About St John, U.S. Virgin Islands
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Of all the islands, St John is probably the most unspoiled, thanks to the contribution of one of the world's best known philanthropists, Laurence Rockefeller. Had it not been for Rockefeller's generous gift of funds and his desire to preserve beautiful St John, the landscape would probably look more commercial, much like the other Virgin Islands. Over half of the island is designated as a US National Park, making for a unspoiled tropical island with 22 preserved nature trails. 
Trunk Bay St. John
In 1956, Rockefeller purchased 5,000 acres from the Danish West Indies Company and gave it to the United States to initiate this preservation project, which celebrates its 45th anniversary in 2001. Within the park are many beautiful beaches, some of them among the most photographed in the Caribbean; it also has a bounty of wildlife, birds and marine life, and provides a clean nesting places for a variety of turtle species.
Throughout St. John are ruins of many sugar plantations, some of which have been preserved, such as the Annaberg Plantation, a National Park site that offers interpretive guides and brochures with background information. The restored plantation has an animal mill, wind mill, sugar factory and slave quarters on the property. Other interesting plantations include the Windberg Estate and the ruins of Frederikdal. There are two campgrounds in the park (Cinnamon Bay Campground and Maho Bay) for those wanting to experience nature Caribbean style. One is Cinnamon Bay, a privately-owned campground on a lovely beache on St. John. There are interesting concrete cottages with cooking and bathing facilities, but nearby there's a restaurant and general store. Most guests are fascinated with an unusual attraction here -- Cinnamon Bay has been designated as an archaeology dig for Taino Indian ruins. The dig is run by the National Park Service, encouraging volunteer participation. The second, Maho Bay Campgrounds, was developed by New Yorker, Stanley Selengut, the man credited with conceptualizing the concept of eco-tourism. This site is a collection of 114 spacious (16 ft. X 16 ft.) tent-cottages built on wooden platforms which are scattered about on a hillside overlooking picturesque Maho Bay. One of the special aspects of a stay at Maho is its reknown meal service plan with breakfast and dinner equal to what you'll find in many five-star resorts. The tents are equipped with cooking facilities if you prefer doing it yourself, however.
St John has two other resorts, notorious throughout the Caribbean. One is Caneel Bay, one of the first, dating back to the days when tourism first developed here. The resort is built on the site of the plantation owned by Danish planter Peter Durloe, the architects have flawlessly preserved the ruins of this plantation, and incorporated them into the resort's overall plan which also includes seven beaches. The other upscale property is the Westin Resort (formerly Hyatt Regency St John) located near the main town of Cruz Bay. Overall, St John has a small town feel and has managed to remain quaint in spite of controlled tourism development. At one end of the main town of Cruz Bay is the attractive shopping area called Mongoose Junction, built of local stone. Beautifully designed, the Junction includes upscale shops, art galleries and restaurants. The town has a variety of small restaurants, and a couple of inns like the popular Tamarind Court, one of the island's best accommodation values. It's located only three blocks from the main ferry pier. The rest of the island has a variety of attractions. Coral Bay and Coral Harbor have several bars, restaurants and businesses, and offer fun activities such as water sports found at Coral Bay Watersports and Dive St. John. In the center of the island is the Bordeaux Mountain, more than 1,200-feet high from which one can see the British Virgin Islands. From the mountain you can also hike along the Reef Bay Trail for about two miles to the Reef Bay Estate Great House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Accommodations on St. John:
Caneel Bay (upscale resort)
Calabash Cottages (cottages for rent near Coral Bay)
Caribbean Villas and Resorts (rentals, photos, prices, etc.)
Castle Villa (probably the best view on the island, a very secluded villa)
Cinnamon Bay (bungalows and tents on/near Cinnamon Bay Beach)
Cinnamon Bay Estate (rental villa with extraordinary views)
Coconut Coast Villas (On Turner Bay, tranquil, great hosts)
Cruz Bay Realty (rentals, land, villas, and other properties)
Drake's View (a rental villa)
Franks Bay Villas (rental villas near Cruz Bay)
Estate Lindholm (plantation style lodging near town, pool, nice views)
Gallows Point Resort (condo rentals, pool, restaurant, bar, store)
Gallows Point/Suite St.John (condo rentals, beach access, near Cruz Bay)
Garden by the Sea (cozy bed and breakfast near town)
Great Expectations (a luxury villa on Hart Bay, pool and tennis)
Hillcrest St.John (a suite perched on a hill overlooking Cruz Bay)
Inn at Tamarind Court (upper Cruz Bay, restaurant)
Lavender Hill (Condos for rent in Cruz Bay)
Lavender Hill Condos (Condos for rent in Cruz Bay)
Mahogany Tree Villa (Villa near Cruz Bay)
Paradise Found (a one bedroom cottage near Frank Bay)
Park Hill Condos (perched on a hill overlooking Cruz Bay)
Peter Bay Beach House (exotic and luxurious situated on private Peter Bay Beach)
Seaview Homes (rental villas on St. John)
Serendip Vacation Condos (on a hill above Cruz Bay)
St. John Inn (formally The Cruz Inn, California style lodging in town, 800-666-7688)
Sunset Vista (an nice villa overlooking Great Cruz Bay)
Suite St. John (various condos and homes for rent)
Tradewinds Cottage (a beautiful cottage perched above John's Folly past Coral Bay)
Villa Cielomar (a nice villa in Cruz Bay)
Villa Lamer (a nice villa near Cruz Bay)
Viva Vacations (rental company for accommodations)
Westin Resort and Hotel (on Great Cruz Bay) (rental villa listings)
Maho Bay Camps (eco tourism camping with tents, bungalos and food)
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Summary: Of all the islands, St John is probably the most unspoiled, thanks to the contribution of one of the world's best known philanthropists, Laurence Rockefeller. Had it not been for Rockefeller's gift of money and his desire to preserve beautiful St John, the landscape would probably look more commercial, much like the other Virgin Islands.
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