SUGGESTIONS FOR ENJOYING THE ISLAND

Once you’ve decided to stay at Valley View, we’d be happy to offer tips and advice for where to explore, what to do, and where to eat and drink! Exploring St. John in your rental car is the best way to see the island, but remember that we drive on the left here! And, our roads are steep and windy, so the speed limit is 10 m.p.h. in town and 20 m.p.h. in the country. There are plenty of places along the road to pull over and enjoy the views, so be sure to take advantage of them!

St. John has dozens of gorgeous beaches, and some of the most famous North Shore beaches are about 20 minutes from Valley View….Hawksnest Bay, Trunk Bay (the only beach that has a National Park Service entrance fee), Cinnamon Bay, and Maho Bay. We’d be happy to offer suggestions for hiking as well…there are many different levels of hiking trails here, some of which end up at a gorgeous beach. St. John is also close to other islands well worth exploring…besides St. Thomas, St. John is close to the British Virgin Islands…a great place to visit via a day sail or power-boat rental.

After a fun day of exploring the island or relaxing on the beach, if you’re in the mood to eat out, there are wonderful restaurants in Cruz Bay and Coral Bay ranging from inexpensive, casual eateries to elegant fine-dining. Just ask us if you’d like some ideas.

A few tips for enjoying your stay on St. John:
It is customary to greet St. Johnian’s with “Good morning”, “Good afternoon”, or “Good evening” before beginning any type of exchange. If you remember this, it will serve you well!
It is not considered proper here to wear your bathing suit in public, or for a man to be shirtless.
It is very important to conserve water on St. John! We rely on the water we gather from the rain. This water is then filtered and pumped into our homes. Sometimes, water is scarce, so it’s always a good idea to turn it off while brushing teeth, doing the dishes, and even soaping up in the shower.
Life moves slowly here, so it’s a good idea to just go with the flow and know that getting upset about the slow pace will only make things worse! Time to relax and enjoy your vacation…