With such unbelievable natural beauties and amenities starring powdery beaches, rainforests, lush mountains, palm-dotted shores, imposing underwater caves, bustling coral reefs, secluded coves, scenic lookout points, luxury accommodation, great gastronomy, and colonial architecture, it is no wonder that the US Virgin Islands is considered an elite vacation destination. Whether your heart leaps with joy when doing outdoor activities, trying water sports, or exploring historic and cultural sites, the USVI will definitely not disappoint you. Among all the amazing things to see across all USVI islands, the following is just an illustrative list to get an idea of your options!
The Most Spectacular Views From Paradise Point
Visit this one for magnificent views of Charlotte Amalie town from 213 metres (around 700 feet) above sea level. The exciting skyride starts from the centre of the town and will take you up Flag Hill to Paradise Point, a fantastic lookout and observation spot, from where you can see the best and most panoramic views of the USVI. A sun deck, restaurants, bars, a shopping deck, and even a private dining room for special events are all facilities that are offered at the peak!
Bonus: Speaking of breath-taking vistas, Tree Limin’ Extreme Zipline St. Thomas offers you the chance to zipline all the way down from St. Peter Mountain and see the incredible rainforest area and the surrounding Magen’s Bay, while passing by sky bridges and picturesque platforms.
Waterlemon Cay – Steeped in History and Nature
Located on St. John island, it is a cay within Leinster Bay that is a beloved meeting point for snorkelers, who rush by thousands annually for a glimpse into the magnificent aquatic world that lies beneath the surface of the water, featuring everything from coral reefs and stingrays to sea turtles and nurse sharks. While here, you can also explore the Leinster Bay Plantation Ruins, just a short drive from Waterlemon Cay, as well as the Annaberg Plantation Ruins and the Windy Hill Ruins (all part of the Virgin Islands National Park) for a time travel to colonial and Danish-ruling eras and times when the sugar industry fueled the local economy.
Virgin Islands National Park – Pristine Nature and a Plethora of Activities
A huge must-see, it is the place you need to visit if you are into sites of ecological and historical significance. Established in the mid-1950s, the Virgin Islands National Park on St. John can be accessed from Cruz Bay (an open-to-the-public local attraction) and allows visitors not only to see profound natural scenery and allure, but also have a picnic, swim in some of the most renowned beaches in the USVI, such as Honeymoon Beach, Cinnamon Beach, and Trunk Beach, hike the countless trails through sugar mill and plantation ruins and Taino petroglyphs, or even camp overnight at Cinnamon Bay Campground!
Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve
Established in 1992, you will find this National Park Service situated on the north of St. Croix island. Its sole purpose of existence and core mission? To preserve the site Christopher Columbus reached first during his explorations in the Caribbean in the late 1400s (aka the Columbus Landing Site) and met with the indigenous Taino people. Throughout the park, you will come across colonial and prehistoric sites, such as the 1600s Fort Salé, as well as two (of the seven in total across the entire Caribbean Sea) bioluminescent bays whose waters light up every night, and the largest remaining mangrove in the USVI.
Fort Christian
Sitting within Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas island, it is a fort constructed by both the Norwegians and the Danish in the late 1600s and served not only as a major military camp until 1917, when the Danish ruling ended, but also as the first colonial settlement on the island. Later on, the fort operated as a US National Historic Site, before it became a territorial park and designated National Historic Landmark. Today, it displays various historic artefacts, including photos, colonial-era furniture, documents, and exhibits of the local flora and fauna.
Bonus: If you love exploring historic forts, then we strongly recommend a visit to the Christiansted and Charlotte Amalie Danish fortifications. Standing there to remind of the islands’ colonial past, they are found in the harbours of Charlotte Amalie and Christiansted, and date back to 1672 and 1738, respectively. Both now host museums that narrate the stories of enslaved Africans, among others.
Leatherback Brewing Company
Nestled in St. Croix island, it got its name from the native leatherback turtle species. Opened in 2018, Leatherback Brewing Company allows visitors to sample local beer, including the famous Island Life Lager, Thunderbolt Coffee Porter, and Reef Life IPA. During your visit, you may also enjoy some of the delicious food that is available in the afternoons and pampers the palate with craft sandwiches and appetisers, accompanied by live music performances and periodical special events that can be savoured across the various indoor and outdoor bars within William Roebuck Industrial Park, where the company’s facility and public tap room are located.
Bonus: Fans of spirits and rum can also visit Cruzan Rum Distillery, a prime supplier of private-label American rum and a world-renowned rum brand that has been operating since the mid-18th century. Tour experiences include visits to the former colonial-era sugar mill located within the premises, as well as rum purchases (you can take up to 6 bottles of rum back to the USA duty-free!).
Point Udall
If the idea of seeing a sundial monument that indicates that the sun’s first rays shower a precise spot in St. Croix before they continue their journey to awaken the rest of the United States, then Point Udall is your match. You will find it on the easternmost point of St. Croix and got its name from Stewart Udall, the US Secretary of the Interior who served in the 1960s, as part of the presidential administrations of Kennedy and Johnson. The sundial monument is called the Millennium Monument and also offers exquisite views of the ocean’s azure waters and the alluring beauty of the barrier reefs!
