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 Magens Bay It is also scenically beautiful, with numerous headlands and coves, forested hills providing stunning vistas over the Caribbean, and some of the best white-sand beaches in the Caribbean. Magens Bay beach on the north coast is acclaimed as one of the finest in the world and the sparkling waters and coral reef of Coki Bay are superb for snorkelling. Fabulous panoramas can be viewed from Drake's Seat, a high point in the centre of the island from where Sir Francis Drake used to watch for enemy ships. Sports and activities are abundant on St Thomas. There are snorkelling and dive sites, excellent greens for golf enthusiasts, sport fishing and yachting opportunities. The educational Coral World Marine Park and Observatory provides a unique look at the goings-on of Caribbean marine life, and the nearby resort town of Red Hook is a smaller version of Charlotte Amalie, with dining and shopping. It is the jumping off point to other Caribbean islands and the upmarket beach resorts nearby. Combining natural beauty with first-rate amenities, St Thomas offers numerous activities on and off the water, fine hotels and international cuisine. Attractions  Charlotte Amalie Charlotte Amalie Charlotte Amalie, named in honour of the wife of King Christian V, is the Danish-flavoured capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands, a busy port and important merchant centre since the 18th century. The beautiful harbour is ringed with whitewashed houses and painted villas, their red roofs a splash of colour against the green hillside. Cobbled, Danish-signposted streets and alleyways lead down to the waterfront, lined with shops, boutiques and colonial architecture. The old Danish merchant warehouses form a world-famous shopping district, selling imported goods from around the globe. The harbour is usually filled with cruise ships, ferries, yachts and fishing vessels, and is the most visited port in the Caribbean, creating a town that is vibrant and multinational, but often overcrowded. For those weary of duty-free shopping, Charlotte Amalie offers numerous other attractions, as well as elegant restaurants and an exciting nightlife. Blackbeard's Castle on top of Government Hill offers superb views over the harbour, and is said to have been the lookout tower for the legendary pirate, Captain Blackbeard. The red brick Fort Christian is the oldest standing building on the island, where Danish soldiers stood guard against pirates and invaders, and has since served as a jail, church, government house, community hall and today houses the Virgin Islands Museum. Skyride View © www.stthomasskyride.com St Thomas Skyride The best way to appreciate the stunning beauty of Charlotte Amalie and the St Thomas Harbour is from above. The idea for the tramway, which carries visitors over Flag Hill to Paradise Point, 700 feet (213m) up, began in the 1980s, when two ambitious businessmen bought more than 30 acres of Flag Hill from the Queen of Denmark. After a few setbacks, including Hurricane Hugo, the tramway opened in 1994 and has been a favourite activity ever since. If visitors are fortunate enough to catch one of the last trams of the day, they will witness a magical vista of twinkling lights against the soft Caribbean twilight. At the top, there is a collection of unique shops as well as a casual restaurant perfect for watching sunsets while sipping a cocktail and listening to a local band. Paradise Point has been voted the best live entertainment venue and the best tourist attraction multiple times.Address: Directly across from Port of $ale Mall, Charlotte Amalie; Website: www.stthomasskyride.com; Telephone: (340) 774 9809; Opening time: Whenever cruise ships are in port, bi-weekly; Week one: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 9am to 5pm; Wednesday 9am to 9pm; Week two: Monday, Thursday, Saturday 9am to 5pm; Tuesday 9am to 8pm; Wednesday 9am to 9pm; Admission: $21 (adults), $10.50 (children 6–12) Events  Atlantic Blue Marlin © Grander13 USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament Affectionately known as the 'Boy Scout' for the organization it benefits, the Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament has been one of the premier saltwater sport fishing tournaments in the Caribbean since 1972. Top international anglers compete alongside local enthusiasts in this last leg of the Bermuda Triangle Series. Staged from the east end town of Red Hook on St Thomas, the catch-and-release tournament has become a leader in ocean conservation. It was the first in the world to begin releasing blue marlin, and a billfish has not been boated in 19 years. With last year's purse exceeding US$450,000, the tournament continues to attract the world's best anglers, captains and crews.Venue: Red Hook, St Thomas; Date: August 2010 TBA; Website: www.abmt.vi |
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