Hi Keri- here's my two cents- for lunch, you will all like Miss Lucy's- slow service but the kids will have room to roam and play with the goats. Shipwreck Landing is one of our favorites but there's not much room for the wiggly kids to wiggle. Same I think for Skinny Legs. Most places are friendly but wiggle room for the kids didn't seem to be everywhere.
The Reef hike is very slow! We were a little frustrated actually at how slow it was but with kids, no worries. Its a very gentle down slope with a boat at the end to take you back to Headquarters. YOu have to take a dinghy out to the boat so you will have to keep a tight hold of the kids. The rangers were very informative and friendly. You must book this in advance- we did but got there to about 20 people hoping to fit in the group at the last minute and who got turned away. Its very popular, but again, very slow and easy. Hiking back up would be pretty hot however so take the boat. Also, at the end of the hike, there is the filthiest excuse for an outhouse I have ever seen, so pack some toilet seat covers or something and your own TP. Its very pretty but the "facility" is horrible.
We stayed at Maho 3 times, twice with our (older) kids and I often thought of people with smaller kids. There are ALOT of stairs to climb so be very prepared for the heat, it will never go away and after a few hikes up and down the stairs from the beach to the store or your tent cabin or the bathrooms (none on the beach), you may re-think how much you plan to do each day. I can't stress this enough. You will leave however with the tightest buns you ever had! Do NOT underestimate the heat and humidity, it will slow you way down! Also be aware of the slippery stair conditions after it rains, as any of you can take a bad slip. Finally, don't pack marshmellow fluff- you'd be amazed at what it will do after a couple of days in your hot cabin! We loved it, the kids loved it, and we head back for visit #4 in November. We also stayed last year at Concordia and loved that very much. But its alot more remote so we would pick Maho again for a first trip.
Overall, pack for heat and humidity, pack as light as possible, and plan to sweat. Also keep a ton of bug spray on hand and don't go near the beach after dusk when the no-seeums come out. Oh yeah, Salt Pond Bay by the way is very pretty but with little shade so that will be one hot place with a fair hike down to the beach where you'll have to hold the hand of your 3 year old I think. The views are great there but its hotter due to lack of shade.

Please use this link to see what restaurants are closed during your stay - a few you mentioned are closed (Shipwreck, Lime Inn, Miss Lucy's etc)

http://stjohnspice.com/stjohnrestaurants.htm

The Reef Bay Trail I'm not sure I would take a3 1/2 year old on - it is a difficult hike (up especially but you are not doing that part) but it just depends on the little one. I do this hike a few times a week (when I'm being good and staying in shape) and it might be alittle too much, but again it depends on the child. When my family were visiting they did the guided hike with the Rangers and because we had just had a lot of rain the mosquito's were fierce and they said they literally "ran" (well almost) the trail because if you stopped you were covered in a black swarm even though they had used Deet. My husband who also does the hike with me frequently went along with the family and he said he had never seen mosquito's like it and the people who did not spray their backpacks had them covered with black mosquito's and the Rangers did indeed have to keep the tour going at a really fast pace and it was difficult for his Mother to keep up. Now not saying it is usually like that (actually have never seen it like that - mosquito's yes and always spray, but that bad - no) but just something for you to keep in mind. The hike can get quite busy - there were 30 people on their hike.

I'm sure you will have a fabulous time here - and you can always use the beaches at Caneel, you don't have to eat there and the buffet (to me) is very expensive, especially for children.

Hope this helps

Pia

Thanks for all of the info. It looks like most of the restaurants will be back open by the time we get there on 11/4. Miss Lucy's doesn't open until 11/5 or 11/6 though so we'll make sure to do that later in the week. Our 3 year old is used to hiking in the mountains of Virginia every week so we think he'll do ok. We'll be prepared to change our minds if the mosquitoes are really bad though.

Any other tips out there?

