I would say it is worth the trip. You should be prepared to make your plans around the Water Island Ferry schedule which you can find on the VI Now website. Be prepared for a short walk from the ferry dock unless you get a ride from a resident. Honeymoon Beach and Heidi's Honeymoon Grill and her great burgers are worth the trip. The beach is nice and usually very quiet during weekdays. Have fun.

I like Water Island....We go over when we go and spend the whole day on Honeymoon beach. Relaxing

Destiny N VA

Yes,
One of the best kept secrets in the St Thomas area. Heidi's is great. The beach is beautiful and won't be crowded. The ferry runs from Crown Bay Marina at Sub Base and there is a store, Gourmet Gallery with a deli at the marina if you want to take anything with you.
Jay

We've returned back from sunny St Thomas. We did take the day trip to water island. It was very nice, but not quite as serene as jost van dyke. I would recommend to others looking for peace and quiet to venture to water island during the week.

We had considered checking out Water Island this time too. How possible is that with four kids in tow, though? How far of a hike are we talking once we get off the ferry? Kids are 11,8,4 and almost 1 so we are talking about younger kids here. Would love to see the island.

Beachfam of 6, it's not much of a distance. You'll have to walk up a short hill from the WI ferry landing, turn right after you've reached the top of the hill and go down another short distance hill. I assume your crew won't be in a hurry so I'd say it wouldn't be difficult at all. These particular roads are paved so there's no worry about rocks moving under-foot. The steep part will come on the return as you go back up the hill that you took after turning right to get down to the beach. But, it's a very short distance so .........of course, I also don't have a 4 year old or a 1 year old. Maybe someone who's made the trip with younger children can comment.

I just returned from vacation on Water Island. We were a large group of adults and very young kids. Although we were staying at Providence Point, and often used our golf carts for transport, we did walk to and from the beach over the "hill" several times with one, three, and four year old boys. You should be fine as long as you don't schlep too much stuff over with you. The 4yr old can walk back up that hill just holding one of the bigger kid's hands, it is steep, but not outrageously so. The kids should really enjoy the short ferry ride, its very splashy if they sit in the back! The beach is lovely and wide and shady, with lots of picnic tables and palm umbrellas. If you go around 10ish on a weekday, you'll have the whole place to yourself (check the ferry schedule link at the top of this board, it is up-to-date). Stay and have lunch at Heidis lunch wagon, the burgers are awsome! Sometimes a large sailboat full of tourists come in around lunchtime and crowd up the beach a little, but even if that happens, there is still pleanty of room for everyone. I think Honeymoon beach is the best for small guys, as the waves are super gentle and the water shallow for quite a ways out. Oh, and the older kids should get a kick out of swinging from the ropes hanging in the jungle clearing and hunting critters with the island kids, pretty wild! Have a great time!!!

Thanks for the advice to all. Think we will check it out after all!