Beach Break: Denis Bay
The headline on this beach is DON’T GO HERE. That’s what the dinghy guys will tell you. There is a house on private property here and signs that say so. I suppose, like everyplace else, the beach remains public. If you’re on a charter, ask your captain about it. You can also hike here from Peace Hill, where there’s parking. Too bad it is quazy off limits. It is a beautiful spot. (Oh, and we hear this is the beach where Kenny was really married. But we didn’t tell you that.) Denis Bay, below…
September 19th, 2007 05:37
This may very well be the beach where, on my first visit to St. John in 1989, I was chased off by a stick-wielding elderly woman swearing at me and my two college friends like a drunken sailor. We escaped unharmed but managed to snap a picture of the nasty lady which, to this day, is labelled “Crazy Annie” in my photo album. Maybe someday, I’ll find out who she was.
September 19th, 2007 05:48
I’m sipping my coffee and litening to the waves looking at this bit of STJ…. nostalgia time… Sine, as they say in Maine “you can’t get theya from heya”, we’lll try the hired-boat method next time we are in Paradixe. Good Break! But waht about the palm???
CTC
September 19th, 2007 06:20
Fantastic, again. Great camera work, Russ! I especially liked the shot of the bird. Beautiful beach, but must not have been magical enough for Kenny and Renee.
September 19th, 2007 06:42
Note to self: Must find Dennis Bay…
September 19th, 2007 06:44
Isn’t this the beach where Melanie Griffith spent part of her childhood?
September 19th, 2007 06:58
I like that little spot!
September 19th, 2007 07:00
This is a beautiful beach, although not a good swimming spot due to the reef & current. My sister was married at Denis Bay when the property was occupied by Peter Griffith, Melanie’s father.
September 19th, 2007 07:12
Wednesday is beach break day… this means I must comment or risk your getting upset. Commentary: Great “BB”.
September 19th, 2007 07:19
Nice! I haven’t been to Denis yet, but it is definitely on my list for our next St. John trip. I would love to be sitting in that boat! Thanks!
September 19th, 2007 08:02
Guys- You spelled Denis correctly in the text passage, but in the video it looks like you slipped an exta “n” in. I always remember by pronouncing it Dee-nis…
September 19th, 2007 08:08
You guys do a great job! Keep it coming.
September 19th, 2007 08:09
I was wondering if this one was ever going to come up. This is the beach I went to and never talked about because people either said “don’t go there, it’s illegal” or “don’t tell anyone about it, we like it too much.”
Beautiful beach break and nice work!
September 19th, 2007 08:24
::sigh:: now I need a corona and it’s only 9:30 am…
September 19th, 2007 09:08
Great BB! I was there last May with a group of people. We were scolded by a guy not to go near the turtles (even though we had not intentions). There was a rowdy group of 20 somethings drinking losts of beer. It was a great spot! I had no idea it was potentially ‘illegal’!
September 19th, 2007 10:35
I must say, beach break w/sound is so much more enjoyable! My office computer has no sound, but I’m home today & enjoying my escape! Think I’ll have to get sick every Wed from now on…
September 19th, 2007 18:34
Great Beach Break! Just wish I was there.
September 19th, 2007 20:30
To make your trip 100% legal, snorkel there from Jumbie. Makes a nice swim, beach break, swim back kind of trip.
September 20th, 2007 11:40
I agree it is a beautiful beach. However, to control rumors, Kenny was not married on this beach. He was married on a hilltop location and later photogarphed on this beach after he was married.
September 20th, 2007 11:56
I was always told that there is no beach that you can be kicked off of or that is illegial to go on. They said you may have to get to the beach from the water if the beach is surrounded by private property but that all beaches were public property. So, my question is….is this the truth????
September 20th, 2007 12:46
My wife and I laugh every time we think about sliding (literally) down the “narrow and sparsely maintained trail” from Peace Hill to the rocky beach in Denis Bay. On the advice of a local friend, we somehow managed to get into the surf and enjoy the wonderful look back toward this beach. Worth the trip.
September 20th, 2007 18:33
Excerpt from Off The Beaten Path:
Denis Bay is now part of the Virgin Islands National Park, but the structures and some of the land behind the beach have been leased to private interests. Please confine your visit to the area between the sea and the line of first vegetation.
Lots of info at www.seestjohn.com
September 20th, 2007 23:38
Saw a few people coming up the trail to Peace Hill with towels and lawn chairs. When I asked them what was down there, they said “It’s a private beach” with a hint of: Don’t go down there… it’s not for tourists. Always wondered if this was the secret nude beach. Thanks for the peek…
September 26th, 2007 21:02
I was wondering the actual pronunciation of this beaches name because my name is Denise? Thanks for your help!