Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
RoadTownFastFerry( 284-494-2323;
www.roadtownfastferry.com
)
This company
differs from the others by offering a night service that departs Red Hook at 9pm Thursday
through Sunday and goes to Road Town (one way $35).
Car Ferries to St John
Three different companies run car ferries between Red Hook and Enighed Pond beside
Cruz Bay (round trip around $50, 20 minutes), with sailings almost every hour between
6am and 7pm. Note that most St Thomas car-rental companies do not allow you to take
their vehicles to St John.
North Side
The north side of St Thomas is the quieter section of the island. Steep-sloped mountains
rise almost from the water's edge. Large coves such as Magens Bay have exquisite, se-
cluded beaches at their heads. Largely residential, the north shore features a mix of unde-
veloped forests and fields with middle- and upper-class villas perched on the mountainside.
Sights
Drake's Seat
SCENIC OVERLOOK
Legend has it that Sir Francis Drake came to this overlook, on a mountaintop just off Rte
40 south of Magens Bay, to plot the passage of his fleet through the British Virgin Islands
east of here. Tour buses and street vendors flood the scene by day, but if you come late in
the afternoon you'll have more elbow room.
Mountain Top
SCENIC OVERLOOK
( 340-774-2400)
This restaurant and shopping complex, off Rte 33 (Crown Mountain
Rd) on St Peter Mountain, offers vistas from 1500ft above sea level. On a clear day, you
can see almost all of the British Virgin Islands to the east and the Spanish Virgin Islands
of Puerto Rico to the west. Mountain Top's bar specializes in banana daiquiris, which staff
claim were invented here. A fire destroyed the complex in 2009, but the owners rebuilt and
opened again in early 2011, so everything is shiny new.
