A trip to the US Virgin Islands is truly "no problem" because you never leave American soil. No need to change money. No need to buy foreign postage stamps. You're still at home, but, oh, what a beautiful home it is.

And also a uniquely different home. While still a part of the US, the US Virgin Islands are a special mix of American and Caribbean. English is spoken but with a distinct Caribbean lilt called calypso. Driving is on the left side of the road. And restaurant menus feature a few items that you may not recognize (but you must try.)

License plates proudly proclaim that this is "America's Paradise." It's America's own vacationland, a place for lovers to enjoy some of the greatest duty-free shopping, dance to a Caribbean beat, swim in some of the region's clearest waters, or do some "limin'," the Virgin Islanders' word for just kicking back and enjoying a taste of paradise.

Where Should We Go?

The US Virgin Islands offer three distinct vacations for couples. Shoppers and high-energy types will love St. Thomas, where poinciana-covered hills overlook streets filled with some of the Caribbean's finest duty-free shopping, one of the region's busiest cruise ship ports, and some of the most luxurious resorts in the isles. Next door, tiny St. John is custom-made for nature lovers, who can camp and hike in the national park which covers two-thirds of this unspoiled island. And, last but largest, St. Croix enchants travelers with its small town charm, picturesque Danish architecture, and one of the Caribbean's finest snorkeling trails.

Island hopping is part of life here. St. Thomas and St. John are just a 20-minute ferry ride apart, and it's just another short hop over the British Virgin Islands, a very popular day trip. Forty miles to the south, St. Croix is connected to its sister islands by 25-minute flights or by high-speed catamaran.