Paradise Point Cafe : (340) 774-4540 pizzas, deli and sub sandwiches and salads during the day and a sunset appetizer menu in the evening. Open at 10:00 am. Sunset Party on Wednesday offers live music ranging from rock to blues to country. Paradise Point is famous for the specialty drink the Bushwhacker.

Mafolie Restaurant: (340) 774-2790 Enjoy the sunset on the terrace. Menu includes: Surf & Turf, Caribbean lobster, fresh fish, Steak Chicken and Ribs

Dinner Cruise aboard New Horizons 1-800-808-7604 Sunset and dinner cruise leaves from Sapphire Beach, Resort Marina, at 5:00 pm Wednesdays/Thursdays, returning at 8:00 PM . Enjoy cocktails and appetizers and set sail for a picture-perfect cove to anchor for dinner. $85/person

The Bryan's Bar and Restaurant on Hull Bay Road (340) 777-1262 Menu includes: Appetizers, Salads, Seafood, Steaks, Chicken and Ribs. Sunday Brunch. Kids menu

The Petite Pump Room Restaurant (340) 776-2976 Located waterfront on the second floor of the Tortolla Wharf (Edward Wilmoth Blyden IV Ferry Terminal). Enjoy breakfast from 7:00 to 10:30 am or lunch for sandwiches, platters, daily soup & native specials.

Hervé Restaurant and Wine Bar: (340) 777 9703 French-American cuisine with a Caribbean flair. Serves lunch and dinner. An award winning restaurant Hervé is located steps from Main Street on Government Hill where you can enjoy the panoramic sunset view of downtown Charlotte Amalie and harbor while having your appetizers.

Agave Terrace: (340) 775-4142 Menu includes: Seafood, Fish, Lobster, Crab Legs Pasta Dishes and Steaks. Music evenings include: Steel Pan, Piano, Classical Guitar. Be sure to call for schedule. Agave Terrace is located on the east end in Point Pleasant Resort. It offers open air dining and a spectacular view overlooking St. John and down island. Open 7 days a week from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Fungi's on the Beach: (340) 775-4142 Fungi's on the Beach is a funky restaurant on the waters edge featuring entertainment, dancing and great authentic West Indian Cuisine. Open 7 days a week 11:30 am to 10:00 pm

W'indies Island Eatery: (340) 775-6100 W'indies at the Sapphire Bar Pavilion is open daily and offers fine continental cuisine in a Caribbean seaside setting. Breakfast, lunch (in season) and dinner.

Steakhouse on the Pointe: (340) 775-6100 PrettyKlip at the Sapphire becomes the "Steakhouse on the Pointe" in the evening. The menu selections include charboiled certified Angus Beef, babyback ribs, chicken, and fresh seafood

Beni Iguana’s Sushi Bar & Restaurant: (340)-777-8744 Home of the Famous Mussels & Iguana Sauce is a terrific Japanese restaurant located in the Grand Hotel Courtyard across from Emancipation Gardens.

Lillian's Caribbean Grill: (340) 774-7900 At Lillian's Caribbean Grill you can choose to eat inside among art and plants or outside at an umbrella-shaded table in the historic Grand Galleria Courtyard. Lillian's is open 7:30 'til 9:30 am for an authentic Caribbean breakfast and 11:30 'til 5:30 pm for a delightful lunch featuring an array of Caribbean and vegetarian specialties (including such menu items as: fresh local fish, conch, chicken, pork, mutton, tofu with local side dishes like coconut dumplings, johnny cakes, rice and beans, plantains, dasheen or breadfruit). Also homemade Caribbean drinks and desserts and, for the less venturesome, burgers, ribs and fries. Open Monday through Saturday. Call before 11:00 am and they will deliver lunch to your hotel or villa!

Banana Tree Grille: (340) 776-4050 Enjoy an informal but fabulous dinner alfresco and watch the sun set over Charlotte Amalie Harbor. Located in the historic Bluebeard's Castle. The menu includes: Tuna, Escargot, Pasta Dishes, Lamb, Duck, Steak and Lobster. Closed Mondays.

