Christopher Columbus named the islands Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Vírgenes (shortened to Las Vírgenes), after Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgins. They were inhabited by Arawak, Carib and Cermic Indians, all of whom died out during the colonial period due to disease, harsh labor conditions, and murder.

The islands were later populated by Africans enslaved on sugar plantations, and on at least one indigo plantation. The sugar plantations are now gone, but the descendants of the slaves remain, sharing a common West Indian culture with the other English-speaking islands of the Caribbean.

Get in

By plane
Flights enter either St. Croix or St. Thomas. St. John does not have an airport, but is easily accessible via St. Thomas. Many flights connect through San Juan, Puerto Rico, but direct flights from the continental U.S. involve less hassle and flying time.

Direct flights into St. Thomas can be found at Miami, JFK in New York, Boston on American Airlines, Atlanta on Delta Airlines, Newark on Continental Airlines, Ft. Lauderdale on Spirit Airlines, Charlotte, Philadelphia, La Guardia (weekly) in New York on U.S. Airways, Washington-Dulles and Chicago-O'Hare on United Airlines, and Detroit (weekly) on Northwest Airlines.

Direct flights into St. Croix can be found at Miami on American Airlines, Charlotte on U.S. Airways (weekly, seasonal), and Atlanta (twice weekly) on Delta Airlines. St. Croix is also easily reached from the mainland via St. Thomas by flying Cape Air (which flies between the St. Thomas and St. Croix airports) or Seaborne Airlines (which flies seaplanes between Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas and Christiansted, St. Croix).

By boat
Ferries run between all three US Virgin Islands, as well as to and from the British Virgin Islands and, on a seasonal basis, Puerto Rico.

Get around

Getting around any of the Virgin Islands is fairly easy. Each islands has a bus and/or a regulated taxi service. Upon docking at Cruz Bay, taxis, rental cars, and scooters are available.

By car
With plenty to explore on all the islands, car rental agencies are recommended. From the lush rainforest to the quaint Christiansted, driving the St Croix island is scenic and visually pleasing. Stick to the left-hand side and with a good handful of sharp curves, take your time navigating the roads.

Generally car rental rates will be comparable to the mainland U.S. (about $500 per week or $80 per day). If you make advanced reservations, the rates are generally lower. Get the insurance if you plan on four wheeling up the steep mountain roads. There are colored directional signs to major destinations throughout St. Thomas.

By taxi
Taxi rates are charged per person one way. For example, a one way trip from Charlotte Amalie to Magens Bay is $10; round trip for four people will cost $80. If you plan on visiting multiple destinations, renting a car might be more economical.

By bus
Upon landing at the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas, you can rent a taxi or take buses to Charlotte Amalie, or to Red Hook. Both access Cruz Bay, St. John via ferry.

By boat
Sailboat rentals at Red Hook will allow you to get around by water. If you plan to sail to the British Virgin Islands, a passport is required as of 2007. Although passports are not required for American citizens to travel to the US Virgin Islands, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) has made the documentation requirements must stricter.

A ferry boat also transports cars between Red Hook, St. Thomas and Cruz Bay, St. John. The dock is separate from the passenger ferries. The sign is really small, so if you can't find the dock, ask the workers by the passenger ferries.

Attractions

• Frederick Lutheran Church, 7 Norre Gade, Charlotte Amalie, (209) 372-0200. Virtually untouched since being built in 1820, the church is a reminder of Denmark's former ownership of the island.
• 99 Steps, Government Hill, Charlotte Amalie, (209) 372-0200. Actually, there are 103 steps. But the view is well worth the trek.
• Skyride to Paradise Point, 9617 Estate Thomas, St. Thomas, (340) 774-9809. The cable-car ride takes only seven minutes but brings you 700 feet above sea level to some breathtaking views of the islands. Open 9am-5pm; Tuesdays 9am-7pm and Wednesdays 9am-9pm. Roundtrip: $18 (adults), $9 (children 6-12),  5 and under are free.
• Atlantis Submarine, St. Thomas, (340) 776-5650. So close you can almost touch it. Explore the areas unique and vibrant reefs from inside a submarine.
• Drake's Seat, Route 40, Charlotte Amalie, (209) 372-1000. Legend has it, British privateer Sir Francis Drake used this vantage point to spy on enemy ships. It's easy to see why, considering the view.   

Activities

• St. Thomas Diving Club, Route 30 (Bovoni Road), Bolongo Bay Beach Club and Villas, Charlotte Amalie, (209) 375-9501. Amateurs and experts alike can enjoy the fascinating underwater tours, including the famous Wreck of the Rhone. Two-tank dive, including tanks and weights costs $70, add $15 for a regulator.  
• Virgin Islands Eco Tours, Inner Mangrove Sanctuary, St. Thomas, (340) 779-2155. Half and full day snorkel and kayak tours give visitors a different perspective of the island's natural beauty.
• Fair Wind Sailing School, 31385 Fromm Drive, Bingham Farms, 1-866-380-SAIL. Experience the open seas or relax with an afternoon of sailing. All levels welcomed.

Regions

• Saint Croix
• Saint John
• Saint Thomas

Island hopping

Inter-island ferry and inter-island air travel make it easy to explore  the more than 120 islands, cays and inlets between the US and British Islands. More info is available here.

Stay safe

This is the only US possession where driving on the left side (British) of the road is practiced. There are many theories as to why this is. One theory is due to the prior use of the donkey as a main mode of transportation. Islanders would drive on the left to see how close they were getting to the edge of the many steep and cliff-like roadways. The original donkey trails were then paved over to create what are now the roadways today. Another theory is that as a Danish colony, the Danish West Indies were heavily British-influenced, due to an unwillingness among Danish people to relocate to the Danish colony. This British influence explains the widespread use of the English language even before the United States purchased the islands from Denmark in 1917.

Climate

Subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, and little seasonal temperature variation. Rainy season runs May to November. Several hurricanes have hit the area in recent years as well as frequent and severe droughts and floods.

Drink

On Saint John dollar drinks are available across the street from the National park office, next to the ice cream shop. On St. Thomas, There are several drinking establishments in Red Hook, on the East End.