Stop #2: St Thomas & St John, U.S. Virgin Islands
The second stop on our cruise was at St Thomas and St John in the beautiful Caribbean. If you do indeed come here, there are a ton of things to do.
Similar to St Marteen, St Thomas has an abundance of culture and history including the second-oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere and Fort Christian, which was built in 1680. The beaches are just gorgeous if you want to just relax and do some sightseeing, or you can opt for snorkeling, sightseeing, shopping, etc.
Popular things to do:
*Coral World Ocean Park – One of St Thomas’s ultimate attractions, this place is known for a Sea Trek along the ocean floor, where you can meet sharks, stringrays, turtles, and other marine creatures.
*Magic Ice Gallery – The largest permanent ice gallery in the world with sculptures created with snow and ice. Some of the more popular exhibits are shipwrecks, lighthouses, and a giant ice bar. The place provides coats, gloves and shoes.
*St Thomas Skyride – The Skyride takes 24 passengers every 7 minutes up to 700 feet above the town of Charlotte Armalle. Once up there, people can shop, eat and drink.
Popular Things to see:
*Blackbeard’s Castle – A watchtower that was built in 1679 and used by the infamous pirate Blackbeard to watch for ships entering the harbor.
*Bluebeard’s Castle – Not to be the only “beard” without a castle, this fortress is named after Bluebeard, who was rumored to lock his beautiful wife away.
*99 Steps – Built in the mid-1700s by Danes who discovered that bricks were the simplest way to climb the sharp hills of Charlotte Amalle. Interestingly, there are 103 steps total.
*Fort Christian and Museum – This is the oldest building still in use on St Thomas (built in 1680) and was used to defend the Danish settlements.
Similar to St Thomas, St John is exclusive, breathtaking, and is only accessible by boat. St John is famously known for Trunk Bay, a National Park containing an absolutely breathtaking beach that is arguably the most popular beach on the Islands. While St Thomas is known for its attractions, St John is known for its scenic backdrop and well-preserved architecture.
Popular Things to see/do:
Annaberg Sugar Plantation Ruins – An old plantation, where sugar, molasses and rum were produced. Also, there is a cultural demonstration and the ruins of an old windmill.
Cinnamon Bay – Containing an old beachfront Danish building, this place is well-known for its variety of cool watersport activities – snorkeling, windsurfing and kayaking.
Hawksnest Beach – Stunning and open, Hawksnest is one of St Johns more beautiful beaches. Hawksnest is also a great place for the family, with abundant parking, eating tables and grills.
Leinster Bay – Serene and beautiful, this place is popular with snorkelers. An abundance of marine life is here as well, including stingrays and starfish.
Pastory Gardens – an 18-hole miniature hold course with 40 to 60 foot putting greens, a garden and eatery.
Reef Bay Trail and Petroglyphs – A hugely-popular trail in the national park, this expedition will take you down 937 feet of shaded forest, while exploring detectable remains of sugar estates and ancient petroglyph rock carvings.
Trunk Bay – A National Park containing an absolutely breathtaking beach that is arguably the most popular beach on the Islands. Also extremely cool is the underwater snorkeling trail of the park.
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