Hyperlocal experiences—ecotourism to the islands’ music and cuisine—add flavor to meetings and incentives in the USVI.
Here are six ideas to get you started.
St. Thomas
Coral World Marine Park & Observatory
The 4.5-acre park on the northeast shore of Coki Point includes an underwater observatory tower, tropical nature trail, marine gardens aquarium, and an 80,000-gallon, glass-enclosed coral reef tank that reveals the island’s beautiful species of coral, tropical fish, stingrays, barracuda, tarpon, moray eels, seahorses, nurse sharks and more.
Virgin Islands Carnival
This month-long celebration of Carnival, the ultimate in hyperlocal experiences, dazzles attendees every spring with its extravagant displays of pageantry, music festivals, food festivals and colorful parades.
Mahogany Run
The Tom Fazio-designed 18-hole golf course has some of the most beautiful and challenging holes in the Caribbean, especially at the Cliffside Devil’s Triangle where golfers must overcome a formidable stretch of Caribbean Seat that sprawls between the tee and the green.
St. Croix
Crucian Art & Rum
St. Croix’s small art galleries and studios showcase the paintings, period-influenced furniture, jewelry and arts and crafts of local artists, including the famous Crucian hook bracelet. Top this off with a tasting at the Cruzan Rum Distillery, a once-was working sugar mill when sugar plantations supplied molasses for the rum trade.
St. John
Annaberg Ruins
A wealth of history and cultural folklore, this former sugar plantation portrays plantation life and the occupation of slaves during the 18th century. Park rangers conduct demonstrations of cultural traditions, including basket weaving, music and dance each week.
Explore Virgin Islands National Park
Two-thirds of St. John is designated as protected national park land. Groups can explore 22 self-guided hiking trails within the park that are decked out in ancient petroglyphs and beautiful foliage along the way.
