Things to do...

1. Interestingly one of the best things to do on St. Thomas is to go to St. John! St. John is a short ferry ride (15 minutes) away. The ferry leaves St. Thomas every hour on the hour and arrives in Cruz Bay, St. John. Cost is $8/person each way. Great shops, beaches and restaurants abound.

2. Paradise Point/Sky Ride is a gondola that takes you up the side of a small mountain (more like glorified hill). At the top is a restaurant, bar and shops. Some nights they have live music. The views at sunset are spectacular!

3. Snorkeling at Sapphire or Coki Beach. The snorkeling isn't world-class but it is still beats snorkeling in Lake Erie or Lake Michigan. If you are staying on island, try to go to Sapphire or Coki beach when there aren't any cruise ships in port. At Coki you can feed schools of fish as they swarm around you just out of reach.

4. Pirate Treasure Museum. Whether you're coming on a cruise ship or hanging out for a few days, this little museum is a pleasant way to kill an hour (or three if you have kids).

5. A boat trip. There are countless charter boats offering lots of different options - power boats, sail boats, half-day charters, full-day charters, snorkeling, trips to the British Virgin Islands, etc. A good friend of mine is Scotty of Mojo Boat Tours. He offers a pretty excellent day on the water.

6. Kayak the lagoon with VI Ecotours, and see pristine and untouched mangroves teeming with marine life. The kayaking isn't strenuous and you can get some snorkeling in as well.

St. John

1. St. John has great charter boat companies equipped for any type of water excursion.

2. Arawak Expeditions is an adventure outfitter that will take you fishing, hiking and/or kayaking.

3. Much of St. John is un-populated because the lands are part of the National Park System. Hiking trails snake across and around the island's tropical fauna, sugar mill ruins, petroglyphs, and remote beaches. Grab a map from the National Park Office in Cruz Bay and go exploring.

Coral World Ocean Park & Undersea Observatory

Virgin Islands Ecotours

Zipline Canopy Tour