Discover the Caribbean...

If you tire of the gentle rocking of your private oasis there are a host of attractions around the Caribbean to tease your fancy:

On St Thomas

This island has a rambunctious past peppered with the exploits of men you'll remember from childhood tales. You'd think the stomping ground of Blackbeard and the mythical Bluebeard would be the last place to turn into a tourism hub. But a fine port is a fine port whether you're unloading booty, slaves or cruise ship passengers. On St Thomas you will encounter colorful locals, fascinating history and tourist traps but it's also strikingly pretty, thanks to a spine of hills whose forested ridges form headlands separating bays and coves filled with turquoise-blue water.

Coki Bay
This gorgeous spot is by no means deserted but it's only fair that such beauty gets shared around. Tucked away snugly on the northeastern coast of St Thomas, the water here is sparkling, the sandy beach is dazzling and the fish are so friendly they'll eat from your hand.

The snorkeling is great, but it's just as rewarding to grab a drink and let your deck chair do all the work. A short toddle away is the crowded but educational Coral World, an 80,000 gallon aquarium that lets you see all manner of marine critters, without wetting so much as your little finger.

Fort Christian
Red-brick Fort Christian is just east of Emancipation Garden and is the oldest colonial building in the Virgin Islands, dating back to 1666. Over the years, the fort has functioned as a bastion, jail, governor's residence and a Lutheran church. The museum inside has interesting historical exhibits.

On St. John

St. John has a reputation as the most beautiful and tranquil island in the Caribbean. With a friendly population of only 5,000 and half of the island belonging to the St. John Virgin Islands National Park, it is true.

Reef Bay Trail
This 2.2-mile hiking trail is one of the best on St. John: descend through a shady, moist forest and a dry forest, through visible remains of four sugar mills, pass by pre-Columbian petroglyphs, and end at a beautiful, pristine beach.

Cinnamon Bay
Situated in the unspoiled island refuge, Virgin Islands National Park, this beach offers a variety of water sports from snorkeling and kayaking to sailing and windsurfing, plus a popular beachfront cottage and campsite complex.

On St. Croix

The largest of the United States Virgin Islands, St. Croix offers diverse distractions.

Estate Whim Plantation Museum
This plantation is St Croix's most striking evocation of its colonial sugarcane history. Only a few of the original 150 acres of Whim Plantation survive as the museum, but the grounds thoroughly evoke the days when 'King Cane' ruled the island.

Buck Island Reef National Monument
Lying 1.5 miles off the northeast coast of St. Croix, this 880-acre national monument includes 176 acres of land surrounded by 704 acres of water and coral reef system; it is a paradise for snorkelers, and the deep grottos and labyrinths are perfect for experienced scuba divers to explore.

Point Udall
This rocky promontory, the easternmost point in the United States, juts into the Caribbean Sea and features "The Castle," a huge mansion perched atop the cliffs and which resembles India's Taj Mahal and a Moorish mosque.