St Thomas is ranked as one of the leading cruise ports in the world. It has earned its popularity due to the fact that it offers anything for almost everyone who visits the place. For example, US based travelers can get an extra duty-free allowance from customs making duty free shopping in this location unparalleled. You can either decide to visit the more populated sites or the few undiscovered sites where you can enjoy trips to Water Island, fabulous restaurants in Frenchtown, historic district, north shore beaches and many more. There is so much to be done such that it would be important to have an idea of the best sites to visit.
Explore St. Thomas
One of the most unique and spectacular places to visit is the Butterfly Garden. Home to a good number of butterflies around the world, the garden has a lush tropical environment. A normal tour takes about half an hour. Knowledgeable guides will entertain you with some of the most fascinating facts about butterflies. At the same time, you will be able to gain knowledge on the metamorphosis of a butterfly and factors influencing the same. If you are wearing perfumed lotions and bright colors, you will attract some of the butterflies and they will come to you! The garden is mostly open from 8:30 in the morning to 4 in the evening during summer.
Coral World Ocean Park is one of the greatest attractions of St. Thomas’s that you can spend some time in. In this park, you can get up close and personal with the magic and beauty of Caribbean based marine life. There is a unique Undersea Observatory that you can use to view the sea life. You have the option of hand feeding a rainbow lorikeet or stingray, and even pet a shark! There are shower facilities, cafes and several gift shops at your disposal. Other activities in the park include Sea Trek Helmet Dive, Sea Lion activities, Shark and Turtle Encounters.
Caribbean Eco-Tours
An eco-tour is also another way to enjoy your stay in St. Thomas. If you are interested in kayaking, you can go kayaking to Historic Hassel Island from Frenchtown using the Virgin Island National Park. Get a guide and paddle past Careening Cove, British and Danish Colonial ruins. You can also do a ten minute hike that will end up at a British Fort (Fort Willoughby) from Napoleonic era. You can continue kayaking to a picturesque and secluded beach. This beach offers relaxation in the shade, a cool dip or snorkeling with marine life.
Other cool attractions in St. Thomas include Drake’s Seat and Mountain Top. Drake’s Seat is a spot that was used by a British privateer to spy on Spanish enemy ships. You can stop on this spot and enjoy the same view. It is a wonderful place to take scenic photographs. The highest point in St. Thomas is the summit of St. Peter Mountain. It is referred to as Mountain Top or Signal Hill and it is 1,542 feet above sea level. Mountain Top houses a bar, dining area and shops that have a breathtaking view of Magen’s Bay, British Virgin Islands and Drake’s passage.
