Best Islands to Live On: US Virgin Islands
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The Virgin Islands are an archipelago in the Carribean Sea. They are geologically biologically the part of the Grater Antilles, the northern islands belonging to the Puerto Rico Trench and St. Croix being a displaced part of the same geologic structure. The archipelago is separated from the true Lesser Antilles by the Anegada Passage and from the main island of Puerto Rico by the Virgin Passage.
A real paradise
There is a fascinating number of things to do on the islands. life here is not all hammocks and piña coladas. From festivals to diving to strenuous hiking trails to hidden tide pools, each of the islands in the area has plenty to offer to keep you busy if a full day at the beach isn’t your thing.
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Take a trip to Buck Island
The only marine national park in the United States, Buck Island is a half-day trip from St. Croix (though full-day trips that come with food and booze are also available). While the marine park and coral are slightly dead after years of overfishing and coral bleaching, there’s a fabulous beach on the island that couldn’t be more quintessentially Caribbean: empty, wide, and ringed with palm trees. The half-day trip is the greatest value and one of the best things to do on St. Croix.
Trunk Bay (St. John)
To some, Trunk Bay is the mecca of beaches. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another Caribbean beach with sand quite so pearly or water so aquamarine. And as it’s cocooned by the Virgin Islands National Park, Trunk Bay still maintains its otherworldly serenity despite its constant barrage of tourists.
Be sure to try your hand at the underwater snorkeling path. It’s 225 yards long and is full of coral and fish with underwater plaques along the way. Though a fun experience, some travelers said the path itself is unimpressive and shows damage following 2017’s hurricanes Irma and Maria. Others recommend going to the far end of Trunk Bay for the best snorkeling. Visitors overwhelmingly encouraged future travelers to spend a day on Trunk Bay if for no other reason than to enjoy its beauty. There’s a $5 admission fee to access Trunk Bay. Its facilities, which include a snack bar, restrooms and showers, are open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Virgin Islands National Park (St. John)
If you’re on St. John during your Virgin Islands vacation, you’re likely right on the edge of Virgin Islands National Park. Two-thirds of the island is parkland, and most of Love City’s top attractions, such as Annaberg Plantation and Trunk Bay Beach, are within its confines. There are numerous ways to enjoy this tropical paradise. Adventurous travelers and families alike have their choice of more than 20 trails to hike.
Some sections of the park, such as popular Cinnamon Bay Resort and its campgrounds, are still undergoing repair and revitalization following the 2017 hurricanes. But travelers agreed that there’s still plenty to do at the park, enjoying the different beaches and hiking trails it offers, not to mention the water activities, such as boating and snorkeling.
The park is open 24/7 daily, year-round, but the visitor center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. There is no fee to enter the park, but you’ll have to fork over $5 per adult to enjoy Trunk Bay Beach. Be sure to check the status of the park and its trails on the park’s website before you visit.
Cane Bay
This is a beautiful bay on St. Croix, here you can snorkel within swimming distance of the shore. Though the beach isn’t very wide and it’s located right near a road, the chilled-out atmosphere of the area, good snorkeling (there’s a steep dropoff out from shore, creating a lot of fish-viewing opportunities), and few crowds make it a place worth spending the day (and early evening when the restaurant has happy hour). Cane Bay is located on the north side of St. Croix.
Estate Whim Plantation Museum (St. Croix)
The Estate Whim Plantation Museum chronicles the lives of the people who lived and worked on the 18th-century Estate Whim plantation. It is the only sugar plantation museum in the Virgin Islands. Buildings on-site include the sugar mill, a cookhouse and the quarters of the plantation’s enslaved people. Exhibits offer insights into how sugar was cultivated and processed by the enslaved workers and the economics of the plantation. Some sites on the complex, such as the great house and the oft-lauded windmill, are currently closed for construction following the hurricanes in 2017.
Despite the closed attractions, travelers found the museum to be a worthwhile visit. Reviewers said they gained a greater appreciation for the rich and varied history of the Virgin Islands. You can visit the Estate Whim Plantation Museum Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. as well as on days cruise ships are in port.
Coral World Ocean Park (St. Thomas)
One of St. Thomas’ most visited tourist attractions is this indoor-outdoor aquarium filled with small sharks, stingrays and starfish. Located on the northeast coast of St. Thomas, next toCoki Beach , Coral World also has a walk-through aviary and an offshore underwater observatory that lets you view ocean life 15 feet below the water’s surface.
Despite its popularity, previous visitors voiced mixed impressions of the site. Many said that it’s a fun stop for families and praised the facility for the care it gives its animals. Others felt the park left something to be desired and noted that parts of the facility still need repair from the hurricanes.
Coral World welcomes visitors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. General admission costs $23.50 for adults and $13 for kids, but special experiences like swimming with dolphins or sea lions carry an additional fee, usually more than $100 per person. For more information, check out Coral World’s.
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