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US Virgin Islands
The United States Virgin Islands offer a Caribbean experience within the US territory. The islands present a lot of exciting activity opportunity, so make sure that you make the full value of your trip and do all things necessary on the US virgin islands of St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John. There is a lot to do from snorkeling, scuba diving, duty free shopping to just relaxing on the beach. Here is a list of your would-be activities on a trip to the US Virgin Islands.
• St Thomas skyride to Paradise point: Take the St. Thomas skyride that takes you 700 ft above the Charlotte Amalie town. The view of the ride is breathtaking and once you reach the summit point , you feel the true meaning of freedom and vacation at Paradise point. The Paradise point has been voted the best view of 2009 & 2010. (http://www.paradisepointtramway.com/). Slowly stroll on the nature trail gathering pleasant memories and exploring the local flora and fauna. Don’t miss the wedding Gazebo and take beautiful pictures of the blue Caribbean. Enjoy your time in Paradise point with your family and friends while you search for duty free Caribbean treasures from the tourist shops. A fun experience at Paradise point is to see the antics of exotic birds and be amazed at their intelligence. The exotic bird show is held twice daily and after the show you can have your own pirate snap with the parrot on your shoulders. As the day cruises to the evening, enjoy the sunset with a great dinner at any of the restaurants.
• Take photos of iguanas on Sapphire beach: You will find a lot of Iguanas roaming on sapphire beach, they are harmless as long as you do not bother them. Click photos from a distance and do not try to feed them. You can also engage in a variety of water sports on Sapphire beach. Water sports that are available on the Sapphire beach include wind surfing, kayaking, jet skis and para-sailing. There is a beach bar,some gift shops and a restaurant on the beach. On Sunday afternoons you can enjoy live music on the beach and also in the beach bar. Also, you will always find some hands ready for a game of beach volleyball.
• Snorkel at Coki beach on St. Thomas: Snorkel in the crystal clear waters of the Coki beach in St Thomas. A great variety of fishes will accompany you. If you are tired of snorkeling, you can just rent a beach chair and an umbrella to relax. However, there is very little parking available and the beach gets crowded. To avoid the crowds, visit the beach after 3 pm.
• Visit the Bluebeards castle in Charlotte Amalie. Local legends say that the castle built by the famous pirate for Mercedita, the woman he loved all his life. However, history book says that the castle was built by the Danes in 1689 to help with the protection of Fort Christian. The fort’s located on Bluebeard’s hill, East of Charlotte Amalie.
Saint Croix is the largest of the US Virgin Islands although the capital city, Charlotte Amelie, is located on St Thomas. Saint Croix itself has two towns Frederiksted (pop. 830) and Christiansted (pop. 3,000). The name of the island comes from the original Spanish name used by Christopher Columbus in 1493 - Santa Cruz or 'Holy Cross'. As Santa Cruz, Saint Croix gets a lot of mention in swashbuckling stories of pirates and buccaneers sailing on the Spanish Main.
The populace before the Europeans got there was Arawak and Carib and they had likely been there since about 5000 BC. After 1493 the population of the Caribbean became involved in a 100 years war with the Spanish and the kind of people living on the island altered forever.
Saint Croix has been owned and therefore chiefly occupied by the Spanish, The British, the French, the Dutch, the Maltese and the Danish all of whom had slaves and plantations
The slaves were freed in 1848, but many decided to remain on Saint Croix. Descendants of slaves still live on the island. The total population of the island is now about 60,000.
English is the official language and is the most commonly spoken, although there is also some Spanish, French Creole and Virgin islands Creole, better known as Crucian, which is spoken by most inhabitants in informal situations.
This Hispanic segment of the Crucian populace is mostly of Puerto Rican descent. The US bought Vieques from Puerto Rico during the Second World War and evacuated its inhabitants. Many moved to St Croix because of its resemblance to Vieques. These people have fitted in well, but also kept some of their old customs. They frequently speak a mixture of Spanish and Crucian English in a unique form of Spanglish.
Continental Americans make up about 13% of the population and mostly live on the eastern side of St Croix. Arab Palestinians are also a significant minority owning most of the petrol stations and supermarkets on St Croix. Other modern immigrants have moved from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the Philippines.
