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St. Croix is the largest of the three principal islands comprising the U.S. Virgin Islands; it measures about 28 miles long and 7 miles wide. Ships dock at the west-coast town of Frederiksted rather than in larger Christiansted because of the reef surrounding the latter’s harbor. When you disembark in Frederiksted, stop off at the Visitors’ Center at the pier to get started. Continue out on the pier for a panoramic view of the town’s old historic district and Strand Gade, or Strand Street.

This waterfront shopping area is noted for its arcaded buildings and interesting historical structures. The town’s historic sites are undergoing restoration under a continuing government program called “Main Street.” On the north side of the pier you’ll see Fort Frederik, constructed between 1752 and 1760, which is a grand example of Danish military architecture. Two notable events occurred there: in 1776, it was the first foreign fort to salute the United States flag; and in July 1848, Governor General Peter von Scholten signed the proclamation that emancipated the slaves in the Danish West Indies.

Frederiksted’s architecture is different from Christiansted’s because the town was partially burned during an uprising called Fireburn in 1878. When it was rebuilt, many structures were ornamented with the gingerbread trim characteristic of late-Victorian architecture. One such building is Victoria House, at the corner of Strand and Market streets. Continue down Strand Street along the waterfront for two blocks and you’ll come to the Old Frederiksted Public Library. Also called the bellhouse, after a previous owner named G.A. Bell--who decorated the stairs with bells--the building is now an arts-and-crafts center. Nearby is the 18th-century Market Place, an open-air bazaar existing from the time Frederiksted was founded.

The newest attraction in historic Frederiksted is the Santa Cruz Brewery. Housed in an old sugar factory/rum distillery at Estate La Grange, the brewery produces St. Croix’s first commercially marketed beer. Visitors can tour the facilities as well as the brewery’s museum, where displays highlight the history of rum production. The complex includes a theater where pirates, representative of the jolly pirate image on the brew’s label, entertain visitors. The charming harbor town of Christiansted still retains its late 18th-century architecture, constructed when St. Croix was a crown colony of Denmark and the city was one of the Caribbean’s major ports. Because the entire town is a National Historical Site, the U.S. National Park Service maintains the neoclassical-style buildings as they appeared from the 1830s through the 1850s.

Fort Christiansvaern, an imposing stronghold complete with dungeons, is a good example of 17th- and 18th-century Danish military architecture. Although it was initially constructed in the mid-18th century, the fort was overhauled between 1834 and 1837. As you walk out of the fortress, you’ll pass the graceful two-story Old Danish Customs House, which is the headquarters for the National Park Service. Across King Street, you’ll find the Old Scale House, adjacent to the wharf. Built in 1855-56, the Scale House was formerly used to weigh and inspect imports and exports for tax purposes. The St. Croix Aquarium, located in the Caravelle Arcade west of the Visitor’s Center, houses hundreds of specimens from local waters.

If you travel around the island, you’re sure to see a number of sugar-mill ruins. To learn about these historic stone remnants, visit the Whim Plantation Museum, a restored 18th-century sugar plantation. The main attraction here is the great house, which has been splendidly preserved. Raconteur-style guides tell stories of the people who lived in the house and explain the furnishings of each room. A walking tour of the grounds includes a visit to a sugarcane field, the village area and the sugar factory, where a complete windmill still stands.At the old cookhouse, freshly baked johnnycakes are served daily, and in the museum shop, native crafts, old prints and gift items are available.

St. George Village Botanical Garden is a lush peaceful oasis with more than 1,000 species of tropical flora. Built amid sugar-mill ruins, the garden is among St. Croix’s most photogenic sights. A self-guided walking tour takes you through the forest, where philodendrons, ginger plants, lobster claws and orchids flourish. You’ll pass giant kapok trees and meander through a cactus garden. The grounds provide visitors with a refreshing change of pace. Rum is synonymous with the Caribbean, and on St. Croix, you can get a close-up look at the production of this centuries-old libation. At the Cruzan Rum Distillery, tour guides explain the role of rum in Crucian history and take visitors through the manufacturing area, where huge vats house the fermented sugarcane. A slide show illustrating the distilling process can be viewed as you enjoy samplings of the company’s various rums.

Beaches:
The lure of St. Croix’s sun-drenched beaches is virtually impossible to resist; they have been ranked among the most beautiful in the world. Sandy Point is located 10 minutes out of Frederiksted on the southwestern tip of the island. Its miles of secluded strands are a nesting ground for the endangered leatherback turtle.

North of Frederiksted, along Route 63, are several sandy stretches hidden by tropical foliage. You’ll enjoy the calm waters and sugar-white sand at Rainbow Beach. It’s been touted as one of the island’s best snorkeling spots, and shell collectors will be equally enchanted with the varieties of shells to be found along the beach. Sprat Hall Beach, across from Sprat Hall Plantation, is similar to Rainbow Beach; both have beautiful sandy shores with full facilities, including beach shacks and grills.

The best beach near Christiansted is located at the Hotel on the Cay, just a short ferry ride from downtown. The little island oasis offers water sports, a restaurant and bar, and great views of the harbor. Among St. Croix’s most picturesque beaches is Davis Bay Beach, which is part of the Carambola resort complex. A dense forest forms the backdrop for this white-sand beach dotted with slender swaying palms. Public access is available.

One of St. Croix’s “must-sees” is undeniably Buck Island, an 800-acre nature preserve a mile off the northeast coast. Buck Island’s Underwater Trail, which is restricted to snorkelers, is St. Croix’s most popular tourist destination. And getting there is half the fun--the vessels leaving Christiansted include motorized party boats (some glass-bottom), intimate sloops and graceful trimarans.

Buck Island’s primary draw is the spectacular snorkeling. An irregular arc of reef creates a wide and shallow lagoon between the shore and the reef. Within this area is the park’s well-marked underwater trail, which meanders through coral grottoes and out to the reef’s edge. At a depth of only 12 feet, you can observe a brilliant kaleidoscope of shapes, patterns, colors, textures and movement. Expect to see massive elkhorn corals, brain corals, schools of blue tang, colorful parrotfish, yellowtail damselfish, red hind, barracuda, an occasional hawksbill turtle and more. The scene changes daily, surprising even the most avid snorkelers with its incredible diversity of marine life.

Activities:
Buck Island itself is worth exploring if you have the time. A 45-minute walking trail from West Beach leads into the interior through tropical vegetation. It ascends to the island’s highest peak, where hikers are rewarded with fabulous views of St. Croix and the reefs that surround Buck Island, before descending to Diedrichs Point picnic area. Hiking on St. Croix is gaining in popularity. One of the favorite spots is Estate Mount Washington. Here you can explore plantation ruins in a “rain forest” setting and follow the trail up to a lookout point that offers panoramic views of Frederiksted and Sandy Point Beach. Guides provide information on St. Croix’s history, folklore, flora and fauna.

Golfers will enjoy a round of golf at the Carambola Golf Club. Nestled in the lush interior hills of northern St. Croix and designed by the famed architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., the 6,856-yard, par 72 course features many challenging shots, especially on the tricky par 3 holes. The Buccaneer Golf Course, just east of Christiansted, is a hilly 6,268-yard, par 71 course dramatically situated by the ocean. In Frederiksted, mountain bikes are a good way to explore the town and its surroundings. Hikers will find a myriad of trails to explore in the countryside, where the focus is on ecotourism.

Snorkeling-- No training and no certification needed.
A mask, snorkel and fins will allow you to see an amazing array of sea life.

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