US Virgin Islands

VI National Park covers two-thirds of St John, plus 5650 acres underwater. It’s a tremendous resource, offering miles of shoreline, pristine reefs and 26 hiking trails. The park visitor center sits on the dock across from the Mongoose Junction shopping arcade. It’s an essential first stop to obtain free guides on hiking, birdwatching, petroglyph sites and ranger-led activities. Green iguanas, geckos, hawksbill turtles and wild donkeys roam the landscape. A couple of good trails leave from behind the center.

Christiansted evokes a melancholy whiff of the past. Cannon-covered Fort Christiansvaern rises up on the waterfront. It abuts Kings Wharf, the commercial landing where, for more than 250 years, ships landed with slaves and set off with sugar or molasses. Today the wharf is fronted by a boardwalk of restaurants, dive shops and bars. It all comes together as a well-provisioned base from which to explore the island.

Life’s a beach on the tranquil North Shore, where the national park's main attractions lie, including its most popular patches of sand and their swimming and hiking hot spots.

Luminescent bays, Christopher Columbus’ landing pad and hot dive sites await along the north shore. Kayaking through the glowing water of Salt River Bay at night is a St Croix highlight.

To find out how the islands’ popular elixir gets made, stop by the historic distillery for a tour. The journey through the oak-barrel-stacked warehouses with their aroma of gingerbread (from the molasses and yeast) takes 20 minutes, after which you get to sip plenty of the good stuff. The Nelthropp family, Cruzan Rum's owners, have been perfecting the recipes since 1760. Cash not accepted; credit cards only.

Nicknamed ‘Love City,’ St John’s main town indeed wafts a carefree, spring-break party vibe. Hippies, sea captains, American retirees and reggae worshipers hoist happy-hour drinks in equal measure, and everyone wears a silly grin at their great good fortune at being here. Cruz Bay is also the place to organize your hiking, snorkeling, kayaking and other activities, and to fuel up in the surprisingly good restaurant mix. Everything grooves within walking distance of the ferry docks.

A long, thin strand along Rte 80 about 9 miles west of Christiansted, Cane Bay is deservedly venerated. It provides easy access to some of the island’s best dives, and it’s also the gateway to the rainforest’s steep hills. The beach has several small hotels, restaurants and bars.

This is the second-largest Carnival in the Caribbean (after the one in Port of Spain, Trinidad). There's a full month of events at various locations, including calypso competitions, food fairs, beauty pageants, parades, fireworks and more.