy and enjoy!

I'd say your biggest challenge during that time will be a place to stay. We lost so many rentals in Irma and they are coming back online slowly. The other challenge is minimum stay requirements which are usually in place for the holidays even if they aren't the rest of the year. Having a car on STJ is usually recommended because there are so many places to explore that aren't really 'high traffic'. But hitchhiking is a free alternative that can often be a lot of fun because of the number of people you can meet and stories you can hear. Cruz Bay is the more touristy side of the island. Coral Bay is quieter, but that is where I would want to stay if I was visiting. STJ is pretty expensive and what people usually call a DIY kind of vacation. I know this sucks, but I've totally forgotten how to enjoy St. John like a visitor would. I can't even remember the last time I was at the beach. I'm either at work or at home working. Even though my house didn't take a lot of damage, I still have a ton of clean up to do.

Maybe you should vacay in your own back yard?

I do that here on STX every now and then. The wife and I get a room and be tourists for a day, eat and drink too much, and not carry cel phones.

I do that here on STX every now and then. The wife and I get a room and be tourists for a day, eat and drink too much, and not carry cel phones.

This is super smart. We are getting ready for "vacation" up north, and all I can think, as we're giving our housesitter the lowdown, is "boy, I wish I could just stay here, hang out with our pets, and enjoy the place!"

STJ vacation - depends on your budget and what kind of getaway you're looking for. If you want to escape from everything and enjoy a very laid-back visit, book a cottage in Coral Bay, enjoy Thankspigging at Skinny Legs, and hit the quiet East End and Lameshur-area beaches. If you're looking for some fancy dining and our world-famous postcard north shore beaches, find a place closer to Cruz Bay (will be pricier) and try the Thanksgiving menu at The Terrace or Extra Virgin.

It seems like a lot of the villas that are ready as of right now (and many that aren't yet) are already booked up for the busy times next year, since owners are trying to recapture many months of lost income and many "regulars" skipped a year with their reservations. All the places I would recommend to a fellow islander are already booked for Thanksgiving, so I'm not sure what to suggest other than a VRBO search.

My first plan was to have a staycation! But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I would have a tough time with it because of work and home obligations creeping in. I needed to put some distance between those things and me so I could have a real break. Thought STT at first, but it's too easy to get home from there. STX was next on the list because I've never been and I'm curious to see it with my own eyes. You guys encouraged me as well with the comments of how well your recovery has gone so far. It's been almost a year since I laid a foot off of STJ. So I think it's time lol!