St. Thomas4 of 7

The early-morning hours when the sun and the surf are soft is prime-time for peaceful paddleboarding along Magens Bay...

For a small land mass, Hassel Island has seen more than its share of wars, pirates, one rather infamous murder, and various other notable historic events.

Perfectly placid warm seas lapping at a smiling crescent of supple sand – the exposure, due west; the vibe, pure niceness.

Anyone who has ever been to Magens Bay, the sinfully sweet seaside playground on St. Thomas' north shore, has surely laid eyes on Outer Brass Island.

A steady breeze, brilliant blue waters, and an assortment of rocks and uninhabited islets always make for fun sailing around the southern shore of St. Thomas.

I'd run off to cold and landlocked climes for my college years, never considering that I could've enjoyed this view while earning my degrees.

Jaw-dropping to say the least, the view from Drake's Seat on St. Thomas is one of the more stunning sights you'll ever see anywhere in the Caribbean.