St. Thomas sees the majority of visitors out of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, perhaps due to its busy sea port and variety of attractions and historical sites. The capital city, Charlotte Amalie, is home to many colorful shops and Dutch-era antique buildings. The Fort Christian Museum is one of the oldest Danish buildings in St. Thomas. It once served as the city's jail, and was converted into a museum to house artifacts left by Dutch settlers, according to the USVI website. Follow the famous 99 Steps to the foot of Blackbeard's Castle. The historical watchtower is said to have been frequented by the pirate Blackbeard and his crew in the 18th century. For swimming and sunbathing, spend some time at Magens Bay, where pristine white sands beaches meet sparkling blue ocean waters.
The smallest of the three Virgin Islands, half of St. John consists of lush sub-tropical forests, scrub lands and swamps that make up the Virgin Islands National Park. The park provides camping, hiking and safari bus tours that enable visitors to enjoy to the fullest its scenery and wildlife. Annaberg is a preserved sugar plantation that remains significantly intact. The plantation features a Dutch windmill and horse mill as well as remnants of an old rum still. Bread-making and basket-weaving demonstrations are conducted regularly, educating guests about Danish culture. While visiting St. John, stop by Trunk Bay and enjoy what many consider to be one of the most beautiful beaches on Earth. The most prominent feature of the beach is its 225-yard underwater snorkeling trail. Trunk Bay is also equipped with a souvenir shop, snack bar, bath house and snorkel rental shop for the convenience of its guests.
St. Croix is the largest of the three Virgin Islands, and lies just south of St. Thomas. Must-visit cities are Christiansted and Frederiksted. Each of the two towns presents visitors with local entertainment and cuisine. Listen to live reggae bands, folk singers and jazz bands, or peruse art galleries and craft shops. A major point of interest is the Cruzan Rum Distillery, located on Airport Road. The distillery provides a guided tour of the rum-making process from start to finish. Walk through the plant and watch workers distill, bottle and label Cruzan Rum. The St. George Village Botanical Garden is a site of historical significance, where 16 acres of land display a 19th-century Dutch village. Tour the homes of workers, blacksmith shops and the ruins of an Amerindian settlement that dates back to 100 A.D.
