On Our Way to St. Thomas, USVI!

The views from the plane of the Caribbean Sea and the islands below were amazing. As we approached St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands we could see ribbons of white sand beaches and water as blue as the sky. Wow…one week to explore, swim, snorkel, shop and enjoy the food and music of the islands!

I could already hear the sounds of Calypso and steel drums… 
I love St. Thomas and the Caribbean!

Exiting the airplane at the St. Thomas airport is on the tarmac and not in an enclosed airport as we are accustomed to. Walking directly into the airport terminal you are immediacy greeted with a complementary sample of local rum – cheers! That’s a nice way to start a vacation. We picked up our luggage and our rental car and headed for Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove where we would be staying for the next 4 nights.

We Stayed at the Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove in St. Thomas

Our villa at Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove was beautifully decorated, spotlessly clean and had a fully equipped kitchen. Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove is located on the south side of the island only 6 miles from the airport. It’s near Charlotte Amalie, the capital and largest city of the US Virgin Islands.

While at the Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove we stayed in a 2 bedroom, 2 bath villa with a stunning view overlooking the Pacquereau Bay. The pool and beach were both inviting!

Beautiful Beaches on St. Thomas, USVI

We wanted to see Magen’s Bay overlook from Drakes Seat on the first day of our vacation. Magen’s Bay and the surrounding islands can be seen from the overlook at Drake’s Seat located at the top of the hill on Route 37. Legend has it that 16th-century explorer Sir Francis Drake kept watch on his fleet from this vantage point. I don’t know if the legend is true but I can only image that he had one of the best seats on the island. We were amazed by the view!

We drove down to Magen’s Bay Beach and paid the $4. per adult entrance fee. The beach itself is surrounded by high cliffs which gives it the spectacular view from above. It was late afternoon when we arrived so we didn’t have a chance to swim or snorkel. The beach is stunning and we were able to walk the beach for awhile which was so relaxing we didn’t want to leave!

Sea grapes grow near the ocean in tropical areas. They look really cool the way they resemble grapes hanging on a vine.

Sapphire Beach on St Thomas has my vote for the most beautiful beach on the island. The beach is clean, the water crystal clear and the snorkeling is some of the best you will find on St. Thomas. Not to mention the breathtaking scenery surrounding you as you relax on this peaceful stretch of beach.

Next we Stayed at Bluebeard’s Castle Hotel

Bluebeard’s Castle Hotel is where we stayed for the next 3 nights. Located high on a hilltop it has stunning views of the harbor and the town of Charlotte Amalie. The staff here was extremely friendly and helpful. The rooms at Bluebeard’s have been newly renovated. We had a 2nd floor room with a balcony and a view of the harbor. We really enjoyed the spectacular view of the port with the cruise ships as they arrived and departed. The lights on the hillside of town in the evening were like tiny jewels in the mountains. Beautiful and very romantic! While staying at Bluebeard’s Castle be sure to request a room overlooking the harbor in Charlotte Amalie.

During our vacation we also took a day trip over to St. John, USVI.

To me, nothing says “Tropical” more than the coconut tree. And this one, full of coconuts, looked beautiful swaying against the blue sky.

This is the view of the beach and Marriott’s Morning Star Resort from Frenchmen’s Reef Resort.

Lindquist Beach was our favorite beach on St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. We paid the 2$ parking fee and parked right at the edge of the beach. The beach is small and private and the water is crystal clear. The view across the bay is amazing, you won’t be disappointed.

At Lindquist we found the best snorkeling to be on the right side of the beach. We found lots of colorful fish congregating around the rocks and coral close to the shoreline. Grab your snorkel gear and jump in!

Check here for hotel deals in St. Thomas.

Historic Sites on St. Thomas

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Blackbeard’s Castle is located on the highest point on Government Hill in St. Thomas. It was built in 1679 as a watchtower to protect the harbor by spotting enemy ships. We drove to the top of the hill but you can also reach Blackbeard’s Castle by climbing the historic 99 steps. The steps were built from the ballast bricks of the tall ships coming from the old world. The ships would then return to Europe filled with products produced in the islands. The view from Blackbeard’s Castle, as you can imagine is one of the best views on the island. The ruins, which are on the National Register of Historic Places, are of the Pedersen Estate. Dating from the 17th century, they are part of an archaeological dig to learn more about life in the early years in the Caribbean.

