Location: Caribbean > U.S. Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands
If you count every small, uninhabited cay, there are some 50 islands in the USVI, but three are among the Caribbean’s most popular isles – St. Thomas, St Croix, and St John And while the Stars and Stripes flies over each of these tropical getaways, they are three very different islands
Familiar to legions of cruise ship passengers, the capital of Charlotte Amalie on St Thomas is a bustling (to say the least) mix of past (timeless Danish/West Indian architecture) and present (endless duty-free shopping, restaurants, and nightlife) A truly stunning harbor setting, Charlotte Amalie is home to an extensive charter fleet and is the gateway to the island’s fine beaches, including Trunk Bay, which just may be the most photogenic stretch of sand in the West Indies
On St. Croix, largest of the trio, the past is even closer at hand. Fort Christiansted was built prior to the American Revolution and is just one of several historical sites that, along with several 18th-century plantation houses, give this an isle a special Danish flavor. If picnic flavors are more your taste, Buck Island, just off St. Croix’s northeast coast, is an ideal setting – complete with an easy-snorkeling reef and a lovely beach.
Think of St. John as the USVI’s park – which is easy to do when you see that two-thirds of this pristine paradise is an 11,000-acre National Park. It’s long been a favorite ferry destination for hikers, snorkelers, and kayakers – or those just seeking a quiet stretch of sand for some quality tan-and-book time.
 U.S. Virgin Islands In the U.S. Virgin Islands, if you want to go shopping, cruise to St. Thomas, and if you want to go back to nature, make a beeline for St. John. But if you want to go back in time, set sail for St. Croix.
History is more than a footnote on this former Danish crown colony, where the sugar mill ruins and architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries in the harborside towns of Christiansted and Frederiksted are daily reminders of the past. The best way to explore? Follow the road signs of the Heritage Trail, a self-guided driving tour that links attractions and landmarks across the island, from...
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 U.S. Virgin Islands It's not hard to fall in love with an island. In the 1950s an American sailor fell hard for the beautiful bays, beaches, and steep hills of St. John, and because the sailor happened to be Laurance Rockefeller, he bought more than half of the island. Luckily for all of us, Rockefeller gave away most of his purchase to help create Virgin Islands National Park.
Today that 11,000-acre park is an oasis of untrammeled nature in the U. S. Virgin Islands. You'll need a 4X4 to cover most of the island, and seasoned visitors to the island often arrive with both hiking boots and swim fins in...
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 U.S. Virgin Islands As the Caribbean's most popular cruise-ship port, this centerpiece of the U.S. Virgin Islands impresses more than a million visitors a year with its sophisticated pleasures. You can stay at luxurious resorts and private villas, enjoy delicious dining – some of the best restaurants are in Frenchtown, just outside the capital of Charlotte Amalie – and shop like the rich and famous.
St. Thomas has been well-deserved reputation as the duty-free shopping mecca of the West Indies. Charlotte Amalie, once a thriving Danish outpost, is a historical town where narrow alleys lead to centuries-old...
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