Virgin Islands Hotels, Attractions, and Information

The Caribbean is an ideal destination for vacationers of all different tastes, desires and needs. The Virgin Islands are the most diverse of any other Caribbean location. The U.S. Virgin Islands are populated with all different sizes and configurations of hotels, resorts and casinos. The British Virgin Islands are more simplified and less glitzy. However... make no mistake - both are filled with deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, golf, water sports of any magnitude and of course... it is the diving mecca of

Sunset on the Beach of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

Photography by Carol Lee

the Caribbean.

Christopher Columbus Discovers the Virgin Islands

In 1493 during his second voyage, Columbus discovered the islands and was so struck by their beauty that he named them the Virgin Islands - in honor of the legend of St. Ursula, the beautiful Christian daughter of a third century King of Britain. The islands were battled over between the Spanish, French and English for decades. The Danish settlers took possession of St. Thomas and St. John and later purchased St. Croix from the French in 1733. World War I gave the islands strategic importance to the U.S. and the U.S. government purchased the now U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917. Britain administers most of the group northeast of old St. Johns and the United States supervises the islands to the west and south.

Geography and Climate of the Virgin Islands

Most of the islands are volcanic in origin. Only the three largest of the

Rocky Coast Line of British Virgin Islands

Photography by Carol Lee

U.S. are populated: St. Croix is the largest, St. Thomas the most populated and developed and St. John the smallest which is mostly reserved as a national park. The British islands are made up of about fifty islands, cays and rocks spread over 59 square miles. All of these are volcanic in origin except for one. Most of the islands are mountainous and green, with jagged coastlines with white sandy beaches that are idyllic for yachtsmen and vacationers. The year-round climate with temperatures ranging from 77 to 88 degrees F, and the famous balmy tradewinds are as pleasing to the sailors and yachtsmen of today as they were to the pirates and buccaneers of centuries past.

The British Islands boast that they do not appeal to everyone. They do not have golf and fancy resorts and casinos. They offer a world of fantastic marine life for divers, remote privacy for those who wish it and the most beautiful sailing waters of the world. The three U.S. Islands are as different as one could imagine. However they all three are surrounded by pristine beaches, magnificent coral reefs and seas so perfect for sailing that one can not describe with words alone.

Whether your taste runs with the life style of the rich and famous and lots of social affairs and entertainment are what makes for your perfect Caribbean vacation setting or you prefer the quiet private scene with lots of nature walks and preserves to contemplate as a background for marine life and water sport adventure - the Virgin Islands have it all.