US Virgin Islands

US Virgin Islands

INTRODUCTION

Why choose The US Virgin Islands for a holiday? If you are looking for a holiday destination which can offer everything then you must consider The US Virgin Islands. Even the weather has something for everyone. The island is bounded by ocean which is warm all year and suitable for water sports all year round. These islands are lucky enough to be placed so that it seldom experiences hurricanes, there are earthquakes, but even these are unlikely to be severe enough to upset your holiday. The US Virgin Islands is more than just an island; it is a whole group of islands, each one with something special to offer.

ACCOMODATION

Plan visit to the U.S. Virgin Islands. The gentle pace of Islands life is an ideal setting for grown-up quiet time; a many island accommodations offer an ever-increasing slate of kid-friendly activities. There are resorts which offer roomy family suites and villas but be sure to watch for resort’s promotions that often let “kids stay free”. The clubs are also available which offers field trips and “dive in” movies along with swimming pools, sailing and tennis lessons, sandcastle construction, iguana feeding and crab races. Many hotels here are located at seaside where people feel themselves as in adventurous movies. Many of the hotels here offer fine dining and spa treatments to boutique shopping and dive spots known throughout the world. And in lots of hotels there is plantation, which has been restored to original 1700s appearance for its beauty to watch. When you are on visit to these places, check out for its special packages for families, which can include a rental car, champagne for mom and dad, and tennis for kids. Spacious rooms easily accommodate large families which are offered by some of hotels. And all the rooms have refrigerators in some hotels. Here both deluxe and budget accommodations are available. Thus one can prefer to stay in any hotel as per ones convenience and budget. The various accommodations recommend a fantastic view of the beaches, sea and the surrounding landscapes. They have all the services like concierge services, wedding facilities, meeting rooms, laundry services, 24-hours information desk and others that make your stay a comfortable one. The rooms in the hotels and resorts are spacious and mark huge comfortable beds, closets, ceiling fans, writing table and chairs. In villas, the rooms also have private balconies, which offer a perfect view of the outside scenery. They also include attached bathrooms with showers and washbasins. The amusement options are good over here.

Some of the hotels and resorts available are The Palms at Pelican Cove, The Buccaneer-St, Croix,  Gallows Point Resorts, Riytz-Carlton St. Thomas, Caneel Bay, A Rosewood resort, Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, Carambola Beach Resort and Spa, Chenay Bay Beach Resort, Secret Harbour Beach Resort and many others.

HISTORY

Historian manuscripts show that the first residents, the Ciboneys, arrived on the islands during what is considered the Pre-Ceramic Culture. Arawaks were the next to arrive, launching sites around 100 AD on St. John and St. Croix. Probably the best-known residents, and those to arrive next, were the savage Caribs and the more peaceful Tainos. Confirmation of their time in the islands has been unearthed in recent years, and includes stone griddles, zemis (small carvings depicting the faces of their gods) and petroglyphs which are rock carvings visible on St. John’s Reef Bay Trail.

CULTURE, PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE

The U.S. Virgin Islands is a delight with so much more to offer than the traditional beach vacation. Visitors wishing to submerge themselves in a profound cultural experience can enjoy historical tours, culinary encounters, artisan fairs, parades, storytelling and other special presentations. Walking sightseeing on St. Thomas and St. Croix mark the diverse architecture, evidence of nations that colonized the islands in the 17th and 18th centuries. If you’re feeling brisk, walk one of the many street steps, the most famous being the 99 steps on St. Thomas, a frequent way of getting to higher ground. The cultural journey continues with a look at the life and creations of artisans and crafters who earned a living creating functional and decorative pieces. Re-established great houses now serving as museums, like Haagenson House on St. Thomas conserve this past, displaying masterfully created mahogany pieces, delicate linens and original art. Local craft cooperatives, art galleries and artist colonies show the works of today’s tradition-bearers. Annaberg Plantation wrecks in St. John’s National Park offers daily cultural demonstrations, including cooking the old-fashioned way – on a coal pot over an open flame. English is spoken everywhere among the native of these island.

PLACES TO VISIT

As the U.S. dollar is renowned as the official currency, the U.S. Virgin Islands possesses some 2 million visitors a year. Consisting of St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Water Island, The US Virgin Islands is most popular among tourists looking for an exotic vacation without feeling like they are in a "foreign" country. Most of the natives will make the capital city of Charlotte Amalie their home base for the most modern hotels, amenities and swinging nightlife — not to state that the deep sea harbor is a favorite port of call for the largest cruise ships sailing throughout the Caribbean. Close at hand, the quieter atmosphere of St. Croix also summons visitors with some of The US Virgin Island's most stunning natural beauty, along with historic sites, art galleries, restaurants and lots of duty-free shopping. For an even more serene getaway, St. John has been nominated a national park throughout almost its entire extent and remains one of the most undeveloped and laid-back of all the three chief islands. Only two resorts are there on the island, with many of its beaches left in their natural state and unspoiled by large hotels. Free souls who truly want a quiet escape should sail (by ferry, from St. Thomas) to the most new addition to the U.S. Virgin Islands, known as Water Island. Gauging only 492 acres and sparsely populated, Water Island's only concession to tourism is a number villas and cottages available for rent to visitors.

