Just a few miles east of the U.S. Virgin Islands lie the enchanting islands of Tortola, Peter Island, Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda. For those looking for a slower-paced alternative to the bustling Charlotte Amalie, the British Virgin Islands offer a laid back paradise of white sand beaches and funky, local color-- all just a ferry ride away from St. Thomas' International Airport.
Who would have guessed we could escape a mid-August heat wave by flying to the tropics? While the thermometer climbed to a record high in Providence, we flew to the islands and found the islands a welcomingly cool escape from the New England summer! A taxi whisked us from the airport to the ferry dock in Charlotte Amalie, and we boarded the boat for Tortola. Salt Air! Sunshine! The sea breeze picked up outside the harbor, and the fresh air and sunshine seemed just the right balm for our tired souls. From the deck of the boat, the sailboats moored in St. John's Cruz Bay seemed to slowly approach our bow and then disappear in the ferry's wake, followed by the golden sand along Caneel Bay, Hawk's Nest Bay and Trunk Bay. The crystal blue water sparkled in all directions, and the green shores of numerous tiny islands beckoned. To the north lay Jost Van Dyke; to the south Norman Island and Peter Island. The boat drew past Little Thatch Island and Tortola's Frenchman's Cay, the leaf-shaped isthmus where we planned to stay the night. As the late afternoon sun lit up the docks, the boat chugged into West End, and we arrived in the BVIs refreshed, relaxed and ready to explore.