There has been some hostility between immigrants and those calling themselves 'real Crucians', but it has largely evaporated due to intermarriage. There have been attempts to classify a 'real Crucian'.
The issue seems to have been sorted out when in 2009, the proposed U.S. Virgin Islands Constitution voted by the Fifth Constitutional Convention recommended three definitions of U.S. Virgin Islanders: "Ancestral Native Virgin Islander", who have ancestral ties (and their descendants); "Native Virgin Islander", who were born on the island (and their descendants); and "Virgin Islander", who are any United States citizen who has resided in the territory for five years.
Christianity, in the guise of Protestantism is the predominant
religion, although the Hispanic community is Roman Catholic. There are
also small groups of Jews and followers of Rastafari, Islam.
About the Author
Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with St Croix Virgin Islands. If you are interested in St Croix Vacation Rentals in the US Virgin Islands, please click through to our site.
If you are planning a St. Thomas Virgin Islands vacation, then you are in for a real treat. Featuring 32 square miles of a lush tropical paradise, the area can best be seen through the winding hills, mountainous roadways and breathtaking shorelines. Whether you rent a car or take a guided tour, every image seen is likely to be even more dramatic than the one before it.
One of the most popular attractions to visit during your St. Thomas Virgin Islands vacation is Drake's Seat, which is the point where Sir Francis Drake used to sit in order to observe his fleet. Just below it is Magens Bay Beach, which was voted as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world by National Geographic magazine. To the west is MountainTop, which sits 1,500 feet above seal level and features festive shopping and is home to the Banana Daiquiri. On the other side of town resides Paradise Point, which is fittingly named as visitors will confirm. Here, you will find a 700ft. tramway that looks out over Charlotte Amalie Harbor and beyond.
One of the most important aspects of any St. Thomas Virgin Islands vacation is finding the right accommodations. On St. Thomas, there are premiere hotels and even guesthouses. For those who enjoy dining out, there are a number of fine dining opportunities featuring international cuisine. As for recreation, a St. Thomas Virgin Islands vacation will not disappoint. Everything from an 18-hole golf course to a marine park, multiple tennis facilities, charter boats and a bowling center, there is plenty to see and do. Historical sites are also popular among travelers and no St. Thomas Virgin Islands vacation would be complete without learning a little about the area's history.
There are a number of ways to see the sites during your next St. Thomas Virgin Islands vacation. From walking to driving and even flying, there are plenty of ways to see the best that this tropical island paradise has to offer. The local helicopter service is available for scenic tours or general transportation. Charters are said to be reasonably priced and can be arranged by most hotels. Car rentals, another popular way of touring the area, is available to those who have a valid driver's license and the understanding that driving is on the left side of the road. No local permit is required to operate an automobile during your next St. Thomas Virgin Islands vacation. If you would prefer to take a safari bus, a normal tour lasts under two hours and can be arranged by your hotel. Everyone is familiar with taxis, which allow for an air-conditioned tour that can be done either according to your own itinerary or, if you do not have one, your driver can show you around. If you prefer walking, make sure that you bring sunscreen, sunglasses and wear comfortable shoes. The landmarks and points of interest are plentiful and often challenging.
Whether you choose to see the sites of your St. Thomas Virgin Islands vacation by ground or air, take the time to enjoy the magic that is exclusive of this lush tropical island. Don't forget the camera and plenty of film because, without a doubt, you will need it.
The US Virgin Islands comprise 50 islands the main being St Thomas , St John and St Croix. The latter is the largest is also the most diverse. Characterful buildings and shops line the streets of Christiansted and Frederiksted, and there are the gorgeous beaches and waters backed against rolling hills.
Why not start taking bookings for your US Virgin Islands accommodation on Landed Travel Resorts
There is an 850 acre reef park here to maintain the quality of scuba diving. St John is known for its beaches and it too has a protected marine reserve. It is also mostly protected national park. St Thomas is more lively and has a duty free shopping. There is a wide range of accomodation options. All activities and sports are catered for including tennis golf horseback riding.
