Warm, tropical and picturesque, the U.S. Virgin Islands are a piece of paradise. These islands are an unincorporated U.S. territory and a primarily English-speaking island oasis. Each island has its own special flair. St. Croix offers excellent SCUBA diving and snorkeling, is home to working sugar plantations, and has areas of tropical rainforest, yet is one of the lesser traveled islands. St. Thomas, on the other hand, is a cruise ship haven; the economy of St. Thomas is based on tourism and the island’s beaches, shopping venues and other assets are all well marketed. St. John is green in every sense of the word: it has lush forests and is a leader in environmental conservation in the Caribbean.

The coral reefs around St. John are so beautiful and so important that they are a national monument. The monument was established by President Bill Clinton to help protect them. However, they have still suffered from significant bleaching this century. Despite the white-washed appearance of some of the corals, they are still an amazing site and worth exploration by SCUBA divers and snorkelers.

On land, you’ll find plenty of hiking trails throughout these islands. Their volcanic origins have left behind plenty of hills, volcanoes, and mountains to climb and excellent views of the islands. More than half of St. John is protected as the Virgin Islands National Park and boasts some of the best tropical forest hiking in the Virgin Islands.

Dance to a little calypso music while sipping a cocktail sweetened with mango and banana, this is the Caribbean. You and your significant other can spend days holding hands on the beach, sipping cocktails on sun-drenched verandas, and dining by moonlight. Really need to relax? Book a room at a resort and spa where you can indulge in a couples massage, spend a little time in the sauna, and cuddle up in a plush bed covered in pillows.

Most resorts give plenty of extra attention to newlyweds with special honeymoon suites, couples activities, and even champagne on arrival. And if you’re looking to elope (or decide to once you arrive), many hotels will happily help you plan a wedding in the Virgin Islands. And since it’s a U.S. territory, all the paperwork is pretty easy. So as soon as you decide a spontaneous Virgin Islands wedding is your dream, the concierge can call the photographer and the florist.

All images are used via Creative Commons Attribution rights. View the original images on Flickr at: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4