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Hi - Wondering if anyone can help us pick a beach for the day. We will be in St. Thomas on Feb. 21 with 5 ships in port. Last time we went to Magens Bay, which was very pretty but way too crowded. We are thinking of going to Sapphire or Emerald Beach.
Is one better than the other? We'd like a restaurant to get lunch at and maybe rent some chairs and possibly floats or a kayak.
Any advice would be very much appreciated.
Thanks so much!
Heather
Sapphire is a great beach ! That's where I would go !
If you're docking at Crown Bay (where all Princess & Holland America ships dock), I'd go with Emerald, which is a 5 minute ride away. You'll avoid having to travel across the island to get to Sapphire, and with 5 ships in port, traffic can be horrendous. If you're docking in Havensight, you'd be closer to Sapphire. So I'd try to find out where you'll be berthed and take it from there. Either way, have a great time!
hmm, Pam Gaffin's book doesn't mention either Emerald or Sapphire. I did find Sapphire described on line - page 3 of the vinow beach guide https://www.vinow.com/stthomas/beaches_stt/beaches1.php Where is it?
LINDBERG BAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whether you dock in Crown Bay OR Havensight, Lindberg Bay(Emerald Beach by the airport) is without a doubt the cheapest to get to, best for a one day beach trip and there is a great hotel with a great restaurant right there.
Maggie - What Pam Gaffin book is that? I have "Feet, Fins, & 4WD" which is about St. John and was our "bible" while we were on island in July. If she has one about STT, I'd like to get a copy.
Heather - Both Sapphire and Emerald Beach have chairs for rent. Sapphire's watersports booth has kayaks and some other watersports. Also, there is good snorkeling. The last couple of times I went to Emerald the watersports booth wasn't open, but I remember the sign listed kayaks. If your children are young they might enjoy the small playground just past the end of Emerald Beach (has slides, swings...).
Maggie - Pam Gaffin's book is about St. John. Both Emerald and Sapphire are on St. Thomas. Emerald on the south-west of the island (by the airport) and Sapphire on the east end (a couple minutes from Red Hook). Emerald is also in the beach guide on this site, but its listed under Lindberg Bay.
--Islander
