St Thomas and St John, USVI

What to do in St Thomas and St John, USVI

Mountain Top

This is the highest peak on the island, where the view from 1,500 feet above sea level frames the land and sea below you like a mariner's dreamscape. Sip a banana daiquiri and then hop to another lofty peak, Drake's Seat, where tales tell that Sir Francis Drake kept watch over his fleet and sought his enemy, the Spanish Armada. With vistas of more than 100 Virgin Islands, the panoramic view is especially striking and romantic at dusk.

Atlantis Submarine

Get set for the experience of a lifetime! On this journey through the natural undersea world of St Thomas, you'll explore the reefs and exotic marine life of Buck Island Wilderness Preserves at depths of up to 90 feet.

Coral World

This educational center is terrific fun for kids, allowing them to explore the wonders of coral reefs. Highlights include the 80,000 gallon reef tank, the predator tank, the touch tank, and the walk-through observatory.

Day Trip to St John and Trunk Bay

Visit the neighboring US Virgin Island that is two-thirds national park, and see what the world is like when nature takes care of itself. Drift to sleep on flawless beaches or follow a friendly mongoose along a woodland trail. Many of the trails end on a high plateau with gorgeous views of emerald cays, white sand beaches, and the aquamarine sea. Wind up with a picnic and snorkeling at Trunk Bay.

Scuba Dive and Snorkel

St Thomas won the nod for Best Beginner Diving, and Best Snorkeling in Scuba Diving magazine's Reader's Choice Awards. With over 40 dive sites (and another 50 on the way), your underwater options range from shallow patch reefs to deep walls. The island sits on the shallow Virgin Bank and some of the prettiest reefs are above 60 feet, riddled with tunnels and swim-throughs. Wreck and shore diving are popular here, and there are certification classes on the island, as well as a recompression chamber. Night dives are available on request.

Duty-Free Shopping

St Thomas isn't the biggest of the US Virgin Islands, but it has the biggest reputation as the shopping paradise of the Caribbean. Cruisers who spend lazy happy days browning in the sun suddenly go into something of a feeding frenzy in the St Thomas shops. US Customs encourage this excitement with the significantly higher allowance of re-entry duty-free goods bought in the USVI protectorate. With uniform prices throughout the island, you can just go to one store if you and be sure you're getting the best deal in town.

Paradise Point

This site on Flag Hill just outside the capital treats visitors to a stupendous view of Charlotte Amalie and the sea. A bar, restaurant, and gift shops give you reason to extend your stay beyond the time to take in the view. Take a tram to the peak, one of the best St Thomas spots for sunsets.

Bluebeard's Castle

On a hilltop east of downtown, this mighty stone tower has braved battles, hurricanes, and time, yet forges on undaunted. Legend tells that Bluebeard built it for his one and only true love, Mercedita, but in fact the fortress was built as a watchtower to supplement the defenses of Fort Christian.

Fort Christian

St Thomas' oldest standing structure was built in 1672 (though the clock tower was added in the 1800s), and is a US National Landmark. Over the centuries, it has been used as a jail, governor's residence, town hall, courthouse, and even served as a church.

Magen's Bay

It has been named one of the World's 10 Most Beautiful Beaches by many travel experts. Deeded to the island as a public park, this north shore, white-sand crescent is a great place for a day of unspoiled, sun-splashed fun, with covered picnic tables, showers, dressing rooms, a boutique, snack bar, snorkeling, and sailboat rentals.

Frenchtown

This very popular neighborhood is cherished for its easy-going harbor town ambience. Engage the local fishermen - who are mostly generational fisherman immigrated from St Barthélemy - in conversation and learn about their peaceful lives in an accent unique to their people. You can get a further feel for resident life by walking through the town's winding streets, dotted with tiny wooden houses that have been passed down over the generations. Wind up the day with a pint at the local bar by the sea.

Vessup Bay

Trailing along the end of Bluebeard's Road, near Red Hook, there is a gorgeous white-sand beach interspersed with pretty clusters of rocks, seagrape trees, cacti, and century plants. If you want to play on the waves, rent water-sports equipment at the end of the beach.