Looking for ideas to fill up your trip to St. Thomas and St. John? You’re in the right place! Here’s 10 things we loved on our big trip that we think you should definitely check out while you’re there! If you want a full line-up of things to do in St. Thomas and St. John, including a number of restaurants we loved, check out our one week itinerary for your next USVI trip!

1. Drake’s Seat & Magens Bay, St. Thomas

Magens Bay is arguably the most beautiful beach on St. Thomas. The bay is flanked on both sides by gorgeous hills that rise up to create calm water and a beautiful scene. In the distance between the two enveloping arms, Outer Brass Island serves as a focal point for the bay. Just about 2 miles away from Magens Bay, high up in the hills of St. Thomas is Drake’s Seat, which overlooks the bay and makes for the perfect Caribbean postcard shot.

Magens Bay from Drakes Seat, St. Thomas, USVI

Magens Bay at Ground Level Looking Left from the Center of the Beach

Beach access and parking at Magens Bay costs a few bucks, but nothing that will break the bank.

2. Coral World Ocean Park, St. Thomas

Not too far from Magens Bay on St. Thomas is Coral World Ocean Park. Coral World is a marine rescue and zoo that features encounters with sea turtles, sea lions, and other marine life. When we visited in 2017 we booked the whole family for the sea turtles encounter and it was great, although a bit pricey. If you’re just visiting the park and not doing an encounter, the entire thing only takes about 90 minutes to walk through. Plan to spend another 45 minutes to an hour or so for an encounter.

The Turtle Encounter at Coral World

3. Trunk Bay, St. John

Consistently ranked in the top 20 beaches worldwide, Trunk Bay is absolutely stunning both from above and at ground level. The sand at Trunk Bay is the finest powdery white sand we’ve ever encountered. There’s also an underwater snorkel trail that is fun, but not nearly as impressive for snorkeling as Honeymoon Beach or Water Lemon Cay.

Trunk Bay from High in the Hills of St. John

Trunk Bay’s White Sandy Beaches

4. VI EcoTours’ Mangrove Lagoon Kayak Tour, St. Thomas

Our kids favorite excursion on our 2017 trip to St. Thomas was VI EcoTours’ Mangrove Lagoon Kayak Tour. This tour explores the Mangrove Lagoon off the southwest side of St. Thomas and includes a visit to Cas Cay and snorkeling. Our kids loved how fun our tour guide made this trip – complete with hermit crab races and even an unexpected encounter with a puffer fish. Tours can be booked for 2, 3, or 5 hours. We did the 3 hour tour and thought this was perfect.  (We reviewed this tour after our trip because we loved it so much).

Kayaking on VI EcoTours’ Mangrove Lagoon Kayak, Hike, and Snorkel Tour

Hermit Crabs on Cas Cay – We’ve Never Seen So Many in One Place!

A View from the Front of My Kayak in the Mangrove Lagoon

5. Virgin Islands National Park Reef Bay Hike, St. John

VI National Park takes up two-thirds of the landmass of St. John. The Reef Bay hike begins high in the hills on St. John and winds its way down about 3 miles through the forest to a bay where a boat picks you up and takes you back to the National Park visitor center. Highlights of this hike include the beautiful canopy of trees that cover the forest bottom, pre-Columbian petroglyphs carved in a few rocks, and ruins from the time when slaves farmed sugarcane on the island in the 1800s. You need to reserve your space on the Reef Bay Hike in advance via the NPS VI National Park web site.

The Family at the Start of the Reef Bay Hike

Petroglyphs on the Reef Bay Hike

Ruins of an Old Plantation

6. Day Trip to the British Virgin Islands (Including The Baths at Virgin Gorda)

The US and British Virgin Islands are close enough together that tour companies take groups out daily from both St. Thomas and St. John. Our family booked with Bad Kitty / Calypso Tours and had a blast visiting The Baths at Virgin Gorda, Cooper Island, Normal Island (for snorkeling), and Jost Van Dyke (and the famous Soggy Dollar Bar). The water in the Bay at White Beach on Jost Van Dyke was the clearest water we’ve seen anywhere to date.

A Picture from White Beach of the Bad Kitty II Catamaran

“The Cathedral” at The Baths at Virgin Gorda – The Shot Everyone Wants!

Jost Van Dyke’s Beautiful White Beach

A Strong Reminder that You’re On British Territory on Cooper Island!

7. Honeymoon Beach, St. John

While less well known than Trunk Bay, St. John’s Honeymoon Beach is still a wonderful secluded beach inside the National Park. The beach is accessed either via the Lind Point Trail (starting at the National Park Visitor Center) or via a golf cart from the Caneel Bay Resort. VI Eco Tours operates a shop on the beach that rents out all types of water sports equipment and snorkel masks. Plan to spend 4-5 hours at Honeymoon Beach and you’ll definitely get your money’s worth from the watersports package.

The Lind Point Trail Starting Point at the VI National Park Visitor Center

Honeymoon Beach, St. John

Kayaking Using VI Eco Tours’ Water Sports Equipment at Honeymoon Beach

8. Mafolie Restaurant, St. Thomas

Perched in the hills above Charlotte Amalie is Mafolie Restaurant. The views from the restaurant are equally stunning during the day and at night. We ate at Mafolie’s on our last day in St. Thomas and it was a wonderful way to closeout the evening. Make reservations and ask for a table towards the front edge of the restaurant so you’ll have the best view of the city. You definitely won’t regret it!

The View of Charlotte Amalie from Mafolie Restaurant on St. Thomas

9. Water Island (in Charlotte Amalie Harbor), St. Thomas

Water Island is a small inhabited island that sits in Charlotte Amalie’s harbor. It’s primary beach is named Honeymoon Beach (not to be confused with the Honeymoon Beach on St. John mentioned in number 7). A small shop on the island rents golf carts to visitors and it’s fun to tool around the island via cart. You can visit an old Fort built into the side of the island during WW2 that was intended to protect Charlotte Amalie harbor but was left unfinished after the war ended. Water Island is reached via the Water Island Ferry from St. Thomas.

The Water Island Sign at the Little Library on the Pier of Water Island

The “Other” Honeymoon Beach on Water Island

Ruins from the Old Fort on Water Island

10. Blackbeard’s Castle & the 99 Steps

Although not actually a pirate castle, this obelisk sits high in the hills of St. Thomas and offers an impressive view of Charlotte Amalie and its harbor. In and around the grounds of Blackbeard’s Castle are pools, a bar, and a pirate museum that is worth a look. We hung out at Blackbeard’s from the time we checked out of our apartment until our flights left at 3:00pm from St. Thomas’ Airport. Blackbeard’s is also a stones throw away from the top of St. Thomas’ famous 99 Steps, which is totally worth seeing on your trip.

Blackbeard’s Castle (and pool!) in the Hills of Charlotte Amalie

The Top of the 99 Steps, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

Want More Ideas?

Check out our full itinerary for St. Thomas and St. John!

One Week Travel Itinerary for the US Virgin Islands of St. Thomas & St. John

Got Any Other Favorites?

Hope this list gives you a good start planning your own VI vacation! Do you have any other places you absolutely *love* in St. Thomas or St. John? Let us know so we can visit them on our next trip back!