IgoUgo

St. Thomas Journals

America's Caribbean: St. Thomas

A January 2010 trip to St. Thomas by Mandan Lynn

Morning Photo - Point Pleasant Resort, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands More Photos
Quote: I spent a week at my aunt's condo on the island.

Being a Likeable Visitor

Story/Tip

Travel Photo by IgoUgo member
Quote:
So, you're visiting St. Thomas and you want to make a good impression with the people who make their homes there. These are good places to start:Greet people with "good morning," "good afternoon," "good evening," "good night" and so on -- anything with "good" at the beginning. They appreciate this very much. They don't respond nearly as well to a simple "hello." If you need assistance (from your hotel front desk worker, the checker at the grocery store, etc), don't jump right into your request. See above.Do not assume that just because it is a beach community, you can be beachy everywhere. It is frowned upon to enter a store in swimwear. At least put a shirt ...Read More

Ferry to St. John

Story/Tip

Travel Photo by IgoUgo member
Quote:
If you're staying on St. Thomas, St. John is certainly worth a day trip for the national park and a change in scenery and shopping. You can also go see the old sugar plantation (we didn't, but you can).It's a beautiful 20-minute ferry ride from Red Hook (St. Thomas) to Cruz Bay (St. John). It leaves every hour on the hour from about 7:00 am until midnight or so. A one-way ticket costs $6.00. You can get a map of St. John and go exploring. Take a taxi to the further reaches of the island, or wander the nearby shops and restaurants or the national park. I'm told that Kenny Chesney not only has a home on the island, but is known to visit local establishments to jam with the l...Read More

Island Time

Attraction | "Pizza at Island Time"

Quote:
Island Time is located in the Red Hook area above the underground parking garage. It overlooks the marina and is near Molly Malone's and a store called Dolphin Dreams; pretty much right across the street (and up a level) from Duffy's Love Shack. That's the best I can do for an address for you. It's a favorite local hangout, and people will crowd the bar from 5:00-7:00 for happy hour. I enjoy an occasional amaretto sour, but the real draw at Island Time is the pizza!Truly, some of the best pizza I've had. I usually like to try a lot of different places when I visit somewhere, but I went to Island Time for pizza twice. Our local friend recommends it with extra sauce, extra c...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 22, 2010

Island Time

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Fungi's on the Beach

Restaurant | "Fungi's for FUN"

Fungi's and the Agave Photo - Fungi's on the Beach, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Quote:
Fungi's (pronounced FOON-geez) is Point Pleasant's funky beach bar. The food is prepared at The Agave Terrace -- so you know it's good! -- and sort of re-prepared at the grill at Fungi's. Beachwear is perfectly acceptable -- it had better be, since you can walk right off the deck into the water!You can often find Sue behind the bar. She's a friendly, enthusiastic woman who makes a delicious pina colada. It's open from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm or, as Sue puts it, "Until whenever people kinda go home."The menu includes salads and sandwiches as well as platters. My aunt and I shared a fish platter that included a johnny cake, plantains, fungi, and vegetables. It was $18 -- not e...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 22, 2010

Fungi's on the Beach
Agave Terrace - #4 Smith Bay St.
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00802
(340) 775-4142

Snorkeling in the Caribbean

Story/Tip

Travel Photo by IgoUgo member
Quote:
I'm not much of a water person, having grown up inland. Don't get me wrong -- I love the ocean. I just have a healthy respect for it. Also, I'm not a strong swimmer.So on my first snorkeling day, my aunt took me to Secret Harbor. The waters are calm and, no joke, she held my hand the entire time so I wouldn't drift out to sea. I saw a handful of fish.The second time we went to Coki Beach. I was feeling very brave, so she didn't have to hold my hand and I went by myself. I admit, I was never so far away from the shore that my feet couldn't touch bottom, but hey, I'm tall, so it was quite a distance out there. I saw lots of fish this time -- yellow and black striped, irid...Read More

Duffy's Love Shack

Restaurant | "An Unexpected Tattoo"

