VIRGIN ISLANDS
Destination content © Susanna Henighan, used from Moon Handbooks Virgin Islands, 3rd edition.
Maps © Avalon Publishing Group, Inc.
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Best of the Virgin Islands If you have three weeks and an ample budget, you can hit the most important attractions in the Virgin Islands, from historic sites to empty beaches. You take in each island’s greatest hits: Charlotte Amalie and Magen’s Bay on St. Thomas; Christiansted National Historic Site and the Buck Island on St. Croix; and St. John’s petroglyphs and idyllic Trunk Bay. In the British Virgin Islands, highlights include a day trip to The Baths, a high-powered day sail to Jost Van Dyke’s beach bars, and a final respite on Anegada’s North Coast. Most visitors may prefer to be more selective; island-hopping like this is very pricey and can be tiring too. But if you really want to taste all that the Virgin Islands have to offer, this trip is for you. (read more) |
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The Seven-Day Family Vacation The Virgin Islands are a great place for children, especially children who enjoy being outside and like the water. A family vacation in the Virgin Islands should be heavy on swimming and snorkeling, with a dash of history and sightseeing. St. John is the perfect home base, since frequent moves will just add stress to your trip. Leave the Gameboy at home, but bring the camera to record your family’s encounters with sea creatures like turtles, dolphins, rays, and conch. |
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Past and Present: 10 Days of History and Culture Historical tourism has long been overshadowed by the natural beauty of the Virgin Islands. And the islands’ history—heavy as it is on slavery and oppression—makes for difficult beach conversation. But more and more travelers are finding stories of hope and redemption within the islands’ rich history. St. Croix is the best base for historical and cultural exploration. It has more to see, more resources for learning, and more people who are interested in preserving heritage. Historical tourists on the other islands will need a little persistence and ingenuity to tap into all the resources, but if you do, you will be rewarded. Cultural attractions mix readily with historical ones. Fungi, or quelbe, music is one of the best manifestations of Virgin Islands culture still in existence. Island carnivals are also an excellent time to see the present-day manifestations of African, South American, and European cultures. (read more) |
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Beach Lover’s Tour There are beaches for every taste in the Virgin Islands: small crescents of sand and broad hard-packed shores; crowded, high-spirited coasts and empty, private retreats; beaches with reefs to snorkel and walls to dive; beaches with fine white sand and high-colored grains; hot sandy beaches and shaded escapes. Beach lovers can set for themselves the singular task of finding the best beach—it is a project that could take months, or a lifetime. For travelers with less time, consider this, the greatest hits. Stops include Trunk Bay on St. John; Magen’s Bay on St. Thomas; Cane Garden Bay on Tortola; and the Baths on Virgin Gorda. Stray a bit off the beaten path to discover Smugger’s Cove, Spring Bay, and Hawksnest Beach. Finish it all off with the beach to beat all others: Anegada’s North Coast. |
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Two-Week Sailing Adventure
No format is better suited for exploring the Virgin Islands than sailing. It makes it easy to get around and captures the real natural attraction of the place. It is also exciting and fun. Plan as long a sailing trip as you can—you will lose a day on each end to checking in and checking out. This two-week itinerary includes a few land-based days on Anegada and St. Croix, and many short sails between bays and cays. Plan your sailing vacation early—get a chart and plan your course at home—and be sure to get a skipper if necessary. You don’t want to spend your vacation worried about wrecking a multimillion-dollar boat. (read more) |
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Wildlife and Wilderness Every trip to the Virgin Islands incorporates some element of nature. But real nature-lovers can see truly remarkable sites if they look carefully and stray from the beaten paths. On St. Croix, the Caldonia Rainforest and north coast, underwater Wall are among the attractions. St. John, home of the Virgin Islands National Park, is the best island for hiking and snorkeling. In the British Virgin Islands, remote Jost Van Dyke and Anegada have unique wilderness attractions. (read more) |
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