In 1956, the philanthropist Laurance Rockefeller donated 5,000 acres of St. John, more than two-thirds of the island, to form the Virgin Islands National Park. He had come to St. John on a sailing trip only four years prior. Enraptured by its beauty, he started buying up large swaths of land to ensure that it would never be developed. An additional 170 acres would be set aside to create Caneel Bay, the Caribbean's first eco-resort long before "eco" was an adjective. The low-lying buildings blend harmoniously into the lush landscape, nestled alongside seven private beaches.

Today, Caneel Bay represents the tranquil alternative to over-the-top resorts like Atlantis that seem compelled to entertain guests from the moment they arrive. There's no aquarium, theme-park swimming pools with webs of slides, cabaret theater, or casino. Just one of the most glorious stretches of beach in the Caribbean and the lure of natural attractions like snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking, sea

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In 1956, the philanthropist Laurance Rockefeller donated 5,000 acres of St. John, more than two-thirds of the island, to form the Virgin Islands National Park. He had come to St. John on a sailing trip only four years prior. Enraptured by its beauty, he started buying up large swaths of land to ensure that it would never be developed. An additional 170 acres would be set aside to create Caneel Bay, the Caribbean's first eco-resort long before "eco" was an adjective. The low-lying buildings blend harmoniously into the lush landscape, nestled alongside seven private beaches.

Today, Caneel Bay represents the tranquil alternative to over-the-top resorts like Atlantis that seem compelled to entertain guests from the moment they arrive. There's no aquarium, theme-park swimming pools with webs of slides, cabaret theater, or casino. Just one of the most glorious stretches of beach in the Caribbean and the lure of natural attractions like snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking, sea kayaking, and deep-sea fishing. Or simply sift sand through your toes, listen to palms sway in the breeze, and sink into a good thick novel. For chronically over-scheduled families, that may be just the tonic you all need.

In the U.S. Virgin Islands, only a few miles east of St. Thomas, St. John has virtually nothing in common with its overdeveloped neighbor. The natural landscape is an oasis in the Caribbean for the active traveler. Naturalists from Caneel Bay lead guests into the park on trails that weave through the arid terrain past some 500 species of plants like the desert-loving Turks Head cactus. On the coast, white-sand beaches lead to coral-covered bays (Trunk and Leinster are two of the best) where snorkelers and scuba divers spend hours mesmerized by the neon-colored fish. There's sailing and sea kayaking into hidden coves, even a Tom Fazio-designed golf course on nearby St. Thomas that's available to guests. The hotel will also arrange for a boat to pick you up and take you deep-sea fishing for the day. Hook a marlin, sailfish, or large yellowfin tuna and you'll have a story to tell when you return home.

Back on terra firma, you can brush up on your serve at one of the 11 tennis courts. Better yet, invest in your well-being at the mind-body-spirit Self Centre. Nature walks, meditation, yoga, stargazing, and holistic treatments for body and face are a mere sampling of the offerings. Then grab dinner at one of four restaurants, like the Turtle House Estate, perched high atop a bluff, or Equator, set in the ruins of a sugar mill from the 1700s. Surrounded by water, you can rest assured that the day's catch was swimming just a few hours ago.

The 166 guestrooms, replete with local tapestries and handcrafted furniture, have no television or telephones. Folks are content whiling away the hours at Caneel Bay with little or no distraction from the modern world. And that's exactly what Laurance Rockefeller envisioned over half a century ago.

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Few resorts can match the serenity and stunning natural beauty of Caneel Bay. The resort is ensconced in the Virgin Islands National Park--the resort and park were both created in the mid-50s by American millionaire Laurance Rockefeller--and its sprawling 170 acre plot includes seven (yes, seven) white sand beaches. The expertly-maintained grounds are the haunt of deer, birds, and other creatures, while the ocean areas teems with sea life--it's common for guests to see coral, tropical fish, and even sea turtles while snorkeling right from the shore. Accommodations here are classy but decidedly low-key, despite the steep price tag. Villas are constructed of wood, and most bathrooms feature showers and ceramic tiles, not whirlpool tubs and marble counters. All units are air-conditioned. The rooms and villas are scattered over the resort's property and beach areas, so this 166-room property rarely feels crowded. Jitneys circle the property, as the distances between certain beaches and

