2013 Caribbean Vacation Diary Part II: St. John, St. Maarten, & St. Thomas

cruise2013_stthomas1[Coki Beach, St. Thomas]

Time is too swift for those on vacation because our next few days went by like a blink of an eye. Our next stops in the Caribbean were St. John, St. Maarten and St. Thomas!

You can see Part I of our Caribbean Vacation Diary HERE

cruise2013_stjohn1

Day 5 – St. John, USVI: After one too many rum punches on the previous island, Nate and I was feeling a bit adventurous and decided to go play with stingrays in Stingray City. Even though I was deadly terrified and kicking myself later for committing, the tour was a really fun experience that I think everyone should try!

cruise2013_stjohn8

Cruise2013_StJohn13Eppp! Don’t be fool by my smile.

cruise2013_stjohn4

We had plenty of time after the tour before our ship leaves at 6pm so we decided to take a detour to Dickenson’s Bay and came across this nice little beach at the all-inclusive Sandals Resorts.

cruise2013_stjohn2

cruise2013_stjohn12

cruise2013_stjohn6

cruise2013_stjohn10

Cruise2013_Stjohn18Swimsuit: Victoria’s Secret (similar look I love here) | Sunglasses: Lumete dalmation

Cruise2013_Stjohn17

cruise2013_stmaarten8

Day 6 – St. Maarten: Since we can’t swim with the fishes, we decided to do something a little more non-swimmer’s friendly in St. Maarten…the Underwater Marine Tour ($40 p/p). The tour took us out to the coral reefs, where we went 5 feet under the boat in a seat-filled tunnel to look out of the windows at the beautiful life under the sea.

Cruise2013_Stjohn14

cruise2013_stmaarten6Grand Case Beach, St. Maarten

Cruise2013_Stmaarten13

cruise2013_stmaarten7

cruise2013_stmaarten1

Grand Case Bay has a relaxing atmosphere and I really love the local restaurants and small boutiques nearby. Out of all the beaches so far, this place is my favorite. Not only for the soft white sand, but the water was crystal clear and so CALM.  When it comes to beaches, I have to admit I’m a little spoiled so calm + clear, and being able to see my toes in the water is a must! :

If you’re looking for a more lively place or want to people watch, head to the famous Orient beach. It has more of a party vibe with many bars to choose from, music jamming and the more than occasional nude sunbathers on the French side. Well, it may not always be the best place to “people watch” if you get what I mean. :)

Tip: Be sure to bring lots of cash on this island, the beaches are usually far from one another and cab rides can get pretty expensive here.

cruise2013_stmaarten3

cruise2013_stmaarten10

cruise2013_stmaarten4Victoria’s Secret top and bottoms

cruise2013_stmaarten8

cruise2013_stmaarten9

cruise2013_stmaarten11

cruise2013_stthomas6

Cruise2013_Stjohn16

cruise2013_stthomas3

Day 7 – St. Thomas: Every time we go to the Caribbean, St. Thomas has to be on the itinerary. Not because of the beautiful scenery or the amazing duty free shopping, but because of Cuzzin…’ A Caribbean restaurant located in the heart of St. Thomas where I can stuff my face with the Caribbean Spiny lobster, grilled and flavor to perfection with sweet plaintains, mac-n-cheese and rice & beans. I’m kind of drooling right now.

Cruise2013_Stthomas17

cruise2013_stthomas4

cruise2013_stthomas5Coki beach, St. Thomas, USVI

cruise2013_stthomas2[Photos by NR & me]

* * *

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed our vacation recap (see Part 1 HERE). The Caribbean is a beautiful place to visit but what makes these islands truly a paradise are the warmth of the residents, the culture and humble lifestyle, the amazing food and of course the endless exploration. Even though I’m sad it’s over, I’m thrilled to explore a different slice of paradise next year.

What about you? Where’s some of your favorite places to vacation?

 

You May Also Like