DISCOVER ST. THOMAS
Saint Thomas is an island in the Caribbean Sea, a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), an unincorporated territory of the United States.
Located on the island is the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The city is named after Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel) (1650-1714), queen consort to King Christian V of Denmark. It is famous as a deep-water harbor that was once a haven for pirates and is now a famed cruise ship port of call, with about 1.5 million cruise ship passengers landing there in 2004.
Charlotte Amalie has many buildings of historical importance and is home to the second-oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere.
 TRANSPORTATION
Saint Thomas is serviced by the Cyril E. King Airport.
The USVI is the only place under United States jurisdiction where the rule of the road is to drive on the left. This was inherited from what was the then-current Danish practice at the time of the American purchase in 1917. However, because Saint Thomas is a U.S. territory, most cars are imported from the mainland United States and as a result, the steering column is located on the left side of the vehicle.
There are open-air cabs, also known as the "dollar bus". It costs one or two dollars depending on one's destination, and is the cheapest way to navigate the island. There are set routes that it follows. One passes by every drop-off location about every 5-10 minutes.
Passenger and limited car ferry services to neighboring islands such as Water Island, Saint John, Saint Croix, and the British Virgin Islands run regularly out of the Red Hook, Charlotte Amalie, and Crown Bay marinas.
BLACKBEARD'S CASTLE
Blackbeard's Castle is one of five National Historic Landmarks in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is located in the city of Charlotte Amalie, on the island of Saint Thomas. Built in 1679 by the Danes as a watchtower to protect the harbor, it was originally called Skytsborg Tower (meaning sky tower). It is located at the highest point on Government Hill.
Danish soldiers used Skytsborg as a vantage point to spot enemy ships. It is not known what year Skytsborg Tower took on the name of Blackbeard's Castle, but the infamous Edward Teach, commonly known as Blackbeard, did sail the Caribbean waters in the early 1700s. It has become part of the lore of the island that he used the tower as a lookout for his own purposes of piracy. It was the centerpiece of a private residence for many years, but now is surrounded by a small hotel (The Inn at Blackbeard's Castle), a restaurant and a pool.
BUCK ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge is located about 2 miles (4 km) south of the island of Saint Thomas. There are actually two "Buck Islands." The National Wildlife Refuge occupies the one near Saint Thomas. The one just north of Saint Croix is the centerpiece of Buck Island Reef National Monument. Adjacent to the refuge is Capella Island, about half the size of Buck, owned by the territorial government.
The refuge is characterized by a thorn scrub habitat with rocky coastline surrounded by spectactular reefs. A lighthouse (still maintained by the United States Coast Guard) stands over 45 acres (180,000 m2) of cactus and grassland. The island was transferred to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service due to "its value for migratory birds." The U.S. Navy transferred some lands in 1969 and the remainder was received from the Coast Guard in 1981. The surrounding waters contain reefs and a shipwreck that attract large numbers of snorkelers, divers, and boaters.
FORT CHRISTIAN
Fort Christian is a Danish-built fort in Saint Thomas, constructed by the Danish government in the 1600s who occupied the small Caribbean island. As the oldest standing structure in the U.S. Virgin Islands, this fort has served as a town center, a government building, and a jail. It currently holds the Saint Thomas Museum. This museum holds artifacts and art of the Danish period. As of April 2007 the fort is under renovation.
MAGEN'S BAY
Magens Bay is a world-famous beach on Saint Thomas. Located on the North (Atlantic) side of the island, Magens Bay is a well-protected white sand beach stretching for nearly a mile. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island. Entrance fee to the beach was four dollars per person as of October 2008.
With its clear water, soft sand, and palm trees, it is commonly considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and National Geographic has recognized it as such[citation needed].
The beach amenities are owned privately by the local Dimopolous family who reside on the island of Saint Thomas. They include lifeguards, a snack counter, bar, souvenir shop, chair and beach toy rentals, windsurf and boat rentals, and showers and bathrooms.
MAGEN'S BAY ARBORETUM
The Magens Bay Arboretum (5 acres) is an arboretum located just inland of Magens Bay. It is operated by the Magens Bay Authority and open to the public.
The arboretum was planted in the 1920's under the direction of Arthur Fairchild who in 1947 deeded Magens Bay to the people of the Virgin Islands. Established as a private arboretum on his estate, it was said to contain 200 species representing 71 plant families, including 20 species local to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The arboretum was neglected after his death, but in 1974 the University of the Virgin Islands began to provide technical assistance, starting with the labeling of rare trees. The Charlotte Amalie Rotary Club aided in its restoration.
The arboretum reopened in 1995 only to be destroyed by Hurricane Marilyn three months later. However in 1997, another 160 trees were purchased and planted. Several are extremely rare native species, such as the small tree, Solanum conocarpum, known from only one location in the dry forest of Saint John. Other acquisitions included five plumeria varieties from the Honolulu Botanical Gardens.
From Wikipedia.org, the Free Encyclopedia
 U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS TOURS & TRAVEL
HOME •
CARIBBEAN •
DISCOVER •
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS •
Discover Saint Thomas
|
|
Looking for something specific?
|
|
CARIBBEAN TOURS & TRAVEL
Attractions, Culture, and more...