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Few resorts can match the serenity and stunning natural beauty of Caneel Bay. The resort is ensconced in the Virgin Islands National Park--the resort and park were both created in the mid-50s by American millionaire Laurance Rockefeller--and its sprawling 170 acre plot includes seven (yes, seven) white sand beaches. The expertly-maintained grounds are the haunt of deer, birds, and other creatures, while the ocean areas teems with sea life--it's common for guests to see coral, tropical fish, and even sea turtles while snorkeling right from the shore. Accommodations here are classy but decidedly low-key, despite the steep price tag. Villas are constructed of wood, and most bathrooms feature showers and ceramic tiles, not whirlpool tubs and marble counters. All units are air-conditioned. The rooms and villas are scattered over the resort's property and beach areas, so this 166-room property rarely feels crowded. Jitneys circle the property, as the distances between certain beaches and the central area is sometimes quite long. The resort has complimentary snorkel gear, kayaks, Sunfish sailboats, and windsurfing gear, and guests can arrange scuba diving, sailing charters, even watercolor lessons. Food is good, though not spectacular, and extremely pricey, but that's par for the course at resorts of this category. Nightlife is minimal--movies are shown some nights--and with no televisions the resort can grow quite still and peaceful. Caneel Bay won't appeal to those looking for a lively resort experience. For those looking for peace and quiet in a beautiful setting, it's perfect.

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The Spread:
Set on 170 acres on the edge of the 5,000-acre Virgin Islands National Park, Caneel Bay prides itself on offering low-key luxury, an attribute since Laurance Rockefeller founded the property 50 years ago. An environmentalist before his time, Rockefeller chose natural wood and native stone to build the property, helping the 166 guest rooms to blend into the tropical landscape. Although an artful, natural simplicity is signature here, there's no roughing it. The resort has excellent restaurants and wine to choose from, and the Self Centre nurtures guests' mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing with classes in yoga, meditation, and other centering techniques.

Why Families Love It:
With seven white sand beaches and no phones or televisions in the accommodations, Caneel Bay aims to deliver a renewing, get-away-from-it-all vacation. Turtle Town, for ages three to 12, is the hub of the children's activity

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The Spread:
Set on 170 acres on the edge of the 5,000-acre Virgin Islands National Park, Caneel Bay prides itself on offering low-key luxury, an attribute since Laurance Rockefeller founded the property 50 years ago. An environmentalist before his time, Rockefeller chose natural wood and native stone to build the property, helping the 166 guest rooms to blend into the tropical landscape. Although an artful, natural simplicity is signature here, there's no roughing it. The resort has excellent restaurants and wine to choose from, and the Self Centre nurtures guests' mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing with classes in yoga, meditation, and other centering techniques.

Why Families Love It:
With seven white sand beaches and no phones or televisions in the accommodations, Caneel Bay aims to deliver a renewing, get-away-from-it-all vacation. Turtle Town, for ages three to 12, is the hub of the children's activity program. Open year round Monday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., activities include nature walks, crafts, plant identification, fish hunts, pirate tales, and an emphasis on environmental appreciation and discovery (full day, $70 to $80; half day $50; dinner and a movie, $50 to $60 based on meal plan). Windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, and snorkeling are complimentary as are geocaching scavenger hunts, in which you discover clues guided by GPS navigator. For an extra fee, you can take a scuba clinic, go on a sailing or fishing outing, enjoy a beach barbecue, and try watercolor lessons or tennis instruction.

Special Events & Activities:
The resort runs half-day and full-day sailing trips as well as a 1.5-hour Sunset Sail ($70 to $130 per person).

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A resort that embraces the island environment, rather than shielding guests from it, Caneel Bay is the creation of the late Laurance Rockefeller. When it opened in 1956, it served as an early version of "glamping"—glamorous camping—though in recent years concessions like air conditioning and WiFi have been added. Still, for lovers, especially nature lovers, Caneel remains a special retreat. And even though the resort is a big operation (166 rooms spread across 170 acres), it still retains a kind of exclusivity. The rooms, in stone-walled one- and two-story bungalows, remain free of TVs and phones, just as Rockefeller intended. On-site facilities include three restaurants and bars, 11 tennis courts, a small pool, and a water sports center. Transfers from St. Thomas are handled on a private launch.