St. Thomas and St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, an unspoiled tropical paradise!
St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands Upon leaving our cruise ship in Carlotte Amalie, capital of St. Thomas, in the quaint down-town district, we sampled duty-free shopping and then toured further, taking in panoramic views of classic Caribbean pastel-colored houses, which are just a few of the many charms of this island. Sample shore excursions are: Coral World Ocean Park; Paradise Tram & St. Peter Greathouse; Pirate Sunset Sail on the Doubloon.
St. John Of all the isles in the Caribbean Sea, St. John comes the closest to the travel-brochure dream of "an unspoiled tropical paradise." The smallest of the trio of United States Virgin Islands that also includes St. Thomas and St. Croix, St. John remains beautiful and largely undisturbed because of a yacht cruise that Lawrence Rockefeller took back in the 1950s. The American philanthropist and conservationist was so enchanted with the pristine beauty of the island that he bought half of it and donated it in 1956 to the U.S. Government. Today, two-thirds of St. John is preserved as the Virgin Islands National Park.
Stunning beaches rim the island's shores. Beaches are what define St. John, and they are consistently listed among the world's most beautiful! Trunk Bay, our favorite, is also on many of the "Top Ten" lists. There's a marked underwater trail for viewing fish and coral up close. I prefered snorkeling, viewing the beautiful fish and coral, at a depth of 20 feet or more, through the clear azure water! We enjoyed the snack bar, quite close to the beach, and the fact that changing rooms, showers and snorkel equipment rentals were available. One of our options was to take in the Coral World Snorkeling & Beach Outing… Those who chose to do so could: Transfer by open-air bus from the pier to Coral World Underwater Observatory and Marine Park. In a three-story Observatory Tower, built right in the ocean, descend below the surface to view a spectacular and ever-changing parade of marine life outside the 24 picture windows. Just a few yards away, snorkeling equipment and fish food are provided for an introduction to snorkeling (experienced snorkelers are welcome too!) The fish will eat right out of your hand! After snorkeling, there's time to lounge on the pristine, sandy beach and buy refreshments. However, we chose the 5-Star St. John Snorkel & Beach Adventure. From the moment we stepped on board the 115-foot Chesapeake Voyager, a beautiful replica of a 1930s-era Chesapeake Bay oyster buy boat, we started to feel the beauty and history of the Caribbean. Sitting comfortably on deck in the shade, we glided effortlessly through turquoise waters on the way to the magnificent island of St. John and a private mooring in Trunk Bay. At Trunk Bay, whether in the water snorkeling, swimming or on the beach, we were well looked after. A guide was on hand to identify corals and fish, and bring us to and from the beach. After our time at the world-renowned Trunk Bay, we used the freshwater showers and enjoyed the fully licensed bar with light snacks available. A portion of this tour's profits goes to the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park, the not-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the Virgin Islands National Park.
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