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St. Thomas Activities
Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas is a shopper's paradise both in the amount of shopping
available and in the charm of the town itself. Stores are located in old Danish
warehouses, along the waterfront, and in tight alleys that connect the two. You'll find an
incredible array of jewelry, watches, liquor, china, crystal, linens, clothing, and
leather goods all at duty-free prices.
Shopping is not all that Charlotte Amalie has to offer. Fort Christian, located next to
the
vendor's market, is worthy of a visit. This red-brick fort has served as everything from a
jail to the Governor's residence. If you feel energetic, climb the 99 Steps. These steps
were needed as a result of impractical planning by Danish engineers who were accustomed to
building on relatively flat terrain. The engineers failed to visit this far-from-flat
island before planning its original infrastructure.
The half-mile-long beach at Magens Bay is considered by many to be one of the most
beautiful in the world. The long, U-shaped bay is nestled between green hillsides. It is a
favorite stop for cruise ship passengers. There are also nice beaches at the Sapphire
Beach Resort, Morning Star Beach Resort, Ritz-Carlton, and Renaissance Grand Resort. Coki
Point is a small beach with good snorkeling. At Coki Point, you'll also find Coral World
where you can view local marine life without getting wet.
On a clear day, the rolling hills of St. Thomas afford plenty of wonderful views and photo
opportunities. The Paradise Point Tramway, located across from the Havensight cruise ship
docks, takes you on a seven-minute ride in a cable car to a height of 700 feet. A viewing
platform, snack bar, and small shops are found at the top. Mountain Top is a popular stop
for island tours. Have a banana daiquiri while admiring the views from the decks 1,500
feet above sea level. The Estate St. Peter Greathouse Botanical Gardens is yet another
spot featuring incredible views. Be sure to look at the photos in the greathouse that
illustrate the damage from Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Hurricane Marilyn in 1995.
Golfers will find a single course on St. Thomas, Mahogany Run. The highlight of this
par-70 course is the "Devil's Triangle" on the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes.
Quality sportfishing can be found near St. Thomas due to its proximity to the Puerto Rico
Trench. Charters are usually arranged at the American Yacht Harbor in Red Hook.
St. Thomas' proximity to other Virgin Islands makes day trips an interesting option. St.
John is just a short, inexpensive ferry trip away. Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands,
is another popular day trip. Tour the island, stop at a pretty beach, and enjoy
the blend of British and Caribbean character in Road Town. If time permits, we'd recommend
a trip to Virgin Gorda. The Baths in Virgin Gorda is one of the most visually impressive
beaches
in the world.
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