| |
Never been to the West Indies? Not sure what you're after?
The U.S. Virgin Islands is the closest thing to a Caribbean
sampler that we've come across, providing several different
island experiences in one territory.
For bustling beaches, nightlife and, especially, shopping,
look to St. Thomas. Its heavy development, North American
atmosphere and throngs of cruise-ship visitors make it the
least distinctive of the islands, but also the most visited.
This is high-volume tourism, among the highest in the Caribbean.
For unspoiled scenery and quiet surroundings, head to St.
John, a federally protected isle that is so far from developed
it's like St. Thomas' alter ego. The coral reefs, hiking trails
and small resorts on St. John have been a model for other
ecotourism efforts in the West Indies.
Those looking for something in between St. Thomas and St.
John will enjoy St. Croix, which is perhaps the most typical
of other Caribbean islands. It has a fair amount of shopping
and other attractions, but balances them with a relaxed atmosphere
and historic architecture.
While it's possible to spend all of your time on one island,
we suggest you take advantage of the variety. Good ferry and
plane connections make it relatively easy to hop between the
three islands and discover which experiences most appeal to
you.
Diversity is nothing new in this part of the Caribbean. Over
the past 500 years, the islands that now make up the U.S.
Virgin Islands have been inhabited by Carib Indians and settlers
from nearly every country in Western Europe. Columbus was
the first European to arrive, claiming the islands for Spain
in 1493. However, they went unsettled until the early 1600s,
when the Dutch and English gained a foothold. Over the next
century, possession passed to France, Spain and Denmark. (Even
the Knights of Malta, the military and religious order founded
in the Middle Ages, controlled the islands for a time.) The
Danes took over in the mid 1700s and more or less retained
control until the early 1900s, though the islands were occupied
by the British on two occasions. Under their various rulers,
the Virgin Islands consisted of agricultural plantations that
were powered by slave labor until a rebellion on St. Croix
helped bring an end to the practice in the mid 1800s.
In 1917, the United States, fearful of German expansion and
eager for a naval base to help protect the Panama Canal, bought
the islands from Denmark for $25 million. The territory experienced
economic hardship until the early 1960s, when tourism became
lucrative. In the past decade, hurricanes have played havoc
with the U.S. Virgins: Hurricane Hugo struck a direct hit
on St. Croix in 1989, leaving some 22,000 people homeless.
Hurricane Marilyn caused widespread damage on St. Thomas in
1995, including the destruction of many resort hotels, and
Hurricane Bertha struck the island in 1996, though it didn't
prove as damaging as the earlier storms.
Note: After some highly publicized incidents
in 1994, the U.S. Virgin Islands have taken measures to combat
crime. The islands present no special dangers, compared with
most other Caribbean destinations, but you should exercise
common sense, especially on the more heavily populated islands
of St. Thomas and St. Croix: Avoid deserted areas after dark,
be wary of pickpockets in crowded surroundings, and if you
have a car, don't leave valuables in plain view.
|
