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St. Croix’s second town, Frederiksted (seeHistoric Frederiksted) is more like a sleepy village that seems to come alive only when a rare cruise ship pulls up to the pier. That makes its waterfront Strand Street and the few other streets ideal for strolling. The huge Fort Frederik is a good place to start. It has a few exhibits and the usual guns, but it is also home to the quirky Virgin Islands Police Museum. The park out front is a good spot for a break.

Located on the peninsula to the west of Charlotte Amalie, Frenchtown was settled several centuries ago by a tiny community of people from the French island of St. Barthélemy. Most Frenchtown residents earn their living from the sea. They sell their fish along the harbor front or to any of the many eateries that make Frenchtown so popular. Some of the island’s best restaurants are found in this small, relatively quiet neighborhood, so it’s worth your while to stroll the narrow lanes looking for an appealing dinner or lunch spot. If you’re in Frenchtown around July 14, attend the Bastille Day celebrations – these are held every year at the ballfield.

Home to the island’s largest cruise ship pier, the thriving Havensight area has a major shopping mall as its heart (seeHavensight Mall). Catering mainly to cruise ship passengers, the mall also attracts shoppers who don’t want to head to the downtown Charlotte Amalie shopping area. Tourist shops selling jewelry, electronics, and gift items sit alongside a bank, the island’s only real bookstore, and a handful of restaurants. More shops, a grocery store, and several restaurants line Havensight Road.

A local favorite, Hawksnest Beach is a sandy stretch shaded by round-leafed seagrapes and towering palm trees. Keep a watch for falling coconuts. Part of the Virgin Islands National Park, the quiet beach has modest bathrooms and changing facilities, as well as shaded picnic pavilions. The snorkeling over the near-shore reefs is enjoyable, but experienced snorkelers may want to explore the rocks and pocket beach on the eastern shore.

Get a bird’s-eye view of the turquoise waters, white sand beaches, and charming towns in St. Thomas and St. John. Longer trips include the BVI.

This easy half-mile (1-km) loop trail across from Cinnamon Bay Campground on the North Shore Road takes you through sugar factory ruins and past an old cemetery that dates to Danish times. Make stops at the numerous labeled examples of the island’s vegetation to add to your child’s botanical knowledge (seeCinnamon Bay Ruins Trail).

Home to a handful of hoppin’ bars, some guesthouses, and a few small stores sitting along its sandy lanes, Great Harbour is the island’s main settlement. If you’re sailing and haven’t cleared Immigration in Tortola, visit the BVI Customs and Immigration office on the waterfront. If you want a change of scene, take a stroll west to White Bay, the next bay over and home to Sandcastle hotel and restaurant (seeSandcastle, Jost Van Dyke). Head off to the east to Little Harbour, which offers more bars and restaurants.

Another local favorite, this small, sandy beach calls for a hike down a flight of stairs. That’s the easy part – you’ll also have to huff and puff back up. Some trees offer shade for folk who want to go easy on their tan, and there’s great snorkeling at the reef sitting just offshore. However, the water at this beach can get rough when winter swells roll in from the north.

Sometimes called Elizabeth Beach, this is a fine strand of palm- and seagrape-fringed sand where you may see a nesting leatherback turtle crawl up during the spring and early summer months. Take Ridge Road to Lambert Road, then turn left at the sign for Lambert Estates through an area of scattered upscale homes and a small resort. Stop for lunch at the alfresco Turtle Restaurant, located at Lambert Beach Resort.

Kids over 10 can experience the underwater world through a basic diving course or spend more time to receive their diving certification card. Instructors are child-friendly and understand their limitations. There’s no better way to add that wow factor to a USVI or BVI vacation.