US Virgin Islands, United States

The U.S. Virgin Islands comprise three main islands -- St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix -- plus about 50 smaller islets and cays scattered across some of the most beautiful water in the Caribbean. Like Puerto Rico, the USVI is a U.S. territory, meaning American citizens need no passport, the dollar is the currency, and domestic phone plans work without roaming charges. Yet the islands feel worlds away from the mainland, with their Danish colonial architecture painted in tropical pastels, lush green hillsides tumbling down to turquoise bays, and a relaxed pace of life that encourages visitors to leave their watches in the hotel safe. The three islands each have a distinct personality, ensuring that travelers can find exactly the Caribbean experience they are looking for, whether it is vibrant nightlife, pristine nature, or quiet cultural exploration.

St. Thomas is the most developed of the three islands and the primary cruise ship port, welcoming more than two million cruise passengers annually. Charlotte Amalie, its capital, was once one of the busiest trading ports in the Caribbean, and its duty-free shopping along Main Street and the historic warehouses of Dronningens Gade still draw bargain hunters looking for jewelry, liquor, and electronics. But the island's real treasures are its beaches and viewpoints. Magens Bay, a heart-shaped bay ringed by tropical hills, is consistently ranked among the top ten beaches in the world and charges a small entrance fee that goes toward conservation. The Skyride to Paradise Point offers panoramic views of the harbor, and the island's 32 square miles are packed with hidden coves, coral reefs, and hillside restaurants where the catch of the day comes with a sunset view that money cannot buy.

Complete assignment is listed as: Subject: Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne [and aides] to St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, [for tour of Virgin Islands National Park and other natural and developed…© Department of the Interior. National Business Center. Administrative Operations Directorate. Division of Employee and Public Services. Creative Communications Branch. Photographic Services. 2000, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

St. John is the crown jewel for nature lovers and one of the most protected islands in the Caribbean. Nearly two-thirds of the island is preserved as Virgin Islands National Park, donated to the U.S. government by philanthropist Laurance Rockefeller in 1956 after he fell in love with the island while camping there. Trunk Bay, within the park, features an underwater snorkeling trail marked with informational plaques among pristine coral gardens, making it one of the most unique snorkeling experiences in the world. Hiking trails crisscross the island's green interior, passing the ruins of 18th-century sugar plantations being slowly reclaimed by the tropical forest, and the Reef Bay Trail descends through lush vegetation to ancient Taino petroglyphs and a beachside sugar mill ruin. Cruz Bay, the main town, is a laid-back gathering of open-air restaurants, art galleries, and ferry docks where island time is the only schedule.

St. Croix, the largest of the three islands at 84 square miles, is the least touristy and arguably the most culturally rich. Christiansted, the main town, is a grid of Danish colonial buildings painted in tropical pastels, anchored by Fort Christiansvaern, a bright yellow waterfront fortress built in 1749. Frederiksted on the west coast is smaller and quieter, with its own fort, a beautifully restored Victorian-era waterfront, and a pier that offers some of the best shore diving in the entire Caribbean, especially at night when the pier lights attract octopus, seahorses, and bioluminescent creatures. Buck Island Reef National Monument, a short boat ride offshore, protects an underwater coral garden so spectacular that it became the first underwater trail in the U.S. National Park System. The island is also home to Cruzan Rum, whose distillery has been producing rum since the 1760s and offers tours and tastings.

Title: Cultivating sugar cane on the Virgin Islands Company land, vicinity of Bethlehem, St. Croix Abstract/medium: 1 slide : color.© Jack Delano, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The USVI enjoys warm weather year-round, with temperatures averaging 77 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit. The dry season from January through April is the most popular and most expensive time to visit, while June through November is hurricane season, though the territory's location at the northeastern edge of the Caribbean provides somewhat less hurricane exposure than islands farther south. St. Thomas offers the most nightlife and shopping, St. John is best for hiking and snorkeling in protected parkland, and St. Croix appeals to visitors seeking cultural depth, culinary adventure, and fewer crowds. Ferry service connects St. Thomas and St. John in just 20 minutes, while St. Croix requires a short flight or longer ferry. Driving is on the left side of the road, a holdover from Danish colonial days despite the use of American left-hand-drive vehicles, which creates an entertaining learning curve for newcomers. Whether you are snorkeling a national park underwater trail, exploring 18th-century Danish forts, or diving the Frederiksted Pier by moonlight, the USVI offers Caribbean beauty with American convenience.