VIRGIN ISLANDS
ST. THOMAS, US VIRGIN ISLANDSINFORMATION AND TOURIST GUIDE
VACATION ACCOMMODATIONS, ACTIVITIES, CULTURE,
SIGHTSEEING ATTRACTIONS, PHOTOS
AND A LITTLE HISTORY
Sapphire Beach
One of the
many fine beaches on St. Thomas
offers crystal-clear water and a wide variety of water sports.
offers crystal-clear water and a wide variety of water sports.
It was Christopher Columbus who discovered these
islands on his second voyage in 1493 and named them Las Islas Virgenes -
the Virgin Islands. The Islands' long history is dotted with pirates, slave
trade, legendary buccaneers, conquerors, and rebellions. Architecture and
culture reflect the influence of the many countries whose flags have at one
time or another flown over the islands. Spain, England, France and
Holland left their marks, and in 1666 the Danes started colonizing the islands.
To this day, many of the streets have names ending in Gade, Danish
for "street." In 1917 The United States bought the Virgin Islands
because of their strategic military importance during World War 1.
Surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, the islands are in the Lesser Antilles 1100 miles southeast of Miami.
Today the three main islands, St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John, are lively tourist destinations. The charming capitol on St. Thomas, Charlotte Amalie, named after the wife of Danish King Christian V, boasts a spectacularly beautiful harbor and is a dynamic Caribbean trading and commercial center. Duty-free shops, offering a mind-boggling array of merchandise from around the world line the main street, the waterfront, back street, and a maze of alleys in between.
There is a wide variety of accommodations on St. Thomas, ranging from luxury hotels to very affordable condominiums such as those at Sapphire Village Condominiums at Sapphire Beach.
http://www.viaccess.net/~leval
Surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, the islands are in the Lesser Antilles 1100 miles southeast of Miami.
Today the three main islands, St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John, are lively tourist destinations. The charming capitol on St. Thomas, Charlotte Amalie, named after the wife of Danish King Christian V, boasts a spectacularly beautiful harbor and is a dynamic Caribbean trading and commercial center. Duty-free shops, offering a mind-boggling array of merchandise from around the world line the main street, the waterfront, back street, and a maze of alleys in between.
There is a wide variety of accommodations on St. Thomas, ranging from luxury hotels to very affordable condominiums such as those at Sapphire Village Condominiums at Sapphire Beach.
http://www.viaccess.net/~leval
Whether you tour the island on
your own or take a guided tour, there are many attractions
you won't want to miss :
In the heart of town, at the East end of Main Street,
you will find historic Emancipation Garden
. Market Square, at the opposite end of Main Street,
at one time a slave market, now is the site of a produce market,
particularly lively on Saturday mornings when local farmers and fishermen
bring their produce to town for sale.
Fort Christian, in town, dates back to the 17th century. Now a museum, it houses a fine collection of Indian artifacts, possessions of the islands' earliest inhabitants, the Arawaks and Caribs.
Also in town, The Seven Arches Museum was once an 18th century Danish home and affords visitors a glimpse into earlier island life. You can get there by climbing the famous 99 steps.
Paradise Point Tramway,
opposite the Havensight Mall and the cruise ship dock, takes
you on a breathtaking ride 700 feet above sea level, affording
a spectacular view of Charlotte Amalie, the harbor, and some
of the neighboring islands. You might want to enjoy a cocktail
or shop in the boutiques. The nature trail appeals to the
more energetic, while many prefer to just relax and enjoy the parrot
show.
Estate St. Peter Greathouse & Botanical Gardens offers visitors an opportunity to experience life in St. Thomas as it might have been enjoyed two hundred years ago. The surrounding grounds offer botanical trails, and the observation deck affords spectacular views of surrounding islands.
Nearby Drake's Seat, named after Sir Francis Drake who is said to have sat there watching ships passing at sea, affords one of the best views of Magens Beach and surrounding islands.
Another popular viewing site is at Mountain Top where you can enjoy sipping one of their famous banana daqueris while admiring the panoramic views. A variety of tasteful boutiques tempt shoppers.
At Coral World, an underwater observatory,
you can descend fifteen feet below the sea to observe
through waterproof windows a natural coral reef, home to
a dazzling collection of tropical undersea life. Activities
include daily talks and fish feeding. Nearby Coki Beach
offers great snorkeling possibilities.
And if you want to observe more underwater life, Atlantis Submarine gives you a quick scenic harbor tour and then whisks you to the bottom of the ocean to view a spectacular underwater world.
