Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Paradise Point
The cable car up to Paradise Point leaves from a terminal
across the road from Havensight Mall. The gondola rises
slowly, seemingly effortless as it glides above the harbor and
town. The final stop is 700 feet above the harbor. The trip
takes seven minutes.
The views from the observation deck include the harbor,
with its sailboats, cruise ships and seaplanes. There are
shops, a restaurant and a bar. You can also drive to Paradise
Point. The road is just beyond the cable car building. There
is a marked hiking trail (about a quarter-mile) that faces
south for views of St. Croix 40 miles away. Wear sturdy
shoes. It's steep and rocky. Don't forget your camera. Open
9 am-5 pm daily.
(340) 774-9809.
Exploring Nearby “Virgins”
Three islands lie in Charlotte Amalie's har-
bor. Virtually uninhabited and therefore
pristine, they afford visitors lovely beaches,
bicycle and hiking trails and unusual flora and fauna. Head
to
Tickles Dockside Pub
at Crown Bay Marina - the Wa-
ter Island ferry leaves from their dock. There's no service to
the others, but locals at the dock will take you to them. Ar-
range the fee in advance. You can rent a small powerboat
and go on your own.
Water Island
Water Island, the fourth-largest Virgin, lies a quarter-mile
off St. Thomas' southern coast. Its 500 acres were once part
of a St. Thomas peninsula, but a channel was cut to allow US
submarines to reach their base just west of downtown. The
Sub-base was a key defensive position during the Second
World War and it remained under the control of the US
Army until 1952. In 1996, the US Dept. of the Interior trans-
ferred control to the VI territorial government. Efforts to de-
velop
the
two-mile-long
island
have
been
largely
