Pocket Beach and Deck:
The condos at Villa Eau Claire have their own large private deck, and a pocket beach. The Villa is the first occupied villa north of the main Magen's Bay Beach, which is less than a half mile of walking by water. Magen Bay is an exceptionally tranquil body of water, with a sandy bottom and easy walking in the water. The deck is lit for night time use, and it has a shower to use to rinse off after leaving the water. During peak season, huge yachts ranging up to several hundred feet moor about a quarter mile off shore, and add to the beauty of the Bay at night. There is no other comparable condos on St. Thomas or St. John, creating a unique situation. The breeze normally blows out from the beach, cooling the Villa more than any of the houses on the Bay in Peterborg.
Little Magen's Bay Beach:
Little Magen's Bay Beach is one hundred yards to the left of the Villa, and it is the largest pocket beach on Magen Bay, about 100 yards long from end to end, and 20 yards wide at low tide.. This is the ONLY alternative lifestyle beach on St. Thomas, and some residents and visitors frequent the beach for nude and topless bathing. This may be a problem for some families, although our grandchildren are frequent visitors to the Island and are mostly amused by it. Many of our guests, however, take a towel, sunscreen and a cooler, and use that beach which is open to the public. Our own pocket beach is separated from Little Magan Beach by a large outcropping of boulders that were place there many years ago, and our deck is completely private to a view of that beach.
Magen Bay and the Main Beach:
The main Beach on Magen Bay is a mile long from end to end, and about 15 to 20 yards wide at high tide. It is the gem of the entire Virgin Islands, donated many years ago into a private foundation that maintains the beach is a pristine condition, unmatched anywhere. When there are many boats in the harbor, it can get crowded and we mostly ignore it on those days. The Bay is about one mile wide and three and a half miles long, surrounded on three sides by high hills (up to 1700 feet) and covered with soft sand every where. The Bay is shallow on our side, with soft sand and few rocks or coral, so it is a wonderful lo walk in both directions. The waters of the Bay are protected from large waves most of the year, and my wife swims a mile a day from our location. The prevailing easterlies blow out from the main beach, keeping the Villa cool almost the entire year. The north side of the Island is cooler all year long than the South side or the East End.
Golf:
The Island's only 18 hole golf course, Mahogany Run, is located less than 8 minutes from the Villa. It is a short, but beautiful and challenging course, in a magnificent setting. This is where President Obama and other celebrities play when they are on Island. Some of the holes are located above the Atlantic Ocean, which has taken tens of thousands of balls over the years.
