The Best Things to do in St John, USVI with Kids

Caribbean IslandsDestinationsFamily Travel Tips
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We had our minds blown visiting St John, USVI with kids! There are a million reasons to visit this beautiful island, but at the top of that list is the fact that the best experiences for families in St John, USVI are easy to find. This tiny island is so family friendly!

St John is my happy place. It was before having kids and I can confidently say, it still is since having kids. In our visits before having kids we fell more and more in love each time we visited and always found ourselves in awe of the natural beauty and vibrant blues.  Fast forward a handful of years and two kids later…we knew it was time to introduce our kids to the magic of St John.

If you know anything about us, you know we’re a beach family.  And if you know anything about St John, you know about its famous white sand beaches. Basically, we’re the perfect match. Visiting St John, USVI with kids was a no brainer for us!

Even though it’s mainly known for its beaches, St John offers something for everyone–as long as you love raw natural beauty, good food, and friendly people.  Check, check, check.  While we fell in love with it as a kid-free couple for these reasons, we fell even harder this time around with kids.  Traveling to St John, USVI with kids lands in the top three family travels we've ever done. (The others are the North Shore of Oahu and the southern zone of Costa Rica.) 

Get ready to take notes!

Adventure with the kids in St John, USVI with these must-dos:

Visit Trunk Bay in the Morning

Calm waters of Trunk Bay

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Trunk Bay can be very touristy–but for good reason.  It’s gorgeous!  The 3 mile long stretch of white sand, million shades of blue and the Coral Reef Underwater Park Trail are the wow factors.  But for families, the gentle, crystal clear, 80 degree waters of Trunk Bay, especially during summer months, is what makes it such a winner.  For the best experience, get there early and then head to the west end of the beach–it’s typically less crowded and offers fun rock climbing and tide-pooling for the kids.  Need even more convincing you need to make a day (or two or three) out of Trunk Bay?  Check out this post dedicated to our favorite beaches on St John.

Snorkel with Sea Turtles at Maho Bay

Even if your fam is kinda ‘meh’ about snorkeling (can we even stay friends?!), do not skip this adventure.  I promise you’ll walk away with a full heart and a new appreciation for the graceful beauties that sea turtles are.  Maho Bay is a great place for kids to learn how to snorkel because it’s very shallow with a gentle grade and is usually the calmest beach on the north shore of St John, USVI.  For the best experience, rent a paddle board, throw the kids on, and paddle out to the sea grass where the turtles hang out.  The kids can dangle their heads off the edge and peer down at the turtles until they feel comfortable jumping in.  The paddle board acts as a “floating dock” for the kids so mom and dad can keep snorkeling.  Win win.  I share more about experiencing Maho Bay with kids here.

Grab Lunch and Play Beach Games at Maho Crossroads

This cool little village is a collection of shops, food trucks, plenty of shade, and lots of fun beach games.  There is nowhere like it on the island and it offers a bit of Oahu’s north shore food truck charm.  Our kids LOVED this new addition to Maho Bay.  We ordered lunch from a cool old VW Bus that’s been converted into a food truck and then played giant Jenga, Bocce ball, and corn hole–all in the shade.  This is a great little hangout for families after a morning snorkeling with turtles at Maho Bay!

Hike to Peace Hill Sugar Mill for the Views

This is a must for little legs...its the easiest hike you're going to find on the island (we’re talking 10 minutes), but biggest reward. The views are out of this world.  To make this adventure even easier, there’s a small parking lot right at the trailhead.  As you scramble up the short trail you begin to see the 300 year old sugar mill, then as you climb the stairs and walk through the mill, the expansive view takes over and consumes you with awe-inspiring beauty.  To the west is Hawksnest Bay; to the north is Jost van Dyke, to the east is Trunk Bay, the north shore of St John and Tortola.  Pack a lunch and stay awhile–you’re gonna wanna stay and soak up this incredible natural beauty.  While it’s not a narrow lookout area, keep the kids close, there are no guard rails.

Grab a Cold Treat after a Day at the Beach

Irie Pops is the cutest and most welcoming little cold treat shop we’ve ever visited.  It’s conveniently located in Cruz Bay and is the perfect stop on the way home from the beach.  We loved cooling off with Irie Pops delicious popsicles and ice cream and couldn’t believe how many popsicle flavors they offered.  Dragonfruit Mango Lemonade and Caribbean Kiwi Limeade win the prize for most creative.  The frozen treats are homemade and crafted from fresh, local, organic ingredients and dairy free.  Our kids loved Irie Pops and would’ve returned daily if we’d had let them.

Book a Half or Full Day Sail + Snorkel

The best way to really gain an appreciation for St John is to get out on the water.  Lots of charter companies offer half-day sails and are very family friendly.  We booked with family friendly Kekoa (the captains even bring their kids aboard some sails!).  Even though the idea of being stuck on a boat all day with kids (or even half a day) can sound stressful to parents, we’ve found it’s quite the opposite.  Once you board the boat everything is taken care of for you from life jackets, snorkel gear, snacks, and beverages, making it a pretty stress free family adventure!  Snuggling in with the kids on bean bags while sailing through the beautiful out-islands and keys, snorkeling hand in hand, dancing on the trampoline, and doing flips off the bow of the boat made for an unforgettable family experience in St John. 

Grab Breakfast before hitting the Beach

Vacation breakfast is a favorite tradition in our family.  We are early risers (well, 3 of us are…one of us (yours truly) is working on it), so starting our day watching the sunrise and then heading out in search of the best pancakes is commonplace for us.  While on St John, we found the best pancakes we have EVER had at Cruz Bay Landing!  Seriously, the Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes are a MUST.  Cruz Bay Landing is a fun place to have breakfast and watch all the early morning action of Cruz Bay and the ferry terminal.  Although the kids would tell you the action of all the chickens running around was most entertaining.

Catch a Coral Bay Sunrise

Speaking of early mornings, catching a sunrise at Coral Bay is not to be missed.  We rented a house on the hill overlooking Coral Bay so this was a daily occurrence for us, but even if you don’t stay in Coral Bay, wrangle the crew and make it happen at least one morning on your vacation.  It is such a dramatic and stunning view that gives you a whole new appreciation for the raw beauty of this island.  Plus, as a cherry on top for the kids, you’ll likely see donkeys wandering the roads in Coral Bay.  If you slow the car down, there's a good chance they’ll come say good morning!    

This lovely little island is such a unique and beautiful place and an ideal destination for family adventures.  You’ll never run out of fun things to do together or breathtaking views to soak in when you visit St John, USVI with the kids.  I hope this list gets you started in planning your St John family vacation!

Beach Vacation Packing

Use the links below to help you prep for your epic St John vacation!

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