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Look out for darting fish and colorful reefs from the portholes of the submarine (seeAtlantis Adventures, St. Thomas).The captain and crew narrate the trip.

This bustling town hides its history behind the doors of busy shops, but savvy strollers stop for a look at the buildings’ interesting architecture and old stone walls. The town area is anchored by the huge red Fort Christian on the east and, to the west, the covered market where planters once bought slaves, now used as a produce and crafts market. To the south sits a lively harbor, and, to the north, hillside streets filled with colonial homes and other historic buildings (seeHistoric Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas).

The village of Compass Point is home to a small collection of shops and restaurants, which serve the dozens of old salts who live aboard or keep their boats at the marina as well as any visitors who happen to wander by. Park your car in the lot to the left as you reach the area. Rent watersports equipment down on the dock or people-watch as you enjoy your lunch at the snack wagon or dinner at one of the restaurants.

Get a taste of the marine life that surrounds St. Thomas without the need to get wet, although that is an option with some of the activities (seeCoral World, St. Thomas).

Only a few cruise ships tie up at the Crown Bay dock; most go to Havensight. Facilities are minimal around the pier, so you’ll have to walk a few blocks to the Crown Bay Marina and shopping complex to find restaurants and a gourmet grocery. A few more restaurants and a couple of shops flank the busy road that runs from the pier to the Crown Bay Marina. If you are there in winter, visit the marina for a gander at the multimillion-dollar yachts that stop by St. Thomas.

A 25-minute seaplane flight from the Charlotte Amalie waterfront to Christiansted, St. Croix, lets you explore the slower pace of this historic town.

Hop the ferry at Red Hook or Charlotte Amalie to Cruz Bay and spend a day exploring Virgin Islands National Park.

Ferries run from Red Hook and the Edward Wilmoth Blyden ferry terminal in Charlotte Amalie to Road Town or West End in Tortola, which are very different from the USVI towns.

Legend has it that the 16th-century explorer Sir Francis Drake kept tabs on his troops from this spot (seeDrake’s Seat, St. Thomas). Today, it’s often busy with taxi drivers stopping to let passengers enjoy the stupendous view of Magens Bay, St. John, and the entire BVI chain to the east. A small parking lot sits on the north side of the narrow road, with the seat – not the original – just across the road. There can be a lot of traffic, so be careful crossing the street.

This estate overlooking Magens Bay includes a spacious great house and botanical garden with varieties of plants, waterfalls, fish ponds, and a bird sanctuary.