This US National Park Has White Sand Beaches & It's The Perfect Getaway Destination
Get ready for a tropical vacay, no passport needed! 🏝
A beach in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Right: A person in U.S. Virgin Islands National Park.
Did you know you can visit a U.S. national park with white sand beaches, Caribbean-blue water and island vibes, all without needing a passport?
The U.S. Virgin Islands is an island group in the Caribbean that is an unincorporated territory of the United States.
The best of these islands are protected in the Virgin Islands National Park, a U.S. national park that sprawls across most of the island of St. John.
A visit to the national park offers a blend of stunning natural beauty and enriching cultural insights.
Nicknamed "America’s Paradise," here, you'll find unspoiled beaches with soft white sand, gorgeous natural scenery, and plenty of historic sites.
If you're after the perfect place to sunbathe, look no further than Trunk Bay Beach. This stunning bay features a half-crescent of white sand and water that resembles translucent blue-green glass. It's no wonder it's considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
The national park's website also suggests going beyond its beaches and hiking to "historic plantation sites to learn about a challenging past when sugar and enslaved labor dominated life on the island."
On St. John, you can go to the Annaberg Plantation, which was the largest sugar-producing estate on the island and hosts exhibitions, concerts, and arts and crafts fairs. A self-guided Annaberg Historic Trail takes visitors through restored ruins on the plantation grounds.
There are also coral reefs to explore by snorkelling, sea turtle breeding grounds, hiking trails through tropical forests as well as multiple restaurants, cafes and bars on the island.
What are the 4 main U.S. Virgin Islands?
The U.S. Virgin Islands are made up of four principal islands as well as around 50 small islets and cays.
The main islands in the area are St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas and Water Island, which is more of a residential island.
Each island offers its own host of unique activities and gorgeous scenery, with most of the national park covering St. John.
St. Croix, the easternmost point of the U.S., offers three dozen white-sand beaches, horseback riding, and the Buck Island Reef National Monument, which is one of only three underwater national monuments in the USA.
St. Thomas, on the other hand, boasts one of the most beautiful harbors in the world as well as some of the world's loveliest beaches.
You'll also find golf and hiking opportunities here, as well as Coral World Ocean Park, where you can swim with sea lions, do a Sea Trek walk along the ocean floor, and encounter turtles, sharks, stingrays, and more.
Can you go to the Virgin Islands without a passport?
While you will need to fly to get to the U.S. Virgin Islands, you won't necessarily need all your travel documents.
Since the islands are U.S. territories, U.S. citizens don't need a passport to visit. Instead, visitors can show a government-issued photo ID or birth certificate with a raised seal.
To get to the U.S. Virgin Islands National Park, visitors will have to fly to St. Thomas Cyril E. King Airport and either rent a car and drive or take a taxi to Redhook, St. Thomas.
From here, you can either take a car barge to St. John or get there by ferry.
U.S. Virgin Islands National Park
Location: U.S. Virgin Islands
Why You Need To Go: This U.S. national park offers gorgeous white sand beaches and bright blue Caribbean water. The best part is, you don't need your passport to head here for a tranquil getaway.
Accessibility: Some accessible beaches and trails.
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.