If you're looking for home away from home feeling in the heart of the Caribbean, St. Thomas is the destination for you. As one of three islands in a chain under American governance, St. Thomas combines many of the conveniences of living in the United States with a spirit that is distinctly Caribbean, from its beautiful tropical scenery to the laid-back attitude of its friendly locals.

 

There are 44 beaches on St. Thomas , all of which are open to the public. Some will charge a small entrance fee to cover maintenance of the area, but the beautiful scenery of St. Thomas  beaches is well worth it. For a sure bet, try Magens Bay on the northern coast of St. Thomas  - its white sand and calm waters often get the beach listed as one of the world's best. Some the finest snorkeling in St. Thomas  is available off the shores of Sapphire Beach on the east coast, and Coki Beach in the northeast. If you're looking for the best spot to surf in St. Thomas, check out Hull Bay on the northern shore. Hint: look for parasailing, windsurfing, and kayaking outfitters near the beaches. If you're feeling adventurous, sign up for a submarine tour of one of St. Thomas'  beautiful coral reefs.

 

There are plenty of alternative activities to do in St. Thomas  that have nothing to do with the beach or the sea. Star Charters Astronomy Adventure lets you take a look at the brilliant Caribbean sky through the area's largest telescope, complete with a celestial guide to point out the stars over St. Thomas. For those interested in a little gambling on St. Thomas , the Clinton Phipps Racetrack is the place to put bets on the horses. Races are often scheduled to coincide with local holidays on St. Thomas, like the week long Carnival that runs annually sometime after Easter (varying from year to year).

 

On St. Thomas vacations there is no shortage of ways to tour the island. By foot, by taxi, by boat, or by helicopter, getting around St. Thomas shouldn't be difficult, and tours are a great way of enjoying St. Thomas vacations that just sticking to the beach wouldn't allow. St. Thomas is rich in history as well as scenic beauty; experiencing a little bit of both make St. Thomas vacations all the more memorable.

 

For a more relaxing time, take a trip on one of many St. Thomas vacations bus or taxi tours, which are geared mainly towards on-shore cruise-ship passengers, but hit all the sites nonetheless. No St. Thomas vacations would be complete without a trip to the Mountain Top lookout in the north, so ask your driver to make the stop if its not already on your itinerary.

 

St. Thomas vacations can also include one of many boat tours aimed at seeing the sites. Hop onto the Kon Tiki party boat at Frenchtown and dance all afternoon until the sun goes down, or climb aboard an amphibious craft owned by Caribbean Pelican Rides for a look at Charlotte Amalie from the land and sea. Whale-watching is also available during St. Thomas vacations, through the Environmental Association of St. Thomas-St. John (EAST).

 

St. Thomas shopping is famous throughout the West Indies as a great place to pick up duty-free items at reasonable prices. No sales tax, plus deals on jewelry, china, liquor, and linens make a day or two devoted to St. Thomas shopping a worthwhile addition to any trip there. Open-air St. Thomas shopping "malls" throughout the island also feature local artisans selling traditional Caribbean handicrafts.

 

Rich in history, culture, and natural beauty, St. Thomas is an idyllic paradise waiting to be explored.