LIVE THE DREAM IN ST. JOHN
ABOUT ST. JOHN
Don’t let its size fool you—St. John may be the smallest in the U.S. Virgin Islands, but its vast natural beauty and rich history have shaped it into the remarkable Caribbean destination it is today. Initially inhabited by the Taino people, the island’s story spans centuries, marked by European colonization, the sugar plantation era, and the resilience of its people.
Danish settlers established the first settlement and sugar plantations, leading to a booming sugar industry – including tobacco, cotton, and other trading goods.
One of the first significant uprisings in the Caribbean was the slave insurrection, which ultimately led to the abolition of slavery.
The United States bought St. John from Denmark for $25 million as a naval base to prevent a German invasion of the West.
Laurence Rockafeller bought hundreds of acres on St. John and started Caneel Bay Resort. News of the beautiful American island had spread to the U.S. mainland, establishing the beginning of what was to become a tourism boom on St. John.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
As you explore the island, echos of the it’s storied past remain in the scattered ruins of sugar mills, breathtaking scenery, and the unique blend of cultures that make St. John such an extraordinary Caribbean gem.
RESTAURANTS & BARS
Provisions
Roti King
Little Olive Food Truck
North Shore Deli
High Tide
Morgan’s Mango
1864 The Restaurant
Ocean 362
La Tapa Plage
The Terrace
SHOPPING
ARTS & CULTURE
Beaches & Trails
LOOKING TO MAKE ST. JOHN YOUR FOREVER HOME?
Contact Abigail Schnell O’Connell @ Holiday Homes, St. John
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
Books can be purchased at Baja El Sol Gallery.
- Living Art | By Steve Simonsen
- The Mysterious, Magical Mangroves of St. John U.S. Virgin Islands | By Carolyn Rogers
- St. John Beach Guide: A Photographically Illustrated Guide to the Beaches of the St. John Virgin Islands National Park | by Gerald Singer
- Vintage St. John | by Valerie Sims
- Their Eyes Were Watching St. John | by Kaden Richards
- St. John Backtime | by Ruth Hull Low & Rafael Valls
- Explore The Virgin Islands | by Harry S. Pariser