My love for the Caribbean is no secret: I travel at least four times a year to the region to dig my feet in its golden sands, wine to the rhythm of soca music during Carnival season, and find solace between blanketed green rain forests or a streetside rum bar with no name.

In April, I made my first visit to the U.S. Virgin Islands—which include the main islands of St. John, St. Thomas, and St. Croix and 50 other surrounding minor islands and cays. For years, I had been a bit hesitant to go, worried that its association with America would introduce many of the all too familiar comforts of home. Fortunately, I was wrong, and my weeklong adventure to the islands of St. Thomas and St. John felt just as Caribbean as any other islands I’ve visited—from the sound of its music to the pride of its people. Here’s how I spent my time on both land and sea.

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