I think you might enjoy Mongoose Junction, an outdoor shopping plaza with multiple levels of shops and restaurants, and then a day at Caneel Bay resort. You'd pull out of Mongoose parking lot and turn right and follow the North Shore Rd until you see Caneel Bay on your left. They will charge you $20 to park in their lot, but if you spend $20 on site, they either refund you or waive the entry - can't remember how that works.

There is at least one beach there that is public, as well as restaurants and a bay and reportedly wonderful sushi- if that's something you enjoy.

Why don't you look around at their website? That might be just the ticket for one of your lazy St. John days

Another option for you would be to head up the hill to the Starfish market complex. On the third floor in the back of the complex, there is a fantastic deli that serves awesome sandwiches to take to the beach. You could pack your sandwiches (and maybe some hand-made potato chips and even splurge on some creamy delicious Tiramisu) and take all your goodies to one of the North shore beaches - Gibney, Jumbie, Hawksnest (I like this less because the water comes almost right up to the treeline), Cinnamon, Maho or Francis, and park yourselves on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.....

You'll love it!

After your beach day, you could park at Slim Man's paid parking lot, and walk around the Wharfside complex, right across the road.

It's all good, on St. John.

I am far from an athlete, and always find active, educational things to do on St John.

Snorkeling at Honeymoon and Maho beaches are often easy because the water is usually calm. Trunk Bay is also good for the underwater snorkeling trail.

There are also short, easy hiking trails that ate appropriate for all skill levels.

thanks so much for all the replies!

I would buy a copy of Pam Gaffin's "Feet, Fins and 4-Wheel Drive" and take one of the driving tours. It may sound wasteful to buy a whole book for one day, but I think you'll get your money's worth from it. It's full of anecdotes and history as well as information - good airplane reading for the trip home.

We did the East End tour last trip, and got a lot more out of it with the book than we would have by just randomly driving. I would recommend picking a tour that includes one sugar mill ruin. The most spectacular is Annaberg, but it requires maybe 1/4 mile of hiking up a hill. Catherineburg (Bordeaux Mountain) requires very little walking. The ruin across from Cinnamon Bay is in between: a short, flat, shady trail through the woods with periodic photo-ops.

There will be plenty of activities to go to or avoid as that's the culmination of the carnival in St Thomas. You might want to escape to St John more than once! Some people do get into the carnival though.

RL