Your St. Thomas CME conference.

St. Thomas after your study day

Study days finish at 2:00 PM local time. For an easy afternoon, choose one outing near your study setting: a walk around Charlotte Amalie’s harbor and Fort Christian, an afternoon at Magens Bay, or the aerial tram up to Paradise Point. Leave time for island roads, and check opening days first; Coral World’s open days change by season.

Travel, accommodation and any admission are arranged separately. Your conference is built around your specialty and interests; the island is the setting you choose for it.

Charlotte Amalie: fort, harbor and Main Street

Fort Christian is a red fort built by Dano-Norwegian settlers, and Visit USVI calls it the oldest standing structure in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is a National Historic Landmark with a museum. The St. Thomas Historical Trust offers a guided downtown walking tour, so check its schedule against your 2:00 PM finish.

Visit USVI describes Charlotte Amalie as the biggest town in the territory, with Main Street shops selling jewelry, perfume and fashion, and says it welcomes cruise ships daily. Blackbeard’s Castle is a 1679 Danish watchtower reached by climbing 103 steps; the page says the castle gates are closed but the tower and view can be seen, so check current access. Hassel Island, a 135-acre island reached by boat from the harbor, holds Garrison House, Prince Frederick’s Battery and Cowell’s Battery and Signal Station.

Magens Bay, Coki Point and beach afternoons

Magens Bay is on the north coast, about six miles northwest of downtown Charlotte Amalie along Northside Road (Route 35). The Magens Bay Authority gives the drive as about 20 minutes. Visit USVI describes calm water and lifeguards, and the Authority lists a fitness trail, an arboretum of about 160 native and exotic trees, and a moderately challenging hiking trail that takes about 1 hour 20 minutes and ends at the beach. That trail is a long walk after a 2:00 PM finish.

Coki Beach is known for shore snorkeling, according to Visit USVI. Coral World Ocean Park is at Coki Point; its website describes marine animal encounters and conservation experiences, and says its open days depend on the month.

Lookouts: Paradise Point, Mountain Top and Drake’s Seat

Visit USVI says the aerial tram to Paradise Point carries riders about 700 feet up to views of St. Thomas Harbor and historic downtown Charlotte Amalie. Mountain Top is the highest point on St. Thomas, 1,200 feet above Magens Bay, with an observation deck that looks out over more than 15 islands.

Drake’s Seat is a hilltop reached by driving, named for Sir Francis Drake; legend says he watched there for the Spanish Armada. It looks over Magens Bay and nearby islands. Check the forecast before you drive up.

Red Hook, Frenchtown and the ferry to St. John

Red Hook is a neighborhood on St. Thomas that Visit USVI describes as combining beaches, shopping, dining and nightlife; Sapphire Beach is at its east end. Ferries leave the Red Hook terminal for Cruz Bay on St. John, about a 20-minute crossing. St. John has no airport and schedules can change, so confirm times with the ferry operator before relying on one.

Frenchtown was settled generations ago by fishermen from St. Barts and is known for colorful buildings, restaurants and bars. Water Island is a short ferry ride away.

A St. John day trip, or staying on St. Thomas?

The National Park Service says two-thirds of St. John is national park, with sandy beaches, Trunk Bay among the popular stops, and trails for all abilities. The passenger ferry between Red Hook and Cruz Bay runs about hourly from early morning to late evening, and the park service says travel by vehicle is the safest way to get around, with very limited parking, and does not recommend bicycles because of steep, narrow and winding roads.

With a 2:00 PM finish, a full St. John outing is more realistic on a day you are not studying. If you stay on St. Thomas, Charlotte Amalie, Magens Bay and the lookouts fill an afternoon without a ferry.

When to visit St. Thomas

November through April is a useful starting point. Visit USVI gives an average winter temperature of 77°F and summer of 82°F, and says the trade winds are a major reason the weather feels pleasant all year. Hurricane season technically runs from June through November, with September and October carrying the highest risk. Fall, from September through November, is the wettest stretch of the year, though rain often comes in short bursts. Use the local forecast when you plan outdoor time.

Getting to St. Thomas and your study setting

Cyril E. King Airport (STT) is the island’s airport, about two miles west of Charlotte Amalie, according to Visit USVI. The same page puts a taxi from the airport to the Red Hook ferry terminal at about 30 minutes. Choose your accommodation and ground transport with both your study setting and your plans outside study hours in mind.

The map shows straight-line distances from Shift’s designated center. These are orientation distances, not driving distances or travel-time estimates. Check your exact address against the conference’s check-in area before booking.