Virgin Islands National Park
© Skellig2008

While St. Croix and St. Thomas are enchanting, beautiful destinations, the real attraction of the US Virgin Islands has got to be Virgin Islands National Park on St. John.

Is there a better place for a mid-winter's getaway than a place with sugar-sand beaches lined by palms and washed by warm turquoise waters that provide habitat for turtles the size of trunks, colorful fishes like blue tang and parrotfish, and menacing barracuda?

National Parks Traveler has a checklist of things to consider before you visit the park.

There's also a long list of things to see and do in the park – although sitting on the beach and doing pretty much nothing ranks high the list, IMHO.