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St. Thomas epitomizes the perfect Caribbean vacation. The island
holds all the exotic thrill of a tropical paradise: stunningly beautiful
beaches, European-style villas, bright, splashy flowers, and bluestone
sugar mill ruins and as one of the three US Virgin Islands (St.
John and St. Croix are the others), it offers the familiar comfort
of many American amenities. English is the official language, and
the currency is American. Alongside the antique warehouses and red-roofed
Danish buildings of capital city, Charlotte-Amalie, you'll find
McDonald's, Pizza Hut, and the Hard Rock Cafe, as well as an international
duty-free shopping extravaganza. The Royal Dane Mall, above, frames
the south side of the shopping district.
The Estate St. Peter Greathouse was once part of a 150-acre parcel of land known as Plantation St. Peter in the 1800s. The original structure and gardens were demolished in 1989 by Hurricane Hugo, but have since been completely rebuilt. The grounds now include botanical gardens, a nature trail, waterfalls, fishponds, and an aviary. The modest entrance admission fee includes a tour and complimentary rum punch.
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