Top 9 Things to do in USVI 2022
You’re planning your next trip to St. Thomas, US. Virgin Islands and you’re wondering what the best things to do on the island are. Then look no further, this guide will show you all the incredible things you can do on this island! We did all the activities below in one day, but if that is too much for you, you can certainly pick and chose from this list and schedule it to your liking. Today’s blog post is in partnership with a local company called TrekLocal, a locally-owned, super affordable, digital travel concierge company based in the USVI. They’re unique because the founder, Amber, was born and raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The TrekLocal team creates fully custom travel itineraries personalized to your travel preferences, with a focus on helping you experience authentic USVI culture. Today, I’m going to show you 9 amazing experiences you can add to your list when you’re headed to St. Thomas, all arranged by TrekLocaL. Let’s dive in!
If you haven’t been to St. Thomas, it’s time to add it to your bucket list! St. Thomas is a beautiful tropical island in the Caribbean, specifically in the US Virgin Islands. The USVIs, as they are commonly called, are made up of 4 islands with St. Thomas is the most famous one and home to the capital Charlotte Amalie. We have been going there for the last 6 years, and we are not planning on stopping any time soon. With its lush green jungle, world-class beaches, and a rich history that includes famous Pirates - This island is becoming a hot spot for travelers. And it’s only a 3-hour flight from New York!
ST. THOMAS
I'm excited to share this list with you and hear what you think about it! Let me know in the comments below what your favorite thing to do in St. Thomas is, or if you are planning a trip there soon. Additionally, St. Thomas is a popular place for cruise ship visitors, so you might only have a few hours to explore this island. Amber from TrekLokal kept that in mind, so you will have enough time to do any of these activities. The list is not ranked in any particular way, the list is simply following us from the morning to the evening.
MOMMAS’S SHACK - YACHT HAVEN
The first place we're checking out is a local favorite here and it's the perfect place for breakfast. Mama Carmen, the owner of Momma’s Shack has been open for 13 years. there’s usually a line down the street, and this place is also the only place that's open this early in the morning in yacht haven. The other places don't open until like 10 and 12. Momma’s Shack opens at 7 am in the morning every single day and they're usually sold out for everything by noon time. Jon ordered the popular salt fish with a side of carrots and spinach, the local passionfruit juice, and the johnny cake. If you want to try it out, make sure to come here early. Definitely make this part of your itinerary if you come to St. Thomas and you want some delicious local food.
After breakfast at Momma’s Shack, it was time to explore Yacht Haven Grande Marina or YHG. The marina located in downtown Charlotte Amalie has been voted the best super yacht marina four times. There's a lot to see in this area, rich navy history, colorful murals painted by local artists, and of course shops, bars, and high-end restaurants from special occasions to budget-friendly grab-and-go eateries. We however were on a mission to find another gem that we wanted to include in this guide, while we were still in yacht haven.
(1.5) LILIKA JUICE BAR - YACHT HAVEN
Lilika Juice Bar opens at 8 am and closes at 2 pm, but make sure to check the times yourself before heading there to make sure they’re open. The owner of the store is sweet, and she helped me choose, and the smoothie I got was incredible. 90% of the time I will choose a green smoothie, and this one was so fresh with ginger, frozen fruits, and coconut water. It’s a really cute place, with tons of drawings on the walls, made by previous guests, so it’s very colorful overall and there’s a nice vibe. They also sell bamboo straws, so if you want to be a bit more sustainable, opt for the bamboo straw and keep it for the rest of your trip (or life). The prices are a bit steep, but if you don’t care about that, and you want healthy quality food, then run over to Lilika Smoothie bar!
2. ZIPLINE ON ST. PETER MOUNTAIN
Next, we went ziplining in the rainforest of St. Peter Mountain to catch amazing views of Magen's Bay Beach, the British Virgin Islands, and more. You get six exhilarating zip lines and two bridges! Experience this adrenaline-pumping way of seeing St. Thomas from up high. This was one of our favorite things we did that day! We were so happy Amber set this us for us. We’ve done Ziplining in Thailand before, but this felt safer, and the views were incredible. Make sure to check out my YouTube video here, or above if you want to see our experience there.
3. ENJOY THE VIEWS AT THE MOUNTAIN TOP
Take in picturesque views, drink and shop at Mountain Top. Their 1,500 ft observation tower is located on the highest point of St. Thomas and gives you unobstructed views of Magens Bay, St. John, and the British Virgin Islands. This is a massive tourist attraction, and you will definitely find a souvenir or 2 here. Keep in mind that, St. Thomas has tax-free shopping, so you can find some good deals! Unfortunately, it was overcast when we got there, but our drinks still tasted amazing, and we hear the views from the mountain top on a clear day are incredibly beautiful.
