St. John - 6 Day Family Friendly Trip
Family Friendly 6-Day Trip to St. John
Day 1 - Arrival Day
Arriving in St. Thomas from the States is a breeze with several direct flights available. If you have AA loyalty, connecting in Charlotte is an option that works well. We always try to arrive as early as possible on arrival days so ensure plenty of time to unpack, settle, and snag a quick swim. Upon arrival, the airport is small and easy to navigate. We called our rental car service and were promptly picked up in less than 10 minutes. We opted for a 4-door Jeep from Discount Car Rental which made for a fantastic experience driving around St. John. Although the speed limit doesn't exceed 35mph, I suggest using travel seat belt adjusters instead of bringing car seats if your kids are just in the booster seat phase. Here's what worked for us (Travel car seat thing).
Once we were finished at Discount Car Rental, we drove to the ferry with the help of Google Maps. It was a slow 25-minute drive, traffic is heavy here. We made sure to bring cash with us since the ferry ride costs $50 each way, and we opted not to purchase round-trip tickets, as different ferry lines operate at different times. If you do decide to purchase a round-trip ticket, it's important to follow the St. Thomas ferry schedule page on Facebook, as ferry boats often break down and different ones may arrive. Don't be surprised if locals or workers cut in line to get to their jobs on time. We learned to go with the flow and enjoy the adventure of it all.
The ferry ride to St. John is always a sight to behold, but it does come with a strong fuel odor. Make sure you're ready and waiting in your car when the ferry arrives because the unloading process is swift. Once you drive off the ferry, a refreshing breeze and the true essence of your vacation await you. The Westin resort is just a quick 10-minute drive from the ferry dock. Consider making a stop at Starfish Market along the way, or take advantage of their delivery service to the Westin (which we opted for on this trip). After settling in our room, the kids and I took a dip in the pool while my husband unloaded the groceries. In no time, he joined us with a drink in hand, and our vacation was officially underway. After a busy travel day, we opted to just relax at the Westin pool and we all had the pool bar for dinner. Nothing fancy but the chicken nuggets and sandwiches were ok.
Day 2
The beauty of St. John is that the Virgin Islands National Park protects a large portion of this island. Each day you can venture to a beautiful beach and experience something magical and uninhabited. The island is fairly easy to get around, but if you or a kid gets car sick plan for it because it is a lot of up and down and around.
The kids enjoyed a quick bar and juice for breakfast, and we packed our backpack cooler with sandwiches, fresh fruit, a couple of waters, and adult drinks. I utilized stainless steel water bottles to make sure we all started the day with a full water bottle. We then loaded up the jeep and drove down to the on-site restaurant and rentals on the beach at the Westin. The breakfast was great and check beforehand if you have Marriott status. We are Titanium Elite and did receive breakfast vouchers for two each day of our stay. Here they will allow you to rent items for the day or extended time. Since we did not want to have to do this at each stop we grabbed chairs and snorkel gear for the week and loaded it into the Jeep. In addition, I was able to pack most of the sunscreen and beach toys for the kids. Check out my Instagram or packing for USVI blog for how I packed four of us with carry-on luggage only. Once we were all loaded up we headed to Maho Bay. We like to get here early as this is one of the most popular and can get crowded quickly. Many of the main beach sports have rentals for chairs, snorkel gear, and such if you prefer that option. Just check online beforehand to see which beaches offer this service. Another one of our absolute favorite spots nearby is Cinnamon Bay, I highly recommend this beach as well. Both Maho and Cinnamon have gentle waters and are easy to swim around looking for fish and yes turtles!
After adventuring around the beaches we headed back towards Cruz Bay. One of our favorite restaurants is Longboard. So we opted for an early dinner before the crowds and finished the evening at the Westin pool. At Longboard do yourself a favor and enjoy any of the sliders they have and the guacamole appetizer. Along with a Sunshower Cocktail, it is the most refreshing drink after a beach day.
The pool and serene beach at the Westin was a perfect conclusion to the day. The Westin also offers movies by the pool, beach games, and other kid-friendly activities. You will receive an itinerary upon arrival of the scheduled activities. The only time of year I believe they are not offered is their off-season which is hurricane season.
Day 3
Woke up on island time and got a quick workout in, just in our room, while the kids ate breakfast and relaxed. Once dressed and ready for the day we loaded up our cooler again and took a drive over to the other side of the island to see Salt Pond. This includes a rocky little hike so make sure you have on shoes with solid bottoms. Here is what we got for the family and used pretty much every day except our last day. If your party is hungry I would suggest Miss Lucy’s first if they are open for lunch, you do need to check first. If not this is a great spot after your beach hike. We opted to head straight to Salt Pond, once you park it's an easy walk just hot and rocky down to the beach. Once there Salt Pond is absolutely beautiful and you feel like you are in your cove. The turtles and sea life were abundant but I will say we had to swim out pretty far to see some cool sea life. The water though was perfect for the kids to play and splash in near the shoreline. Not a ton of shade here so if you can rent a little tent from your rental place I do suggest it. Another option would be to finish the day at Salt Mongoose for great drinks and pizza if you are in the mood. Another great view of Coral Bay is Skinny Legs. We were still pretty pumped up so we decided to head to Windmill Bar. It is a little bit out of the way on the way back to the Westin, but the views are incredible. It is way up high on the edge of a cliff with drinks and decent food. I will say that the food here is decent, not amazing, but if you are coming for the views it is spectacular.
