The US Virgin Islands are a two-hour flight southeast of Miami, and offer a Caribbean experience that's still part of the US. There are three distinctive US Virgin Islands: sleepy St. Croix, bustling St. Thomas (visited by many cruise ships), and St. John which is largely a National Park.
What's Special about US Virgin Island vacations for families?
The US Virgin Islands offer white-sand beaches, super snorkeling, a major National Park, colonial towns and forts, duty-free shops, and some novel ways to explore the underseas.
Several upscale resorts welcome families, but the USVI offers budget options also: such as "upscale camping" in tent-cottages at Maho Bay on St. John.
Also on St. John: families can explore the Virgin Islands National Park on land and sea, and take advantage of inexpensive Park Ranger programs for their outings. An especially popular section of the National Park is Trunk Bay (photo above), a beautiful bay with an underwater snorkeling trail; admission is only $4/ person.
Generally, it's easy to get around and explore outside your resort. On St. John, for example, you can rent a jeep, and the traffic's light. (St. Thomas is busier-- with left-hand drive!) Meanwhile, rates for colorful open-air "safari" taxis are controlled. Either way, you can sample activities, beaches, self-driving tours, local restaurants, etc.
Finally, for many families, a plus about a US Virgin Island vacation is the lack of a language barrier, and the familiarity of still being in the US.
Continue to Virgin Islands St. John > St. Thomas > St. Croix
