Most people who visit St. John USVI go there specifically for the easy-going island attitudes, cocktails, sun tans, beaches, and water activities, but there is always that one person who finds themselves having culture shock when they step off of the plane into the humid, hot, salty air of the Caribbean.

Why would those who are averse to the trappings of a tropical paradise like St. John visit in the first place? Many times consensus rules when it comes to selecting the best destination for family vacations, weddings, reunions, or just going somewhere exotic with friends with little planning at all, and that one member of the group that would have chosen a trip to a perpetually cold and rainy London or a freezing and windy Chicago instead, got outvoted . Everyone has to compromise a little when it comes to accommodating herd behavior, right?

Plus, when a landlubber at heart is making that decision to visit the Virgin Islands, it’s probably from the comfort of climate-controlled home. And, someone inevitably says, it won’t be so bad, there’s no malaria or drug cartels. Even so, the feeling of finding oneself on a small island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean can create a bit of culture shock for the more sensitive homebodies who aren’t prepared for the assault on the senses that island life can be.

Even something as understated as the sun shining down all day long and reflecting off of the water with a laser beam intensity can shake someone who likes cooler, cloudier climates. The radiance of the sun in St. John is very different than that half an hour when said landlubber goes outside to walk around or from the front door to the car.

In this article we’ll provide some tips for those who end up in St. John a little homesick and needing help with the transition.

St. John Beaches With Shade

The first rule of survival for when people who don’t like the beach end up at the beach is to at least go to one that has shade. The best beach spot in St. John for shade is Hawk’s Nest. It has multiple shaded areas for those who would rather avoid the tourists, this beach is visibly less crowded. Plus, this beach has easy access to snorkeling for those who don’t want to be too far away from dry clothes, a shower, and the place your’e staying.

Bailey Poston, a first-time visitor to St. John reported seeing six squid, a turtle, a clown fish, and needle fish at Hawk’s Nest. For those adjusting to island life, consider this beach the training wheels of beaches in the Virgin Islands. For anyone who can make it into the water with a decent pair of goggles, there are beautiful underwater creatures to encounter.

Hawk’s Nest Beach, USVI - Photo credit: Bailey Poston

Leverage The Altitude To Adjust The Mood

For the rare culture shocked tourist who feels a bit anxious about being on an island, beyond finding a bit of shade from the omnipresent sunshine, we recommend climbing to the high ground to get your bearings. The highest point on St. John is the peak of Bordeaux Mountain at 1277 feet, but the next best place is The Windmill Bar, which has calm inducing overlook, and makes St. John look less tropical, and more like the foggy Scottish Highlands overlooking a placid lagoon.

The view from The Windmill Bar - Photo credit: Bailey Poston

Find A Place With A Level Driveway

When it comes time to reserve an Airbnb, make sure to check that the driveway is level. Because St. John is hilly, it’s easy to get a place that even a rugged 4x4 has trouble negotiating. One recent visitor to St. John, Bailey Poston said, “our steep two turn driveway was not mentioned, and was not only hard to walk up but it caused trouble for our rental car even though we bought a four wheel drive as suggested by the owner. Our tire was popped by the craggy driveway and we were forced to park farther away from our place furthering the trek back.”

Mind The Wild Donkeys

Wild Donkey - Photo Credit, Bailey Poston

“Almost every time we visited a beach, there were multiple donkeys along the shore. They seemed to be accustomed to people quite well and many were even fed by some of the tourists. But, they were also unpredictable. One was kicking in the air, and then went over and stole a family’s lunch bag,” said Bailey Poston.

Explore The Botany, Wild Papaya Trees, And More

For those who don’t want to be on the beach or in the water, tourists can hike and explore the plants and animals on St. John that exist further inland. Some of the exotic plants, like the papaya trees in the photo below, offer shade Other tropical fruits that grow in the U.S. Virgin Islands include: noni (Indian mulberry), starfruit, mango, guava, passion fruit, and soursop, sugar apples, banana figs, genip, tamarind, sea grapes, and coconuts.

Papaya Trees On St. John. Photo Credit: Maeve Poston

Rock Climbing In The USVI

There’s nothing like rock climbing to forget about being on an island. While there isn’t the convenience of a rock climbing gym on St. John, visitors can book a charter trip to The Baths at Virgin Gorda and enjoy the bouldering there. Volcanoes created much of what we know of as the Virgin Islands. The boulders at The Baths are huge, up to 40 feet long and 20 or so feet tall. They were formed at depth from magma cooled into granite that eroded and rounded over the ages into what forms the boulders that climbers enjoy today at The Baths.

For anyone who really needs to duck out of the sun and into somewhere familiar and cool, there’s always the option of escaping into the movie theater on St. Thomas, and catch up with your friends later in the evening when the frozen daiquiris are going around.