St. Thomas is the most popular of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Its clear, deep-water port, and duty-free shopping makes it a popular stop for cruise ships from around the world. It is a mixture of winding hills and countryside, and at 32 square miles in size, it is easy to explore the entire island.

Ever since Columbus discovered the Virgin Islands during his second voyage to the New World in 1493, they have proven to be an irresistible lure for more foreign powers than any other islands. The flags of Spain, France, England, Holland, Denmark and the United States have all flown here.

Named for the Queen of Denmark in 1691, Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is known worldwide for its shopping, as well as its breathtaking deep-water harbor. But the beauty of Charlotte Amalie also lies in its history - most of the downtown buildings are more than a century old, and they set a quaint backdrop for strolls through the town.

There's a lot more than idyllic tropical scenery on St. Thomas. Sure, the mountainous island is one of the most beautiful stretches of land in the Caribbean, but it's also steeped in exotic history, making it a fascinating place to
explore. And because it's small, it can easily be toured in one day.

The local currency is the U.S. Dollar, and the most commonly used languages are English and English-Creole. Today's population exceeds 60,000.