On the island's eastern coast is the location of a second lagoon: Oyster Pond. Though much smaller than Simpson Bay Lagoon, Oyster Pond is at the center of one of the island's most desirable neighborhoods. Unfortunately, the area has been stricken by Hurricane Irma, and not much has been rebuild. Just the beautiful Oyster Bay Resort on Dawn Beach and the close-by Princess Heights are welcoming guests. The photo below has been shot before the hurricane. We will update with new material once the area has recovered a bit more.
This precious small lagoon is surrounded by tall hills, occupied by luxury homes only accessible by steep roads. The border between the island's two sides runs right through the pond, with the majority of the shoreline part of French St. Martin. This is a self-contained little community with bars, restaurants, and a small supermarket.
On this coast, the breeze coming from the Atlantic is fresh, the air a bit cooler and life more quaint. From the shoreline, there is an unobstructed view to the neighboring island of St. Barths, which is only 15 miles away. Dawn Beach is a perfect Caribbean beach with white sand and a protective coral reef.
The location has advantages for residents and visitors not so keen on all the hustle and bustle the Simpson Bay and Maho area have to offer; from Oyster Pond, the trip to famous Orient Beach with its clothing-optional beach is only 10 minutes by car – and without much traffic. Philipsburg with its shopping is also just a 10-minute trip, and the restaurants of Grand Case will require a travel time of 15 minutes.
