Day 1 — Arrival + Reset (St. Thomas, USVI)
We landed in St Thomas, USVI to clear skies and that instant “I’m on island time now” feeling. After grabbing the rental car, we took a slow drive through the hills to settle in. Driving on the left side of the road was going to take some getting used to!

Condo was easy to find and the view off the balcony when I first walked through the door and I knew I was going to love it here. First stop was Sapphire Beach—calm water, easy swim, and exactly what I needed after traveling. No agenda, just getting my bearings and letting the late part of the day unfold.

Later, we took a walk down the street for dinner. Nothing fancy— my summer dress was very casual and I didn’t feel like getting gussied up. We grabbed a bite at this cute little place called Hook’d where we had the crab cakes and Mahi Bites (both delish!), a couple of Mules and a relaxed vibe. Day one felt more about arriving mentally than doing anything big, which ended up being the right call.

Day 2 — Hiking + Beach + Snorkeling
Started the day with a hike up Red Hook Hill. The views over marina and nearby islands are worth the effort—a little bush whacking, but nothing terrible. It’s one of those hikes where you stop often, partly for the view, partly to catch your breath. I think we will spend some time hiking the National Park at St John later in the week.

By midday we were back and took some time at Lindquist Beach for a swim and some downtime. I snorkeled along the edges of the bay—clear water, plenty of parrot fish, some sergeant majors, schools of small silvery fish that would have been sardines if I knew what sardines looked like… super easy conditions.

We decided on cocktails at Duffy’s Love Shack on the strip in Red Hook and the Jerk Chicken Nachos did not disappoint. Even better were the Bushwackers- an icy, milk-shaky and very boozy dessert, basically. The live music was hopping. We even danced. (I’m blaming the Bushwackers!)

Day 3 — St. John for Hiking + Kayaking
Switched things up today with a trip over to St John, USVI. We caught the ferry from Red Hook Ferry Terminal, (about a 5-minute walk from the condo) and the ride itself was part of the experience—quick, scenic, and a great way to see the surrounding islands. The weather was perfect for this. Of course, I needed to sit on top with the wind whipping my hair…

Once on St. John, we joined an eco-tour that started with kayaking through calm, protected waters. Conditions were ideal, and we ended up spotting a few sea turtles along the way, which made the whole experience feel magical.

We still have the energy after kayaking, so we did the short hike along the Lind Point Trail. It’s not a long trail, but it delivers—great views and a nice balance after being on the water. The hike drops you right into Honeymoon Beach, which felt like the perfect reward. It was nicely secluded and respite from the crowd of the cruise ships that were in port.

We spent some time there swimming and relaxing before heading back. Thankfully, we packed a backpack with vittles from Moe’s Fresh Market before we left Red Hook (steps from the condo!), so our little snack on the beach was just a few crackers short from a wine bar version of charcuterie. The return ferry was easy, and by the time we got back to our little home at Isles Away, it felt like we’d packed a lot into one day without rushing anything.

We turned in early, making half-hearted jokes about our being too young to skip the night life, but the reality is this was exactly the thing we needed to be doing, this vacation. A little action and adventure, yes, but we needed to chill.

When I have more energy, I’ll tell you about the burger I had tonight, but the eyelids are heavy.

Day 4 — Catamaran + Snorkeling with Sea Turtles
Today was all about getting out on the water. We headed out on a catamaran, which left right from the Red Hook marina- 5-minutes from the condo, leaving St Thomas, USVI behind as we cruised into open water. We ran out of sunscreen yesterday, but thankfully the condo is so convenient to everything and we picked some up at Ocean Surfari- the little retail shop on the strip. Thankful, because we needed it!

We made a few stops to snorkel, and this was the moment I had been waiting for. Not long after getting in, we spotted sea turtles—and not just one. Swimming alongside them was easily the highlight of the trip for me. They move so calmly and effortlessly, completely unfazed, and being that close felt surreal.

Between snorkel stops, we relaxed on the boat, dried off, and took in the views. It was a good mix of activity and downtime without feeling rushed.

By the time we headed back toward St Thomas, USVI, I was tired, sun-soaked, and completely satisfied. I wanted a shower, a heavy meal to satisfy the ravenous hunger from having been in the water all day, a glass of wine and a movie on the couch. All of which I got.

But I also need to mention the sunset! The weather has been absolutely perfect, this week. Not surprising when you are so close to the equator, but DANG! The sunset was spectacular.

Day 5 — Easy Morning + Wrap-Up
Last day was intentionally light. Took a short walk to and along the beach at Sapphire Beach, which we wish we had done every day. One of the things I love about the beaches here is the trees that grow so close to the shore. I am a sunbather, but He is a red head, so sitting in the shade with a book is far superior to risking a sun burn. The abundance of shade, so near the beach meant we both got what our souls crave. After all the activities of the week, we felt we could finally sit still. Although he was in the shade and I was not 😊.

We packed our things and ventured into Charlotte Amalie at midday, just to poke through a few shops and have an amazing meal at Virgilio’s Cuisine. Eating pasta two nights in a row is not a thing for me. Ever. Thank goodness I made an exception and thank goodness we made a reservation because the place was packed, but the food was worth the wait! I didn’t see a traditional and maybe-not-so-creative Spaghetti and Meatball dish on the menu, so I asked and the kitchen was happy to provide it. Hands down, it may have been the best spaghetti and meatballs of my life.

The little gold something I bought for myself while I was in town was a nice trinket to remember our trip by. I suppose a t-shirt would have been fine, but…

In the end, I was sad to be going home so soon. There were a ton of things we had wanted to do, which only means we’ll be back.

An Itinerary for Active Folks