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Start your visit to the park here. Rangers are on hand with maps and brochures, and advice on how best to use your time. Displays explain the park’s natural and cultural history. A small store sells books and gift items.

Hike downhill from behind the Visitor’s Center for 20 minutes to the only beach within walking distance of Cruz Bay. Worth the effort for a few hours at the soft, sandy beach or snorkeling the nearby rocks and reefs.

Don’t miss a drive along this gorgeous route. Overlooks let motorists safely view the spectacular sea and mountain vistas (seeNorth Shore of St. John). Pick up a map at the Visitor’s Center before setting out.

Seagrapes and palm trees fringe this stunning strand of sand. Snorkel the patchy reefs that sit just offshore, stroll along the water’s edge, or simply while away hours on your beach towel. Facilities include basic toilets, a changing room, and simple pavilions (seeHawksnest Beach).

The park’s busiest beach, Trunk Bay features an underwater snorkel trail with signs to explain the sights. It’s popular with cruise ship tours, so come early or late for solitude (seeTrunk Bay Beach).

A huge stone windmill is the centerpiece of this restored 18th-century sugar plantation, which includes a sugar factory, a tiny jail, and the remains of a slave village. Ranger talks here highlight the island’s agrarian past (seeAnnaberg Plantation).

Sun or snorkel at this sandy beach, or, for some adventure, hike up Ram Head for its fine views. Follow the signs on the beach’s south side. The only facilities here are an outhouse and picnic tables.

It’s a bit of a drive to Lameshur on a mostly paved road, but it’s worth the trip if you crave a sparsely populated beach. The snorkeling, particularly on the east side of the bay, is superb, while the ruins in the west are fun to explore. An outhouse provides the only facilities.

With park rangers, trek down this trail to the old Reef Bay Estate, past flora, fauna, and a natural pool inscribed with ancient petroglyphs. A boat meets hikers for a ride back to Cruz Bay (seeReef Bay Trail).

Rent kayaks at Cinnamon Bay Campground or Maho Bay Camps (seeMaho Bay Camps, St. John) to explore the park’s nautical byways. Kayaks are easy to maneuver, and you won’t mind a spill because the water is warm. Pull the kayak up on shore to spend time snorkeling.