Children (and adults!) seem to enjoy Coral World. Let them learn abpout the local fauna and then take them snorkeling. St John would be good for hiking, etc. as is mostly National Park. A boat ride like Pirate's Penny or Stormy Petrel to the BVI including the Baths and the Indians is great after they are comfortable snorkeling. We do not have any captive dolphins in the USVI. Enjoy the wild creatures!

Coral World is great for kids, as is snorkeling at Coki Beach which is right next door. I took my children (ages 10 and 16) to Virgin Gorda in November. The almost 2 hour ferry ride from St. Thomas (stopped in St. John for immigration) was a bit of a strain on the kids. The Baths are great, but be prepared for a long, long walk up and down what seemed like hundreds of steps from the cab stand to the beach. I think the beaches in St. John (30 minutes away) are even more beautiful and much more accessible.

Enjoy

The Limno day trip to the Baths in Virgin Gorda is great. They also go to Norman Island Caves and snorkel off the boat. My 6 year old loved it. (They made her captain of the day.) You can swim with the dolphins in Tortola. It would be a ferry ride there and is not cheap (Think it's $120 to swim with the dolphins) but it is an experience you will never forget. While on St. Thomas take the tram to Paradise Point. At the top you can see a bird show. I think that is at 10 or 11 in the morning. Coral World is great which someone already said. And don't miss Magen's Bay for swimming. Your kids will just love being at the beach and they will be so tired at the end of the day they won't be complaining at all. I have heard Budget and Dependable are reasonable car rental places.

Hello,

Good suggestions... unless your kids are little althetes some of the trails on St. John might be a bit much but I would suggest still doing one or two of the shorter ones, you can determine what they are up for. The ruins and trail at Cinnamon Bay is relatively flat and the ruins have placards to read about the trees and historic buildings and then the beach is accross the road a couple minute walk - so overall a good day for the whole family. You might buy your kids a mask and snorkel - many of the rental spots have adult sizes and some kids - better to have a well fitting mask for them so they can enjoy the experience - try at Coki Beach, if your girls are timid swimmers then get a float for them to hold onto and go out with them - get some "fish food" and give them an underwater camera - the disposable ones - they will have a great time. I am not familiar with a double decker bus tour - there is a trolley tour I saw, otherwise there are open safari buses and vans. You might try to catch one of the early Caribbean Shows - perhaps the kids and you would enjoy the music and mocko jumbi dancing ect.

Lots of good restaurants; for a nice dinner out you might try Blue Moon Cafe, for a fun casual the kids might enjoy Duffys - you can get fun drink cups (meant for wild alcoholic drinks) with fruit punch or something like that for them - they might enjoy the monkey shaped cups... Tickles is a nice spot, burger/chicken sandwich type place on the water in Crown Bay - reasonable prices. If you want to save on eating out you might try and get an accomodation that has a kitchenette so you can make sandwhiches for lunch and breakfast type food.

Check out the Vacation Planning Books and Guides at www.vitraders.com - look under Planning.

--Islander