St. Thomas in The U.S. Virgin Islands

Written by Julie Greiner

The island of St. Thomas consists of some 33 square miles and is the most developed of the the Virgin Islands. The Island of St. Thomas rises sharply from out of the turquoise Caribbean Sea to form steep mountains with a ragged coast surrounded by white sand and coral reefs. The island is very versatile and varied and some of the countryside even resembles the countryside of France, complete with cattle grazing in green fields.

Charlotte Amalie of St. Thomas

Charlotte Amalie is the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the business hub of St. Thomas. Charlotte Amalie was first settled in 1672 and was a major trading port for some two-hundred years.The town is on a deep horseshoe bay and the port is still one of the busiest of the Caribbean. The Emanicaption Garden Park is situated in the center of town to commemorate the end of slavery in 1848. The hillsides behind the town are so steep Aerial View of Charlotte Amailie in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Aerial View of Charlotte Amailie in the U.S. Virgin Islands

that stone steps were built in many areas instead of roads. Mango trees, hibiscus blossoms and iguanas are plentiful.

Charlotte Amalie is where the ships dock and there is a world famous shopping center just a few blocks back. The largest charter yacht fleet in the Caribbean docks at St. Thomas and there are fine hotels and restaurants in the town. There are numerous sites to visit in Charlotte Amalie. The Art Riise's Gallery has exhibits and at the Estate Tutu, Jim Tillet has an "Arts Alive" festival three times a year. The Skytsborg tower, now the Blackbeard's Castle, is thought to be the "oldest historical structure in the Virgin Islands." This is now a restaurant/hotel. Bluebeard's Castle, the 19th century rogue's past abode, is now a hotel. Crown House, the past governors residence, Surfing the Waves on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands is now a private home. The St. Peter Greathouse & Botanical Gardens has an excellent tour of gardens with more than 500 varieties of plants and trees and a 3-level lookout that affords you a magnificent view of 20 other islands. And of course the Market Square where local vendors sell fresh fruits and vegetables. Charlotte Amalie is a bustling metropolis well worth the venture.

Magens Bay on St. Thomas

Magens Bay is considered one of the world's ten most beautiful beaches. The white sand is shaded by seagrapes and coconut palms with the wooded hills in the background. You can walk to the Peterborg Peninsula which forms the north side of the horseshoe bay. There are tidal pools on the Atlantic side of the coast where hermit crabs and small fish are plentiful. Neltjeberg and Botany Bays are nesting grounds of the leatherback sea turtles.

Fairchild Park is on a wooded mountaintop with fantastic views of both the north and south coasts. The highest accessible point on the island is the MountainTop, a tourist attraction. Skyline Drive also offers panoramic views, especially at Drake's Seat. It is said that Sir Francis Drake used the strategic lookout above Magens Bay to to watch his fleet of ships chase the Spanish galleons. Thatch Cay lies below, beneath the cliffs that drop straight down to the sea, which is a popular diving and deep-sea fishing area.