About U.S. Virgin Islands
Explore Caribbean
Overview
The U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean consist of four large islands: St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John and Water Island, plus around 50 smaller islets and cays. The capital, Charlotte Amalie, lies on St. Thomas.
St. John and the pristine Virgin Islands National Park sits to the east. St. Croix, with its historic towns of Christiansted and Frederiksted, is due south.
Myriad countries, including Holland, France, England, Spain, and Denmark, hoped to lay claim to these island jewels. The Danes established the first settlement in St. Thomas in 1672. The United States purchased the islands from Denmark for $25 million in gold in 1917.
What To Do
Follow the underwater snorkeling trail in the irresistible turquoise waters of St. John’s Trunk Bay.
Visit the remains of Annaberg Sugar Mill near Leinster Bay, which was once one of the island’s 25 working sugar factories, and is now part of a national park.
See where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean at the magical sandbar known as the Mermaid’s Chair on glorious St. Thomas.
Explore the Cruzan Rum Distillery or Captain Morgan Rum Distillery to learn more about the history of rum production on St. Croix.
When to Go
Carnival has become one of the largest festivals in the Caribbean. The biggest party of the year begins each December on St. Croix during Three Kings Day. St. Thomas's carnival occurs the last week of April and St. John celebrates around the Fourth of July.
Whenever you decide to visit these enchanting isles, you’ll find balmy weather with relatively low humidity. Temperatures hover between 77 F in the winter and 82 F in the summertime. The wettest months are July through October, when brief showers help vacationers stay cool.
Fast Facts
The Quelbe style of folk music, with roots in Africa and Europe, is the official traditional music of the Virgin Islands.
Some favorite menu items include pumpkin fritters, kallaloo (similar to gumbo), potato stuffing and red grout (a tapioca dish introduced by the Danes).
All of the U. S. Virgin Islands combined measure a mere 133 square miles. Clearly, they are worth their weight in gold, since the United States purchased the islands in 1917 from Denmark for $25 million in gold.
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