Virgin Islands

Looking at St. John island from the vantage point of Peace Hill Tower.

January 11th - January 26th, 2025

United States Virgin Islands

Our 2025 adventures kick off with a two week stay in the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. The Virgin Islands are lush green tropical islands featuring amazing white sand beaches with clear blue water.

There are multiple islands that make up the Virgin Islands. Our Airbnb was located on St. Thomas, and we also took the ferry over to St. John to visit the US Virgin Islands National Park, which is the main reason for our visit to the Virgin Islands.

We also took a small ferry to Water Island, where we rented a golf cart and toured around the small island’s local beaches.

Virgin Islands National Park

Virgin Islands National Park is located on the island of St. John, which is half an hour ferry ride away from St. Thomas, where our Airbnb was located. The national park actually covers most of the island. We really loved all the hikes we did and the beaches we went to on St. John. Some of our favorite beaches we've ever been to were here. Our favorite hikes were America Hill, Ram Head Trail and Reef Bay Trail. On a serious note, there are a lot of plantation ruins here back from when there was slavery on the islands, which was interesting to see and explore.

The ferry to St. John

Peace Hill Tower on St. John

Looking out at St. John from Peace Hill

America Hill ruins, St. John

Looking out from America Hill

America Hill, St. John

Ruins on American Hill

Hawksnest Beach, St. John

Cinnamon Bay

Plantation ruins on the Cinnamon Bay Trail

Gravesites at the Cinnamon Bay trail

Plantation Ruins along the Cinnamon Bay Trail

Cinnamon Bay

Overlooking Blue Cobblestone Beach along the Ram Head Trail

A beach full of amazing petrified coral rocks at Blue Cobblestone Beach along the Ram Head Trail

At the top of Ram Head Peak

Views from the top of Ram Head Peak

Ram Head Peak

Cliffs at Ram Head Peak

Views from Ram Head Peak

Plantation ruins along the Reef Bay Trail

Reef Bay Trail

Petroglyphs along the Reef Bay Trail

Petroglyphs at the waterfall along the Reef Bay Trail

Waterfall along the Reef Bay Trail, where the petroglyphs are at

Plantation ruins along the Reef Bay Trail

Reef Bay Sugar Mill ruins

If you look closely, you’ll notice some small deer in the forest. They aren’t native to the island.

Reef Bay Sugar Mill ruins

Annaburg Sugar Mill

Leinster Bay Trail, where we did some of our favorite snorkeling

The ferry from St. John to St. Thomas after a long day of exploring

Airbnb

Our Airbnb was located on the island of St. Thomas, which is the island where the most people live. Our Airbnb was located literally right on the shore line, the water would lap up only 15 feet away from our apartment. We worked at home during the week and explored after work and during the weekends. We loved working here, it was so fun to look out the window during work and watch all the cruise ships coming in and out of the island.

Our Airbnb from a side angle

The apartment complex that our Airbnb was in. The shore is on the other side of the building.

The pool at our Airbnb

Sunset at our Airbnb’s pool looking out to the ocean.

Sunset at the pool of our Airbnb.

Sunset from the window of our Airbnb

Our Airbnb had a nice big window looking out to the ocean that we would look out while we worked.

The window of our Airbnb

This picture is taken out the window of Airbnb, the shoreline was 15 feet away.

Mangrove Kayaking - VI Ecotours

We went on a fun mangrove kayaking tour, which is something we've done a few times now and we love it every time. Mangroves are so interesting and are home to so many diverse creatures.

On a mangrove kayaking tour with VI Ecotours

Exploring a small island on our mangrove kayaking tour

The “blowhole” along our mangrove kayaking tour

Picked up a jelly fish on our mangrove kayaking tour

Skyride to Paradise Point

In St. Thomas, there is a cool sky ride (like a ski lift) that takes you up to a good vantage point to see the island. You can look down and see the harbor where cruise ships come in, which is really fun to see.

Skyride to Paradise Point

Skyride to Paradise Point, it was really fun to see the cruise ships from this vantage point

Skyride to Paradise Point

Secret Beach

One of our favorite beaches we went to was Secret Beach in St. Thomas. It had great snorkeling and the sunset was beautiful.

Secret Beach

Dinner at Secret Beach

Sunset at Secret Beach

Mermaid's Chair

Mermaid's Chair was a great hike we went on that takes you down to some interesting rocks and beautiful beaches. It's on privately owned land, and you actually walk down a road for most of it, so it's a pretty odd experience, but really beautiful when you arrive at the bottom.

Exploring the rocks at Mermaid's Chair

The beaches at Mermaid's Chair

The Mermaid's Chair

Hanging out at Mermaid's Chair

The road we hiked on down to Mermaid's Chair

Fort Christian

Fort Christian was built in the 1600's as the first colonial establishment on the island. They let you tour through the fortress, and it's really interesting to go through the dungeons and also walk on the upper roof level.

Fort Christian

Water Island

Water Island is a small island located only 15 minutes away from St. Thomas by boat. Once we arrived on the island, we rented a golf cart and drove around the entire island. We went to Fort Segarra, which is an old abandoned WWII fort that you can explore. We also went to Honeymoon Beach, which is one of the most amazing beaches we've ever been to.