First timers…
My husband and I will be on island for the entire month of February, staying on Lambert Beach (near the Wyndham). We’ll have a car the entire time. We’d like to “live the island” and find some cool spots. We’re not touristy, or into fancy restaurants, but rather natural beauty and local fun. Any suggestions would be appreciated. PS. I’m a little confused about avoiding ship tours. Seems like there’s a ship in every day?

The cruise schedule has really picked up, unfortunately. You will want to absolutely avoid Cane Garden Bay during peak hours 10-2 when they are in. Several other beaches as well and also the Baths. The Baths are miserable when you are battling the cruise ship crowds.

Great places to hit on Tortola: Smugglers Cove, Brewers Bay, Indigo Beach House (one of our very favorite places on Tortola) and Brandywine Estates for a nice dinner.

Virgin Gorda day trips via Speedy’s ferry with car rental. Go to the Baths before 9 or after 3. Savannah Bay beach. Coco Maya for dinner. North Sound can be accessed via the Saba or BEYC water shuttles. You will probably want to do several days trips to Virgin Gorda. It is wonderful.

Day trip to Anegada via the ferry. The conch ceviche at Sid’s is divine.

Don’t discount Jost Van Dyke. Yes it is touristy but so wonderful. You can bypass the Soggy Dollar and Foxy’s mayhem. Ferry over and hang at Ivan’s - taxi to Foxy’s Taboo and call BLine on little Jost - they will send someone over in the dinghy to pick you up.

Enjoy!!

Lambert Beach can be dangerous with rips. Pretty much any north shore beach, that time of year. Just be careful, and know to swim parallel to the beach to quickly exit a rip. The next beach to the east, Little Bay (AKA Little Lambert, AKA Little Elizabeth), is prob my fave beach on Tortola.

"local [late-night?] fun"? Bing's.

I have 101 suggestions.

#1 Sunday night at the Elm on CGB for early dinner and stay for the ElmTones show. Get there early. Look up Malcolm. If he is on island he will be there.