Page 27 - DreamScapes Magazine | Winter/Spring 2023

the sea, swimming alongside majestic greenback and hawksbill turtles.
Adventures on land are equally appealing, and Virgin Islands National Park has more than 20 trails to choose from. I wander along the accessible Cinnamon Bay Nature Loop Trail, the site of a former sugar plantation where way- sides interpret local flora, including bay rum, cinnamon and indigenous tyre palm trees.
A more strenuous hike awaits at the steep Reef Bay Trail, which winds through a tropical rainforest of some of the oldest and tallest trees on St. John. The opportunities to see waterfalls and ancient petroglyphs left behind by the pre- Colombian Taino are not to be missed. Bring a swimsuit to enjoy a dip in the ocean at Reef Bay beach at the end of the trail.
SUBLIME SAILING
The U.S. Virgin Islands are often considered one of the best sailing grounds in the world, known by many sailors as “Heaven on Earth.” With sunny weather, dependable trade winds, stunning scenery and protected anchorages, this archipelago of islands is a playground for sailing enthusi- asts or anyone who enjoys a pink-hued sunset sail.
The USVI is home to several regattas throughout the year, including the famous St. Thomas International Regatta. Held in March, the three-day event attracts experienced and novice sailors from all parts of the world to compete in the warm waters of the Caribbean. DS
TRAVEL PLANNER i For more U.S. Virgin Islands travel information
go to visitusvi.com
WINTER/SPRING 2023 DREAMSCAPES 27
DIVING DIVERSIONS
There are more than 60 scuba diving sites scattered throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Wall in St. Croix features a coral reef that drops into a 1,524-metre-deep ocean trench, while St. Thomas’s whale-shaped rocks define its Cow and Calf dive site. In St. John, the 200-metre Underwater Snorkel Trail in Trunk Bay is within the boundaries of the Virgin Islands National Park and is
a protected reserve for coral and marine life.