Things to do in St Croix
St Croix promises travellers some atmospheric sightseeing, with abandoned plantations, colonial architecture and old manor houses set among the striking natural landscapes. Of course, many travellers revel in the beautiful beaches, with some glorious scuba diving and snorkelling opportunities as well as the odd shopping spree in one of the two major towns of Christiansted and Frederiksted. The most popular beaches on St Croix include Sandy Point, Buck Island Cove, Isaac Bay, Rainbow Beach and Cane Bay.
For those who want to explore the island more thoroughly and get a taste of the culture and history, Estate Whim Museum is an impressive planter's mansion restored to reflect its glory days in the 1700s. Rum production was another of the island's primary industries and visitors can visit the Cruzan Rum Distillery for guided tours and free tastings. Point Udall, the easternmost point of the United States, is a fun spot to visit, and the St George Village Botanical Garden, once a sugarcane plantation, is interesting for a stroll. The Heritage Trail is a 28 mile (45km), self-guided trip that links the main sights of interest on the island and is a good way to take it all in.
Buck Island
A few miles off the northeastern shore of St Croix lies the tiny paradise of Buck Island, one of the best excursions in the Virgin Islands. The entire island and its surrounding co…
Buck Island
A few miles off the northeastern shore of St Croix lies the tiny paradise of Buck Island, one of the best excursions in the Virgin Islands. The entire island and its surrounding coral reef is a protected nature reserve and includes a beautiful beach, an incredible coral marine garden, and two major underwater snorkelling trails with signs that introduce snorkellers to the types of coral and sea life.
Turtle Bay Trail and East End Trail together have become one of the most popular attractions in the US Virgin Islands, while there are also some excellent scuba diving sites off Buck Island Reef. Those wanting to visit Buck Island should take a taxi or drive to Christiansted or Green Cay, on St Croix, and then find a boat trip going to the island. There is no regular ferry service, but it is generally easy to find and join a boat tour.
Christiansted
One of the prettiest towns in the Caribbean, Christiansted has a perfect harbour setting and is the capital of St Croix. Dominating the waterfront is the large yellow building, For…
Christiansted
One of the prettiest towns in the Caribbean, Christiansted has a perfect harbour setting and is the capital of St Croix. Dominating the waterfront is the large yellow building, Fort Christiansvaern, built in the late 1700s to protect the town's harbour against pirates during its days as capital of the Danish colony. It served as an important trading centre for sugar and rum.
Much of the original Danish colonial architecture remains, including the Old Custom House, government buildings, and the atmospheric wharf area lined with pastel-coloured warehouses. Original Danish streets signs survive among modern enterprises like tourist shops, courtyard restaurants, and a spirited bar scene on the waterfront. There are plenty of beach activities nearby and a popular excursion is a trip to Buck Island, which offers superb beaches and coral reefs.
St Croix SCUBA
St Croix Ultimate Bluewater Adventures has been called 'the friendliest dive shop on earth' and offers a fantastic opportunity to anyone who wishes to become a fully-certified dive
St Croix SCUBA
St Croix Ultimate Bluewater Adventures has been called 'the friendliest dive shop on earth' and offers a fantastic opportunity to anyone who wishes to become a fully-certified diver while on holiday in the Virgin Islands.
While experienced divers will find their every need catered for (try the night dives!), the real beauty of the operation is the ease with which complete novices can obtain their PADI Open Water Diver certification, under the expert guidance of highly-qualified dive staff.
Over and above experiencing the beautiful underwater sights of the Caribbean, doing a diving course in the US Virgin Islands allows visitors to the islands to leave with a skill that they'll cherish for the rest of their lives.
Address 81 Queen Cross Street, Christiansted
Website www.stcroixscuba.com