Tattoo at Duffy's Photo - Duffy's Love Shack, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Quote:
We stopped at Duffy's with our two local friends. It was still early, so fairly quiet, but this unassuming little bar was a delight. From the shark sticking out of the wall to the tables that spilled into the parking lot, we felt comfortable and happy.By the end of the night, our friend kept encouraging me to get a tattoo (washable, of course). I didn't see what the big deal was. Who cares? So as we were getting ready to go, I said, "okay". I wish I had known what I was getting into. Then again, that might not have made a difference.Our friend took me to the bar and told the bartenders, "She wants a tattoo!""Okay, come on back."Come on...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 22, 2010

Duffy's Love Shack
Route 32
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00805
(340) 779-2080

High Tide Bar and Seafood Grill

Restaurant | "Drinks and an Iguana"

Travel Photo by IgoUgo member
Quote:
After our little hike in the national park, we stopped at High Tide for a rum punch -- which my aunt said consisted of more rum than punch. I opted for a strawberry colada -- very good. We sat right at the edge of the water, and an iguana sat right there in the tree across the railing. He had an iguana friend perched higher still. They have a food menu as well, but we had brought a picnic with us and weren't hungry.The drinks were expensive, but that's to be expected pretty much anywhere on the islands. The waitstaff was very friendly (as seems to be the trend everywhere in the islands) and the atmosphere was light and happy. It's a nice stop on the way back t...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on January 22, 2010

High Tide Bar and Seafood Grill
Ferry dock
St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands National Park

Attraction | "Strolling Through the National Park"

Honeymoon Beach Photo - Virgin Islands National Park, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Quote:
St. John is approximately 2/3 national park -- the land was donated to the government by Laurance Rockefeller. There are many trails that wind through the park.We took Lind Point Trail, which starts at the Visitor's Center. It's an easy walk, with a very few steps on steep downhill or uphill, to Solomon Beach and then Honeymoon Beach and back. The beaches have great sand and are very quiet -- we were there on a sunny Monday mid-day and only had to share the space with a handful of others. The trail is well-marked. It's a bit rocky, but you'd be fine hiking in sturdy athletic sandals or tennis shoes. You'll see lots of cacti, lizards, birds, and soldier crabs.T...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on January 22, 2010

Virgin Islands National Park
Route 20/North Shore Road
St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands 00831
(340) 776 6201

Agave Terrace

Restaurant | "Resort Dining"

The Agave Terrace Photo - Agave Terrace, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Quote:
Point Pleasant has two eating establishments. The Agave Terrace is the nicer sit-down option.Reservations are recommended, especially if you intend to go a little later in the evening. It's open from 6:00-10:00 pm daily and has a full bar overlooking the sea.You can dine indoors or outdoors overlooking the ocean or back in the wooded area. Dress up a bit -- skip the jeans and certainly the beachwear.It's not really budget-friendly eating, but it is definitely taste-bud friendly. The menu covers a variety of dining angles, including seafood, steak, and vegetarian options. I ordered the Caribbean Vegetable Curry and was delighted by not only its presentation, but...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 22, 2010

Agave Terrace
#4 Smith Bay St.
St. Thomas 00802
(340) 775-4142

Point Pleasant Resort

Hotel | "Home Sweet Condo"

The Rain Sets In Photo - Point Pleasant Resort, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Quote:
In August, my aunt purchased a second home in St. Thomas -- at Point Pleasant Resort. Lucky her. Lucky me.When she's not there, she's renting it, which means that you, too, can stay where I did, which I would highly recommend. The resort has many different types of accommodations -- some hotel-style, some apartment-style, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and so on. I stayed in a two-bedroom condo with a giant deck overlooking the Caribbean Sea. We could see 10 islands from that deck!The place is clean and spacious. The two bedrooms (each with its own bathroom) has king-size beds, closets, and dressers. There are two double sliding doors that open onto the deck (and a third door...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 21, 2010

Point Pleasant Resort
6600 Estate Smith Bay
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00802
(340) 775-7200

About the Writer

Mandan Lynn

Mandan Lynn
Smithwick, South Dakota

Sail with Captain Max

User Rating:

Morningstar Charters

User Rating:

Treazzure Sailing Charters

User Rating:

St.Thomas Diving Club

User Rating:

Big Blue Excursions

User Rating: