Lindquist Beach - St. Thomas USVI

First, let me remind you of a little beach safety. I'm not talking about watching for riptides and currents, heavy surf, although those are extremely important. I'm referring to playing it safe in areas you are not familiar with. If you think there is an opportunity for someone to break into your rental car, or to take things while you are going for a walk or swim, then be on your best attention to not leave yourself in those situations. Take care and use common sense. This beach is no exception. There are places around Lindquist that make it an easy target for someone up to no good.

You can't call them cookie cutter beaches, though the majority of them on St. Thomas are white sand, wonderful snorkeling, great views of surrounding islands - Lindquist Beach is one sweet cookie. The colors here will have you gazing for hours. And imagine going for a dip in there. Wonderful, no?

It isn't big, but it sure is pretty! Just look!

Again, entrepreneurs got smart and built two grand resorts on either ends of Lindquist Beach. The Wyndham Sugar Bay Beach Club is at one end, and at the other sits the beautiful Sapphire Beach Resort.

It's here that many famous TV commercials and print advertisements are filmed. The beach serves as that "Caribbean" backdrop and is always in good light.

Another strong point is that it is barren - mainly because it's not very well known. And that's a plus for you. When you come out to the beach, expect few people. So plan early in the day and enjoy this piece of paradise.

As far as beaches on the East End, Lindquist (sometimes written as Linquist), wraps it up. We now head out to the South Side of St. Thomas where there is one beach that allows you to skimp.

Lindquist Beach - BEACH INDEX:

• Sand - white, of course! Coral based.
• Facilities - nearby hotels and resorts.
• Shade - palms at sand line shade in the afternoon.
• Notes - recommended.

Let's be off to the South Side where we find a couple of beaches worthy of a visit! Next! >>

Sapphire Beach - St. Thomas USVI

Here's a beach that is fun for walking and nice for swimming in a few good areas. But along the shore there has always been shallow grassy areas that give way to a near shore reef. That can be creepy walking through if you've never done it, but remember you don't have to enter there. You can go around to the Doubletree and enter there, then slowly make your way out with snorkel and fins and gently glide over the beauty of this small bay. Well worth a day trip here.

When you arrive at Sapphire Beach, St. Thomas, you can visualize that there must have been some settlement here long before the current Doubletree Sapphire Beach Resort and Marina. Because of the nature of the coast, one can imagine a ship offshore and small dinghies making their way to the beach. With St. John in the distance, protection was good from the open ocean.

One thing that keeps ships away from shore are the large reefs. Many a ship has gone down because of a collision with the hard formation. Sapphire Beach boasts one of the largest reefs, close to shore.

No ship has gone down here, that we know of, anyway, but the reef adds to the charm of this lovely cove. Walk along the shore and take in the waves as they end in the sand, or walk among the trees, some with spectacular blooms in Caribbean colors!

You can lunch at the Doubletree, while you're watching the boats go about the offshore cays, and the windsurfers who enjoy the direction and speed of the wind here. You can rent snorkel gear and umbrella shade right at the beach.

To get to Sapphire Beach, take the east end bus from town in the direction of Red Hook. Tell the driver you'd like to get off at the entrance to Sapphire Bay. You'll have to walk a piece, but it's not far. Plan on spending the day!

Don't forget the suntan lotion!

Sapphire Beach - BEACH INDEX:

• Sand - white/medium grain/some debris.
• Facilities - the Doubletree.
• Shade - some trees line the shore.
• Sports - rental at the beach.
• Notes - recommended.

They call the next beach a mere "strip" - but it ranks as one of St. Thomas' prettiest! NEXT >>