10 USVI Must-Dos

st. thomas

1.     Dive into Coral World Ocean Park, where aquariums teem with local marine life and easy hiking trails invite visitors to connect with nature. Set off on a SNUBA adventure to experience the coral reef like a diver (minus the need for specialized training) or swim alongside a dolphin during a marine animal meet and greet.   

2.     Travel through 400+ years of Virgin Islands history with a guided hike of Hassel Island, where three historic sites, including a 19th-century stone lighthouse, showcase the island’s colonial past. The hike begins at the St. Thomas Historical Trust Museum, where you’ll hop on a boat in Charlotte Amalie Harbor and set off on a short ride to the scenic island. 

3.     Ride the Caribbean one wave at a time with Funtime Jet Ski Rentals & Boat Charters on St. Thomas.  Located at Lindbergh Bay Beach, Funtime rents jet skis, boats and paddleboards. Instructors are on hand to teach you how to flyboard in minutes, safely soaring up to 50 feet in the air. Or join a guided tour.

st. croix

4.     Take a distillery tour or sample locally brewed beers. Sip St. Croix’s favorite local spirit — rum — and learn the history of USVI’s tropical libations on a guided tour of the iconic Captain Morgan Distillery and Experience Center. Be sure to check out the interactive exhibit that celebrates the adventurous spirit of Captain Morgan and his spiced rum. Cruzan Rum Distillery tours (temporarily suspended; check website for updates) showcase how sugarcane molasses transforms into smooth rum and end with island-inspired cocktails. Sample craft beers like the Sand Bar Lager and Reef Life IPA, made with Caribbean-grown ingredients, at Leatherback Brewing Company. Enjoy a flight of house-made beers and pub fare like Caribbean-style tacos at Brew STX, a microbrewery and restaurant located on the beautiful boardwalk in downtown Christiansted. On a Mutiny Island Vodka tour at the Sion Farm Distillery, visitors can taste a range of truly tropical vodkas made with breadfruit.  

5.     Hike to the enchanting Carambola Tide Pools on St. Croix’s north shore, at Annaly Bay Beach. The strenuous hike is well worth it once you reach the breathtaking tide pools, where you can meet the incredible marine life that calls this series of large, naturally formed pools home.  

6.     Visit Fort Christiansvaern, a colonial fort that once protected the island of St. Croix from pirates and foreign invaders. Situated on a seven-acre national park, the circa 1749 fort tells the stories of the people from Europe, Africa, the West Indies and North America who lived here during the Danish colonial era (1734–1917). It’s one of the best-preserved colonial forts in the Caribbean.

7.     Snorkel the underwater trail at Buck Island Reef National Monument, or hike to the crest of the uninhabited 176-acre island, where an observation point provides a stunning overview of the surrounding coral reefs and the island’s underwater shelf, which drops 5,000 feet into the Puerto Rico Trench. 

st. john

8.     The turquoise sea pops against the powdery white sand at Trunk Bay. Snorkel the 650-foot-long Trunk Bay Underwater Snorkel Trail, where plaques in the water direct you where to go and include information about all the sea creatures you’re likely to encounter on your unique undersea trek. 

9.     Get your glow on before setting off for an unforgettable guided Night Kayak GLOW Tour. The nocturnal fun begins with glow body paint and photo ops at The Westin St. John Resort Villas. You’ll shine in vibrant color as you paddle a cove aboard a clear-bottomed kayak outfitted with lights so you can see the marine life swimming right below. 

10.   The Virgin Islands National Park on St. John offers a scenic trail for every level of hiker. The cactus-lined Ram Head Trail (1 mile) is an easy trek to the top of a 200-foot-tall, panoramic crest. On the more challenging Reef Bay Trail (5 miles), you’ll pass by plantation ruins and ancient rock carvings.

Find even more things to do in USVI.