Gladys Cafe and Bar: (340) 774-6604 Located in the Royal Dane Mall Gladys' Cafe serves breakfast and lunch daily. Menu includes fresh fish, lox and bagels and some very local dishes such as Roti, conch and fungi and mutton stew. Gladys' own hot sauce is available to purchase and take home.

Hull Bay Hideaway: (340) 777-1898 Located on beautiful Hull Bay Beach this place is the one of the best kept secrets on the island. Swim, snorkel, kayak, volleyball, horseshoes, darts, and pool day or night under the lights. Watch sports on one of the 3 TV's including a big screen. Enjoy their frozen drinks specials and home made milk shakes. Hull Bay Hideaway serves delicious and affordable dinners Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm, Sunday Brunch from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm and Sushi on Sundays from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Tropicalia Restaurant at the Magens Point Resort: (340) 777-6000 ext. 613 serves breakfast from 7:00 am 'til 10:00 am, Lunch from 11:00 am till 4:00 pm and Dinner from 6:00 pm till 10:00 pm The menu features seafood and local food.

Magens Bay Cafe at Magens Bay Beach (340) 777-6270 serves breakfast and lunch from 9:30 am till 5:00 pm Menu includes sandwiches and pizza.

Old Stone Farmhouse: (340) 777-6277 Old Stone Farmhouse is housed in a 200-year old, restored plantation field house overlooking the Mahogany Run Golf Course. Fine dining in a romantic setting. Dinner Tuesday thru Sunday from 6:30 pm till 9:30 pm

Craig & Sally's (340) 777-9949. The menu at Craig & Sally's restaurant in Frenchtown includes: Tuna, Salmon or Swordfish, Prime Rib, Lamb, Veal and Filet Mignon. Lunch is served Wednesday through Friday from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm and dinner is served Wednesday through Sunday from 5:30 pm to 10 pm. They have an award winning international wine list

Alexander's Bella Blue: (340) 774-4349 a small intimate corner restaurant in Frenchtown serving an International cuisine with an emphasis on Austrian dishes. Fresh seafood and Nightly Specials
Lunch 11:30 am - 5:00 pm, Dinner 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm, closed Sunday

Hook, Line & Sinker (340) 776-9708) Hook Line & Sinker has a casual atmosphere and is located on the water in Frenchtown with a view of the entire harbor. The New England coast menu has a Caribbean bent and features salads, sandwiches, pasta, steaks, burgers and seafood. Sunday brunch. Kids menu.

The Beach House: (340) 775 1800 ext 2500 or 256 The Beach House at Bolongo Bay is one of St. Thomas' most popular restaurants for fine dining and Caribbean inspired cuisine. You can dine around the pool by candle light and Tiki torches, or in one of the gazebos overlooking the pool & ocean.

There is a great nightlife on St. Thomas. When you arrive there be sure to pick up the free weekly magazine "St. Thomas This Week". That and either of St. Thomas' local newspapers, "The Daily News" ( "Weekend" insert every Thursday) or The "Island Trader" will have listings for events and evening entertainment around the island.

The Caribbean Saloon: (340) 775-7700 American Yacht Harbor, Red Hook, open from 11:30 am to 4:00 am daily

Hard Rock Cafe: (340) 777-5555 Hard Rock Cafe is located on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront at International Plaza. Open Monday thru Saturday starting at 11:00 a.m.

Duffys Love Shack: (340) 775.4122 Open 11:30 am 'til 2:00 am daily and Christmas & New Years Day open at 2:00 PM Food is served from 11:30 am to midnight continuously. Located in the Red Hook Plaza parking area opposite the St. John Ferry Dock. Events include weekly Taco Tuesdays, Lobster Lunacy and Phat in the Hat parties.

Noche Restaurant: (340) 774-3800 in Frenchtown offers Santa Fe, New Mexican gourmet dining from 5:30 pm till 11:00 pm.

Green House Restaurant: (340) 774-7998 This popular night spot has a great Happy Hour everyday with 2 for 1 drinks and discounted appetizers. Night time events are every night and include bands and DJs

The Beach Bar Pavilion at the Sapphire presents some of the island's most talented entertainers several nights a week. On Sundays it is the site of an afternoon beach party that has become an island-wide attraction.

