Secluded places: Florida and the USVI

Of course there are secluded areas. But listing them on a popular forum like this one might change that. LOL

Of course there are secluded areas. But listing them on a popular forum like this one might change that. LOL

Agree. I'm not sharing that on an open forum where STT is concerned. Every visiting Tom, Dick and Harry wants to know. Once you make the move you'll discover them. 😀

STX has way fewer tourists, and more land. As a general rule of thumb, beaches without facilities here - potty, restaurant, beach chairs, etc), don't see as many tourists. I believe we have fewer large beaches on STX (in length and/or sandy waterfront). Some of the best non-tourist beaches are off teeth-shattering roads, and are unmarked. Many are very small. Often during the weekdays, you may well be the only person there. However, there is a little bit more safety in numbers, so I personally don't recommend that situation.

If you move to stx I will pm one to you!

Thanks guys. I'm sorry if I sounded like I wanted a list of places. I definitely understand not giving away those types of secrets. I keep them close here in Florida too 🙂 just wanted to make sure I could get away even during tourist season. There's a great little river we like to tube in here but with hundreds of people tubing with you, kind of feels more like an amusement park.

I like the crowded beaches on STX because I'm likely to run into people I know. Beaches are boring for me otherwise.

HAHHA. If you want no people come to STX not STT. I can tell you if you want away from tourists and you move to STT you will be miserable. Do you realize theres up to 20 THOUSAND people a day on a 32sq mile island???? STX is like a ghost town compared to STT. No offense meant - just number of ships and visitors.

I don't know about that. Maybe it depends on what you do where work is concerned but aside from the 10 years I worked at WICO (where I really only got involved with cruise ship visitors if I had to go into the Havensight Mall) I've had no problem avoiding the mass on STT the remaining 20+ years. I rarely go into town and know which beaches to go to when. That's what I love about STT - the sheer diversity both geographically and sociologically!

I don't mind tourists some of the time, or even going to fun, crowded beaches where I might run into someone I know. I just want to be able to get away some of the time. Just me and my book and nature.Over the last 20 years, I've had to find new places here as the tourists find them. I know what STT can look like when the ships are in because that's the only way I've ever been to STT. Your info is great. Thanks!

Well you can go view the cruise ship schedule on VInow. Compare STT 4-6 a DAY in season to STX 4-6 a MONTH (a few more this year) in season. There's a few places to get away from tourists on STT. Even Coki at 8am Sunday morning - have it allll to yourself an dem fish be hungry! We spent last year Christmas Day at Magen's - paddlboarding and building a sand-man. Not one other person for like 5 hours. Was pretty magical. So it can be done on STT - but when comparative - STX is just soooo much less busy. STT is more fun IMO and way more nightlife.

There are just a couple beaches that are impacted by cruise ship arrivals on STT. Magens and Coki are 2 of them but Magens is a mile long beach so one can usually escape a crowd. There are many beaches that get no cruise ship passengers/tours. Not sure what's happening with Sapphire these days but that also used to be a popular beach destination for tour buses.

There's many other beaches to explore here.

STX will be slower just due to the fact they do not have the harbor and docking facilities for cruise ships that STT does but there are more job opportunities due to the influx of ships in season. It's pretty quiet here, off season.

Had to go to town the other day with 6 ships in town. Traffic was flowing well and didn't hinder the stops I had to make near Havensite.
Widening the roads in Havensite and that bottle neck at the bottom of Raphune Hill has made a big difference.

Was saying at Carambola one time in July I think so it wasn't all that busy. Got up one day and went out to the beach and had to look twice, looked like the Jersey Shore instead. People elbow to elbow on the beach. The tour bus or busses brought the cruise ship to the beach for the day. Later in the afternoon it was back to a ghost town.

