St. Thomas is the busiest cruise-ship harbor in the West Indies. Bustling Charlotte Amalie, with its white houses and bright red roofs glistening in the sun, is one of the most beautiful towns in the Caribbean. It's most famous for shopping, but the town is also filled with historic sights, like Fort Christian, an intriguing 17th-century building constructed by the Danes. Outside of town, the beaches are renowned for their white sand and calm, turquoise waters, including the very best of them all, Magens Bay.
Things to Do
Pretty 18th-century buildings surround the harbor of the active port of Charlotte Amalie, where warehouses once filled with pirate booty still stand. Watch butterflies flutter at the Butterfly Farm or see the colorful Caribbean water world from an Atlantissubmarine dive. Explore island history in the red-brick Fort Christian. Laze in the white sands at Magens Bay, or seek shade under the coconut palms of Secret Harbour on the East End. For a little seclusion, try Limetree Beach or Vessup Bay.
Shopping
Spend freely at the designer boutiques and jewelry stores of Charlotte Amalie. Sift through pottery, silk-screened fabrics, candles, and watercolors at Tillett Gardens, or duck into the warehouses on Main Street for island trinkets and clothing. When you tire of French perfumes and Swiss watches, head for Market Square for ackee, cassava, and breadfruit, or buy local crafts and souvenirs from nearby Havensight Mall. Duty-free shopping bargains include china, crystal, perfumes, jewelry (especially emeralds), Haitian art, clothing, watches, and items made of wood.
Nightlife and Entertainment
St. Thomas sizzles with the most extensive nightlife in the U.S. or British Virgin Islands. Charlotte Amalie still swings with waterfront pubs and bars, but much of the action has shifted to the bars and restaurants of Frenchtown. The big hotels have the most lively options, and after a day in the hot sun, you can wind down with a cocktail and local fungi band playing traditional music on homemade instruments.
Restaurants and Dining
St. Thomas adds an eclectic mix of cuisines -- including American, Italian, Mexican, and Asian -- to its spicy Caribbean palate. Charlotte Amalie is dense with restaurants, but the East End has a variety of spots as well. Seafood specialties abound, such as ""ole wife"" and yellowtail at waterfront dining rooms, or splurge on Coral Bay crab cakes served with island rémoulade on an elegant terrace. Most local restaurants serve johnnycake, a popular fried, unleavened bread.
The Paradise Point Tramway overlooking Charlotte Amalie. (©United States Virgin Islands)
