A perfect combination of the familiar and the exotic, the U.S. Virgin Islands are a little bit of America in an azure sea. About 1,000 miles from the southern tip of Florida, these islands were acquired from Denmark in 1917. St. Croix, at 84 square miles, is the largest of the islands; St. John, at 20 square miles, is the smallest. Together they have a population of 111,000, half of whom live on St. Thomas. Each of the islands has its own personality. Go to St. Croix for history and interesting restaurants. Go to St. John for nature. Go to St. Thomas if you want to shop and have a bigger selection of resorts and activities.