From sugary beaches and idyllic sunsets to pristine waters, rugged cliffs, lush rainforest, buzzing towns, impressive mountain ranges, national parks that contribute to the preservation of the local marine life, isolated coves, great dining opportunities, and museums that can change your perspective about them (if you find yourself a bit bored around them), you can never go wrong with the US Virgin Islands. Of course, creating a list with all the possible and worthy-of-your-time places to visit in the USVI is more than a simple challenge. However, we can give you a glimpse into what is on the table for you!
Coral World Ocean Park
Tucked on the eastern tip of St. Thomas island, it is a marine park that opened its doors to the public in the late 1970s. Most visitors choose to visit this place to see the fantastic underwater universe bustling with native marine life through the 6-metre-deep (around 20 feet) aquatic observatory tower! That aside, you may also see the 36,000-litre (around 80,000 gallons) Caribbean Reef Encounter habitat that hosts an incredible array of native fish. And, all that, while being surrounded by seahorses, sea lions, sea turtles, and other aquatic creatures, which you can even interact with via the visitor interaction programmes.
Water Island
We are talking about a 198-hectare (around 491 acres) island that is home to around 200 residents. Administered as part of the St. Thomas Water Island district, along with neighbouring Hassel Island, it offers several opportunities for relaxing and tranquil times away from the tourist-packed islands of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. Although a residential region in its huge majority, it also offers plenty of attractions worth seeing and visiting, including Fort Segarra which was used during WWII as a defense strategy site, and the popular Honeymoon Beach on the western end of the island. Only accessible by boat or ferry from Crown Bay Marina in St. Thomas, it opens the doors to peaceful moments and experiences, with just a handful of quaint rental home properties and no fancy resorts or hotels. For adventures that are even closer to Mother Nature, we suggest staying at the Virgin Islands Campground campsite!
Honeymoon Beach – Where Romance Meets Scenic
Druif Bay is home to one of the most popular and idyllic shores in the US Virgin Islands – Honeymoon Beach. Welcoming sun loungers with a lovely, sheltered bay with pure white sand, swaying palm trees, crystalline waters that are home to giant turtles, and sunset views that can literally make your heart stop, Honeymoon Beach is a must-visit if seeking relaxing and romantic beachside experiences. Never too busy, it even has a few facilities to please swimmers and water sports fans (it is an excellent spot for kayaking). However, it is the place where you can unwind and relax with a book in hand while watching the sun sinking behind the sea.
Note: This is NOT the Honeymoon Beach located within the National Park in St. John island, which is a bit more cosmopolitan, with more water sports facilities (although both are equally enchanting, each in its own way).
Bonus: Speaking of scenic seaside places and beaches, also worth a visit (even if you only have one hour to spare) are Magens Bay Beach (St. Thomas), Brewer’s Bay (St. Thomas), Coral Harbour (St. John), Maho Bay Beach (St. John), and Francis Bay (St. John). Rest assured that nothing can prepare you for the mind-blowing seascapes and tranquil endeavours that await there.
Frederiksted Town
Although the Caribbean nations are not particularly LGBTIQ+-friendly, at least at the moment of this writing (though efforts are being made to change the current laws and make them more favourable towards the LGBTIQ+ community), the US Virgin Islands’ St. Croix island seems to be breaking a bad habit with its particularly welcoming vibes. Indeed, its second-largest city, Frederiksted, is dotted with gay-friendly adults-only hotels featuring inclusive environments, such as The Fred and Sand Castle on the Beach. As for the night scene, Rainbow Beach and the other sandy coves north of the town, as well as the downtown bars, are a dreamland for LGBTIQ+ individuals in more ways than one.
Annaly Bay Tide Pools – Unique and Exquisite
St. Croix enables visitors to experience something totally different than anything they have lived during island vacations. The journey to the tide pools located at Annaly Bay, on the north shore of the island, takes around 35-45 minutes from Carambola Beach via a trail that takes you past pristine natural landscapes until you reach the calm and transparent seawater-filled pools that fill up ay every high tide. Feel free to enjoy a refreshing bath with nothing but the sound of the waves splashing to the shore and views of the sea as your companion. Just make sure you wear a pair of strong hiking or trekking boots as the trail has some pretty difficult rock ascents.
Traditional West Indian Restaurants
Time to sample appetising Caribbean staples, such as callaloo stew, jerk chicken, and conch fritters or ceviche. Do not hesitate to walk along the capital of St. Croix island, Charlotte Amalie town, or Cruz Bay on St/John island for some delicious Caribbean BBQ dishes, such as juicy chicken and mouth-watering ribs accompanied with tasty macaroni salad or coleslaw served in enormous portions! And, don’t forget to head to Christiansted for generous servings of curried conch roti rolls, stewed goat wraps, and plant-based plates!
Museums and Galleries
Pirates Treasure Museum is one of the most popular ones out there in the USVI exhibiting anything pirate-related, from actual weapons (e.g. pistols) and canon balls that have been recovered from the waters surrounding the US Virgin Islands to artefacts from the Barbary Pirate shipwreck, pirate match games and interactive experiences. It even features a deck from where children and adults can look for pirate prey or command a pirate ship! Plus, deep-sea technologies enable visitors to immerse (virtually) in a deep dive and explore shipwrecks as if they were actually there!
Other museums that deliver on their promise of a fun leisure time are the St. Thomas Historical Trust, the Virgin Islands Children’s Museum, and the Estate Whim Museum.
