East of Puerto Rico, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, lie the Virgin Islands. The subtropical climate and undulating island terrain create an attractive destination for a tranquil beach vacation or festive island party experience. St. Thomas and St. Croix are hotbeds of nightlife, with destinations like The Sugar Mill and The Buccaneer especially popular. There may be pirates in St. Thomas! Or at least used to be. In St. Thomas one can shack up in Blackbeard’s Castle, with a tower called the "oldest extant historical structure in the Virgin Islands”. The castle is open as a restaurant and hotel, and Bluebeard’s Castle has also been opened as a honeymoon suite. Opportunities for snorkeling are plentiful in the Virgin Islands, Coki Bay, on St. Thomas’ northeastern coast, is particularly popular for snorklers.
A more relaxed vacation is easy to find on the laid back islands of St. John and the British Virgins. The Annaberg Historic Trail on St. John leads hikers to the ruins of the Annaberg Sugar Plantation, where slaves once harvested the crystalline crop. Two thirds of the secluded island of St. John have been preserved as a national park, and the beaches, especially after 5pm, are crowd-free.