So, rumor has it that back in 1953, a British sea captain by the name of George Soule, sailed from his native island of Barbados, on a quest to find the best ingredients to make the ultimate Caribbean cocktail. After searching through numerous islands, he ended his quest in St. Thomas, at the Mountain top, where the captain invented the now-famous Banana Daiquiri, with the local virgin island Cruzan Rum, ripe bananas, lime, some sugar, and homemade banana liquor.
4. Lunch at Speedy Redemption - Crown Bay Marina
The fourth place on today's itinerary is Crown Bay Marina. This is such a colorful place, even all the chairs were painted in some crazy bright color. This place is mostly famous for all the cruise ships that come here to the doc. So yes it is a touristy spot, you will see crowds of families, couples, and large groups, but it's definitely worth a visit because they do have a lot of vendors that offer different comfort foods and frozen drinks.
We went there to try out the food from Speedy Redemption. We got the burger, and their plate, both signature dishes. The burger was 100% the winner for both Jon and me. There's a reason why meat eaters get the veggie burgers at Speedy Redemption. It's amazing! Grab lunch at their new grab & go location in beautiful Crown Bay Marina. Sit on a bench overlooking the water or grab some drinks and dessert at Island Flavor and sit on one of their tables.
5. WALKING TOUR OF HISTORIC CHARLOTTE AMALIE
Stroll through the streets of the capital of the USVI while learning about its rich history and culture. Charlotte Amalie is home to a melting pot of cultures, the Fort Christian, the Jewish Synagogue, 99 steps, and much more. We had an incredible guide, his name was Michael and he’s also a teacher in St. Thomas. We were so lucky to have the opportunity to go inside the historical Government house. This place was constructed in 1876, mainly to be used as a meeting place for the Danish colonial council. Today the Government house is used as the office of the governor of the US. Virgin Islands and holds many antique pieces dating back generations. It’s also located right in the heart of downtown Charlotte Amalie. TrekLocal’s partnership with our tour guide gave us exclusive access to these historic places.
6. JET SKI AT LINDBERGH BAY BEACH
A must-do activity if you like some adrenaline is renting a jet ski! You don’t need any experience, it’s easy to maneuver, and so much fun! You can either rent one alone, or take turns driving if you trust the other person hehe. We did it at Lindbergh Bay Beach, and we had an absolute blast! The only negative side - it was over too fast!
7. LOUNGE AT (THE BEACH) LINDBERGH BAY BEACH
Lindbergh Bay beach is a beautiful place to lounge, and it’s also right next to the airport, so sometimes we go there and leave our luggage at the hotel close by until we have to head back to the airport. But there are so many beautiful beaches to explore and lounge at when you visit St. Thomas. You can literally spend a whole week exploring new beaches every day! And if you just want a list of the best beaches in St. Thomas, I got you. Check out the video below where I show you all the best beaches worth visiting on your next trip to the magical island.
8. EXPLORE BORDEAUX FARMING COMMUNITY
Get an ultra-exclusive TrekLocal experience by touring the Bordeaux farming community on the west end of St. Thomas. Explore the many gardens, learn about Ital food and Rastafarian culture and enjoy healthy, homegrown snacks. This was the highlight of the day for me. We got to meet Lukata, another fellow vegan living in the Bordeaux community, and Eldridge from We Grow Food Inc. Eldridge has been a part of this community for over 40 years, and he’s made such an impact. Their mission is to promote, develop, and defend agriculture in the Virgin Islands by assisting farmers in the growth and development of their farm operations.
9. DINNER AT OCEANA
After our time at the Bordeaux farm, we ended our day at the last spot TrekLocal arranged for us. Number 9, a beautiful dinner at Oceana Restaurant in the historic French town of St. Thomas. This place has open-air seating, and it’s overlooking the ocean. I actually had my birthday dinner here once. They have a great menu and a large craft cocktail list. Jon of course got oysters and scallops. I had grilled vegetables and risotto. If you go here, make sure to check out all the art installations in the rooms on the second floor!
TrekLocal will make your restaurant reservations, arrange all the logistics for your island activities, and can even help you find accommodations & transportation. Plus, they share all the cultural etiquette and island tips you need to know before you go! And, they'll give you the hookup for delicious homemade local treats, like gooseberry stew and coconut tarts.
That wraps up today’s blog post! We had the best day ever! We learned so much about St. Thomas, we went all over this island, and I just want to say a huge thanks to Amber and TrekLocal for setting up this whole day for us. If you're coming to St. Thomas and you need somebody to set up a full itinerary for you, she is totally the person to do it for you.
Check out the website here - www.treklocals.com. Whether you're solo, on a budget, on a honeymoon, family, girl's trip, or beyond, if you’re interested in any of the activities in this guide or more, connect with the TrekLocal team for ease of planning and for insider discounts and perks.
I hope you found this blog post helpful! If you have any questions, please leave them below and I will get back to you. With that said, happy traveling, and I’m wishing whoever is reading this a beautiful day!
xx Camilla
