Nearby Beaches
- The resort's two closest beaches are Morning Star, also known as Frenchman's Bay Beach, and Limetree Beach. Morning Star is known for attracting a younger crowd, including a fair number of gay singles and couples. The beach is accessed via a cliff-front elevator at Frenchman's reef. Visitors can rent snorkeling gear or sailboats if they want to take advantage of the water, or just lounge chairs if they prefer to relax. The sea-grape and palm trees of Limetree Beach are home to a host of iguanas that beachgoers enjoy feeding hibiscus blossoms by hand. Although no public transportation is available, it is possible to call a taxi from the resort.
Historic Charlotte Amalie
- Two miles west of the Morning Star Resort lies the capital city of Charlotte Amalie. Originally settled by the Dutch, it was once the world's largest slave market. Over the centuries, it has been the port of call for pirates, slavers and sailors from around the world. Today, it is where giant cruise ships dock to allow day-trippers to explore the shops that now occupy the warehouses and storage buildings once used for pirate booty and other goods.The city has various art galleries, including Gallery St. Thomas, that features mainly Caribbean-flavored art in everything from watercolors to photographs. It also is home to the oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere. The building features a sand floor, representing the period of the Spanish Inquisition when practicing Jews were relegated to worshiping in cellars with sand on the floor to absorb the sound. The adjacent Weibel Museum contains historical documents and literature connected with the history of the synagogue. The 17th-century Fort Christian, built by the Danes, also serves as a vivid reminder of the island's diverse cultural past.
Bluebeard's Castle
- This timeshare resort sits atop Bluebeard's Hill between the resort and Charlotte Amalie. On the grounds is Bluebeard's Castle, the alleged hideout of Bluebeard the pirate during his days of plundering the nearby shipping lanes. The resort's reception hall is housed in what was once the residence of the Danish governor.
Lookout Points
- Besides the picturesque views offered from the resort's many rooms, restaurants, pool decks and terraces, visitors may want to experience St. Thomas from one of the nearby scenic vista areas. Drake's Seat is a short detour north of Charlotte Amalie on route 40. Local legend claims it was a favorite lookout point for Sir Francis Drake during his career as a privateer on behalf of the English crown. On clear days, you can see parts of the nearby British Virgin Islands. The Paradise Point Tramway offers Charlotte Amalie visitors postcard-perfect views of the surrounding area from the top of Flag Hill. It takes about seven minutes for the tram to reach the top of the 700-foot hill with its observation deck, restaurant, nature trail and tropical-bird display waiting to great you at journey's end.
