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Top 5 Things to do on St. Thomas

By Joanne Curcio-Quiñones

1. Go shopping! It's no secret that St. Thomas is the shopping capital of the Caribbean. It was declared a free port by the Danes in 1724 and has attracted a steady stream of bargain hunters ever since. Some of the best duty-free deals are on jewelry, watches, electronics and upscale gift items, and a few of the favorite shopping spots are downtown Charlotte Amalie, Havensight, Yacht Haven Grande and Crown Bay Center. Tillett Gardens Center for the Arts is like a candy store for art lovers.
2. Go down under. You don't have to be a scuba diver to have close encounters with eagle rays, angelfish and octopuses. There are quite a few unique attractions that offer underwater enthusiasts a front-row seat to what lies beneath the sea. Visitors can choose from walking on an underwater trail, riding in a high-tech submarine or driving an underwater scooter to get up close with the world down below that's just teeming with life. Some of these attractions don't even require getting wet!
3. Go up to the famous Mountain Top and take in a panoramic bird's-eye view from 1,500 feet above sea level overlooking Magens Bay and more than a dozen islands on the horizon. While you're there, indulge in the Mountain Top longstanding ritual of sipping on a famous banana daiquiri (with or without the rum) and do stick around to witness the incredible sunset from the perch of the viewing deck.
4. Experience Magens Bay, whether it's to swim, snorkel, soak up the sun or take in the sights. This beach, once rated one of the top 10 by National Geographic, should be on the top of the must-go list. It's an absolutely gorgeous strip of sand with plenty of amenities, including water sports rentals, picnic facilities, a bar and snack bar and a mini hiking trail that takes you around the perimeter.
5. Visit Coral World and swim with sharks, sea turtles and sea lions. There's lots of interactive fun for people of all ages at this unique and popular sea-theme park. Who says you have to be a kid to get a thrill from touching a shark, hand-feeding a stingray or watching a newborn seahorse learning how to swim?