Keri

I agree with karrieb...do not try and fill all of your time right away, especially with young kids. I realize you might need to keep them entertained to avoid 'the down time fidgets' but the heat and humidity will require some adjustment. If you plan out your trip with too much activities, you might kill yourself in the process or look back and be disappointed by not doing it all.
Salt Pond is nice but the walk is deceptively long, especially carrying children (you will end up carrying the 3 1/2 back) and supplies.
Finally, if there are any dry snacks the kids like (granola bars, crackers, etc.) I would bring them. They will be much more expensive and not as readily available when you need them most.

Take your time and experience 'island time'. After all, that's why you're going...otherwise you would be travelling to Disney World with everyone else.

Hi Keri.

It's worth noting that the Reef Bay hike is mostly downhill and there is a boat to take you back to NPS headquarters but sometimes the return boat is not an option (sea conditions, for example) and folks have to hike back up. This does not happen often but the NPS expects participants to be able to hike back up if need be and I imagine this could be a problem for a 3 1/2 year old and whomever is carrying the one year old.. I only mention it because this happened to an older couple I know and they had a very difficult time.

Thanks very much for the suggestions. It sounds like we should probably wait and do Salt Pond on another trip when the kids are older - I really appreciate the info and advice. I want to have plenty of time to experience island time but there are a few things I wanted to do (or decide not to do) that required a little planning, like the Reef Bay hike since we don't want to hike back up (unless there's a problem with the boat). I'm a planner so it may take a few days to get into the island time thing... 🙂 Not doing Salt Pond will decrease the number of things we want to do too. So now we just have Little Lameshur Beach, Trunk Bay, and the Reef Bay Trail and the rest spent at Maho. Do we also try to fit in a visit to Vie's? Is she likely to be open the first week of November? Thanks so much for all of the help!

I would definitely do more than just Maho (although it is a fab beach) Try Francis a very short distance from Maho and Cinnamon for sure.

Oh god, good luck with Vie's!! We have visited 4 times so far, and with reassurance from a bunch of locals that Vie was open THAT DAY, NO PROBLEM, we drove there only to find out she was closed. Vie's is way, way out and there is no other place around there to eat so either go not very hungry with plans to head back to Coral Bay if she is closed again, or bring snacks, whatever. I won't try again as the trip is so long and my disappointment so big.

You may be a planner but you'll very quickly find that the island attitude will slow you down and you won't mind a bit. I am also a bit hyper and a huge planner but within a few hours of trip #1, I was on island time. Even if you won't be, everyone else is, so you will have no choice but to adopt the slower pace. And you'll be glad you did! At Maho, pack some sugar packets and let the kids sprinkle the sugar on the deck railings. You;ll all love watching the banana quits come down and peck at the sugar. Also listen for the crunching of the land crabs under your cabin and help the kids try to spot them. You'll also hear wild donkeys braying in the distance which is fun as well as billions of tree frogs singing at night. These things will slow you down, happily!

Hey girlfriend

We live here and have yet to be there when she is open 🙂

Good luck

Well Pia, I guess that's one place we won't be grabbing some food at will we? Lucky for us there's Shipwreck Landing, Skinny Legs, YUMMY Sweet Plantains and all those other Coral Bay area eateries- this is where our money is going Vie so pay attention!!! PM me when you can so we can talk Revlon and get togethers.

I have a great picture of a sign showing Vie's hours. Anyone know how to include a picture in a post?

It's great to have those hours and sorry I don't know how to post a picture, but you have to keep in mind those hours "can" be on island time 🙂 Sometimes Miss Vie has to run an errand, or visit St Thomas, or visit a relative, or.....well you get the picture 🙂

She must have alot of relatives or a ton of errands that have lasted for about 20 years now!

We've had the good fortune to always find Vie open when we've stopped by. It's one of my favorite days on STJ, actually, the day we spend in the East End. We snorkel at Haulover in the morning, head to Vie's for lunch, then spend the afternoon hanging out on her beach. We do pack some sandwiches and water in case she's not there, but she's been there every time. I can't guess why it works out that way.

I really like it over there (although development is slowly but steadily creeping along). Feels like going back in time. We first got to STJ in the mid-80s and so much has changed. The East End remains closest to how it was and what we fell in love with back then. If I hadn't grown so needful of comfort, I'd love to spend a week or two camped on Vie's beach.

That's it Lex, next time I'm going with you!