You need – no, deserve – to treat yourself after running the 8 Tuff Miles road race in St. John.
Your first stop should be the Tap Room at Mongoose Junction for a post-race beer, brewed on island. Also the site of the post-race party, the Tap Room offers up six unique brews for your enjoyment. Our favorite is the Liquid Sunshine Ale.
To keep the party going, take the inter-island ferry to Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands for the day. The sheer number of famed watering holes lining the shores of Great Harbor and White Bay boggles the mind. Start at Foxy’s Taboo and work your way down to Ivan’s Stress Free Bar and the Soggy Dollar, where the Painkillers practically flow from a tap. The ferry runs Fridays through Wednesdays and is around $70 round trip. Just remember to bring your passport.
Back on St. John, take your pick of pristine beaches. Wade your weary bones into the healing salt water of iconic Trunk Bay, or move one bay further along to the equally stunning Cinnamon Bay. If you’re feeling rustic, Cinnamon Bay offers camping cabins or tent sights, in case you fancy sleeping beachside under the stars.
To really recharge, treat yourself to a massage at the grand dame of St. John resorts, Caneel Bay. Those weary muscles get their reward in the resort’s massage center — or better yet, in the waterfront, open-air massage cabanas that are nestled into the bucolic property. A 50-minute massage is $145.
Finally, have a decadent meal (you earned it) at the fantastic La Tapa in Cruz Bay. Executive chef Alexandra Ewald changes the menu daily, but you won’t go wrong with any of her delectable Mediterranean-inspired creations. The paella for two ($68) is an indulgence you won’t forget.








