St. Thomas combines the natural beauty of the islands with a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is one of the most beautiful harbors in the world and the most visited port in the Caribbean.
Elegant dining, exciting nightlife, and world-class duty-free shopping are abundant in Charlotte Amalie. The city's reputation as the shopping mecca of the Caribbean draws visitors from all over the region and aroundthe world.
A mountainous island, St. Thomas offers stunning vistas in almost every direction. While Charlotte Amalie is full of energy, St. Thomas also provides natural wonders such as the indescribably beautiful Magens Bay and stunning views of the Caribbean from 1,500 feet above sea level. Drake's Seat is particularly famous for its vistas.
Sports and activities are abundant on St. Thomas. Golf enthusiasts will enjoy the George and Tom Fazio-designed Mahogany Run course. St. Thomas is also well known for its world-class yachting and sportfishing.
Coral World Located on St. Thomas' northeast shore at Coki Point, Coral World Marine Park & Observatory contains an underwater observatory tower, a tropical nature trail, a marine gardens aquarium, and an 80,000-gallon coral reef tank. The circular, glass-enclosed tank lets visitors glimpse the beauty of the Caribbean without getting wet. Other exhibits include an open-air shark pool and a children's touch pool.
Fort ChristianResting over Charlotte Amalie harbor since 1672, Fort Christian is the oldest standing structure in the Virgin Islands. Now a U.S. National Landmark, this brick fortress protected the town from pirates and European armadas. The fort has served as St. Thomas' first Government House, a church, and a community government center. Today it is home to the Virgin Islands Museum.
Charlotte AmalieNumerous attractions can be found in and around the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Blackbeard's Castle, Crown House, Seven Arches Museum, and Government Hill offer many days worth of exploring for visitors catching a rest from the town's world-class duty-free shopping and dining. Charlotte Amalie is also the base for several regattas, yacht chartering services, and fishing guides.
Magens Bay Both National Geographic and Conde Nast Traveler have named heart-shaped Magens Bay one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. You can judge for yourself. Snorkeling, kayaking, and other water gear is available for rental.
Mountain Top and St. Peter's GreathouseTreat yourself to a taste of more recent island history by stopping at MountainTop for a famous banana daiquiri. This site has offered their legendary concoction of local rum, cane sugar, and bananas since the 1960s. Estate St. Peter Greathouse and Botanical Gardens contains local art and over 200 kinds of West Indian trees and plants.
Paradise Point TramwayThe tramway takes visitors up an almost 700-foot peak over Charlotte Amalie, offering a stunning view of the town, the island, and the Caribbean. Running between Havensight and Paradise Point, the tramway can hold up to ten people in one car.
RestaurantsAgave Terrace at Point Pleasant Resort
Perched on a cliff overlooking nearby St. John, Agave Terrace specializes in fresh seafood dishes individually prepared for each guest. Enjoy local lobster or one of the day's fresh catches, along with a tropical drink or a selection from the restaurant's award-winning wine list.(340) 775-4142
Banana Tree Grille
Famous for its stunning views of Charlotte Amalie, Banana Tree Grille perches high above the cruise ships and yachts in the harbor below from its legendary lookout at Blackbeard's Castle Hotel (and on property at Bluebeard's Castle as well). Formerly called Entre Nous, the restaurant offers entrees such as Thai-glazed salmon, coconut tempura shrimp, and raspberry cabernet chicken, plus many great steak and pasta dishes. Key lime pie headlines the dessert menu, along with ice cream crepes and bananas Foster.(340) 776-4050
Blue Moon Café
Palm trees along the beach and boats at anchor in the bay set the scene at this beachside restaurant at Secret Harbour Beach Resort on St. Thomas' east end. Beach-goers wander in to enjoy a lunch menu of salads and tortilla-style sandwiches. Dinner guests enjoy an excellent selection of salmon, mahi mahi, steak, and prime rib dishes. Open every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.(340) 779-2262
Caesar's
Charlotte Amalie harbor provides a serene backdrop for this classic Italian restaurant at Marriott Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort. Come for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Monday through Saturday.(340) 776-8500
Nature and Wildlife Visitors to St. Thomas should take advantage of Virgin Islands Ecotours' guided kayaking and snorkeling tour through St. Thomas' Marine Sanctuary and Mangrove Lagoon. Led by experienced local naturalists, these tours let visitors see the fragility and beauty of the mangrove lagoons firsthand. Snowy egrets, great barracudas, dwarf herrings, spotted eagle rays, jellyfish, mangrove crabs, and breeding nurse sharks are only a few of the species visitors might see on the tour. Snorkeling is done in designated areas without fins to protect the delicate marine environment. Virgin Islands Ecotours also offers a new tour on Magens Bay. On the north end of the island, Humpback whales can be seen breeding from January through April. Both Jacques Cousteau and "Wild Kingdom" filmed specials on whales in the waters off of St. Thomas.
St. Thomas is a mountainous island, so visitors will find that
climbs to the peaks offer dramatic views. Drake's Seat, one of the island's most famous views, overlooks Drake's Passage, the channel where Sir Francis Drake sailed among the islands in the late 1500s. Visitors will also note the abundance of the yellow cedar, one of the world's most beautiful flowers found in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Down along the coasts, visitors will quickly understand why St. Thomas' beaches are legendary. Magens Bay is just one of several beaches worth visiting on the island.
Courtesy of http://www.usvitourism.vi/en/stthomas/st_Home.html
