Historic St. Croix, USVI

This is by far the largest of the Virgin Islands in size with an area of 84 square miles and a population of 60,000 people. There are two distinct towns to visit which are Christiansted and Frederiksted, although the rest of the island is just as interesting. Point Udall is considered the easternmost point of the entire United Sates and worth a visit. The island is rich with historic and architectural treasures as well as beautiful beaches with plenty of underwater sights. It is difficult to visit St. Croix without seeing at least one sugar mill or plantation where sugar, molasses and rum were made for trade.

Quick Tips:

Most major airlines fly to St. Croix's Henry E. Rohlesen international airport. Oftentimes the flight will land in St. Thomas first, then go on to St Croix. All flights to the Virgin Islands are quite expensive so be prepared to pay dollars at the minium. You can sometimes find deals from major airports on the Eastcoast or if you can find your way cheaply to Miami you can then get a flight from there. You can also always try getting a deal to Puerto Rico and buying a round-trip ticket to the island from there. There is transportaion from Christianstead to Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas via Seabourne Seaplane which is highly recommended if you plan to go there. It's only 20 min, around and you get beautiful views of both islands. The arial view and experience are almost worth just the plane ride.

Best Way To Get Around:

I definatley recommend renting a car while visiting St. Croix since the island is so spread out and large. The island is composed of forested hills and fertile lowlands where you can easily rent a small economy car on St. Croix and be quite comfortable (unlike St. Thomas and St. John where a four wheel drive is highly recommended). If you are on a budget you could possibly stay around one area or at a resort, but you will really miss out on all the varitey the island has to offer. Don't forget to drive on the left!!!

Sprat Hall is a 20-acre seaside property that is appealing to guests that prefer a more homelike setting with a personal feeling and a lot of character. It is an old sugar plantation complete with a yellow and white great house, horses, and an actual sugar mill. (Horse riding facilities are available.) The lady, Joyce Hurd, that runs the place was born right here and is more more than willing to give you a tour of her property and great house. Since she spent most of her life here at the plantation she has many interesting stories and can tell you just about anything you inquire about. Notice all of the lime trees, coconut palms, grapefruit and banannas. The guest rooms in the great house are antique cluttered, but comfortable. Some guest rooms have four-poster beds and planter's chairs. There are a few more modern rooms around the property that are carpeted and slighty musty, but have full kitchenettes and are very private. Joyce will cook you a full breakfast and dinner if you give her some notice. I ended up eating in the mornings during my stay for free because my partner and I spent some time helping set-up their new computer. It was great for us and for them. She said they love trading and it seems they are willing to negotiate with potential guests.

This is a great little bistro located on the waterfront road in Frederiksted, with delicious food and an eclectic atmosphere. It's dark with a lot of candles and wooden tables which make it really cozy inside. It also has a small bar which is great for a few drinks if you aren't in the mood for eating. There are some good wines to choose from. The food menu changes and is based on local Caribbean, Asian and cajun flavors. Try the baked brie with crispy french bread as an appetizer; it's yummy! Or the steamed mussels in butter and garlic sauce served with fresh lemon wedges. Both are delicious! I believe there is usually live jazz on Friday evenings. We sat at the small private table in the tiny back nook. Ask to sit there! It's snug and kind-of romantic if you prefer to be alone.

Cane Bay is located on the North Shore of the island and many people come to visit its crystal aqua-blue waters and warm sand, but the biggest attraction by far is it's reef. Most of the best diving around St. Croix is along this Wall that runs parallel to the coast. Just 100 feet offshore, the Cane Bay Wall gradually slopes out to about 30 feet and then drops down to 3200 feet. It is definitely the perfect setting for a beach dive. Conveniently, Cane Bay Dive Shop (along with a cool outdoor bar and restaurant) are located right across the street from the beach. You can rent a tank and full gear for only $25 and do your own beach dive. They have a full sized, detailed map of the reef painted on a large counter-top so you can plan your dive. The people that run the shop are really friendly and helpful. For more money you can also sign-up for a group dive with a dive master if you prefer.

The reef is a wondrous living coral garden filled with hard and soft corals. You'll see elkhorn and brain corals and plenty of tropical fish. Look for queen angles, snappers, parrot fish, jacks, barracuda, peacock flounders and maybe even some reef sharks. There is also a 19th century anchor that you might want to plan to see during your dive as well.

I stayed in Frederiksted on my last visit to St. Croix, but if I go back I think I would like to try staying in this area. It's has a very lo-key atmosphere and friendly people, although I don't believe there are many restaurants. Try this inn, Waves at Cane Bay at 1-800-545-0603 for accommodations. They look nice from outside and are right next door to the beach. They have kitchens. OR If you want to be catered to and are not afraid to pay for it, you can stay at the beautiful and exclusive Sunterra Carambola Beach Resort. It's actually about 15 minutes west of Cane Bay. It's worth a look, even if you don't stay there. Call 1-877-258-2786.

www.sunterra.com

This stunning beach is located on the southwestern shore of St. Croix and is the most picturesque on the island. It's supposedly the largest continuous beach in all of the Virgin Islands and fortunately it is completely natural and undeveloped. It is entirely run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's - National Wildlife Refuge System because it is one of the few breeding grounds for the endagered Leatherback Turtle Species.

Sandy Point is a new and important nesting area that was discovered in 1977. It produces 200-250 nests annually which makes it one of the largest nesting beaches in the world! The beach is sandy and backed with vegetation and sloped sufficiently so that the sea turtles crawl to nest in the dry sand is not too far. The composition of the sand is very important. Dry sand is essential because this is where the female turtle will dig a hole for her body. She will dig until she reaches moist sand before she can make the proper nest. The preferred beaches are fairly close to deep water and the seas are generally somewhat rough.

All three times that I visited Sandy Point I crossed paths with a different park ranger. I spoke to each one for about 30 minutes and they were all more than willing to give me a summary about the lifestyle of Leatherback Turtles, their habitats, reasons for endagerment and breeding habits. I was even shown a few nests and some remaining egg shells from the last season!!!! It was definitely an experience!

Unfortunately, Sandy Point does have a reputation of being unsafe, especially after dark. There are curfews set to protect the breeding and hatching turtles so you shouldn't be out there anyway. I never encountered any problems, but it's always important to use caution and common sense.