St. John boasts not one or two perfect beaches but beach after beach after beach. It makes it incredibly difficult to pick which are contenders for the list of best beaches in St John. Many of them are a quick drive away relative to where we stay on island but we’ll usually reserve a day or so to explore the other side as well. The drive is not for the faint of stomach with pretty much every type of hill, twist, and turn waiting for your car. Since I wasn’t the one behind the wheel, I was more than happy to roll the windows down, crank up the music, and shut my eyes during all of the “bad parts.”

About halfway to lunch, we stopped at this lookout point marked by colorful cafes that commanded as much attention as the view itself. We were able to sneak a few peeks but unfortunately couldn’t get the full scenic experience without getting a table and ordering food. But based on all of the steep hills we had just driven, we were confident that the full view was pretty spectacular. Following this, we roller coaster drove a little more to lunch and then headed to Salt Pond Bay.

Salt Pond Bay has a gorgeous beach that feels more secluded than the others. Maybe it’s the distance from Cruz Bay that keeps the crowds away or perhaps it’s the 10 minute walk from the parking lot. Either way, we appreciate it. The combination of the view, sun, and saltwater erased the effects from going out the night before and we all felt like ourselves again by the time we were ready to leave.