The Superlative Sands of St. Thomas
You can choose from strands that are happening or secluded, amenities-packed or bare. Take your pick.
By Carol Bareuther
Some St. Thomas beaches exude quiet romance on their secluded shores, while others offer rambunctious excitement and a full menu of water sports. Every visitor is sure to find a special piece of paradise. All of the island's beaches are open to the public, so you can explore freely. Here's the scoop on some of the most popular to get you started:
Zach Stovall
Watch jets land at the Cyril E. King Airport as you dip into the usually calm seas. Rocks at either end of the shoreline, patches of grass poking randomly through the sand, and shady tamarind trees 30 feet from the sea give this beach a wild, natural feel. Civilization is here, too. One or two mobile food vans park on the nearby road. Buy a fried chicken leg and johnnycakes, or burgers and chips, to munch at the picnic tables.
West, on Route 30 Lindbergh Bay
Named for the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh, who landed here in his Spirit of St. Louis in 1928 en route to Latin America, this stretch of sand that fronts the Best Western Emerald Beach Resort continues to rate a celebrity status in terms of beauty. Walk right into the sandy-floored sea or stroll to the west, where the beach is eclipsed by rocks and sea grape trees. Chairs are reserved for resort guests, but the beach bar, restaurant and dive shop are open to the public. West, on Route 302
MorningStar Beach
Nature and nurture combine at this quarter-mile beach between the Marriott Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Beach Resort, where amenities range from water-sports rentals to beachside bar service. A concession rents floating mats, snorkeling equipment, sailboards, Sunfish and Jet Skis. Swimming is excellent. The water has good-size rollers year-round, but do watch the undertow. If you're feeling lazy, rent a lounge chair with an umbrella and order a libation from one of two full-service beach bars. At 7 a.m. and again at 5 p.m., watch the mega-cruiseships glide majestically out to sea from the Charlotte Amalie Harbor. South, on Route 315
Limetree Beach
Come here to watch iguanas play hide-and-seek in the blooming bougainvillea that frames this beach in front of Bluebeard's Beach Club. These tropical lizards are so accustomed to visitors that you can often feed them their favorite snack: a bright red hibiscus flower. The beach can be rocky here, but the water is usually calm. A water-sports concession rents equipment such as kayaks. A restaurant and bar sits next to the beach. South, off Route 30
Vessup Bay Beach
Truly tropical is the best way to describe this series of rugged beaches. Each is separated by rocky outcroppings that you can climb over or wade around. Century plants, prickly pear cactus and bristly catch-and-keep bushes nearly hide homes and buildings beyond to give a deserted feel. A water-sports concession at the far end of the beach rents a variety of equipment. Kiteboarding is the craze here. East, off Route 32
Steve Simonsen
A steady breeze always blows at Sapphire Beach, which makes it a board sailor's mecca. A water-sports concession rents rigs and offers instruction by the hour. Snorkeling is great, too. Three reefs teeming with fish and fluorescent corals are close to shore. The Sapphire Beach Resort & Marina has an active kids' club program, so it's not uncommon to find artistic castles built in the sand. Beach volleyball games get under way on the weekends. Weekly, locals and visitors gather for Sapphire Sunday, a festive event during which local bands play live music and participants enjoy barbecued ribs, chicken and such. You'll also find lounge chairs on the beach, two beach bars and restaurants.
East, off Route 38 Coki Beach
Funky beach huts selling local foods such as meat pates (fried turnovers with a spicy ground beef filling; pronounced like the French pâté), picnic tables topped with umbrellas sporting beverage logos, a brigade of hair braiders and a collection of taxi drivers give this beach overlooking picturesque Thatch Cay a Coney Island feel. Rentals abound for masks, fins and air tanks. This is the place to snorkel and scuba dive. Fish such as grunts, snappers and wrasses teem in schools so dense that you can wave your hand through them like an effervescent cloud. Coral reefs are awash in colorful sponges, anemones and sea fans. Ashore, find conveniences like restrooms and changing facilities. Coral World is next door. North, on Route 388 (off Route 38)
Magens Bay
Deeded to the island as a public park, this mile-long heart-shaped stretch of white sand and turquoise sea has been rated one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world. Better yet, it's only a 20-minute drive over the mountain from downtown Charlotte Amalie, so you can go from shopping to swimming in no time. Plan to spend the day. You'll find a snack bar, a pizzeria, a full-service bar, picnic tables, saltwater showers, changing rooms, a boutique selling swimsuits and other beach gear, and boat rentals. Sunfish and paddleboats are most popular. Admission is $1 per car, $1 per adult and 25 cents per child under age 12. North, on Route 35
Hull Bay
Watch surfers ride the waves from December to March when huge swells roll in from north Atlantic storms. The rest of the year, tranquillity prevails. Local fishermen keep their runabouts anchored here. For a small fee, they will take you on a short tour to Tropaco Point, where you can look across to the uninhabited isle of Hans Lollick. Enjoy pizza, barbecued ribs and a game of darts or pool at the beach bar and restaurant. North, on Route 37
