Cartagena

Colonial Splendor

With its green hills and white-sand beaches, St. 7KRPDV R̆HUV YLVLWRUV D SLFWXUH SRVWFDUG YLHZ DV well as great shopping and world-class restaurants.

Once a colony of Denmark, St. Thomas is part of the

U.S. Virgin Islands, along with St. John and St. Croix.

In 1917 the United States bought the Virgin Islands for $25 million to employ it as an outpost guarding the Panama Canal. Virgin ,VODQGHUV KDYH DOO RI WKH ULJKWV DQG SULYLOHJHV RI United States citizens.

The beaches in St. Thomas are some of the best in the world because of their calm, clear waters, powdery white sand and coral reefs that can be seen by snorkelers 40 feet from the shore.

Shopping also is one of the biggest attractions in St. Thomas. Its capital, Charlotte Amalie, abounds with stores, many in old Danish warehouses that once held molasses, rum, lumber, ceramics and gold. The best buys on the island are in jewelry, china, electronics and linens.

The Virgin Islands Museum is in the national historic landmark