On our self-guided walking tour of Charlotte Amalie we found that Fort Christian, built in 1680, is the oldest standing structure in the USVI. This building has served as the town center, a government building, and a jail. Today, it houses the St. Thomas Museum. I think the building looks pretty good for its age don’t you?

Shopping in St. Thomas

The shops in downtown Charlotte Amalie, once used as warehouses during the 17th and 18th centuries to store goods for trade, were almost left for ruin. Several natural disasters including hurricanes and fires left the warehouses in need of major re-building. It would take years to rebuild the old warehouses to house the fancy boutiques and stores that line the streets today. There are hundreds of duty free shops along the streets and alleys of Charlotte Amalie. You can find buys on jewelry, alcohol, china, crystal, perfumes, cameras, watches and much more. You will also find several restaurants, candy shops, and souvenir stores here. We saved this stop for our last day in St. Thomas and enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the shopping area.

Some facts to help plan your trip to the US Virgin Islands:

• If you are a US citizen, no passport is required. You will need to show proof of citizenship when departing the island such as a raised seal birth certificate and a government issued photo ID. If you are not a U.S. citizen, then a passport issued by your country of origin is required
• The U.S. dollar is the form of currency used
• Your valid U.S. or foreign drivers license is accepted…but be prepared to drive on the left hand side of the road
• English is the official language. Spanish is also commonly spoken
• The U.S. Virgin Islands enjoys warm sunny weather year-round. The average winter temperature is 77ºF (25ºC), and the average summer temperature is 82ºF (28ºC)
• Protect yourself from the intense Caribbean sun by apply sunscreen often and wearing a hat and sunglasses. Sunburn can ruin your vacation!

It was a great week in the US Virgin Islands for us. We had fun exploring the island of St. Thomas and taking the ferry for a day trip to St. John. But mainly just being in this carefree laid-back atmosphere makes everything better. We were blessed with good weather for most of our time there and felt sad when it was time to leave. As I mentioned earlier, I love the Caribbean!

You can find lodging deals for any season in St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands on Booking.com.

What thoughts, ideas or tips do you have for traveling to the Caribbean?

Leave a comment below – we’d love to hear from you too!

St. John in the US Virgin Islands is guaranteed to satisfy your desire to seek out the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. And, the island has much more to offer for those in search of adventure, come along as we take you on a tour of St. John in the US Virgin Islands.

We flew into St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands where we would be staying for our week long vacation. On day 4 we headed out for a day trip to St. John, just a few waves west of St. Thomas. 

Where is St. John, US Virgin Islands? 

St. John, the smallest of the 3 developed US Virgin Islands, is located in the Caribbean Sea only 4 miles from St. Thomas. There are no airports on the island, the only way to arrive is by boat. Hourly ferry service runs from St. Thomas as well as daily ferry service from several other nearby islands.

This is the view of Cruz Bay Harbor from the overlook along North Shore Road. We took the ferry from Red Hook in St Thomas to Cruz Bay in St John leaving our rental car in the parking lot at Red Hook. Arriving in St John, we walked a couple of blocks to a car rental agency and rented a Jeep for our day trip around the island. We found everything about parking our car at the ferry dock in St. Thomas, buying our tickets for the ferry and renting a Jeep when we arrived in St John to be hassle free. Or maybe it was just vacationing in the US Virgin Islands that makes everything seem that way. Whatever it was, we were ready to explore!

Hawksnest Bay is a stunning beach! The sand is soft and white and the water is so many shades of blue you will be amazed. The crystal clear water reminded us of our recent trip to Flamenco Beach in Culebra. And this is just the beginning of what’s to come on St. John with a new beach to explore around every turn.

Snorkeling is good at Hawksnest Beach as there are many coral and rock formations to explore. There are covered picnic tables and BBQ grills here as well as restrooms and changing rooms. This is my favorite beach in the US Virgin Islands.
 

Where to Shop on St. John, US Virgin Islands?

We spotted this shop in Coral Bay, looks interesting but we didn’t have to stop, maybe next time!