Also for a fun nightlife on St. Thomas:
Bakkero's at Marriot Frenchmans Reef for dancing
Martini's, JoJo's and Club Zinc in Frenchtown for fun music and late nights.
Café Lulu's on Blackbeard's Hill on the weekends for jazz and vocals.
The Old Mill entertainment complex and the Turtle Rock Bar at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Beach Club where there is burgers and a bar and always something going on, karaoke or live shows by steel-pan bands or other local talent. Happy hour, from 4 to 6:00 pm, drinks at half price.

Art Openings

Gallery St. Thomas (formerly known as Blue Turtle Gallery) (340) 777 6363
If you enjoy art openings there are regular events organized by Gallery St. Thomas.

Performing Arts

The Reichhold Center for the Arts is one of the most beautiful amphitheaters in the Caribbean Located Rte. 30, across from Brewers Beach. The Reichhold Center for the Arts is a showcase for Caribbean playwrights, jazz, dance, and symphony orchestras. The Reichhold Caribbean Repertory Company performs first class professional productions of Caribbean Plays. The more expensive seats are covered by a roof. Office: (340) 693-1550 Box Office:(340) 693-1559

Arts Alive Concert Schedule at Tillett Gardens. On Season concerts start at 8:00 pm
Seating in the Garden - $25.00; Pre-Concert Dinners Start Serving at 6:00 pm - $30.00
Dinner with concert - $55.00

Art Galleries on St. Thomas

Tennis: You don't have to be staying at a hotel or resort to enjoy their tennis courts. Call, make a reservation, and play for a court fee. Some are lighted for night play as well.

Golf: Mahogany Run Golf Course on Road #42 on the north side of Saint Thomas is a scenic and challenging 18-hole championship course designed by George and Tom Fazio. The 13th, 14th and 15th holes at Mahogany Run are known as the Devil's Triangle. There is a pro shop (340-777-6006). The course is challenging (6,022-yard, par-70 ) and winding and the scenery is breathtaking.

Parasailing : Fly solo or tandem, see the Virgins from 600 feet.

Sea kayaks : A great way to explore St. Thomas beaches and coves up close.

Diving & Snorkeling : All of the Virgin Islands have excellent snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities for both beginning and experienced divers. Classes, certification, equipment and dive boats are readily available. Look for one of those waterproof booklets that aid in identifying undersea flora and fauna, they are sold in a number of dive shops. The coral reefs that surrounds the islands are full of brightly colored tropical fish, sponges, lobsters, sting rays, sea turtles and more. The crystal clear water offers visibility often up to 120' and there are more than a dozen wreck and reef dive spots off of St. Thomas including a 150-foot Coast Guard vessel, visible at 60 feet undersea, at the Major General Rogers site; A World War I tramp steamer resting 35 feet below the surface of Cartanza Sr.; the Andreas Reef and Cartanza Sr.

Fishing: There is excellent fishing in the waters off of St. Thomas and many world record catches have been recorded in Virgin Islands waters. Local competitions include the July Open, American Yacht Harbor Billfish Tournament, USVI/Open Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament, Golden Hook Challenge and Harm's Virgin Islands/Puerto Rico Billfish Series.

Wind Surfing is popular on St. Thomas for both professionals and amateurs . Some of the best spots to go for this sport are: Brewers Bay, Vessup Beach, Limetree Beach, Morningstar Beach and Sapphire Beach. Windsurfing gear is available for rent at some of the beaches and at most of the resorts.

Surfers go to Hull Bay to find the best waves off St. Thomas.

Over 40 beaches grace the island of St. Thomas. All beaches in the USVI are open to public, so you may walk through any lobby or access to enjoy them. If you plan to go to one of the more deserted beaches where the access is difficult be sure to have a buddy with you.

• Middays (10:00 am - 2:00 PM) the sun is particularly intense and you can get seriously burnt even if it overcast. It is highly recommended that you use a Sunblock SPF 15 or more, and wear a t-shirt when snorkeling to protect your back.
• Collecting shells from beaches in VI is a no-no and removing sea fans and living coral is illegal. If you attempt to take the shells or coral home they will be confiscated at the airport. If you buy a shell as a souvenir be sure to retain the receipt.
• Watch out for the round, black sea urchins (occasionally white) lying in the shallows. If touched the spiny echinoderm's barbed sting is quite painful. Apply some vinegar to the skin surface and it will dissolve the barbs and ease the pain.
• Endangered sea turtles nest on some of the beaches, watch that you do not disturb any nests you might come across.
  