St. Thomas is famous for its water sports, including snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, sailing, parasailing, and power boating. Day sails to nearby islands are readily available.
Magens Beach on the North Side of St. Thomas is quite simply one of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world.
For the golf enthusiastic, 18-hole Mahogany Run Golf Course, features the famous Devil's Triangle. The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful. A fine pro shop offers rentals. A number of tennis courts dot the island. Half Moon Stables offers trail riding.
There is no shortage of night life on St. Thomas. Among the most popular night spots is Duffy's Love Shack on the East End of the island, where you can dine, dance, sample exotic drinks and make friends. In town, the Greenhouse has live reggae and calypso bands on Wednesdays and Fridays. And you won't want to miss the live band and dancing at Sapphire Beach on Sunday afternoons.
For art lovers, a variety of art galleries feature the works of the many talented artists who call St. Thomas home.
Churches of all faiths can be found on St. Thomas. The St. Thomas synagogue, with its sand-covered floor, is the second oldest in the Western Hemisphere.
From the East End of St. Thomas, only minutes from Sapphire Village, a short ferry ride takes you to St. John where you can spend the day at Trunk Bay with its famous under-water trail. Or shop and dine in charming Cruz Bay before returning to St. Thomas.
In the heart of town, at the East end of Main Street,
you will find historic Emancipation Garden
. Market Square, at the opposite end of Main Street,
at one time a slave market, now is the site of a produce market,
particularly lively on Saturday mornings when local farmers and fishermen
bring their produce to town for sale. Fort Christian, in town, dates back to the 17th century. Now a museum, it houses a fine collection of Indian artifacts, possessions of the islands' earliest inhabitants, the Arawaks and Caribs.
Also in town, The Seven Arches Museum was once an 18th century Danish home and affords visitors a glimpse into earlier island life. You can get there by climbing the famous 99 steps.
Paradise Point Tramway,
opposite the Havensight Mall and the cruise ship dock, takes
you on a breathtaking ride 700 feet above sea level, affording
a spectacular view of Charlotte Amalie, the harbor, and some
of the neighboring islands. You might want to enjoy a cocktail
or shop in the boutiques. The nature trail appeals to the
more energetic, while many prefer to just relax and enjoy the parrot
show.Estate St. Peter Greathouse & Botanical Gardens offers visitors an opportunity to experience life in St. Thomas as it might have been enjoyed two hundred years ago. The surrounding grounds offer botanical trails, and the observation deck affords spectacular views of surrounding islands.
Nearby Drake's Seat, named after Sir Francis Drake who is said to have sat there watching ships passing at sea, affords one of the best views of Magens Beach and surrounding islands.
Another popular viewing site is at Mountain Top where you can enjoy sipping one of their famous banana daqueris while admiring the panoramic views. A variety of tasteful boutiques tempt shoppers.
At Coral World, an underwater observatory,
you can descend fifteen feet below the sea to observe
through waterproof windows a natural coral reef, home to
a dazzling collection of tropical undersea life. Activities
include daily talks and fish feeding. Nearby Coki Beach
offers great snorkeling possibilities.And if you want to observe more underwater life, Atlantis Submarine gives you a quick scenic harbor tour and then whisks you to the bottom of the ocean to view a spectacular underwater world.
St. Thomas is famous for its water sports, including snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, sailing, parasailing, and power boating. Day sails to nearby islands are readily available.
Magens Beach on the North Side of St. Thomas is quite simply one of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world.
For the golf enthusiastic, 18-hole Mahogany Run Golf Course, features the famous Devil's Triangle. The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful. A fine pro shop offers rentals. A number of tennis courts dot the island. Half Moon Stables offers trail riding.
There is no shortage of night life on St. Thomas. Among the most popular night spots is Duffy's Love Shack on the East End of the island, where you can dine, dance, sample exotic drinks and make friends. In town, the Greenhouse has live reggae and calypso bands on Wednesdays and Fridays. And you won't want to miss the live band and dancing at Sapphire Beach on Sunday afternoons.
For art lovers, a variety of art galleries feature the works of the many talented artists who call St. Thomas home.
Churches of all faiths can be found on St. Thomas. The St. Thomas synagogue, with its sand-covered floor, is the second oldest in the Western Hemisphere.
From the East End of St. Thomas, only minutes from Sapphire Village, a short ferry ride takes you to St. John where you can spend the day at Trunk Bay with its famous under-water trail. Or shop and dine in charming Cruz Bay before returning to St. Thomas.
For more tourist information, feel free to
contact us at
or phone (340) 774-0222