Fun things to do in U. S. Virgin Islands

I was only there for the day as one of the stops of my cruise, but I have to say that you must visit Magens Bay. You have to pay $3.00 to get in, but it's worth every penny! It has to be the most beautiful beach I have ever seen. Soft white sand and super crystal clear water. It is shallow for a long distance, so it's good for families with kids and people who don't like deep waters.

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Everyone should take a day sail on the Rumbaba with Captain Bobby and First Mate Karen. We left from the American Yacht Harbor and sailed to Hawksnest Bay in St. John. When we got there we snorkeled and saw the most amazing fish and coral. It was the best!!! After that we got back on the boat and had a fabulous lunch. We had hot artichoke dip, crackers, veggies, and grilled shrimp with a sweet chili sauce for appetizers. Our main course was a terriyaki grilled Mahi Mahi with dilled asparagus and pasta salad. We also ahd a very delicious salad. After lunch we opted to take a sail around the islands. We went past Tortola BVI, Congo Cay, Grasskey Cay, and Mingo Cay before returning to St. Thomas. Our dessert was hot chocolate chips cookies. We really enjoyed this.

All of the Caribbean Islands have coral reefs to snorkel or dive, and although the USVI's may not lay claim to having the best of all, they certainly have some lovely and easily accessible reefs. Some you can paddle out to see from the shore, like the popular snorkeling trail at Trunk Bay. Others (like Buck Island Reef off St. Croix) can be reached by taking a day cruise on one of the many small boat charters available all over the islands.
(Again, island-specific details to follow!)

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Kekoa is by far one of the best day sails in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Kekoa is a 50 ft catamaran that offers day sails from St. John to the British Virgin Islands. The boat is run by the owners who built the catamaran themselves and have a great story as to how they got into the business and how they came to own Kekoa. But I won't go into the details of that. I will let you hear the story when you take your own trip on Kekoa.

Our trip began at the Ferry dock in Red Hook, St. John. We quickly boarded and were taken to the immigration office on Tortola, BVI where as we hear stories about the boat, the crew handles all the immigration paperwork. After everything was set with the immigration office, we head to Sandy Cay, a small island with beautiful white sand. We had 45 minutes here to explore the inside of the island and then meet back at the boat for breakfast.

After breakfast, we went snorkeling nearby. After everyone had their fill of snorkeling, it was time for lunch at Foxy's Taboo. Lunch was followed by a trip to the famous White Bay where the group enjoyed relaxing on the beach and the boat.

Kekoa is a great boat but that is not what makes the trip exceptional. It is the crew, the places we visited, and the experiences that truly make this trip perfect. If I am back in St. John, I fully expect to take a trip on Kekoa again.

One great place to see nurse sharks, turtles and starfish on St. John is the area around Leinster Bay and Waterlemon Cay.

You can arrive there by parking by the Annaberg Ruins parking lot and taking a 15 minute hike down the Leinster Bay Trail. The beach at Leinster Bay is nothing special. It is a fairly small beach surrounded by trees. However, the star attractions are just a few feet into the water.

During my last trip, I was swimming with a turtle and a baby nurse shark. You can spend half a day exploring the waters around Leinster Point and Waterlemon Cay. Just be sure to watch out for the motor boats and yachts that often come in. Also, there isn't much shade if you come in during the early part of the day. So, be sure to come prepared with a beach umbrella. Also, as mentioned above, this is a fairly small beach. So, there could be days when the good beach spots are taken up. Therefore, either plan to arrive early or late in the day. Additionally, be sure to bring snacks and drinks (especially water). The trail is fairly short but with the heat, it feels like you have been walking for an hour. Snacks and drinks at the end of the hike will be a welcome respite.

You wont be missing much if you skip the beaches on the south shore of St. John. The beaches in the majority are fairly rocky and I hadn't found very many snorkeling spots which came close to the level of Trunk Bay on the north shore. The best one I found on the south shore was Kindle Bay. I did see a turtle and a stingray here. As we became bored with the snorkeling, we ended up climbing the rocks on the far right of the beach. The attached picture of Kindle Bay was taken from one of the rocks that jutted out into the water.

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As most people who visit St. John know, Trunk Bay is by far the best beach on the island. With the amazing snorkeling and almost pink sand beaches, it is a must see for anyone visiting the island. If you would like to experience the beach without the crowds, visit after 4:00 PM in the summer. You don't have to pay the entrance fee as the front office is closed and there is barely anyone left on the beach.

Snorkeling at Coki Beach was one of our favorite activities on St. Thomas. The water was crystal clear. There were so many variety of fishes there. Another perk was that the beach is lined with food vendors which offer a variety of snack foods. When you are tired of the snorkeling, you can rent a beach chair and umbrella to lounge in.

One important item to note is that there is very little parking available and the beach will get crowded. Your best bet would be to get there after 3:00 PM.