Of all the US Virgin Islands, St. John is probably the most unspoiled, thanks to the contribution of one of the world's best known philanthropists, Laurence Rockefeller. Had it not been for Rockefeller's gift of money and his desire to preserve beautiful St. John, the landscape would probably look more commercial, much like the other Virgin Islands. More than half of the island is designated as a National Park, making for a wonderfully unspoiled tropical island with 22 preserved nature trails.In 1956, Rockefeller donated 5,000 acres to the United States National Park Service to initiate this preservation project. The park contains many beautiful beaches, some of them among the most photographed in the Caribbean; it also has a bounty of wildlife, birds and marine life, and provides a clean nesting places for a variety of turtle species.Throughout the island are the ruins of many sugar plantations, some of which have been preserved, such as the Annaberg Plantation, a National Park site that offers demonstrations and placards with background information. The restored plantation includes an animal-powered mill, a wind mill, a sugar factory and slave quarters. Other interesting plantations include the Windberg Estate and the ruins of Fredriksdal.Within the park are campgrounds for those wanting to truly bond with nature. One is Cinnamon Bay, a privately-own campground on one of the loveliest beaches. There are clever concrete cottages with cooking and bathing facilities, but nearby there's a restaurant and commissary. The Maho Bay Campgrounds was developed by New Yorker Stanley Selengut, the man credited with conceptualizing the concept of eco-tourism. This site is a collection of 114 tent-cottages built on wooden platforms that are scattered about on a hillside overlooking picturesque Maho Bay. One of the special aspects of a stay at Maho is its renowned meal service plan with great breakfast and dinners, though the tents are equipped with cooking facilities if you prefer doing it yourself.St. John also has other well-known resorts. One is Caneel Bay, one of the first, dating back to the days when tourism was first developed here. The resort is built on the site of the plantation owned by Danish planter Peter Durloe. The architects have flawlessly preserved the ruins of this plantation and incorporated them into the resort's overall plan, which includes seven beaches. The other upscale property is the Westin Resort (formerly Hyatt Regency St. John) located near the main town of Cruz Bay.Overall, St. John has a small community feel and has managed to stay quaint, either thanks to or in spite of controlled tourism development, depending on who you ask. At one end of the main town of Cruz Bay is the attractive shopping area called Mongoose Junction, built of local stone. Beautifully designed, the Junction includes upscale shops, art galleries and restaurants. The town has a variety of small restaurants, and a couple of inns like the popular Tamarind Court, one of the island's best accommodation values. It's located only three blocks from the main ferry pier.The rest of the island has a variety of attractions. Coral Bay and Coral Harbor have several bars, restaurants and businesses, and offer fun activities such as water sports. In the center of the island is the

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