Stumpy Bay on the northside has a nice beach that is accessible by auto and a 1/2 mile walk

At Vessup Bay you will find a white sandy beach with some rocky areas good for snorkeling, seagrape trees for shade, and a backdrop of cacti and Century plants. Water sports equipment is available for rent. It is located at the end of Bluebeard's Road (Route 322), which branches off Route 30 near Red Hook.

Hull Bay is most popular with locals and surfers. The northside bay is an anchorage for local fishermen. The surfers go to the rougher waters found at the western tip of bay. There is easy swimming just off the shaded beach. It is less commercial than other beaches however there is a restaurant and bar close by. Located west of Magens Bay on the North shore.

Magens Bay, one of the world's ten most beautiful beaches, is now a public park protected against development. Admission is $1 per car, $1 per person and 25¢ per child under 12. Magens Bay Beach is found at the end of Route 35 on St. Thomas' north shore. The conveniences include covered picnic tables, showers, dressing rooms, a boutique, snack bar, pizzeria, and a full-service bar. Snorkeling equipment and small sailboats are available to rent.

Limetree Beach is a natural cove on the east side of the island next to Morningstar Beach. This is a great place to study the island iguanas up close. Water sports equipment is available to rent.

Morning Star is one of the most attractive beaches in the Virgin Islands, it is located at the Marriotts Frenchmans Reef Beach Resort near town. You can rent lounge chairs, umbrellas, and some water sports equipment. Sunfish and windsurfers are also available along with a certified instructor who can show you how to use them. Enjoy a tropical drink at one of the two bars, or snorkel at one of the reefs found at either ends of the beach.

Coki Point Beach is a small but popular sandy beach on the northeast coast with a wide open view of Thatch Key across the Leeward Passage. There is good snorkeling on a nearby rocky area. You will find a dive shop, chair rentals, restaurant and bar, basic bathroom and changing rooms. Often busy with vendors and hair braiders.

Sapphire is a white sandy beach with some sea grapes for shade and a view of St. John and the British Virgin Islands. There is a beach bar, marina restaurant, dive shop, watersports rental concession, (wind surfing , kayaks, jetskis) and sometimes even live music on Sundays in the afternoon.. The reef areas just off the beach are great for for snorkeling. Located at the Sapphire Beach Resort & Marina, on the east end of the island

Bluebeard's Beach is popular with the windsurfing crowd. It is quiet and not usually crowded. It is a nice beach with coconut palms for shade, a fine view of St. John and no concessions. Located next to Ritz Carlton at end of Bluebeard's Road (Rt. 322).

Bolongo Bay: The Bolongo Bay Beach Resort wraps around this small attractive cove beach. Kayaks, water bikes and other water sports equipment are available for rent.

Mandahl Beach is a combination of sand, coral pebble and rock; the water gets deep fast and is sometimes a bit rough. Snorkeling can be interesting but it is not the best spot for swimming, it is, however, a great place for picnics.

Lindberg Bay is shared by the Emerald Beach Hotel and the Island Beachcomber. It is a beautiful beach lined with seagrapes and palms. The water is calm and it is not usually crowded. There is a small playground for the kids just past the end of the beach.

Secret Harbor is accessed through the Secret Harbor Hotel. It is small and attractive with plenty of shade, calm water and good snorkeling near the rocks right off the beach.

Brewers Bay is close to the University and the Airport. It is quiet and rarely crowded. There is some shade from seagrapes and palms and the water is clear and calm. Vendors along the road sell local foods and beverages.

Water Bay, aka Pineapple Bay and Renaissance Beach, is accessed through the Grand Palace Resort. It is a popular spot for wind surfing and kayaking, you can rent the equipment there.

Islands in the sun : Tropical getaway offers adventure and a gentle pace (St. Thomas) By Shelley Decker

A Week in St. Thomas

Soft Adventure US Virgin Islands By Lee Foster

Footloose and Duty Free St. Thomas By Carolyn Spencer Brown

Tourist Tips