We've been to the USVI a number of times...stayed on both St Thomas and St. John. Here are some of my suggestions:

1) Visit Magen's Bay for a real day at the beach - find out what the upper crust does on vacation. Beautiful...and on top of that, as my group would say, it's a "full service" beach - rental chairs, food, tropical drinks.

2) Try Coki Beach for an hour or so of very fun snorkeling. Be sure to go early before the cruise ship crowd appears. After that it's far too crowded and "touristy". Don't plan to spend the day, there are better beaches...

3) We've rented a power boat in Red Hook and daytripped to Tortola and Jost van Dyke...totally fun. But one in our group is an experienced power boater. Couldn't have done that on my own. There are similar daysails available. Bring passports or certified birth certificates to visit BVI.

4) We have also taken one of the daysails to see "The Baths" in Virgin Gorda. Wasn't as wonderful as we had hoped. Far too crowded when we were there to really enjoy. If you were there early before crowd it could be very cool...also snorkeled off the caves at Norman Island - totally cool.

5) Shopping in Charlotte Amalie for your souvieners. Not my thing, but my wife has a riot. Be sure to check the cruise ship schedule for a day when fewer ships are in port. We always top the day off with drinks around sunset at Bluebeard's Castle. Look across the way to Blackbeard's Castle and imagine lobbing cannonballs back and forth and down to the harbor...and to think I always thought it was only a ride at Disney.

6) Okay, now my favorite...daytrips to St. John! Actually, I suggest two:

Daytrip to St John #1...just a day at the beach...Take the ferry from Red Hook to St. John(every hour on hour. Don't rent a car this day... rely on taxis. Grab a taxi to one of the noth shore beaches. It's very easy to get a taxi to take you anywhere from town, a bit harder to get picked up at the more remote locations. Taxis are prevalent at Hawksnest, Trunk, Cinnamon and Maho.

Two beach suggestions (both good options). Bring your snorkeling stuff if you have it, otherwise you can rent it at either place. Cinnamon Bay for the day......very easy, relatively quiet. Snorkel on reef on east (right) end of beach. Or, Trunk Bay (tends to be more crowded with the day trips from cruise ships)... Snorkel the National Park trail around the island then head west (left as you face the water) and snorkel the rocks off the end of the beach. Unfortunately the coral is not what it used to be a few years ago - something about dust from Africa - if you can believe that. If you go to Trunk, bother to walk an extra 100 yards west on the beach to a more secluded location rather than plunking down right off the path with all the cruisers. I don't know why people do that, it drives me nuts. It'll be a lot quieter and more enjoyable. Both beaches have a snack stand for burgers and the like, also beverages (water, soda, beer - not cocktails), sailboat/board rentals, etc.

Also freshwater shower/changing facilities so you can make a quick change before heading back to town for a little shopping at Mongoose Junction then frozen drinks and dinner before grabbing a late ferry back.

Daytrip to St John #2...
Now that you've done the basics and seen what a cool place it is, here's a more adventuresome day. Take an early ferry and rent a jeep (set it up on your first trip, bring snorkel stuff, a cooler with water (other fun drinks too) is big bonus as many of beaches to not have anything available. Or buy drinks after you get car and before you leave town. Grab the colorful map you see everywhere - its got all the roads on it.

Driving is an adventure - left side of the road, very narrow roads, mountainous, with many shape turns - but not a "bad" adventure. It's just about impossible to drive faster than 25-30 mph so it's all pretty much under control. After 20-30 minutes you'll be okay. Just have everyone remind you everytime you jump in the jeep to stay left.

If it's early enough, have breakfast at Chilly Billy's up the hill. Otherwise, drive to one of north shore beaches for a while maybe Trunk or Cinnamon - whichever you didn't do the first visit - to beach and snorkel for a short while. If you're early, then Trunk is a good idea as you'll beat all the cruisers...Last visit to Trunk a few months ago, we saw barracuda (sent the kids back to the beach fast!), turtles, rays and of course fish and coral - try the west end (left)of beach on Trunk, in addition to the park service offering around the island - don't be afraid to snorkel quite a ways away from beach to the west.

Then it's time to head off to Francis Bay - snorkel out a ways to the east end where the beach gets rocky to swim with the giant sea turtles and rays. Go out quite a ways, maybe 2/3's the way to the boat bouys...where the bottom is very grassy. Look around, they're there. There's something about swimming with the turtles...

Then drive over to Coral Bay, have late lunch and great frozen drinks at Shipwreck Landing (its on the map).

Keep heading away from Coral Bay to Salt Pond Bay. Be very sure you have water before you go to Salt Pond. It is on very arid side of island. It's a quarter mile to beach from road, downhill is easy, uphill afterwards is tougher - save some water. Good hikes here - Ram's Head is cool. Snorkel on left side and out very deep...octopus, eel, squid, turtles here last visit. Then hike back up hill to jeep.

Head back to Coral Bay and take Centerline back towards town. Stop at Chateau Bordeaux for a drink and to soak in unbelievable views. Finish drive back into town. Drop off jeep. Suck down frozen libations for a while at Morgans Mango then head off to dinner at The Lime Inn (many other good eateries too)... Then grab the late ferry (11 om) for return to Red Hook.

I'm sure others have more ideas...but I'd do all this again in a minute...

bob

Some suggestions:

1. Limos trip to Virgin Gorda Baths and Norman Island

2. Sunday Beach party at Sapphire

3. Snorkeling at Secret Harbor and lunch or dinner at the restaurant there.

4. Tram ride - you could get your souveniers at the top.

5. St. Peter's Great House and Botanical Gardens - pretty - great views.

6. Sportfishing on the Marlin Prince

7. My favorite beach to snorkel in St. John in Hawksnest - beautiful coral.

8. Eat at Arthur's (located at the Anchorage) Great food, reasonable prices

9. Stay at Coki longer than an hour - it is fun - feed the fish - enjoy the people watching

One of the more enjoyable daytrips is the sail to Jost through the other islands on one of the many charter sailboats like Fantasy.