St. Thomas is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Along with St. John and St. Croix, it comprises the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), an unincorporated territory of the United States. The islands are part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles. Although St. Thomas is only 32 square miles, it has the reputation of being the most “cosmopolitan” of the three US Virgin Islands. The territory’s capital city, Charlotte Amalie, is both a bustling port and a city pulsating with activities and nightlife that brings many visitors to St. Thomas.
As the most-visited port in the Caribbean, there are countless things to do in Charlotte Amalie. Thanks to the numerous cruise ship visitors, there is an abundance of duty-free shopping. Restaurants and cafes abound. Visitors who appreciate learning about history will enjoy wandering around Charlotte Amalie, as Danish colonial architecture exists from centuries ago when St. Thomas was a part of Denmark. Many streets and buildings have maintained their Danish names. For the truly adventurous, there is the St. Thomas Skyride, a gondola that takes visitors to a mountain peak 200 meters above the city. There are spectacular views from the summit, and on clear days, islands such as Vieques and St. Croix can be seen on the horizon.
Pirates played an impressive role in St. Thomas’ past, and their legacy lives on in the various landmarks commemorating them. Blackbeard and Bluebeard, both infamous pirates with large mythologies surrounding them, have castles that can be visited on St. Thomas. Beyond the pirates’ castles, the beaches and waterfronts of the island are teeming with activities. From scuba diving to snorkeling to fishing, water sports are plentiful. The most popular beach on St. Thomas, Magens Bay, is a 1.5 kilometer stretch of white sand and sparkling turquoise water that will captivate every beach lover.
Enjoying the natural world is easy on St. Thomas. Coral World Ocean Park allows visitors to swim with sea lions and feed lorikeets. Baby turtles hatch at the turtle nesting grounds around the island. The Butterfly Garden hosts beautiful butterflies from around the world. Tropical birds flourish on the Magens Bay Nature Trail hike. St. Thomas is a paradise for visitors who love the outdoors and care about the environment.