8 Family-Friendly Things to do in St. Thomas, USVI
Fun Fam Travels
St. Thomas, located in the US Virgin Islands, offers a variety of activities and attractions for visitors. Whether you arrive by cruise or are staying on the island a little longer, here are our top 8 family-friendly things to do on this beautiful island – from our personal experience!
Beaches
Of course, visiting the beaches has to be top of the list since there are so many to choose from in beautiful St. Thomas and it’s likely why you chose to vacation here! We picked our top 3 beaches on the island that should make your vacation bucket list. There is still more to explore beyond these too – St. Thomas has over 40 beaches!
Magens Bay Beach: One of the most famous beaches in the Caribbean, Magen’s Bay Beach is consistently ranked among the world’s most beautiful beaches. Magen’s boasts soft white sand and crystal-clear, calm waters perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and relaxing. You can also grab a cocktail or a bite at the restaurant and let all your worries melt away. There are bathroom and shower facilities here so it’s great for families.
Coki Beach: Known for its vibrant marine life and excellent snorkeling opportunities, Coki Beach features crystal-clear waters teeming with colorful fish and coral reefs. It’s also a popular spot for beach vendors offering food, drinks, and water sports rentals. Bathroom and shower facilities are also on-site. While this beach does get busy, especially when ships are in port, this is still a favorite spot for snorkeling with an abundance of fish.
Brewer’s Bay Beach: Located on the island’s south shore, Brewer’s Bay Beach is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. It’s not as busy as other beaches and offers calm waters and excellent snorkeling opportunities along the shoreline. If you love sea turtles, this is the place to go! Turtles swim and feed all over the bay and can be seen popping their heads up for air just feet from the shoreline. This bay is right by the airport so you can do a little plane-watching while you are here too. They do offer bathroom facilities, however, there is no food or drinks on site except for a food truck or two – so pack a lunch! It’s worth it!
Skyride to Paradise Point
The skyride is a popular attraction that takes visitors on a scenic tram ride from the bustling port area of Havensight to the summit of Paradise Point, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Charlotte Amalie Harbor, neighboring islands, and the surrounding Caribbean Sea. Once at the top, enjoy some amazing photo opportunities, do a little souvenir shopping, enjoy the world-famous Bailey’s Bushwacker, and have lunch with a view at “Taste at Paradise Point”. Truly great for all ages to enjoy.
Explore Downtown Charlotte Amalie
Explore the historic capital of St. Thomas, Charlotte Amalie, known for its colorful colonial buildings, bustling shops, and vibrant atmosphere. Once in downtown, you can walk to many sites including Fort Christian, Blackbeard’s Castle, 99 Steps, and more. You can also grab a bite to eat and shop at various stores and street vendors downtown. While you do need to pay a small fee to enter Fort Christian, the views up top are worth more than the few bucks it costs. (Plus you can “lock” your kids in the dungeon!)
Duty-Free Shopping
St. Thomas is known for its duty-free shopping, with a wide range of stores selling jewelry, clothing, souvenirs and more. Here’s our two favorites and probably the most visited as well.
Havensight Mall is a popular choice, especially for cruisers, as it’s outdoor shops are located right at the Havensight dock. If your ship is docked at Crown Bay, you’ll need to taxi over to this area. It’s also right across from the Skyride to Paradise Point and near lots of great dining options.
Mountain Top is another great option. Known for being the largest duty-free souvenir shop on the island, it’s also home to the world-famous banana daiquiri. Sip those daiquiris while you take in the most breathtaking panoramic views of over 15 islands from the observation deck located 1500ft above sea level! It’s a great spot to get the kids a souvenir and some ice cream too. It’s been the #1 tourist attraction in the Virgin Islands for over 50 years!
Tree Limin’ Extreme Zip Line
Tree Limin’ Extreme is a popular zip line adventure park that offers an exhilarating experience for visitors looking to explore the island’s lush landscapes and enjoy adrenaline-pumping activities. This 2-2.5 hour tour takes you on a variety of zip lines, platforms and suspension bridges that offer amazing views of the island. Kids as young as 5 years old can zipline alone or even tandem, so this is a great option for the adventure seeking family. Check out their website for zipline requirements, schedules, and current pricing.
Want the best photos of your land and sea adventures? Do yourself a favor and get yourself a GoPro HERO12. It takes amazing action shots and great underwater photos and videos too!
