Trunk Bay, St. John, USVI
My daughter must be thinking, Here's a fun idea; I'll climb on dad and ride him like Shamu, as she grabs hold of my inflatable vest and pulls herself out of the water and onto my back. Honey, you won't see any fish if you're on my back, I reason with the 6-year-old, hoping the world's most famous snorkeling trail might rank above ride dad on her fun list. Meanwhile my 11-year-old, who fancies herself a marine biologist, is already halfway down the 225-yard trail. Where's their mom? She's floating in between, getting her cuticles manicured by a school of fish, oblivious to the rest of us.
All is well in our world because we're snorkeling in the calm, clear, warm waters of St. John's Trunk Bay off a half-moon white-sand beach that's trimmed in tall tyre palm and shady sea-grape trees. The snorkel trail, part of the U.S. Virgin Islands National Park, works a 10- to 30-feet-deep course across the bay. A dozen blue-and-white underwater signs mark the trail and explain what there is to see. Parrotfish, blue tangs, sergeant majors and other fish dance around the coral while rays nestle on the sandy bottom.
The park fee is $4 per day for adults and just $15 for an annual family pass. A snack and souvenir shop, showers, picnic tables and snorkel rental ($4) are convenient; the lifeguards are reassuring; and scenery both above and below the water make it a stunning spot for quality family fun.
Also Excellent: San Salvador, Bahamas
Aquamarine waters, sugar-white beaches and resorts that cater to divers and snorklers of all ages make San Salvador in the Bahamas Out Islands another perfect spot for family snorkeling.
Posted online 06/01/01.
