Hi Bostonian...

Enjoy your visit. I like the idea of a day trip to Cinnamom - you'll enjoy it.

Depending on where you are staying on St Thomas, you can grab the ferry at Red Hook or from Charlotte Amalie. Both bring you to the same ferry dock in Cruz Bay on St John. Ferry schedules and costs are available from the home page of this site (taxi rates too). After you arrive off the ferry on St. John you'll need to grab a taxi to get to Cinnamon. Don't worry, there'll be plenty 🙂 It's very easy to get a taxi to take you anywhere on the island from town, a bit harder to get picked up at the more remote locations. Taxis are readily available at Cinnamon for your return.

It'll cost you a couple of bucks to get in (it's a national park).
Bring your snorkeling stuff if you have it, otherwise you can rent it at Cinnamon Bay for the day - I don't remember the cost of renting - not too bad. Snorkel on reef on east (right) end of beach.

Cinnamon also has rentals for sailboards, sailboats, kayaks and the like. There is a snack stand for burgers and the like. Since there is also a campground at Cinnamon there is a very small store for beverages (water, soda, beer - not cocktails) and snacks.

Cinnamon also has hiking trails and an archielogical dig...I've not explored those, you might try the park service website for details.

There are also freshwater shower/changing facilities available so you can make a quick change before heading back to town for a little tourisity shopping at Mongoose Junction if you like then grab some frozen libations at Duffys or Woodys and dinner (Lime Inn, Fish Trap, Morgans Mango, and others...) before grabbing a late ferry back. I think the last ferry back is at 11:00 pm.

Have fun.

Bob

Thanks so much for your detailed explanation. I will definitely take note of everything you mentioned!

If you have a chance, rent a car and take it on the ferry. There are many fine beaches on both St. John and St. Thomas that you can explore. Cinnamon is great but it doesn't cost anything to go there. Trunk Bay does cost money. While at Cinnamon try to find what is left of a small plane that crashed in the water (Little Cinnamon - left end of Cinnamon).

You will really enjoy your trip to St. John. If you ever have a chance to stay on St. John it will be worth it. My husband and I have been going yearly since 1995, and it's just beautiful! Cinnamon Bay is a nice beach but the snorkeling is best on the other end of the Island. It's best to rent a car, which you can do for a day. Waterlemon Cay has a great diversity of things to see while snorkeling and you will get a little exercise in too. Salt Pond is good too, we have seen lots of turtles and stingrays there. Haulover Bay, both sides have interesting snorkeling. Oh, visit each one! If you enjoy peace and quiet, good shopping, beautiful vistas, great beaches, sand, sun, and nature St. John is the place to go. It does not have a big night life, (although Skinny's can liven up some nights!) the peace of an evening on this island can warm your soul. Next time, try it! We have rented a cottage on the Coral Bay end, Sago Cottage, for many years now, and it's just beautiful there. It sits on a mountain side looking out over the east end and the BVI's. It is my very favorite scene in the world. Hope you can visit for an extended period someday!

Jo-Ann, the wife and I would like to spend more time on St. John either next year or the year after. Could you e-mail me some info on the cottage you rent? Thanks

Rick, did you get the info on the website for the cottage I stay at? If you did not, here it is again. Go to www.calabashcottages.com. We go again next year, and are already getting excited. Hope you have a good time.