This is such a beautiful view of the Caribbean Sea and the surrounding small islands but I’m not sure where we were when this was taken. Does anyone know where this spot is located on St John?

Trunk Bay is St. Johns most famous and most photographed beach and has been voted one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. There’s a view point as you approach the beach where you will want to pull over and captured the famous image from high above. You will probably want to just sit awhile and admire this spectacular scene before driving down to the beach. I know we did and it was really hard to leave this peaceful almost surreal spot. This is truly one of the most beautiful scenes in the US Virgin Islands. While snorkeling here you will find a marked underwater trail to follow that is quite interesting leading you to beautiful coral and colorful fish.

Cinnamon Bay is a very popular beach on St John. Snorkeling is good for all levels here. Beginning snorkels will find areas to explore near the rocks and more advanced snorkels will find very good areas to explore around Cinnamon Cay, the little island offshore from the beach.

The tranquil water of Cinnamon Bay is sure to make you smile and entice you to sit and admire the view. Not a bad pastime for a beautiful day in paradise!

Check here for deals on lodging in St. John.

Activities on St. John, US Virgin Islands?

Donkeys can be spotted in some strange places on St. John. We spotted these two shopping at an outdoor market…not sure what they were shopping for but it seemed like they were having a good time. Donkeys were once used in the operation of the sugar mills and still remain today where they can be seen wandering freely around the island.

Annaberg Sugar Mill Ruins is part of the US Virgin Islands National Park system. Walking around the structures, which were used to produce sugar and molasses in the colonial days, will give you a feel of the Islands history. Signs along the way will help you visualize how the plantation functioned. The view of Leinster Bay from here is stunning.

More Places to Explore in the Caribbean!

St. Thomas – US Virgin Islands
Culebra – Island Paradise – Puerto Rico
Old San Juan – 10 Must See & Do Activities – Puerto Rico
Best  Beaches – Our 6  Favorites – Puerto Rico

We stopped at the Coral Bay overlook on the east side of the island, the view here is beautiful. Then it was back in the Jeep to continue exploring. Tip: I would suggest trying to negotiate the price of your rental car or Jeep on St John. We were first offered a car but held out for a Jeep and got the one we wanted for the same price as the car we were first offered. We hopped in the Jeep and headed out for the day!

Where to Eat on St. John, US Virgin Islands?

Shipwreck Landing Restaurant, located on the eastern side of the island in the Coral Bay area, was a fun, open air restaurant with great views of the bay right from your table. They served tropical drinks and a great variety of interesting dishes for lunch and dinner. They had a great atmosphere here with live a band some nights. Unfortunately, Shipwreck Landing had to close due to damages suffered during hurricanes Irma and Maria. They will be greatly missed by locals and tourist alike. Shipwreck Landing was a cool local place to hangout and grab a drink and a bite to eat.

Great Lameshur Bay beach is a neat little beach and very private. We were the only ones there the day we went. The shore is made of smooth rocks but the water is clear and an amazing shade of blue. Snorkeling is great here but you have to be careful when entering the water because of the large rocks which can be slippery. I would not recommend venturing too far out because the current here can get pretty strong. Snorkeling near the shore is very good and you should find plenty of interesting things to see.

The White Plumeria blossoms are not only beautiful but they are very fragrant. We spotted both of these lovely tropical flowers throughout the island as well as many other varieties of flower. Just more to love about being on a beautiful tropical island!

Catherineberg Sugar Mill Ruins located east of Cruz Bay just off Centerline road is interesting. The structures have been pretty much left untouched. There are no signs here to explain how the different structures were used and some of the site is overgrown with vegetation. The large windmill is still in good shape and really worth the stop to see. We found it intriguing to walk around and view this historical site.

We took the ferry from St. Thomas to St. John. When we arrived at Cruz Bay on St. John, we rented a Jeep and headed to the north side of island, continuing down the west side of the island, then following the south side of the island until we were back at Cruz Bay. We had so much fun touring this island, exploring, snorkeling, eating, visiting the sugar mill ruins and photographing that we can’t wait to go back to the US Virgin Islands. But, the next time we go we plan on staying on St John. You can find lodging deals for any season on St. John at Booking.com.

Have you visited the US Virgin Islands? Let us know about your experiences below in the comments!
We’d like to hear from you too!