Destination:
US Virgin Islands

St Thomas is the second largest and most sophisticated of the Virgin Islands with a strong Danish influence especially evident in Charlotte Amalie, the main town and capital. Being the most accessible of the islands also means it is the most heavily developed and visited, with visitors from around the world attracted by the town's reputation as an international shopping Mecca.

It is also scenically beautiful, with numerous headlands and coves, forested hills providing stunning vistas over the Caribbean, and some of the best white-sand beaches in the Caribbean. Magens Bay beach on the north coast is acclaimed as one of the finest in the world and the sparkling waters and coral reef of Coki Bay are superb for snorkelling. Fabulous panoramas can be viewed from Drake's Seat, a high point in the centre of the island from where Sir Francis Drake used to watch for enemy ships.

Sports and activities are abundant on St Thomas. There are snorkelling and dive sites, excellent greens for golf enthusiasts, sport fishing and yachting opportunities. The educational Coral World Marine Park and Observatory provides a unique look at the goings-on of Caribbean marine life, and the nearby resort town of Red Hook is a smaller version of Charlotte Amalie, with dining and shopping. It is the jumping off point to other Caribbean islands and the upmarket beach resorts nearby.

Combining natural beauty with first-rate amenities, St Thomas offers numerous activities on and off the water, fine hotels and international cuisine.

The smallest of the islands, two thirds of St John consists of a national park, a peaceful and largely unspoilt paradise for nature lovers that offers pristine forests, secluded white beaches, hidden coves, reefs and miles of hiking trails.

Danish immigrants were the first settlers and became extensive producers of sugarcane. Today the abandoned 18th century plantations scattered about the island provide a reminder of a once-thriving agricultural community. A walk around the ruins of the Annaberg Sugar Plantation, for example, offers a historical glimpse of St John with magnificent views of the British Virgin Islands.

In 1956 the beauty of the island grabbed the attention of the wealthy Laurence Rockefeller who bought a large piece of land to preserve its pristine loveliness and donated it to the government as a national park. Today the Virgin Island National Park offers numerous guided or independent hiking trails into the interior with stunning views from the ridges and a variety of flora and fauna, including wild cats, hummingbirds and iguanas. Of the dozens of beaches the most popular is Trunk Bay, one of the world's most photographed spots, that offers swimming and excellent marine life in the protected reefs. There is also an underwater snorkelling trail with signs identifying the types of coral and its inhabitants.

The centre of activity on St John is Cruz Bay, a small town offering speciality shopping, lively bars and delicious cuisine, as well as jeep rental services and dive centres. There is limited accommodation on the island.

Less developed than St Thomas, St Croix is the largest and most remote of the three inhabited Virgin Islands, covered in forested hills, fertile lowlands and surrounded by coral reefs with excellent diving, particularly along the north coast.

Located 40 miles (64km) south of St Thomas, the island has two main towns, Christiansted on the north east coast and Frederiksted to the west. Both prospered as commercial ports during the 18th and 19th centuries. Christiansted is a lively town offering trips to the tiny Buck Island as a popular excursion. Frederiksted is smaller and a sleepy place until the occasional cruise ship arrives for a spree of duty-free shopping. Both towns contain numerous examples of fine Danish colonial architecture. The surrounding landscape is scattered with remnants of sugar plantations, stone windmill towers and ruined houses from the island's commercial heyday in the sugarcane industry. Whim Greathouse is an impressive planter's mansion, restored to reflect its glory days in the 1700s, and is one of the main historical sights on St Croix. Rum production was another of the island's primary industries and visitors can visit the Cruzan Rum Distillery for guided tours and free tastings. The Heritage Trail is a self-guided trip that links the main sights of interest on the island.

Along with its picturesque beaches and superb diving, St Croix has a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, including hiking, historic sights and attractions, golf and horse riding. There are fine hotels, excellent dining and casinos.