St Thomas Island, St Croix Island, and St John Island all have rental car means, and all things considered, a car is most likely the best way of getting around each of these respective islands. Rent a car, and you'll have the freedom to head off to various beaches as you please, comparing and contrasting their various qualities as you go along. When you arrive in one the larger cities in the region, you might park the car and opt for a walking tour. Even the US virgin Island’s capital city of Charlotte Amalie is small and compact, so getting around by foot is pretty much the way to go. If you don't rent a car, taxis are quite common, and you might be surprised to know that taxi tours are quite popular here. Adding extra blaze and substance to US Virgin Islands vacations are an array of interesting events and festivals. Catch one of these yearly events, and it can make for some memorable travel memories. The various events and festivals certainly justify to be mentioned among the other US Virgin Islands tourist attractions, so when deciding when to go on your US Virgin Island trip, you might take them into account. The St Thomas Carnival is just one of the interesting US Virgin Island events to consider, as is the Flavor of St Croix Festival. The sky appears to be the boundary when it comes to making the most of US Virgin Islands vacations. Also, if you are thinking of having a target wedding, the US Virgin Islands should absolutely make it onto your list of possible spots. Some of the top resorts here offer appealing wedding packages, and there may be nothing better than starting your honeymoon immediately after your ceremony! Whether you get married in the US Virgin Islands, or simply come here to get away from it all, the choices for accommodations and attractive things to do will most certainly have you thinking of a return trip as soon as it comes time to go.

While soothing on the St Thomas beaches, St Croix beaches, and St John beaches is desirable enough, scuba diving is just one of the ways to enjoy stunning Virgin Islands views. All of the main islands here have idyllic beaches, and they are purely spectacular. However, some of the best US Virgin Islands sights can be found under the ocean's surface, and scuba diving is the best way to see them. You can always go snorkeling if you like better, but snorkeling usually can't compete with scuba diving. Moreover, lots of resorts here offer dive shops and dive training and certification courses, so even beginners can embrace the sport.

When it comes to advising US Virgin Islands attractions, Buck Island definitely deserves mention. Establish just a mile from the northeast coast of St Croix; Buck Island is a hugely well-liked destination for The US Virgin Island day trips. The Buck Island Reef National Monument constitutes of the island and the coral reefs found in its area waters, and both the snorkeling and scuba diving here are about as good as it gets. Also, the island is the dwelling place of some pretty enticing hiking trails, so you might interest yourself in a trek. Possibly you will prefer lunch on the beach after exploring the famous underwater snorkeling trail here. The US Virgin island of St John is the least developed of the three main islands. Covering some 12,600 acres of St John you could find the Virgin Islands National Park, which is certainly one of the top US Virgin Islands attractions. There are more than 20 miles of nature trails in the park, and its beaches, hills, and valleys have a most charming setting. Two of the beaches here, Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay, are amid the most highly-touted St John beaches, and there is a campground here if you want to camp.

PLACES FOR AMUSEMENT

When looking for fun things to do in the US Virgin Islands, you might think about visiting this interesting rum factory on St Croix Island. The Cruzan Rums are recognized worldwide for their quality, and during your time here, you can not only see how the factory makes rum, but you can also enjoy some tasting. Also, the barrel makers here stick to traditional barrel-making practices, which is nice to watch. Among the highlights here is the old windmill, which gives knowledge about the plantation-related history of the US Virgin Islands.

The US Virgin Islands are the top shopping place in all the Caribbean, so if you enjoy shopping, you'll love this island region. Shopping is one of the many things to do in the US Virgin Islands that can be enjoyed on all of the three main islands. St Thomas and St Croix present more shops than St John does, but you can still find some fascinating goods in St John. The capital city of Charlotte Amalie, which is found on St Thomas Island, is one of the finest places to go shopping in the region. Duty-free negotiation are aplenty in the US Virgin Islands, and there is no sales tax here, which means that finding a great bargain, or bargains, is usually part of the deal.

CONCLUSION

So if you are planning a holiday in the near future, and plan on doing all the above mentioned things along with enjoying plenty of scenic beauty, the US Virgin Islands make for an excellent choice.