After enjoying the Windmill we headed back to the Westin and decided to make a pit stop a our favorite ice cream place. Who doesn’t enjoy milkshakes after burgers? Look for the hot pink building in Cruz Bay and just order anything, it is delicious. Our Market Smoothies!
Some of the villas have a private pool or a pool that services only a few of the villas. Tonight we decided to enjoy just a quick dip in the pool beside our villa/room before heading to bed. The sunset was beautiful too, each pool has a different view but the views from the higher villas are always great.
Day 4
You could easily pick another beach to visit if you are enjoying the island. I would suggest Hawksnest, Francis ( not touristy) Cinnamon Bay if you haven’t seen it yet, or Honeymoon. Some of the beaches were still closed after the hurricane so just double-check before venturing out.
We opted for a kid adventure today and headed over to St. Thomas for the Aquarium and Dolphin Experience. We had a large breakfast at the Westin and immediately headed for the ferry. The Aquarium is about a 10-minute drive from the ferry on St. Thomas, and it was cool. They have an underwater lookout and you can even dive here too if you want. We were able to see some cool sea life and then walked over to the dolphin area. Our kids were still too little to swim with the dolphins but the little kid dolphin experience was great because it was still in the water with the dolphins. Make sure you wear your suit because you will get wet and it was cold. It was very educational and the kids loved getting to touch and direct the dolphins. The adults enjoyed this as well, if you have a big enough group you can be just you and your family/friends as well.
I knew I wanted to catch the 3:30 pm/4 pm ferry because the after-4 pm and 5 pm ferry gets very crowded. So we made plans to make sure we exited the Aquarium between 3pm-and 3:30pm. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time online as well at
Once back on St. John, we were starving so we just plopped right off the ferry at one of our favorite spots High Tide. Great views, a cool vibe, and pretty good food. I would also suggest a quick stop at Woody’s for a nightcap. Then headed back to our hotel for the night.
Day 5
Saved the best for last! If you're on the lookout for the perfect watersports experience, look no further than Cruz Bay Watersports. Located at the Westin, they offer an exceptional service that is both easy to use and highly accommodating. The 37' Axopar boat was ideal for our group of 4 adults and 5 kids and could have easily accommodated more. As part of their full-day charter, the captain took us to Limeout, a floating taco bar that offers delicious food and drinks. Their gear is pretty great too! The ‘captains' snorkeling locations were fantastic and offered something for everyone. The captain was knowledgeable and great with the kids too. Fuel and gratuity are not typically included, so keep that in mind when planning your budget. Don't miss out on this unforgettable experience!
We stayed only on the USVI’s this trip due to COVID and kids at the time. However, I will say if you are good with getting a charter over to the BVI’s (passport needed) then make sure you see the Baths and Soggy Dollar. Still one of the best spots we have ever been to and can not wait to see it again.
Day 6
For flights home, we allowed for 2 hours before flight time, but if you do not have TSA precheck or your passports with you then I would allow for additional time. Remember you are on island time. We did late afternoon flights home and enjoyed a quick morning swim at the Westin Pool and beach and I looked for flight changes all morning because I did not want to leave this trip. St. John will forever be a travel highlight in our lives.
Make sure to check out my budget and itinerary sheets for an exact cost and a quick look at this trip.
I have also included our grocery list and costs for your info in this post.
Additional notes from previous trips and recommendations
The Terrace- St. John delicious but more upscale, open Tues thru Sat
Longboard- Amazing food and cocktails, close by, outdoor dining, limited seating no reservations
Salty Mongoose- Best Pizza, south side island, view of Coral Bay
Mrs. Lucy’s decent lunch and great view (same side with Salty Mongoose)
Ocean 362- expensive, so so for kids, but delicious filet and views
Morgan’s Mango – upscale and expensive but great food and near Cruz Bay visitor center
Maho Bay - best for children, calm, shallow, and best for sea turtles and stingrays
Cinnamon Bay is one of our favorites – and is next to Maho Bay
Salt Pond is great for kids and sea turtles too, on the side of the Island with Mongoose, Coral Bay, Lime Out, and Miss Lucy’s
Trunk Bay – touristy but has chairs, food, bathrooms all the amenities
Honeymoon – great spot, calm, beautiful, food and drinks available Hike to Lind Point trail – should be easy enough for kids
Packing List suggestions
Water shoes for the whole family,
Backpack cooler,
Beach bag/backpack,
SPF (it’s expensive on the island),
SPF shirts wet and dry,
Hats
Sunglasses for everyone (can not always find shade),
Stainless steel water bottles - I bring empty in our carry-on backpacks and fill them up before the flight
Speaker
At least one long-sleeve for windy evenings,
Bathing suits
Cover-ups
One nicer outfit for dinner otherwise everything is casual,
Everything else can be beachwear/casual.
Passports (just for ID for the kids) Also a faster line in the airport if you have one.