With such unbelievable natural beauties and amenities starring powdery beaches, rainforests, lush mountains, palm-dotted shores, imposing underwater caves, bustling coral reefs, secluded coves, scenic lookout points, luxury accommodation, great gastronomy, and colonial architecture, it is no wonder that the US Virgin Islands is considered an elite vacation destination. Whether your heart leaps with joy when doing outdoor activities, trying water sports, or exploring historic and cultural sites, the USVI will definitely not disappoint you. Among all the amazing things to see across all USVI islands, the following is just an illustrative list to get an idea of your options!
The Most Spectacular Views From Paradise Point
Visit this one for magnificent views of Charlotte Amalie town from 213 metres (around 700 feet) above sea level. The exciting skyride starts from the centre of the town and will take you up Flag Hill to Paradise Point, a fantastic lookout and observation spot, from where you can see the best and most panoramic views of the USVI. A sun deck, restaurants, bars, a shopping deck, and even a private dining room for special events are all facilities that are offered at the peak!
Bonus: Speaking of breath-taking vistas, Tree Limin’ Extreme Zipline St. Thomas offers you the chance to zipline all the way down from St. Peter Mountain and see the incredible rainforest area and the surrounding Magen’s Bay, while passing by sky bridges and picturesque platforms.
Waterlemon Cay – Steeped in History and Nature
Located on St. John island, it is a cay within Leinster Bay that is a beloved meeting point for snorkelers, who rush by thousands annually for a glimpse into the magnificent aquatic world that lies beneath the surface of the water, featuring everything from coral reefs and stingrays to sea turtles and nurse sharks. While here, you can also explore the Leinster Bay Plantation Ruins, just a short drive from Waterlemon Cay, as well as the Annaberg Plantation Ruins and the Windy Hill Ruins (all part of the Virgin Islands National Park) for a time travel to colonial and Danish-ruling eras and times when the sugar industry fueled the local economy.
Virgin Islands National Park – Pristine Nature and a Plethora of Activities
A huge must-see, it is the place you need to visit if you are into sites of ecological and historical significance. Established in the mid-1950s, the Virgin Islands National Park on St. John can be accessed from Cruz Bay (an open-to-the-public local attraction) and allows visitors not only to see profound natural scenery and allure, but also have a picnic, swim in some of the most renowned beaches in the USVI, such as Honeymoon Beach, Cinnamon Beach, and Trunk Beach, hike the countless trails through sugar mill and plantation ruins and Taino petroglyphs, or even camp overnight at Cinnamon Bay Campground!
Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve
Established in 1992, you will find this National Park Service situated on the north of St. Croix island. Its sole purpose of existence and core mission? To preserve the site Christopher Columbus reached first during his explorations in the Caribbean in the late 1400s (aka the Columbus Landing Site) and met with the indigenous Taino people. Throughout the park, you will come across colonial and prehistoric sites, such as the 1600s Fort Salé, as well as two (of the seven in total across the entire Caribbean Sea) bioluminescent bays whose waters light up every night, and the largest remaining mangrove in the USVI.
Fort Christian
Sitting within Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas island, it is a fort constructed by both the Norwegians and the Danish in the late 1600s and served not only as a major military camp until 1917, when the Danish ruling ended, but also as the first colonial settlement on the island. Later on, the fort operated as a US National Historic Site, before it became a territorial park and designated National Historic Landmark. Today, it displays various historic artefacts, including photos, colonial-era furniture, documents, and exhibits of the local flora and fauna.
Bonus: If you love exploring historic forts, then we strongly recommend a visit to the Christiansted and Charlotte Amalie Danish fortifications. Standing there to remind of the islands’ colonial past, they are found in the harbours of Charlotte Amalie and Christiansted, and date back to 1672 and 1738, respectively. Both now host museums that narrate the stories of enslaved Africans, among others.
Leatherback Brewing Company
Nestled in St. Croix island, it got its name from the native leatherback turtle species. Opened in 2018, Leatherback Brewing Company allows visitors to sample local beer, including the famous Island Life Lager, Thunderbolt Coffee Porter, and Reef Life IPA. During your visit, you may also enjoy some of the delicious food that is available in the afternoons and pampers the palate with craft sandwiches and appetisers, accompanied by live music performances and periodical special events that can be savoured across the various indoor and outdoor bars within William Roebuck Industrial Park, where the company’s facility and public tap room are located.
Bonus: Fans of spirits and rum can also visit Cruzan Rum Distillery, a prime supplier of private-label American rum and a world-renowned rum brand that has been operating since the mid-18th century. Tour experiences include visits to the former colonial-era sugar mill located within the premises, as well as rum purchases (you can take up to 6 bottles of rum back to the USA duty-free!).
Point Udall
If the idea of seeing a sundial monument that indicates that the sun’s first rays shower a precise spot in St. Croix before they continue their journey to awaken the rest of the United States, then Point Udall is your match. You will find it on the easternmost point of St. Croix and got its name from Stewart Udall, the US Secretary of the Interior who served in the 1960s, as part of the presidential administrations of Kennedy and Johnson. The sundial monument is called the Millennium Monument and also offers exquisite views of the ocean’s azure waters and the alluring beauty of the barrier reefs!