America's Paradise: The US Virgin Islands

The Caribbean vacation destination commonly referred to as the Virgin Islands actually comprises two separate entities: the US Virgin Islands (USVI), and the British Virgin Islands (BVI). St. Croix is separated from the rest of the Virgin Islands, lying 40 miles to the south of St. Thomas.

The Virgin Islands are one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Caribbean for Americans. Easily accessible flights to the predominantly English speaking islands, and their general proximity to each other makes them sometimes difficult to distinguish one from the other. It is the combination of exotic locale, more relaxed travel documentation requirements, and the security of a familiar government that attract US vacationers to choose the USVI, 1000 miles from the southern tip of the US mainland. St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John are the islands which belong to the United States. All three have their own individual character and offerings for your dream vacation to the Caribbean.

Diversity would be the first word used to describe the three US Virgin Islands. Diverse ethnic heritage from descendents of the Arawak and Carib Indians, the African slaves and slave traders, the original European settlers, and, of course, pirates to the more recent immigrants from Puerto Rico, other Caribbean islands, and the US. This diversity gives rise to a cultural richness vacationers to the US Virgin Islands can take advantage of. Restaurants on the USVI range from casual authentic West Indian to elegant French and duty-free shops with well-known world wide brands abound. Accommodations vary from 5 star resorts to tent-camping in a National Park, beautiful ocean view villas, or maybe an 18th century plantation great house strikes your fancy? Diverse scuba diving options include wreck, night, fish feeding, and wall dives. Golf, snorkeling, historical tours, in short, just about any activity or type of vacation experience can be found on one of the three US Virgin Islands.

So how to choose which of the three US Virgin Islands for your Caribbean vacation? The three islands, St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix have very different characters and you should choose which one most closely matches your preferences.

St. Croix is the largest and least well known of the three. It is often called the best kept vacation secret in the United States. Lying 40 miles to the south of the other Virgin Islands, it is a good mix of St. Thomas and St. John – less densely populated or traveled than St. Thomas, and yet with good restaurants and more shopping than St. John. If your Caribbean dream vacation destination is a laid-back, un-crowded island with great food, duty-free shopping, and lots of interesting things to do, then St. Croix is your US Virgin Island of choice. More St. Croix info.

St. Thomas is the most populated of the three US Virgin Islands; 35 square miles is home to 50,000 people. Add to this the over 500 cruise ships that dock in the capital city of Charlotte Amalie and what you find is lots of animation on the island. Shopping in the duty-free stores is a major activity here and bargains can be found on electronics, watches and perfume among others. There is no shortage of restaurants, bars, resorts, and nightlife, and St. Thomas does have several beautiful white sand beaches if sunbathing is more your desire. If your Caribbean dream vacation destination is lots of action and lots of people then St. Thomas is your US Virgin Island of choice.

Only 9 miles long and three miles wide, St. John, with a population of 5,000, is the smallest of the three US Virgin Islands. It is best known for the Virgin Islands National Park which covers 2/3 of the land area and comprises several of the most beautiful north shore beaches. Undeveloped land administered by the US Park Service, Virgin Islands National Park has lots of hiking trails and the beaches are beautiful, particularly world renowned Trunk Bay. Take a tour of the National Park by Jeep or safari bus, go hiking on trails led by Park Rangers, or explore the Park by yourself with a well-marked trail map. Accommodations range from tent-camping in the National Forest to resort hotels, condos and private villas are also available. There is a small town, Cruz Bay with some shopping and restaurants and water sport rentals abound. St. John is only accessible by boat, either private or the hourly ferry from St. Thomas. If your Caribbean dream vacation destination is unspoiled wilderness then St. John is your US Virgin Island of choice.

Whichever of the three islands you choose as your destination consider renting a villa to stay in. Dollar for dollar they offer the best accommodation value on any of the islands. See you soon in the USVI!