This is St Croix week. For an overview of the island and its history, you can read our earlier post. But, today, we’re going to focus on places to go and things to do on the island.
When most people think of the US Virgin Islands, St Thomas and maybe St John first come to mind. We’re not quite sure why people perceive St Croix as only a cruise stopover or a quick day-trip from one of the other islands, because its relaxing vibe, rich cultural history, and Caribbean beach life are worthy of attention.
Seriously, even the Danes know what’s up. Although Denmark’s reign over St Croix ended nearly 100 years ago, they still esteem the island as a prized vacation destination. If Danish travelers can journey all the way from northern Europe, then we (mainland Americans) have no excuse for not being better versed on the wiles of St Croix.
Our take? Count St Croix in. And, here’s why.
While BrownGirlsFly loves a great veg-out-on-the-beach vacation, we believe that travel is just as much about cultural connection – through music, food, history, and mingling with real people – as it is about relaxation. With great beaches, renowned coral reefs, and historic sites like forts, sugar mill ruins, and plantation homes, St Croix is definitely not the kind of place you should waste hiding away at an all-inclusive resort. And, because of this variety, it’s a great destination for families or groups that need enough flexibility to satisfy everyone’s needs. If you’re a hard-core party fiend, it might not be your best choice. But, the neighboring St Thomas is a quick seaplane ride away.
The Best Time To Go
Because of its temperate weather (mid 70’s – mid-80s), St. Croix is a place you can visit year round. Of course with any Caribbean travel, you must conscious of hurricane season. But, even then, if you’re willing to take the risk, you can find great prices. That said, weather should not be your only consideration. If you time your visit with one of the local cultural festivals, you’ll get a chance to celebrate Crucian style and your experience will be that much richer. Here are a few of the more popular events & fests:
| Timing | Event | Description |
| February | Agricultural Festival | The Agriculture and Food Fair is a showcase for locally produced agricultural products, livestock, arts and crafts and native cuisine. Throughout the weekend, fair goers can watch dance performances, listen to local music and sample foods such as kallaloo, johnnycake, and local drinks like ginger beer, and sorrel. |
| February | Mardi Croix | St. Croix’s version of Mardi Gras held on Cane Bay |
| February | St. Croix International Regatta | The St. Croix Yacht Club launches the spring regatta season each February with a competition that draws boats from the neighboring islands of St. Thomas, Tortola, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, mainland US and often from farther afield. |
| April | St. Croix Food and Wine Experience | Named one of the Ten Best International Food and Wine Festivals by Forbes Travel – brews a showcase of diverse cuisine and wine available on St. Croix. |
| May | St. Croix Half Ironman Triathlon | The race starts with a 1.24 mile swim in Christiansted Harbor, then a 56 mile bike ride and a 13.1 mile run. |
| June | Mango Melee and Tropical Fruit Festival | held at the St. George Village Botanical Garden |
| July 3 | Emancipation Day | A local holiday celebrating the emancipation of slavery in the former Danish West Indies (now USVI) |
| November | St Croix Blue Bay Jazz Fest, St Croix | It doesn’t happen every year, but when it does, it’s legendary. Late night jam sessions with big names. |
| December | Christmas Carnival | Celebration of people and history of St. croix. The celebration starts in mid December with the Miss.St. Croix Pageant and ends with the Three Kings Day Parade in early January. |
| Quarterly | Jump Up | A “carnival like” cultural party held 4 times a year in the streets and along the boardwalk of Christiansted. |
Things You Must Do
Of course, this is not the end-all-be-all list. But, it’s a few of our favorite things & places in St Croix.
Sailing to Buck Island
Before we visited St Croix, we kept hearing about Buck Island and it was driving us crazy trying to figure out exactly what it was and what awaited us there. Being the water-loving mermaids that we are, we weren’t disappointed when we visited the quaint little island that sits about 1.5 miles northeast of St Croix. Though it’s only 176 acres in size, it’s flanked by a 4554 acre reef and its famed Turtle Beach was voted one of the world’s best by National Geographic. Together, the island and reef have been deemed a national monument.
Several tour companies take groups out to Buck Island for some sun-bathing on Turtle Beach or some snorkeling through the reef. We did a half-day trip with Big Beard’s Adventure Tours and had a great time. From experience within our own group, we know first hand – whether you love the water or you’re terrified because you can’t swim, you’ll step off the boat on Turtle Beach and you will not be able to resist the blue waters and their call to plunge in for a dip. And, uhmm, we must admit, it was a blast to have a young female captain running things and and her crew of hot-bodied diver boys to attend to our needs.
Plantation Tours
The Spanish, French, Dutch, English and Danish settlers all left their footprints in St Croix’s sand and historical gems sprinkled across the island. And, the contribution of the indigenous and African slaves helped establish St Croix as one of the leading sugar industries of its time. From Fredericksburg to Christiansted, ruins of old plantations and sugar mills tell the story of the island and its people through the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Here are two of the places we visited:
Estate Mount Washington Plantation
Walking Tours
Tours led by historians in the Crucian storytelling tradition, bring life to St Croix’s history in a way that no photo, history book or museum could match. As you walk down cobblestone streets, visiting the first Lutheran Church, the Government House, Fort Christiansvaern and Fort Frederik, you are instantly transported back into time. Each place — with its architectural style, time-aged facades and historical significance – reminding you of the Danish men who led here and the slaves who revolted until their freedom was won.
99 Bottles of Cruzan Rum on the Wall
Proud of their contribution to the world of spirits, the locals believe a party is not a party without Cruzan Rum. If you’ve never heard of it, don’t worry. Minutes after you land, you’ll be offered a shot of mango or pineapple flavored rum while you wait for your bags to arrive on the conveyor belt.
Even for someone who doesn’t drink, the guided tour through the Cruzan Rum factory – in operation since 1760 – is pretty fascinating. You will walk through the distillation process, past massive vats of boiling raw ingredients (and their noxious fumes), rows of oak aging-barrels, and holding tanks awaiting shipment to the US mainland for packaging. At the end of the tour, you’ll be able to sample the different flavors of the “Legendary Rum of St. Croix” or grab a souvenir bottle to go.
Great Eats
Well, a destination profile wouldn’t be complete without a summary of the food options. However, since it’s SO important, we decided to devote an entire post to the cuisines we sampled and specific restaurants we enjoyed. Stay tuned for the upcoming post.
