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The U.S. Virgin Islands
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by Guest Contributor - Oct 18,2021
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Tamara Sivers
Virgin Islands Travel Expert

The U.S. Virgin Islands

Back in the day, real-life pirates of the Caribbean would find shelter in the deep natural harbor at St. Thomas before going ashore to trade trinkets, baubles and spices. While many of today’s visitors still travel by sea, they arrive not on galleons, but cruise ships. The U.S. Virgin Islands – the main ones being St. Thomas, the busiest; St. Croix, the biggest; and St. John, the prettiest – were bought from Denmark in 1917, and had previously been colonized by the British, Dutch, French, Spanish and West Indians. The result is a curious mix of European architecture and place names, Caribbean color and culture, with a fresh garnish of Americana. However you visit, here are the star attractions.
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ST. THOMAS

St. Thomas – the most populated of the three islands – is a shopping haven, especially for cruise passengers who also flock to castles and forts in Charlotte Amalie and Magen’s Bay. If you want a more authentic taste of St. Thomas, get out of town and away from the crowds. It’s a half-hour trip through beautiful scenery to reach the Coral World Ocean Park, where a submarine ride takes you to one of the world’s few underwater observatories. Diving and snorkeling enthusiasts will be in their element at Coki Beach, where the 100-foot clear water makes it easy to see neon-colored fish and iridescent coral.

For an above-the-sea view, ride an open-air safari bus 1,500ft up to Mountain Top, the island’s highest point, for a sweet panoramic view of 20 islands, including England…well, the British Virgin Island of Tortola to be exact. If you’re looking for a quieter place to relax, consider Secret Harbour Beach, tucked away in Jersey Bay on the southeast side of the island. You’ll only find beach chairs there—no water sports or activities—which is why many prefer this tiny slice of heaven. While there, dine at Blue Moon Café any time of day – the view from its beachfront patio was crowned “one of the most memorable panoramic sunsets” by the New York Times.

For a night out on St. Thomas, try A Room With A View, the intimate bistro at Bluebeard's Castle with great views and a well-deserved reputation as the best restaurant on the island. The owner's attention to details extends to the wine, where a state of the art wine-room keeps bottles in good condition – always an issue in the hot and humid Caribbean.

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QUIET BEACH GETAWAY: St. Thomas' beaches can be crowded, so consider Secret Harbour Beach for a quieter place to relax.

ST. JOHN

If St. Thomas is all about shopping and tourist attractions, St. John is about unspoiled scenery and natural beauty. To appreciate all it has to offer, take a Jeep tour to explore the glorious emerald forests and secluded beaches of the 7,000-acre Virgin Islands National Park, covering two-thirds of the island. The park has more than 800 species of plants, 140 of birds, 500 of fish and 50 of corals – and very few humans. A stiff hike to Waterlemon Cay rewards you with a cooling swim among starfish, seahorses and shoals of tropical fish.

Or take a sail safari on a high-performance catamaran to get your feet wet as you land right on the beach. The captain will teach you about reef ecology, beach plants and tropical birds, or just leave you to snorkel the coral reefs around an uninhabited island on your own. Bigger catamarans have their own on-board bar, stereo music system and freshwater showers, so you don't have to leave all the comforts of civilization behind.

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TURN UP THE FUN: St. John activities include a rigorous hike on Watermelon Cay.

ST. CROIX

 The third island, St. Croix, has done the most to preserve its Danish heritage, which you’ll appreciate walking amid the colonial buildings, smart shops and up-market galleries around the capital, Christiansted.

Much of the land used to be sugar cane plantations, but the island now boasts two of the best golf courses in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designed the spectacular Carambola Golf & Country Club, which was awarded a gold medal by Golf magazine. Buccaneer Resort has one of the most scenic courses in the Caribbean, and its famed third hole is where the late Senator Edward Kennedy said: "The only problem with this hole is that it's so beautiful, you don't want to leave the green."

Speaking of beauty, if you’re in Frederiksted in the early evening, be sure to watch the sunset. You might catch sight of the famed “green flash” – a burst of green light that appears for a second after the sun disappears over the horizon.

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QUIET BEACH GETAWAY: St. Thomas' beaches can be crowded, so consider Secret Harbour Beach for a quieter place to relax.

Connect with Tamara to talk about your dream Virgin Islands Vacation

Agent

Tamara Sivers

Virgin Islands Travel Expert
Potomac, MD

Tamara Sivers

|
Potomac, MD
Virgin Islands Travel Expert
23 reviews
/ 100.00% Recommended
25+ Years of Experience
Hi! I'm Tamara Sivers located in Potomac, MD with expert knowledge about Virgin Islands and having 25+ years of experience in the industry.
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First to last, all great.
Reviewed By Les - G'burg, MD | Traveled to New Zealand ~ Australia & New Zealand
Her in depth knowledge and experience gets me the best deal and the best advice for planning my trips. I've had nothing but the best results for my cruises.Her in depth knowledge and experience gets me the best deal and the best advice for planning my trips. I've had nothing but the best results for my cruises.
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Reviewed By Duane - North Potomac, MD | Traveled to Honduras ~ Central America
Working with Tammy has been one of the best experiences we have had. She is always professional and excited for each trip we take. She is extremely thorough and detailed oriented, so that all the bases are covered before and during each of our cruises and adventures; no surprises. She is a pleasure to work with and my wife and I look forward to visiting her for our next cruise.Working with Tammy has been one of the best experiences we have had. She is always professional and excited for each trip we take. She is extremely thorough and detailed oriented, so that all the bases are covered before and during each of our cruises and adventures; no surprises. She is a pleasure to work with and my wife and I look forward to visiting her for our next cruise.
Our 21 person family trip for two weeks to Alaska
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Clara and Larry Silver
Rockville, Maryland Tammy is truly a superb professional in the travel field. From the initial discussion of where, when, how, etc. for our many trips that she has helped us with to the final arrangements, she has always been able to solve all issues and arrange trips so that we do nothing but enjoy!! Along with the usual arrangements, her great range of experience and information have provided us with added ideas ...
The best trip of my life
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