The Land of St. Croix

St. Croix, one of the four Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, is 82 square miles and an adventurer’s paradise. Whether you enjoy a guided tour or rent a car to explore the island on your own, you will find this to be an amazing and beautiful island.

Although you can enjoy the beautiful sandy beaches, cool, calming water, or the warm sun, the island offers so much more. For example, you can take time to visit the Estate St. George Botanical Gardens. There, you will be impressed by the land and lush woods. These gardens are spread out over 16 acres where a 19th century sugarcane village and rum factory exists. Today, these are both still working operations with the factory including a stone dam, blacksmith’s shop, bake oven, and watermill.

One of the favorite things to do while on the island of St. Croix is Buck Island Reef. Interestingly, there you will discover the only United States National Monument that is actually underwater. The park portion covers 850 acres to include the island proper with picnic tables, barbecue pits, and sandy beaches of which visitors can take advantage. However, the reef features a number of underwater trails, two primary ones called the East End Trail and the Turtle Bay Trail. If you want to take a boat ride, you will find several operations off the Christiansted dock.

The Cruzan Rum Distillery is definitely a great day trip. You can watch as the famous Virgin Island rum is made, walking through the plant to see flat sections of rum kegs, and then on to the distilling, which takes you through fumes of intoxicating rum. Finally, you end up at the bottling and labeling area of the factory. Of course, you can purchase Cruzan Rum, the world’s best. Then to relax during the day, Cramer Park is a magnificent choice. The beach is spectacular and you can enjoy the outdoor DJs, music, and picnic area.

For some of the finest views on St. Croix, you want to head to the eastern side of the island to Point Udall. From there, you can head to the National Science Foundation just one mile away, a place that features an 82-foot diameter antenna. Weighing 260 tons, this dish was at one time used to explore the universe. Then, the rainforest draws people in from around the world to its magnificent beauty. Frederiksted boasts 15 acres of rainforest along with Creque Dam Road, which measures 150 feet high.

Then you can visit Mahogany Road, so named because it is lined with gorgeous mahogany trees, Tibet trees, and yellow cedar. There, you will breathe in the air of the island known as the island fruits while listening to the call of the mountain dove. The exciting aspect of St. Croix is that you can sit and watch local woodcarvers in the rainforest as they make wood chairs and sculptures from mahogany, take in historical sites that provide a glimpse into the early years of settlement, dance at outstanding nightspots, or just soak up the sun during the day.

Of course, like the other Virgin Islands, St. Croix is an excellent place to scuba dive, snorkel, fish, boat, and swim. With such diversity and beauty, it is no wonder that so many people come to these islands each year, eager to experience the epitome of paradise.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

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