U.S. Virgin Islands: Exploring Charlotte Amalie

Cruising into Charlotte Amalie you come into a crystal blue bay fringed by green mountains dotted with island homes.

This was our stop for the day where we explored the historic town, took a sky ride, and ate Latin cuisine at a local restaurant.

Starting Our Adventure at Charlotte Amalie

First, we left the cruise port walking by numerous shops and restaurants. Then we made a left onto Edward Wilmot Blyden Road to do our first activity.

NOTE: Since it is U.S. territory our cell phones worked here. Also, I used the Danish names for streets following GoogleMaps, although some literature might use the U.S. names.

Skyride to Paradise Point

We did the gondola first to avoid the crowds and were glad we did since we easily bought the ticket and after a short line headed up.

Going Up

Listen to the workers as they guide you onto the gondola so you can do this safely since it is moving as you get on.

My son loved taking the gondola up since it is like a ride at a theme park.

At Paradise Point

On top are walkways to different lookouts with views of the bays, islands, and nearby towns and villages.

Along the way, you pass by souvenir shops and Baileys Bushwacker bar and restaurant.

After looking out, we headed back down.

DETAILS

Cost: Adults (13 and up) $24.95; Children (ages 6-12) $16.95

Hours: Vary daily, check the website for information. Usually, opens when the cruise ship is in port since cruise ships book tours for the ride. Closures can occur due to weather conditions.

Address: 9617 Estate Thomas Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas 00802, U.S. Virgin Islands

Rancho Latino

Next, we took a short walk down Edward Wilmot Blyden Road. Then made a right onto Rumer Drive to a small shopping center to have lunch at Rancho Latino.

Here, David had oxtail, and rice and I had a fish fillet in cocoanut sauce, both with plantains, and our son had a kid’s meal. This was the best meal I had on a trip.

DETAILS

Hours: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Daily

Address: 3 Vitraco Park (Vitraco Mall), Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas

Along the Charlotte Amalie Bay

Next, we walked along Edward Wilmot Blyden Road. We passed by a housing development where we noticed that chickens are free range here.

Then made a left onto Veterans Drive and came to a sidewalk that eventually widens into a walkway with views of the harbor.

We walked by the Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands where I stopped to take a picture.

A right up Forte Strade led to our next stop, the front of Fort Christian.

Fort Christian

It is the oldest standing structure in the Virgin Islands; it has stood as a sentry overlooking the Charlotte Amalie Harbor for over 300 years

The imposing fort has walls 3 to 6 feet thick, built to defend the Danish settlement and the harbor from hostile marauders. Construction took place between 1672 and 1680.

We did not have time to tour it but looked in.

I think the fee was $10 per person.

DETAILS

Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday

Address: Forte Strade, Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas 00802, U.S. Virgin Islands

Frederick Evangelical Lutheran Church

I walked up a short street directly in front of the fort entrance to Frederick Evangelical Lutheran Church. It did not look open so I took a photo.

It is the earliest church still standing in St. Thomas and dates back to 1754 although reconstructed due to fires and hurricanes.

Address: St Thomas, Norre Gade, Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas 00802, U.S. Virgin Islands

Emancipation Gardens

Then we walked back towards the fort and made a left to briefly stop at the Emancipation Gardens which commemorate the island’s 1848 emancipation.

You can find a commemorative plaque, a bronze bust of a freed slave blowing a conch shell, and a replica of the Liberty Bell in the park.

Address: Tolbod Pldn, Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas 00802, U.S. Virgin Islands

Charlotte Amalie Post Office

Across the street to the left is the yellow-painted Charlotte Amalie Post Office. Inside are two murals done as part of the New Deal program during the Great Depression. They were both completed by Steven Dohanos in 1941.

The east side mural is “The Outer World Significance” which shows an anchor, cannon, and pyramid of cannonballs surrounded by conch shells with Fort Christian’s tower in the back.

On the west side of the lobby is “The Leisurely Native Tempo” which shows a dock scene with bananas, fish, pots, and a full sack.

Address: 5046 Norre Gade, Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas 00802, U.S. Virgin Islands

Next, we continued along Norre Gade passing by numerous passageways. Then we made a right onto Raadets Gade and then a short left onto Krystal Street.

Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas

Our destination was a Jewish synagogue built in 1833 and serves the small St. Thomas Jewish community.

It is the oldest Hebrew congregation in the United States and the second oldest in the Western Hemisphere.

The sand floor reflects a tradition brought by an early Sephardic Orthodox congregation who worshipped at this site in 1796. In the synagogue’s courtyard is a small museum and gift shop.

DETAILS

Admission: Donations accepted

Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday- Friday; Closed, Saturday-Sunday

Address: 2116 Krystal St, Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas 00802, U.S. Virgin Islands

Exploring Downtown Charlotte Amalie

Next, we headed back down to Norre Gade and made a right to Gallery Camille Pissarro, sadly it was closed. Camille Pissarro was one of the fathers of the Impressionist movement.

Then we went down Store Gade passing by the popular Amalie Café, which had an hour waiting list. We were happy that we had done lunch outside of downtown and before lunchtime.

Alleyway Treasure

Next, we went back and forth in the many passageways that make up Charlotte Amalie. In one I found a plaque about pirate treasure.

This passage was once known as “Creque’s Alley” and an ancestor of its former owners discovered chests of pirate treasure in a cave on Norman Island.

A rumor says he hid part of it in this area until it could be converted into banknotes. The fantasy of finding a pirate’s hoard and quick wealth still haunts the islands.

We wandered the streets of downtown for a while checking out the many shops for our own take-home treasures.

Then we headed back right down Norre Gade towards Emancipation Garden. In front of the garden is Vendor’s Plaza where you can buy local goods from stalls.

Heading Back

Then our son Andrew was ready to return to the ship so we went on an open-air taxi, which he enjoyed. This is not an air-conditioned regulated taxi, just one we caught by the market. You will have to ask what the rate is by the taxi driver.

At the cruise port, we checked out a few more stores before getting on the cruise ship.

*NOTE: Vehicles drive on the left side of the street.*

Final Thoughts

If our son hadn’t wanted to take the taxi we would have walked back, which would have been much cheaper.

Overall, I enjoyed checking out the town and the historic sites. I am glad we walked since we were able to do the sky ride on our own along with finding a good local restaurant away from the crowds.

Although, we did not explore the upper part of downtown along Kongens Gade which has the historic 99 steps that lead up to the 18th-century watchtower known as Blackbeard’s Castle, although currently closed.

Also, along Kongens Gade is the neoclassical white Government House with its intricate ironwork along the balconies and used as the governor’s office.

Government House Address: 21-22 Kongens Gade, Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas 00804, U.S. Virgin Islands