St. John Shopping
At St. John, there are two main areas where people go to shop: Cruz bay or Coral Bay, conveniently located on opposite ends of the island. Although they are located on opposite ends, the island is approximately only nine miles long and three miles wide. Since shopping can be a tiring event in itself, it may be wise to split up the days in which you shop to make sure you not only have time to look at all the shops, but also to check out the area in which you traveled so far to see.
Cruz Bay is the wild side of the island, meaning it's busier than Coral Bay, often referred to as the "town" and Coral Bay the "country." The downtown shopping area is full of small stores offering specialized products such as electronics, alcohol, clothes and clothing accessories. If you haven't found what you have been looking for prior to coming to Cruz Bay, you are sure to leave with everything on your list checked off. Cruz Bay is split up into different shopping districts including first, Mongoose Junction. Located near the National Park Visitors Center you will find many small shops with their own individual style as well as restaurants, cafes and art galleries with a Caribbean theme. Wharfside Village offers similar shops plus a focus on jewelry, clothing and hand-made products. The Lumberyard Complex was once what the name implies, but is now home to some more small-town shops worth looking at. All of these areas are of course located within walking distance to the Downtown Area, where you can stroll near the water with a laid-back vibe and an abundance of music and good smells to accompany you.
When you are done with the Cruz Bay scene, head east eight miles to Coral Bay where along the way you can stretch your legs at the Bordeaux Mountain Overlook. After snapping some photos of the panoramic view of Coral Bay, continue driving on Centerline Road east and once you arrive at the fork, go with your hunch and go that way! Both ways take you to incredible scenery, each providing a different background. If you choose to head towards Salt Pond, go right and you will see Coral Harbor where there are a few stores to shop at, restaurants to grab a bite to eat and you of course have the bay to go for a swim in. If you’re not feeling the Salt Pond route, go left and take notice of Hurricane Hole, Haulover Bay and Round Bay as you head towards East End.
If you can afford the time, it is nice to split up your shopping days so you can truly see what each place has to offer. Trying to go to both ends of the island to visit all the different shopping areas doesn't only make it more stressful for you, but takes away from the relaxed setting St. John offers you on any day of the year.