St. Thomas Attractions

St. Thomas is loaded with a wide array of attractions and activities from submarine tours to underwater parks to beaches and historical sites. Many of Charlotte Amalie's sites are within walking distance making a self-guided tour of the area a breeze. The Main Street off of the waterfront in the town of Charlotte Amalie is probably St. Thomas' biggest draw. Famous for its duty-free shopping, the area hosts store after store filled with everything from fine jewerly to electronics to tourist souvenirs. At the east end of this street is Emancipation Garden where slavery was abolished in the mid-1800s. Directly in front of this square is a small craft market next store to which is Fort Christian, the oldest colonial building in the Virgin Islands. The bright red fort houses an interesting museum with artifacts dating back to the original Indians who lived on St. Thomas. Take the 99 Steps to Blackbeard's Castle for a good overview of the island. The 99 Steps were laid out by architects back in Europe who had never seen St. Thomas. On their drawings, the lane should have been a street, but the grade was too steep so local builders turned the slope into stairs. At the top of the steps, Blackbeard's Castle towers over the town of Charlotte Amalie. This tower, dating back to the late 17th century was used by Blackbeard and his unruly gang of pirates as a watchtower. The castle is now surrounded by a quaint hotel, The Inn at Blackbeard's Castle, and is open to tourists.

For a study of life under the water around St. Thomas, visit Coral World Marine Park. This underwater park hosts a variety of aquariums and hands-on exhibits allowing visitors up-close and personal encounters with local marine life. For a tour of the open ocean, try Atlantis Submarine where visitors can take a tour of the bottom of the bay in Charlotte Amalie viewing coral grottoes, marine life and even scuba divers. St. Thomas' beaches are a great place to relax and play in the tranquil waters around the island. Visitors can even snorkel straight off the beaches and view amazing sealife. Or for an inexpensive tour above the water, take a ferry to nearby St. John.