Any Travels

Shimmering beaches, crystal-blue water. Secluded coves and pristine rain forests. Underwater trails and coral reefs. Friendly people with their own Virgin Island music and cuisine. A wide range of hotels and resorts. Wonderful restaurants.

St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas are your islands.

In the great tradition of diversity which sets the United States apart from scores of other nation's populations, the U.S. has three additional resources to celebrate its status as a "melting pot" of culture and ethnicity: St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas. These three virgin Island gems - comprising the official U.S. territory while at the same time geographically part of the Caribbean - may be small in acreage, but large in cultural heritage.

Exciting, unique possibilities are yours in the U.S. Virgin Islands. World-renowned duty-free shopping, a fantasy wedding or honeymoon, an adventurous family vacation. You can explore nature, golf, relax or just about anything you would desire while visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands.

St Croix
St Croix (you can say it 'St Croy') is less developed than rowdy St Thomas, so it's a good place to change down a gear, find isolated beaches and bend the elbow with locals not engaged in the tourist industry. The island is the largest in the Virgin Islands.

St Croix is composed of forested hills and fertile lowlands and is surrounded by coral reefs. At its commercial height St Croix had about 100 sugar plantations, and decaying plantation houses and the stone towers of their windmills still litter the landscape today.

St John
Through the 19th century St John was goopy with sugar and rum, and merchant ships clogged Coral and Cruz Bay. But by the 1950s, when American financier Laurence Rockefeller sailed by, things were mighty quiet. Rocky fell in love with Johnny's perfect white beaches and spectacular views.

The financier went on to do what any of us would do: he purchased half the island, built a secluded resort and campground on the site of an old plantation and donated the remaining 5000 acres (2000ha) to the government. Today, two-thirds of St John is preserved by the Virgin Islands National Park.

St Thomas
This spiky lizard-shaped island has a rambunctious past peppered with the exploits of men named after their facial hair. You'd think the stomping ground of Blackbeard and the mythical Bluebeard would be the last place to turn into the quintessential American beach suburb.

But a fine port is a fine port whether you're unloading booty, slaves or cruise ship passengers. St Thomas is overly developed and commercial but it's also strikingly pretty, thanks to a spine of hills whose forested ridges form headlands separating bays and coves filled with turquoise-blue water.

Activities

Beaches
The beaches are obviously one of the reasons you choose to visit the U.S. Virgin Islands as your vacation getaway - and you won't be disappointed. From soft white sands to glorious blue-and-white contrasts, you will find picture-perfect stretches. If you prefer more secluded spots, you will find them also. Without a doubt, the U.S. Virgin Islands has a beach to suite every taste.

All the beaches in the Virgin Islands are open to the public. Along the many miles of shoreline, you will find a wide variety of beaches for swimming and snorkeling.

Coral World
One of St. Thomas's most popular tourist attractions. A recent, extensive $2 million refurbishment makes Coral World a very popular marine park and observatory, located on the island's north shore, offers visitors a glimpse into the Caribbean's fascinating underwater and coastal environments.

Boating
The U.S. Virgin Islands lay claim to the largest commercial charter fleet in the Caribbean, with both power and sailing vessels available for either crewed or bare-boat charters. Visitors who want to explore the islands at their own pace can rent a powerboat and design their own itinerary, visiting the islands of their choice to snorkel, picnic or sightsee. The range of scheduled trips by boat includes day sails and high-speed ferry rides to the British Virgin Islands. One favorite day sail is the full- or half-day excursion around the islands, with stops at beaches where you can lunch, snorkel, swim and sunbathe.

Fishing
The catch is pretty big in the Virgin Islands, as attested by the 21 world records set here in recent years. Because the islands are perched on the edge of the Puerto Rico Trench, a six-mile deep drop-off that's the deepest hole in the Atlantic Ocean, some of the hardest-fighting sport fish in the world are found here, including white marlin, wahoo, Allison tuna, dolphin and kingfish. There are several operators at American Yacht Harbor in Red Hook, St. Thomas who offer half-day deep-sea fishing expeditions and provide bait, tackle, ice and beer.

Hiking
St. John's natural beauty makes it a perfec place to go hiking. The National Park offers over 20 miles of hiking trails that lead visitors through the island's magnificent forest to historic sites and secluded beaches. Be sure to wear long slacks and comfortable walking shoes and to have plenty of insect repellent on hand, especially in the late afternoon.

Kayaking
Guided kayak tours through St. Thomas' Marine Sanctuary and Mangrove Lagoon introduce you to the island's natural beauty and marine life. The egrets, rays, herons and other lagoon inhabitants welcome visitors to explore their home.

Windsurfing & Surfing
Windsurfing gear is available at the major hotels, as well as at several beaches. Brewer's Bay, Vessup Beach, Limetree Beach, Morningstar Beach and Sapphire Beach are some of the most popular spots for this sport.

Surfers should head straight to Hull Bay to find the best waves off St. Thomas.

Horseback
Horseback riding is available on St. Croix and St. Thomas. Many of the resort facilities offer horseback riding or can direct you to the proper places and help in arraning your horseback riding adventure.

Culture

English is the main language on all the islands but it has Creole influences, which means you can say 'mon' with impunity. Puerto Rican emigrants speak Spanish, while some of the Frenchies still speak French. A lot of islanders of African descent retain a strong belief in the spirit world: ghosts (jumbis) often get blamed for bad things and credited for good things on the islands. Jumbi stories were an important part of slave culture, used not only as spine-tingling entertainment on moonlit nights but also as cautionary tales for children. The inspirational tales of Bru Nansi, a wily spidery man who prevailed in adverse circumstances, were transported to the Caribbean from West Africa. Storytelling traditions persist today though often in more structured settings such as community halls and festival gatherings.

Virgin Islanders are suckers for a beat. Local fungi bands play scratch instruments such as gourds and washboards and sing songs that often comment on local social and political issues. The music of the moment is 'mix,' a rollicking blend of calypso, reggae and hip-hop that you'll hear blaring from cruising cars. Steel drum bands are enjoying something of a revival at the moment - it's a rare festival that doesn't have one on the program. The islands' European heritage is evident in quadrille dances which pop up with a witty French emphasis on St Croix and a sedate Prussian flavor on St Thomas.

The granddaddy of the Impressionists, Camille Pissarro, was born on St Thomas in 1830. Though he spent most of his life in Paris he's still thought of fondly as a native son. The Dronningens Gade house where he was born is open to the public but paying a visit is a vibe thing - there isn't much to see. These days the epicenter of Virgin Islands art is the Tillet Gardens Arts Center, a complex of studios, classrooms and galleries in a lovely setting northeast of Charlotte Amalie. There's also an active community of woodcarvers on St Croix working in mahogany and other rainforest timber.

Politeness goes a long way in the Virgin Islands. Islanders say good morning, afternoon and night as though it were a tic - you'll do well to do the same. As if to compensate for increased crime, the vast majority of residents are overwhelmingly helpful and friendly, especially once you get away from the understandably jaded folk in the shopping centers.

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