Best Eastern Caribbean Family Vacation Idea

This island, with its French and Dutch sides, is all about fun in the sun. Spread your towels out on some of best beaches for families in the Caribbean, including Long Bay, Cupecoy Bay and Baie Rouge. Simpson Bay, the largest saltwater lagoon in the Caribbean, is often called the "Great Pond." It's an ideal spot for families with young children.

Or combine a beach day with one of the best family activities in Sint Maarten — plane-spotting. Head to Maho Beach to watch the jets land at nearby Princess Juliana International Airport. Airplanes making their final approach fly less than 100 feet above the beach right overhead. The experience is thrilling.

Perhaps you're more in tune with a bit of peace and quiet. If so, go to Loterie Farm, a private nature reserve deep in the island's interior. It's a tranquil place to spend a few hours, including a dip in the lovely multi-level pool that qualifies as an architectural marvel. Or choose a self-guided hike through the tropical forest and maybe zip line across the property from tree to lovely tree. Keep your ears trained for the sounds of local birds and watch for the monkeys who call the surrounding forest home.

Another worthwhile pursuit is a hike to the top of Mount Concordia at the French and Dutch border. It's one of the best places for panoramic views of the entire island and also a historic location. The Treaty of Concordia was signed here in 1648 by the two island governors who represented the Kingdom of France and the Dutch Republic, officially dividing the island of Saint Martin and Sint Maarten into the two halves that still exist today.

After all that hiking, you might need a bite to eat. If you're lunching ashore, go for grilled lobster, stuffed crab or cod fritters.

An eastern Caribbean family island vacation could hardly be complete without a visit to Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas. A classic Caribbean port of call, the city's harbor is dotted with sailboats and lined with colorful houses and shops — and there are beaches aplenty.

Just a few miles from town on the north shore is popular Magens Bay", home to a horseshoe-shaped beach that has appeared in many "best beaches" lists over the years. To the east are even more appealing stretches of sand, including Coki Beach and Sapphire Beach.

A tiny gem, lush St. John lies just a few miles east of St. Thomas across Pillsbury Sound. More than half of the island comprises Virgin Islands National Park, part of the U.S. National Park Service. To get there, hop on a ferry to Cruz Bay in St. John, and then it's just a 15-minute ride to the gorgeous white-sand beach at Trunk Bay, consistently rated one of the Caribbean's very best. You'll want to try out the marked snorkeling trail, where you can read about the sea life and coral from underwater signs.

For those who dig history, head just off Charlotte Amalie's bustling main street to find pockets of the past. These include the charming, 19th-century brick-and-stone St. Thomas Synagogue and the 18th-century Frederick Lutheran Church, each among the oldest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. The nearby Fort Christian, which dates back to the 1670s, was named after Danish King Christian V and rises from the harbor to dominate the town center.

Stop by Blackbeard's Castle, built in 1679 on Government Hill, to see the world's largest collection of life-sized pirate statues. Or climb the legendary 99 Steps built by 18th-century Danes using bricks that once served as a ship ballast.

St. Thomas' central mountain range offers endless opportunities to snag the ultimate panoramic selfie. On scenic Skyline Drive is Drake's Seat lookout, a must-stop spot named after the famous explorer. From here, the views of Magens Bay and the St. Thomas coastline are breathtaking.

Just down the road is the lookout at Mountain Top, which rises over 1,500 feet above sea level — the highest point on St. Thomas — with sweeping views of more than a dozen islands, including St. John and the British Virgin Islands.

Closer to town, take the gondola to Paradise Point, which sits 687 feet up with a hilltop restaurant and bar overlooking the island.

Local culinary favorites in the U.S. Virgin Islands include conch fritters, johnnycakes (cornmeal flatbreads) and chocolate-dipped coconut patties that are impossible to resist.