St. John: What, Where, Why?
St. John --same size as Manhattan, but with 4000 people-- is one of the three US Virgin Islands a three hour-flight from Miami. St. John is the most unspoiled, thanks to the Virgin Islands National Park. if you want duty-free shopping in colonial towns, try St. Thomas or St. Croix instead. A stay on St. John should include snorkeling over coral, and poking around Cruz Bay to get some local flavor.
The Westin St. John
...is popular! During our visit off-season in mid-August, the place was full.
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Arrival is by boat from St. Thomas: after 45 minutes on blue seas, you'll reach Great Cruz Bay where the Westin sits below green hills. (See photos.) Step onto the dock, and sip your welcome drink.
Grounds, Pool, Rooms
The Westin's landscaping is lush green and flowery,  and the attractive units are low-built. The large pool has a low wide waterfall and poolside restaurant-- see pix. (Tip: stake out a lounge chair early in the day.) The Westin has two "front desks": a small one for convenience near the dock, and another in a large lobby at the property's road access. Shops and a deli are located near the Kids Club. The Westin also has a fitness center, spa, and four restaurants-- see the Westin St. John site for more info. Ground level rooms have patios.
Kids Zone
With a clientele that's mostly families, the Westin St. John stages special family activities, such as paddleboat races, potato sack races, etc.
The regular itinerary includes fun for families, too: a typical day might offer croquet, horseshoes, Iguana Feeding, Steel Pan Lessons, and kids' and teens' "floating cinema"-- movies at the pool.
 Iguana feeding? These dinosaur-like creatures are ready and waiting to dart out at feeding time. Staff are on hand to answer questions and hand out lettuce. The iguanas' favorite munchies, though, are red bougainvillea leaves.
Meanwhile, the Kids Club for ages 3 to 12 has its own activities: arts and crafts, sailing lessons, seashell hunts, field trips. Full-day and half-day programs; night camp, too. Register in advance.
Watersports
 As the Westin isn't an all-inclusive, you'll have to pay to use aquatrikes, kayaks, etc.
One water-toy that's fun and free for all is the set of giant water trampolines just off-shore.
The more adventurous can book jet-skis, parasailing, snorkel tours, etc.
Out'n'About
 Five minutes from the Westin St. John sits little Cruz Bay, with shops and restaurants (-mmm, seafood.) Take an open-air taxi; the steep hill makes the trip a thrill ride.
The big feature on St. John is, of course, the National Park, so it's no surprise that nearly all Westin guests go on outings there. Both snorkel trips and land tours can be booked on site. Or rent a jeep: the island is safe for solo exploring, and traffic's light.
Virgin Islands National Park: one of the best ways to explore the Park (created by Laurance Rockefeller) is via that great American institution, park ranger programs. Check the Visitors' Center in Cruz Bay for activities such as the Reef Bay Trail hike with a ranger: do a free hike, or pay for lunch and boat ride. Other park activities include snorkel trips and history talks. (Though small, St. John has history: such as a briefly-successful slave revolt.)
Snorkel boat trips on St. John are superb. Try the Sadie Sea for full-day tours with snorkel stops.
Trunk Bay Beach: this much-photographed white-sand beach is part of the Virgin Islands National Park. (Modest admission charge; it may be cheaper to buy a family annual pass). Pull on your flippers and hit the snorkel trail to see coral and colorful fish along a route with underwater signs. You can also try Snuba: no substitute for scuba, but a novelty underwater experience where you can descend twenty feet and breathe through an air hose. After enjoying the clear blue sea, eat at the snack bar where mongooses sneak out of the bushes to munch.
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- Westin St. John: grounds, pool, Iguana Feeding, water trampolines and other fun.
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