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St John |
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St John
How do you like your Caribbean Islands? Well-developed and bustling? Sleepy and pristine? Somewhere in between? Luckily, the U.S. Virgin Islands have one of each, so you’re sure to find the level of excitement (or lack thereof) you desire in a vacation. The Islands’ shared Spanish/French/Danish/American/Carib Indian heritage makes for fascinating historical sights. You can shop to your heart’s content, partake in any water sport you can think of, or just enjoy doing nothing on a romantic, isolated patch of sand. The choice is yours.
Activities and Attractions:
St. Thomas isn’t the biggest U.S. Virgin Island, but cruise-ship traffic ensures that it is the most visited of the three. St. Thomas can get a little crowded on days ships are in port, but the upside is that all those passengers are able to support extensive dining and shopping options—some of the best in the Caribbean, in fact. Shopping is clustered in the capital town of Charlotte Amalie. The Havensight Mall, near the cruise-ship terminal, is a major draw, as are stretches of Main Street and Back Street. Peruse duty-free selections of porcelain, crystal, gemstones, watches, and clothing.
St. Thomas’s other great attraction is glorious Magens Bay. Here you’ll find deep-sea fishing, diving, sea kayaking, scuba diving, and swimming and sunbathing on powdery white sand. Equipment rental shops and charter boat operators abound. Of course, so do people. If you want a little more peace and quiet, take a taxi to isolated, romantic Lindquist Beach. Or try Secret Harbour. It’s not really a secret, but it is much less crowded than Magens Bay, and the snorkeling is perhaps the best on the island.
But if you really want unspoiled and isolated, try the island of St. John. Half the island, including some coastal water, is within the boundaries of the 12,000-acre Virgin Islands National Park. Hiking is an excellent way to get acquainted with the island. Along the way, depending on which path you pick, you could stumble upon a rum distillery, an 18th-century fort, the vine-covered ruins of a Danish sugar plantation, or even mysterious petroglyphs whose exact origins are unknown.
Trunk Bay is St. John’s premiere beach area. The waters are warm and calm, and they also offer world-class snorkeling with an interesting twist: A marked underwater trail leads you safely through the coral, with signs explaining what you’re looking at. This could be the best place in the world to learn how to snorkel, though experienced divers will appreciate the abundant undersea life and excellent visibility as well.
Between the extremes of pristine St. John and lively St. Thomas lies St. Croix. The town of Christiansted has some interesting gallery and boutique shopping, and a lot of historical landmarks, but the biggest U.S. Virgin island is known for its beaches. Some of the greatest are at Buck Island, a tiny frangipani-shrouded, white sand-ringed volcanic islet just off St. Croix’s northeastern shore. The snorkeling is some of the best in the Caribbean.
Insider Tip:
If you should find yourself on St. Croix on a Sunday, try to get in touch with the St. Croix Landmarks Society. Between November and May, this group conducts weekend tours of some of the island’s architectural and archeological sights. Highlights include visits to plantations in various states of picturesque ruin. Some island property owners open their doors only to the Landmarks Society, making a tour the best way to get a taste of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ colonial plantation history.
-Exclusively for Perfect Escapes by Nicole Clausing |
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