Discover the U.S Virgin Islands' plantation history
At the Annaberg Plantation on St. John, you can learn about the island's history as a sugar producer, and the slavery and colonialism that came with it. Set on a hill overlooking the sea, the plantation ruins include remains of the old mill, slave quarters and factory, with a guided tour explaining how sugar production used to be undertaken. Reef Bay Trail also has the remnants of an old sugar factory, which can be spotted scattered along this shady woodland trail. Stay in a U.S. Virgin Islands vacation rental, and you can explore the tropical woodlands.
Dive around the U.S. Virgin Islands
There are endless scuba diving opportunities around the U.S. Virgin Islands, with lots of small boats taking divers out into the warm clear waters. If you've always wanted to explore a shipwreck, then take a boat to the Butler Bay Wrecks, a site with 5 wrecks of different sizes. The rusted Rosa Maria is 177-feet long, and you can dive through the crews' cabins, spotting artifacts that have been left behind. Congo Cay is a great dive for beginners, with a colorful coral reef, and friendly stingrays and dolphins greeting divers, just under the surface.
Tropical sunshine all-year in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Visitors to the U.S. Virgin Islands will enjoy high temperatures all year round, often reaching the 90s and with plenty of sunshine. However, with a tropical climate, the islands feel hotter between May and December, when humidity is high, and the rainy season is in full force. Luckily, most showers and thunderstorms pass quickly. December to April are peak times for booking U.S. Virgin Islands vacation rentals, as the weather is drier, and the heat is more comfortable. Hurricanes can sometimes hit the island, so pay attention to the news before you travel.
Sandy beaches and hilly hikes in the U.S Virgin Islands
With lightly-colored sandy beaches and long coral reefs, the U.S. Virgin Islands are famous for their unspoiled coastline. Rare birds such as the brown pelican nest on the shores, while, in the island's reefs, eagle rays, nurse sharks and many other exotic fish live amongst the coral. A lot of the U.S. Virgin Islands is made up of tropical rainforest, with St. John the least developed of the main islands. Here you hike the 2-mile Bordeaux Mountain trail, through thick forest to the summit, where you'll enjoy views across the group of islands.