Activities - Things to See
British Virgin
Islands
Yost Van Dyke Activities: sunbathing, snorkeling,
nightlife, dining, drinking, swimming. Lying just four miles off Tortola's west end, this quiet and mountainous island
only has a handful of places to stay, several dining choices and some great
beaches for snorkeling.
The Baths, Virgin Gorda Activities:
scuba diving, snorkeling, rock climbing, swimming, group tours/walking
tour, sunbathing. The most well-known attraction on the island, these giant
boulders or batholiths, brought to the surface by volcanic eruptions, are scattered
about forming a beautiful grotto and tranquil pools.
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Cane Garden
Bay, Tortola Activities: snorkeling, sunbathing, swimming, scuba diving,
wind-surfing, dining, drinking, nightlife, volleyball (outdoor), shopping,
fishing, motor-boating, kayaking, water-skiing. Centrally located on
Tortola's north side, this is probably the busiest beach since its beauty
is often compared to Magen's Bay on St.
Thomas.
Cooper Island
Activities: sailing, snorkeling. A small, isolated and charming island that
serves as a mooring haven for yachts.
Salt Island
Activities: scuba diving. This tiny and welcoming island is home to the
last of the sea salt harvesters.
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St Croix
Buck Island Reef National Monument, St.
Croix
Lying 1.5 miles off the northeast coast of St. Croix, this 880-acre
national monument includes 176 acres of land surrounded by 704 acres of
water and coral reef system; it is a paradise for snorkerlers, and the deep
grottos and labyrinths are perfect for experienced scuba divers to explore.
Attraction type: Island; Nature reserve;
Reef; National park; Monument
St. George Village Botanical Garden,
Frederiksted, St. Croix
You can stroll amid the ruins of this 17-acre estate, a former 19th-century
sugarcane plantation village, which contains varied ecosystems from
semi-arid cactus to lush green rain forest.
Attraction type: Garden; Historic site
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St. Croix Leap, St. Croix
In the heart of the rain forest, this is a workshop where you can purchase
a wide variety of mahogany crafts including furniture, jewelry boxes and
mirrors.
Attraction type: Factory tour; Specialty shop
Mount Pellier Domino Club,
Frederiksted, St. Croix
Also known as the "Jungle Bar," this club is renowned for its
beer-drinking pig.
Attraction type: Bar/club
St John
Trunk Bay, Virgin
Islands National Park,
St. John
The good news: this world-class stretch of white sand and turquoise water
is St. John's
most photographed beach, which features a marked underwater trail for
beginning snorkerlers. The bad news: because of its popularity, it can get
very crowded with cruise ship passengers and members of sightseeing tours.
Attraction type: Bay; Beach; Reef
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Reef Bay Trail, Virgin
Islands National Park,
St. John
This 2.2-mile hiking trail is one of the best on St. John: descend through a shady, moist
forest and a dry forest, through visible remains of four sugar mills, pass
by pre-Columbian petroglyphs, and end at a beautiful, pristine beach.
Attraction type: Trail; Hiking trail
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Salt Pond Bay, Virgin Islands National Park, St. John
This scenic bay on St. John
offers a secluded beach with good swimming and snorkeling, plus a graded
hiking trail leading to and from the beach and picnic area.
Attraction type: Bay; Beach
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Coral Bay,
St. John
A home decidedly away from home for a number of U.S. expats who now reside in
this eclectic community.
Attraction type: Bay; Neighborhood
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Annaberg Sugar Plantation,
Virgin Islands National Park, St. John
The most accessible and best preserved of its type, this once-working sugar
plantation (circa 1870) was the site of boiling molasses and hardworking
slaves harvesting sugarcane, and which now offers visitors regular tours
and living-history demonstrations.
Attraction type: Historic home; Historic site
Cruz Bay,
St. John: Many visitors spend time at Cruz Bay, where the ferry docks. This
village has interesting bars, restaurants, boutiques, and pastel-painted
houses. It's a bit sleepy, but relaxing after the fast pace of St. Thomas.
Most cruise-ship passengers dart through Cruz Bay
and head for the island's biggest attraction, Virgin Islands National
Park (tel. 340/776-6201). The park totals
12,624 acres, including submerged lands and water adjacent to St. John, and has
more than 20 miles of hiking trails to explore.
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St Thomas
St. Peter Greathouse Estate & Gardens, Magens Bay,
St. Thomas
Follow a nature trail that leads you through nearly 200 varieties of
tropical plants and an orchid jungle, wander through a gallery displaying
local art, or take a sip of complimentary rum punch when you visit these
scenic botanical gardens that are perched on a mountainside 1,000 feet
above sea level.
Attraction type: Garden; Tour; Historic home; Observation deck/tower
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Magens Bay, St. Thomas
Hailed as one of the world's most beautiful, this breathtaking bay along St. Thomas' rugged
north coast is ideal for swimming and snorkeling with all the conveniences
of parking, lifeguards, equipment rental, freshwater showers, restaurants
and bars.
Attraction type: Beach; Bay
Coki Beach, East End, St. Thomas
Located next to Coral World, this little beach is popular among locals and
tour groups, where the waters offer excellent snorkeling and a great
opportunity to learn scuba diving.
Attraction type: Bay; Beach
Chris Sawyer Dive Shop,
East End, St. Thomas
Go night snorkeling at Hull
Bay and greet octopi
and schools of squid.
Attraction type: Tour; Specialty shop
Mountain Top, St. Thomas
This cafeteria and bar claims not only spectacular views from its 1,500
feet perch on the summit of St.
Peter Mountain,
but is the inventor of the famous banana daiquiri.
Attraction type: Mountain; Lookout; Observation deck/tower
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