Nestled among the abstract swirls of turquoise and blue that cover the eastern Caribbean, the US Virgin Islands call out to us, their mainland siblings, with enticing promises of sun-filled island adventure and idyllic beauty.
The USVI is a collection of islands and cays, but local life and tourist activity here center on three – St Thomas, St John and St Croix. Though only a short ferry or seaplane ride apart, each of the islands, like real sisters, has a distinct personality; each manifests its beauty in a unique way; and each appeals to a different type of traveler. St Thomas is the feisty one who loves a good party, while St John is the quiet, introverted one, and St Croix falls somewhere in between.
During a family vacation, several years ago, we had the chance to experience some of these differences first hand. St Thomas and St John were wonderful but, somehow, St Croix evaded us on that trip. Thanks to the hospitality of the US Virgin Islands Tourism Board, BrownGirlsFly had the amazing opportunity to shed the dreary doldrums of winter and discover exactly what St Croix’s been hiding.
Below, we’ll share a little eye-candy (i.e. a few of the sites you’ll see in St Croix) as well as an overview of the island. During the next few days, we’ll share our recommendations for places to see, things to do, people to meet, foods to eat and other observations about St Croix.
Happy reading. We hope it inspires a healthy dose of travelust.
Eye Candy
Sites Around Town
Overview of St Croix
Historical Bits
In 1493, on their second voyage to the new world, Christopher Columbus and his Spanish crew landed on the island christening it “Santa Cruz” or Holy Cross. As was the case on many neighboring islands, their visit sparked conflicts with the indigenous people and ushered in an era of European colonization and Afro-Caribbean slavery. Though Spain claimed discovery rights, the Dutch, English and French were the first to establish themselves on St Croix. Through the 1620s, they co-existed peacefully until in-fighting and a series of power plays shifted control in the region. Ultimately, in 1650, the French took possession of the island, then sold it to Denmark in 1733.
The Danes ruled St Croix for almost two centuries before they sold it, along with St Thomas and St John, to the United States. During those years, the Danes built St Croix’s two main towns - Christiansted and Fredericksted – developed its trade industries and established St Croix as one of the wealthiest islands in the West Indies.
In 1848, feeling the pressure of ongoing slave revolts and societal unrest, Governor General Peter von Scholten abolished slavery in the Danish colonies. The Crucians are proud of this historical event and the role slave leaders like Queen Mary played in Scholten’s decision.
Though many cultures have converged in St Croix, the Danish influence is still visible here. Much of the colorful Danish architecture remains, particularly in Christiansted. And, although Denmark no longer controls the region, St Croix is still a popular vacation destination for Danish travelers.
Geography
coordinates: 17°45′N 64°45′W
location: in the Eastern Caribbean, 1100 miles south of Miami, Florida. Point Udall on St. Croix is the easternmost point in the U.S.
size: 22.7 miles long, 8 miles at it’s widest point (approximately 84 sq mi)
Population
approximately 60,000
Government
The USVI is an unincorporated U.S. territory with a non-voting delegate to the US House of Representatives. Everyone born on the islands is a US citizen.
Weather
Year-round, daytime temperatures typically hover around the mid-to-high 80s with evening temps in the 70s. Because of its location in the Caribbean sea, St Croix is not exempt from bad weather season. However, the last major hurricane to hit St. Croix was Hugo in 1989.
Quirky Facts
Locals call themselves Crucians. While the words look and sound similar, “Crucian” is not to be confused with “Cruzan,” the local brand of rum.
Though surrounded by ocean, natural sources of fresh water are sparse, so the locals rely on salt water distillation plants to boost their supply. To help save on costs, many families collect rainwater from their rooftops into household cisterns. While you may not necessarily notice the water needs this in a high-end hotel, remember that water is sometimes scarce and generally expensive, be so use it wisely.
Getting Here:
Since St Croix is a US territory, American citizens do not need a passport to travel here. However, for the sake of flexibility, it’s wise to bring a passport, just in case you develop a burning desire to take a day trip to a neighboring British Virgin Island.
Flights from the mainland are plentiful, though most have layovers in Miami, Atlanta or San Juan. The following national airlines serve the island.
- American Airlines
- Delta Airlines
- United Airways (via USAirways codeshare)
- US Airways
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