Travel: St. John, USVI
Photo courtesy of Flickr, posted by Vicki H
The marketing theme for the U.S. Virgin Islands used to be “America’s Caribbean.” So while at first blush it may seem odd to have a Caribbean island in a blog about Great American Things, it definitely belongs.
The thing that makes St. John unique in the Caribbean is that the Virgin Islands National Park covers more than 7,000 acres on the island, limiting development and preserving the quality of the natural habitat. The beaches are that amazing sugar-white powder. The bays offer shades of aqua you can’t imagine being real. The snorkeling is excellent and you can swim to the reefs from shore. And the temperature is in the mid-80s year-round.
There are plenty of dining options, but no chain restaurants. The language is English, American money is used, there’s even a slow-as-home post office. The driving, however, is on the left, and that’ll throw you until you get used to it.
St. John is breathtakingly beautiful, and as safe as the Caribbean can be. No wonder it pulls us back year after year. Oh…and we’re heading there again tomorrow! (We’ll resume our look at Great American Things on Sunday, May 10 – see you then.)
Stop telling people about it! Or by the time I get to go, it’ll be overrun with tourists. I hope you guys are having a great time.