Scubadoo- On my cruise to STT (We hit STT first, St Kitts, St. Maarten, Dominca, Barbados) We were definitely surrounded by tourists but of course we chose one of the guided shore excursions offered by the ship. Would have been nice to get out and explore on our own. I always seem to find a way to dip out for a bit by myself. Tends to upset the tour guides though. My one day on STT was beautiful!! The views were stunning and one thing I loved about some of those islands was the elevation. Major flatlander here in Florida. I've long wished I could live in the mountains and by the beach at the same time. When I visited the islands I thought I could actually do it! Small "mountains" but somewhat of a compromise.

I LOVED Dominica as we spent time up in the rainforest and it was outstanding, but not civilized enough for me to live with my daughter. At first glance anyway. St. Maarten I would love to go back and explore as I spend the day off on another island (anguilla) I figure maybe I just need to learn to sail!

The Carambola is so nice. Love that place. I heard theres good diving too... maybe I go check that out tomorrow... NEED to be breathing under the wata tomorrow!

Carambola- I will google that. Thanks!

Secluded = not safe..

.I've been googling secluded beaches/areas of the islands and other websites with posts are consistently stating "there are secluded beaches/areas to get to with a 4 wheel drive but they are not safe". This is disheartening.

In Florida, the beach I won't let my daughter go to alone with her friends is the MOST busy beach. This is the one where fights break out between drunks, teens are buying drugs and the cops are always having to show up for one reason or another. The more secluded beaches are the safer beaches. I don't like this reversal that I am seeing on other websites. I like people, but sometimes I want to get away. I like to explore alone, one of my most favorite things to do. I don't want to worry about being assaulted while I do so. ;-(

The Carambola is so nice. Love that place. I heard theres good diving too... maybe I go check that out tomorrow... NEED to be breathing under the wata tomorrow!

The shore dive at the wall at Carambola Davis Bay beach is about as good as a boat dive to the wall at Salt River.

I live on STX and there are plenty of secluded beaches here without all the tourists!

Secluded CAN equal not safe... One of our favorite secluded beaches here on STT requires a 4x4 to get to most days.. Yes, you may have the beach to yourself or very close but last time we went there was another person leaving as we were arriving who had their car broken into and was picking broken glass out of his daughter's car seat.

Secluded CAN equal not safe... One of our favorite secluded beaches here on STT requires a 4x4 to get to most days.. Yes, you may have the beach to yourself or very close but last time we went there was another person leaving as we were arriving who had their car broken into and was picking broken glass out of his daughter's car seat.

A good reason to practice what most of who go to out-of-the-way beaches do - don't leave anything of value in your vehicle and leave it unlocked!

Secluded CAN equal not safe... One of our favorite secluded beaches here on STT requires a 4x4 to get to most days.. Yes, you may have the beach to yourself or very close but last time we went there was another person leaving as we were arriving who had their car broken into and was picking broken glass out of his daughter's car seat.

A good reason to practice what most of who go to out-of-the-way beaches do - don't leave anything of value in your vehicle and leave it unlocked!

And then get your tires slashed or stolen.

Secluded CAN equal not safe... One of our favorite secluded beaches here on STT requires a 4x4 to get to most days.. Yes, you may have the beach to yourself or very close but last time we went there was another person leaving as we were arriving who had their car broken into and was picking broken glass out of his daughter's car seat.

A good reason to practice what most of who go to out-of-the-way beaches do - don't leave anything of value in your vehicle and leave it unlocked!

And then get your tires slashed or stolen.

31 years and counting. never happened.

Secluded CAN equal not safe... One of our favorite secluded beaches here on STT requires a 4x4 to get to most days.. Yes, you may have the beach to yourself or very close but last time we went there was another person leaving as we were arriving who had their car broken into and was picking broken glass out of his daughter's car seat.

A good reason to practice what most of who go to out-of-the-way beaches do - don't leave anything of value in your vehicle and leave it unlocked!

And then get your tires slashed or stolen.

31 years and counting. never happened.

To you. It happens.

To you. It happens.

I must be special. Never heard of it happening to anyone either. Maybe it happens more on STX.