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Coral World Ocean Park
Coral World Ocean Park is a popular tourist attraction located right next to Coki Beach. It’s an underwater observatory and marine park where visitors can explore the fascinating marine life of the Caribbean Sea. The park features a variety of exhibits and activities such as underwater observatories, touch tanks, a sea turtle pool, and even opportunities for visitors to swim with sea lions or dolphins. or encounter sharks. Not only that, you can snuba, or even experience the popular SeaTrek guided walk on the ocean floor. It’s a great place for both education and entertainment, offering insights into the diverse ecosystems and marine life. It’s great for families and afterwards you can hop over to the beach right next door!
Water Sports
St. Thomas is a haven for water sports enthusiasts. From snorkeling and scuba diving to kayaking and sailing, there are endless opportunities to explore the island’s beautiful waters. Here is our top choices in water sport activities.
Snorkeling
There are two ways to enjoy one of our favorite family activities. If you want a boat ride and a little more guidance, there are ample snorkel excursions on the island. One popular, and highly-rated, tour company is Ocean Surfari in Red Hook. They offer several excursions on their new 47’ Reef Surfari boat that let you snorkel not only in St. Thomas, but St. John, St. James, and Jost Van Dyke as well! There’s even one that includes an open bar and pizza from Pizza Pi!
If you want to try some snorkeling on your own, just pack a snorkel mask and head over to Brewer’s Bay beach for the sea turtles, or Coki beach for a plethora of colorful fish!
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Kayaking
If you happen to be in St. Thomas in the evening hours, you definitely need to try Night Kayak in Frenchman’s Cove. You will kayak under the starry sky in clear bottom boats with LED lights shining down, letting you see the diverse marine life below you at night. This is great for almost any age!
Jet-skiing
If you are in the mood for a little more excitement on the water, there are several places you can hop on a jetski. Lindbergh Beach, near the airport, has a variety of activities to enjoy and is home to Funtime Jetski rentals. Find them on Facebook for more info.
Island Hopping
Take a day trip via ferry or boat tour to explore nearby islands such as St. John, Water Island, and Tortola. Each island offers its own unique attractions and stunning natural beauty. We took the car ferry “Big Bed Barge” to St. John to visit Maho Bay and Trunk Bay (highly recommend!). But, if you don’t have a car, there is a “people ferry” too! I recommend if you are coming from a cruise ship you book directly through the cruise line because there is a risk you will not get on the ferry time you want. You don’t want to get left behind! Check out some of the ferry lines below.
Whether you’re seeking relaxation on the beach, adventure in the water, or cultural exploration, St. Thomas has something for everyone to enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we need reef-safe sunscreen when visiting St. Thomas?
Yes – and it’s the law in the U.S. Virgin Islands! Please use only non-nano mineral sunscreen containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. To protect yourself, the coral, and marine life, avoid any sunscreen listing the “Toxic 3 O’s”: oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene.
Below are reef-safe brands.
Image credit- www.islandgreenliving.org. Visit for more info!
Do I need a passport to enter St. Thomas?
If you are a U.S. citizen a passport is not required, though it is still the best identification when traveling. Otherwise, you must show evidence of citizenship when departing the islands, such as a raised-seal birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. Make sure children have a birth certificate. If coming from the US on a closed-loop cruise, you only need your ship card for ID.
If you are not a U.S. citizen, then a passport issued by your country of origin is required.
What is the language and currency?
Since St. Thomas is part of the United States Virgin Islands, the predominant language spoken is English and the currency is USD.
Are there bugs/pests on the island?
Like many islands, there are bugs around. The one you will hear most people talk about are “no-see-ums” or sandflies. They tend to come out in the early morning or evening, and also when it rains. Their bites are similar to mosquitos, they are quite itchy and last longer. We recommend bringing some bug spray and an anti-itch cream – just in case.
Can we drive on the island?
Yes! If you are staying on the island, we recommend you rent a car to explore. One important thing to note – they drive on the left side of the road! The speed limit on the island rarely goes above 20mph so it’s not that bad, we promise.
Where can we get groceries/essentials on the island?
There are several places to get groceries/essentials on the island, but keep in mind you may need to travel to more than one place to get everything you need – and the prices are generally higher than in the continental US. Cost-U-Less is a popular choice and similar to Costco or Sams Club, though no membership is needed. We found everything we needed there. Another popular choice is Moe’s Fresh Market, though there are several others as wellA. You will also find a K-Mart and Walgreens on the island.
Is the island safe?
St. Thomas is generally considered a safe destination for tourists. Most crime affects the locals, though there can still be petty crime in tourist areas. Like any place, be aware of your surroundings and be cautious when venturing off the beaten path.
Check out our favorite travel product pages below!
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