Brown Bay Beach, St John USVI
There are some places in the US Virgin Islands that are specifically laid out to ensure that you enjoy calm, relaxing day enjoying the cool Caribbean breeze that rolls off the sea. Brown Bay in St. John is one of those places. As a mostly deserted area in St. John, this beach has all the beauty of any beach in the Caribbean without the trouble of pesky tourists.
Brown Bay is a marvel and a wonder to behold. Once you reach the island --which may, in fact, be a feat all unto itself-- you’ll be able to enjoy the clear, turquoise waters and the white sand of the pristine beach. Though the water is meticulous, you won’t see many yachts or vessels anchored there --as the sea isn’t ideal for that sort of activity. As the road leading to Brown Bay is considerably further away from any of the more populated areas of St. John, you won’t come into contact with any tourists looking to fill up the beach with their overzealous play.
Beyond the incredible sea view, there are ample opportunities to go hiking and explore that natural, rustic beauty of Brown Bay. As you continue your explorations, you’ll find that Brown Bay Beach is the most ideal place that for anyone to cool off after a long stroll. If you so choose, you can take a refreshing dip in the sea and let your mind wander. You can also sit along the shady shoreline and just enjoy the comfort of the relaxing St. John atmosphere.
If you’re interested in getting a peek inside the Brown Bay history, you simply must visit the Brown Bay ruins. They are extensive and incredibly intriguing. Take a trip to the western end of the beach and further along the beautiful shoreline. You should begin to see the semblance of the ruins on the horizon the further along you walk. The ruins include the remains of an estate house --with an old plaque inscribed with the year 1872 and the initials “G-N”. Though ruins, take the time to notice the intricate brick work that makes up the ruin walls. If you continue to explore the ruins, you’ll find even older structures --a sugar factory with boiling room still intact, cisterns that were used to distil rum, an old boiling pot made of copper, two horse mills (both from different periods), a storage building, an old well, an ox pound, and two graves (one of which is a child’s gravestone).
If you’re more inclined to want to explore what the sea has to offer, you’ll be happy to know that Brown Bay is an incredible spot to get in some snorkeling. At first, you’ll notice that it’s more sand and grass than animal life; however, as the water gets a bit deeper, you’ll be able to see the rainbow assortment of reef and coral. You’ll also notice some beautiful gorgonians. If you’re lucky, you may even spot some larger fish compliments of the Sir Francis Drake Channel.