The island of Saint Thomas is famous for its crystal blue waters, with Magen’s Bay voted one of the world’s most beautiful beaches. The island boasts amazing coral reefs and world class scuba diving and snorkeling.
Saint Thomas is one of the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea and, together with Saint John, Water Island, and Saint Croix, form a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands, an unincorporated territory of the United States.
St. Thomas’ history and culture alone are worth a visit. Fort Christian, a U.S. National Landmark, is the oldest standing structure in the Virgin Islands and is home to the Virgin Islands Museum, where early island memorabilia and old maps trace the island’s history. Fort Christian today serves as a popular restaurant and hotel.
Market Square, a bustling produce marketplace, was once one of the West Indies’ busiest 18th-century slave markets.
Also of interest is the Synagogue of Beracha Veshalom Vegmiluth Hasidim, the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the United States. Built in 1833 for a congregation founded in 1792, it is the synagogue with the longest history of continuous use on what is now United States soil. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1997.
On nearby Government Hill, looming over Charlotte Amalie, stands Blackbeard’s Castle. Blackbeard’s Castle is one of five National Historic Landmarks in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Known during colonial times as Skytsborg, this 17th-century fortified tower served as an effective vantage point for Danish soldiers to spot enemy ships.
Government House has been the center of government in St. Thomas since the mid-1860s, located in the hills not far from the heart of Charlotte Amalie. Visitors interested in seeing St. Thomas’ political life may tour the building’s first two floors. The 99 Steps, made by bricks that were once used as ballast on Danish and British ships, were built into the hillside to keep the orderly grid of the city intact.
Spring is a great time to visit as the St. Thomas Carnival in the Caribbean is amazing. It’s the biggest party of the year and culminates in the final week of April.
Located on the island is the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The population of Saint Thomas is about 52,000 and has a land area of 32 square miles. Tourism grew in St. Thomas once the United States imposed an embargo on Cuba in 1959. Today, the USVI is a thriving destination for visitors in search of the perfect vacation.
St. Thomas is a beautiful Island that is great to visit as a family, for a romantic retreat, or to spend a great day on the beach while visiting on a cruise ship.
