Flights to Saint Thomas

A beautiful white-sand curve sandwiched between the Peterborg peninsula and Tropaco Point, Magens Bay Beach is St. Thomas' most celebrated (and most popular) beach. It's rumored that even famed sea captain Sir Francis Drake used the area as a base for his exploits.

Offering gin-clear waters and splendid views of the island's verdant slopes, this stretch, located just a few miles north of Charlotte Amalie, is by no means under the radar. Both locals and tourists gather here for the quintessential Caribbean beach experience.

There is a small fee to enter Magens Bay Beach ($4), but the good news is that since it's a part of the park system, the beach has parking, lifeguards, bathrooms, showers and a snack counter. Water sports equipment like paddleboards, kayaks and paddleboats can be rented, along with snorkeling gear, but don't expect to see much in terms of aquatic life — the ocean floor is sandy and devoid of coral reefs.

If visitors have any complaints about Magens Bay Beach, it would be that it can get overly crowded at times. It doesn't help that cruise ships bring sun-seekers by the hundreds.

Though there aren't any secluded corners of the beach to escape to for privacy, one way to avoid the throngs is to come early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Imagine a place where white sand meets water of a bright blue hue; where hiking trails take you through miles of a tropical rainforest; where an underwater snorkeling trail leads you on an aquatic adventure that gets you closer to marine life than you've ever been.

Good news: Such a place exists, and if you visit Trunk Bay, this fantasy will become a reality.

Trunk Bay is a part of Virgin Islands National Park, a blend of lush vegetation, mountains and beaches that covers about 60% of the island of Saint John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Besides lying out under the shade of a palm tree, visitors to Trunk Bay love spending their days snorkeling in the calm, clear waters.

A few amenities such as bathrooms, a restaurant and a gift shop add convenience for travelers, and chairs, umbrellas and snorkel gear are available for rent.

While many visitors may find themselves on Trunk Bay thanks to a cruise stopover, independent travelers can easily find their way here. Catch a ferry to Cruz Bay and simply hire a taxi to the beach.

Keep in mind that since the beach is part of a national park, you'll have to pay a small entrance fee.