From sugary beaches and idyllic sunsets to pristine waters, rugged cliffs, lush rainforest, buzzing towns, impressive mountain ranges, national parks that contribute to the preservation of the local marine life, isolated coves, great dining opportunities, and museums that can change your perspective about them (if you find yourself a bit bored around them), you can never go wrong with the US Virgin Islands. Of course, creating a list with all the possible and worthy-of-your-time places to visit in the USVI is more than a simple challenge. However, we can give you a glimpse into what is on the table for you!
Coral World Ocean Park
Tucked on the eastern tip of St. Thomas island, it is a marine park that opened its doors to the public in the late 1970s. Most visitors choose to visit this place to see the fantastic underwater universe bustling with native marine life through the 6-metre-deep (around 20 feet) aquatic observatory tower! That aside, you may also see the 36,000-litre (around 80,000 gallons) Caribbean Reef Encounter habitat that hosts an incredible array of native fish. And, all that, while being surrounded by seahorses, sea lions, sea turtles, and other aquatic creatures, which you can even interact with via the visitor interaction programmes.
Water Island
We are talking about a 198-hectare (around 491 acres) island that is home to around 200 residents. Administered as part of the St. Thomas Water Island district, along with neighbouring Hassel Island, it offers several opportunities for relaxing and tranquil times away from the tourist-packed islands of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. Although a residential region in its huge majority, it also offers plenty of attractions worth seeing and visiting, including Fort Segarra which was used during WWII as a defense strategy site, and the popular Honeymoon Beach on the western end of the island. Only accessible by boat or ferry from Crown Bay Marina in St. Thomas, it opens the doors to peaceful moments and experiences, with just a handful of quaint rental home properties and no fancy resorts or hotels. For adventures that are even closer to Mother Nature, we suggest staying at the Virgin Islands Campground campsite!
Honeymoon Beach – Where Romance Meets Scenic
Druif Bay is home to one of the most popular and idyllic shores in the US Virgin Islands – Honeymoon Beach. Welcoming sun loungers with a lovely, sheltered bay with pure white sand, swaying palm trees, crystalline waters that are home to giant turtles, and sunset views that can literally make your heart stop, Honeymoon Beach is a must-visit if seeking relaxing and romantic beachside experiences. Never too busy, it even has a few facilities to please swimmers and water sports fans (it is an excellent spot for kayaking). However, it is the place where you can unwind and relax with a book in hand while watching the sun sinking behind the sea.
Note: This is NOT the Honeymoon Beach located within the National Park in St. John island, which is a bit more cosmopolitan, with more water sports facilities (although both are equally enchanting, each in its own way).
Bonus: Speaking of scenic seaside places and beaches, also worth a visit (even if you only have one hour to spare) are Magens Bay Beach (St. Thomas), Brewer’s Bay (St. Thomas), Coral Harbour (St. John), Maho Bay Beach (St. John), and Francis Bay (St. John). Rest assured that nothing can prepare you for the mind-blowing seascapes and tranquil endeavours that await there.
Frederiksted Town
Although the Caribbean nations are not particularly LGBTIQ+-friendly, at least at the moment of this writing (though efforts are being made to change the current laws and make them more favourable towards the LGBTIQ+ community), the US Virgin Islands’ St. Croix island seems to be breaking a bad habit with its particularly welcoming vibes. Indeed, its second-largest city, Frederiksted, is dotted with gay-friendly adults-only hotels featuring inclusive environments, such as The Fred and Sand Castle on the Beach. As for the night scene, Rainbow Beach and the other sandy coves north of the town, as well as the downtown bars, are a dreamland for LGBTIQ+ individuals in more ways than one.
Annaly Bay Tide Pools – Unique and Exquisite
St. Croix enables visitors to experience something totally different than anything they have lived during island vacations. The journey to the tide pools located at Annaly Bay, on the north shore of the island, takes around 35-45 minutes from Carambola Beach via a trail that takes you past pristine natural landscapes until you reach the calm and transparent seawater-filled pools that fill up ay every high tide. Feel free to enjoy a refreshing bath with nothing but the sound of the waves splashing to the shore and views of the sea as your companion. Just make sure you wear a pair of strong hiking or trekking boots as the trail has some pretty difficult rock ascents.
Traditional West Indian Restaurants
Time to sample appetising Caribbean staples, such as callaloo stew, jerk chicken, and conch fritters or ceviche. Do not hesitate to walk along the capital of St. Croix island, Charlotte Amalie town, or Cruz Bay on St/John island for some delicious Caribbean BBQ dishes, such as juicy chicken and mouth-watering ribs accompanied with tasty macaroni salad or coleslaw served in enormous portions! And, don’t forget to head to Christiansted for generous servings of curried conch roti rolls, stewed goat wraps, and plant-based plates!
Museums and Galleries
Pirates Treasure Museum is one of the most popular ones out there in the USVI exhibiting anything pirate-related, from actual weapons (e.g. pistols) and canon balls that have been recovered from the waters surrounding the US Virgin Islands to artefacts from the Barbary Pirate shipwreck, pirate match games and interactive experiences. It even features a deck from where children and adults can look for pirate prey or command a pirate ship! Plus, deep-sea technologies enable visitors to immerse (virtually) in a deep dive and explore shipwrecks as if they were actually there!
Other museums that deliver on their promise of a fun leisure time are the St. Thomas Historical Trust, the Virgin Islands Children’s Museum, and the Estate Whim Museum.