Things to do nearDrake's Seat

Drake's Seat sits at roughly 1,500 feet above sea level along the island's central ridge, placing it squarely among the most accessible high-altitude viewpoints in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The site takes its name from the Elizabethan sea captain Sir Francis Drake, who is said to have used this natural perch to monitor rival Spanish galleons threading through the Drake Passage below during the late sixteenth century. Whether the story is strictly historical or partly legend, the lookout's commanding sightlines make the claim entirely plausible.

Arriving visitors find a modest stone seating area framed by tropical vegetation, with the land falling away sharply toward the north shore. On a clear day the view stretches across Magens Bay Beach, widely regarded as one of the finest beaches in the Caribbean, and reaches as far as the British Virgin Islands on the horizon. The nearby Phantasea Tropical Botanical Garden makes an easy and rewarding addition to any visit here.

The overlook itself requires no hiking and no admission fee, making it one of the most democratic landmarks on the island. It is a brief pull-off from Route 37, so even visitors with limited time can absorb the view in a matter of minutes. For those who want to linger, the surrounding hills offer shaded spots and a genuine sense of the island's unhurried rhythm. Drake's Seat distills St. Thomas to its scenic essence, and no visit to the island feels quite complete without it.