U.S. Virgin Islands Attractions

Our favorite St. Croix adventure is boating to Buck Island to snorkel and sun on the island’s beaches. Since capacity is controlled, book ahead with an outfitter. Turtle Beach, named for the hawksbill, leatherback and green sea turtles that nest there in season, has been called one of St. Croix’s most beautiful beaches. However, since you won’t find shade, unless it's natural, or any amenities on the island’s beaches, bring your own water, beach umbrella (if needed) and snacks, as well as sneakers to climb the island’s hill for a spectacular view of the reefs and islands.

Kids too young to snorkel appreciate climbing down the stairs of the park’s submerged observation tower to view schools of tropical fish swimming past the underwater windows. Young children also enjoy feeding the park’s colorful birds known as lorikeets. For older kids and adults, sign-up ahead of time for interactive animal encounters. Sea Trek enabled us to get a diver's eye-view of the fish without learning to dive. We donned helmets that had oxygen pumped in. Other adventures include swimming with sea lions and encountering sharks. To avoid crowds, try to visit when cruise ships are not in port.

At Whim Plantation, a restored 18th century estate on 12 acres, learn about plantation life. Guides lead tours of the great house, furnished with mahogany beds and other items that are either period antiques or replicas. Sugar cane grows in a nearby field and the property has a restored windmill. After touring the cookhouse, you can sample johnnycakes, an island flatbread made of corn meal.

Twenty trails lace the Virgin Islands National Park. Rangers, at select times, lead hikes that feature the ruins of the 18th century Annaberg Sugar Mill Ruins. On a steamy July afternoon, we listened to the ranger describe how slaves stood in the sun all day, feeding cane through rollers and then ladling the boiling juice into a series of copper kettles. For us and our children, that image conveyed a visceral, if small, sense of the brutality of the plantation's slave system. With young children, walk downhill on the Cinnamon Bay Trail.

Of all the USVI, St. Thomas leads in shopping opportunities. Some bargain hunters say that Charlotte Amalie offers the best buys in all the Caribbean. It helps that each U.S. citizen, if returning directly back to the states, is allowed $1,600 duty free allowance. As always, know what items cost back home and bargain. Typically, the best buys may be on jewelry, china, crystal, perfume and alcohol. Shops and shoppers pack Charlotte Amalie's streets. Havensight Mall near the cruise ship dock has branches of many of the downtown shops.

This garden is a good off-the-beach oasis, especially if it's not too hot or humid. The facility's 16 acres bloom with orchids, heliconia, ginger and other colorful plants. A walking tour leads you past the various gardens. Our favorite spots are the rainforest, the fern grotto and the medicinal herb garden.

Trunk Bay, the most famous of the Virgin Islands National Park's snorkel sites and the one with an underwater trail, has sustained damage due to frequent visitors. When cruise ships are in St. Thomas, the trail and the beach get crowded. Still, the tropical fish and the coral delight novices. Although a vendor rents snorkel gear, it's always best to bring your own to assure a good fit, especially for children. Less frequented Leinster Bay and Watermelon Cay also offer good snorkeling, but bring your own equipment. For sun and swimming, visit the beaches at Cinnamon Bay, Maho Bay and Hawksnest Bay.

Two of St. Thomas' prettiest and most popular beaches are mile-long Magens Bay, on the island's north side, and Sapphire Beach on the east end. Both may be crowded when cruise ships are in port, although Sapphire Beach often draws fewer day trippers. Magens has lifeguards, showers and a cafe. Sapphire beach is the site of a condominium resort. Bring your own towels.