Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Evergreens

St. Thomas: Escape to the Caribbean without Ever Leaving the US

By

Most American travelers are surprised to learn that some of the best Caribbean islands are actually in the United States. So what are you waiting for? Leave your passport at home and hop one of the dozens of direct daily flights to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Here’s a brief primer on where to eat, play, and sleep on the island of St. Thomas. And yes, men, it’s All-American.

Play

St. Thomas Flyboarding
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The twin islands of St. John and St. Thomas arguably boast more “Best Beaches in the Caribbean” than any other islands in the region. There’s a reason why Magens Bay is routinely ranked among the best beaches in the western hemisphere. A mile of pillowy soft white sand wraps around the most electric blue ocean water you’ve ever seen. It’s no surprise it’s often crowded with throngs of cruise ship passengers most days of the week. But, check the port itineraries and plan to go before 9 a.m., and you may well have it all to yourself.

Recommended Videos

If you’re looking for something more adrenalin-fueled, St. Thomas Flyboarding offers one-hour lessons in this truly unique “sport.” For around $250 (USD), the STF crew will strap you into a state-of-the-art flyboard. Once connected to the jetwash of a high-powered Jet Ski, you’ll be propelled into the air (and water) on a ride that’s akin to flying like Iron Man.

Eat & Drink

Havana restaurant food
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Chain hotel restaurants don’t often top the destination dining list for most travelers. But Havana Blue at Marriott Frenchman’s Reef is unique. The chic, modern, South Beach-esque dining room is awash in electric blues and vibrant oranges reminiscent of a cool beachfront bonfire. We’re loathe to call it “fusion cuisine,” but the menu neatly walks the line between Latin American and Asian influences. It’s the sort of place where a Peruvian pisco sour served alongside spicy crab rolls makes perfect sense.

For a funky, no-frills dining experience, Duffy’s Love Shack in Red Hook caters to tourists and locals in little more than a glorified parking lot. Their cheap signature cocktails are served in kitschy, pirate- and island-themed glasses with names like Lime in Dee Coconut and The Cry Baby. While they pride themselves on being a bar first and a restaurant second, the bar food — in particular, the conch fritters — is among the best on the island. If you want to put your finger directly on the pulse of St. Thomas, this is the place to do it.

Stay

Marriott Frenchman's Reef, St. Thomas
Marriott Frenchman’s Reef, St. Thomas Image used with permission by copyright holder

Even by over-the-top tropical resort standards, Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort offers a dramatic, jaw-dropping location. Situated on a bluff with panoramic views of Charlotte Amalie (capital of the USVI) and St. Thomas’ southern coastline, it’s a surprisingly stunning hotel (particularly for a Marriott). The dual infinity pools provide the highest and best sunset views of any property on the island. It’s an ideal destination for couples who are just married and those who are looking to.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard
Contributor
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He’s kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South… Read Full Bio
Topics
Travel
5 Tips If You’re Traveling With Cigars: I Learned No. 2 the Hard Way
Wood, Hardwood, Accessories

Traveling with cigars can be challenging if you’re not prepared. The lack of preparation can lead to your favorite cigars getting smashed from inadequate storage, or they can peel because they weren’t kept at the proper temperature, among other issues. Sometimes you do all the right things, and still come away shaking your head.

I’ve been smoking cigars for two decades now, and it’s not beneath me to admit that I’ve made plenty of cigar travel mistakes in that span, and as recently as two weeks ago. You live, you learn, and hope you don’t waste a stogie on the next trip. My most recent cigar travel mistake is what inspired me to share these tips. Sure, there are plenty of articles out there offering similar advice. But this list comes from a cigar smoker and writer who has visited six countries and about a dozen states in the last year alone. And in that time, mistakes were made, and lessons were learned.

Read more
Travel
The art of adventure packing: packing light but effective
Clothing, Coat, Jacket

If you are like me, you grew up with stories of adventure. Whether you were fans of fictional adventure like Indiana Jones and Alan Quartermain, or you loved the true-life accounts of Ernest Shackleton and David Livingstone, there is a deep pull to venture into the unknown. The desire to abandon the Mon-Fri 9-5 in search of something deeper. You could spend your time thinking about hopping a boat and sailing the seven seas like the pirates of old. You could look up at the elusive peak of a mountain and believe it begs to be summited. You could stare into the depths of a jungle and wonder what treasures it hides beneath its canopy. No matter what kind of adventurer you are, you need to be prepared for whatever the world throws at you. I have climbed Salkantay Peak and explored the jungles of Peru. I have scanned the plains of Africa in search of a giant cat (the prospect of which was much more comforting than the actual sighting and wondering if I was far enough away). And I have disappeared into the secluded areas of Svalbard. One thing that remained constant was the need for the right pack.

Here is what I learned when packing for my adventures.

Read more
Travel
Savannah Beyond the Postcard
Architecture, Building, Spire

Savannah is one of those cities that seems almost too easy to like. The live oaks are dramatic. The Spanish moss does exactly what it is supposed to do. The brick sidewalks buckle in all the right places. The houses look like they were designed by people who understood proportion, shade, and the value of a proper front step. Even the light seems to arrive with better manners than it does in most places.

I have a built-in advantage when it comes to Savannah. We have family there, so we have been back several times, not just once for the checklist version of the city. I have also done a photography workshop there, which is a terrific way to learn any city. You get up early, stay out late, and pay attention to alleys, doorways, ironwork, reflections, and the way a city changes when the tourists are still asleep.

Read more