Vacation In St. Croix: A Great USVI Getaway
Yearning for some toes-in-the-sand time? The laid back island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands might be just what you need.
View from the pool at Mermaid Lookout located in Gentle Winds
What’s not to love about the USVI?
With year-round warm, sunny weather and no pesky passport needed to get there, it’s a win-win.
But which of the 3 major islands - St. Thomas, St. John, or St. Croix - should you visit?
St. Thomas is home to Charlotte Amalie, a bustling town.
St. John, on the other hand, is the most rural of the three islands.
St. Croix, I’ve learned, is a a great cross between the two.
Some flights into St. Croix are small jumper planes from St. Thomas.
Getting To St. Croix
Several major airlines, namely American, United, Delta, Spirit, and Frontier, offer flights to St. Croix. A few of the major airlines contract with Cape Air for the connecting, last flight segment onto the island.
U.S. travelers have the option to fly nonstop for their vacation in St. Croix from St. Thomas, Miami, Fort Lauderdale or San Juan, Puerto Rico. During the busier months of November through April, Delta also offers flights from Atlanta.
Ferry service is available to the island as well. Passengers can catch the ferry at the Blyden Ferry Terminal in St. Thomas. The 2-hour journey ends at Gallows Bay in Christiansted.
Don’t let that little plane keep you grounded. Read:
Getting to places like Ama Restaurant will require a car. Renting your own is often the best option although taxis are available as well.
Getting Around on Your St. Croix Vacation
Although St. Croix is the largest of the three major U.S. Virgin Islands, it’s still quite small. The island measures just 28 miles long and 7 miles wide. Getting from one end to the other only takes about an hour.
To explore the island, you’ll want to rent a car. Several major car rental companies service St. Croix. Jeep rentals are a popular choice since some roads are more easily accessed via 4-wheel drive.
Two towns are located on the island:
Christiansted is on the north shore of the island. It’s dotted with historic buildings and tons of Danish architecture. Lots of shops, restaurants, and bars are located on and near its boardwalk area. It’s a bit more bustling, but didn’t feel at all overly so during our visit.
Frederiksted is on the west end and has more Victorian architecture. Although it’s smaller than Christiansted, it’s where cruise ships port when visiting. So, it can feel more crowded on days when a ship is in port. It’s also where you’ll find Fort Frederik, a fort turned historical museum and art gallery.
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Mermaid Lookout at Gentle Winds
Where To Stay: St. Croix Villa Rentals
The best way to experience the island is in a St. Croix villa rental. Villas offer more space to relax, kitchens for easy meals, and washers and dryers for convenience.
Unlike St. John (a visit-worthy island too), properties on the beach are a little more abundant. Different than St. Thomas, you don’t need to be in a commercialized high rise to be in one.
We chose to stay at the Mermaid Lookout at Gentle Winds. The newly renovated condo has 3 king bedrooms and just as many balconies to enjoy morning coffee or afternoon cocktails.
The beachfront property was the perfect place for a friends’ vaca.
Gorgeous views of the ocean abound in one direction. Unspoiled, tree-lined rolling hills can be found in the other.
When we weren’t under a thatched umbrella on the beach, we may have spent more time than we care to admit belly up to the snack shack. Or we found ourselves in the swimming pool, which has those great views as well. The community room - stocked with ping pong, cornhole, shuffleboard, and books - also offered plenty to keep us entertained.
Did you know just by being here you’re helping to make the world in which we travel a bit better? Learn more:
We loved all the locally owned shops and restaurants near the Christiansted Boardwalk.
Things to do in St. Croix
Just how do you spend your vacation in St. Croix? The island offers as much (or as little) to do as you want.
Lounging on the beach
Ahhh - our favorite pastime. We didn’t need to leave the property of our rental unit to find an ideal beach. The turquoise, clear water is calm, especially on the west side of the island, where our condo was located. Beach connoisseurs might enjoy checking out some of the most famous shorelines like Cane Bay, Rainbow Beach, or Protestant Cay.
Snorkeling, Scuba Diving and water sports
The waters off of St. Croix are packed full of coral reefs, making it a top snorkeling and diving destination. Those looking for a reef near shore can get their fins wet at places like Tamarind Reef, Dorsch Beach, West Beach or the Frederiksted pier.
Cane Bay Beach is known for deeper waters and a reef wall that drops off showcasing beautiful coral. Or, to catamaran to places only reachable by boat, like Buck Island Reef National Monument, our group loved Big Beard’s Adventure Tours.
Shopping
Retail therapy abounds on the island making shopping a great way to spend a day.
The shops along the Christiansted boardwalk were our favorite. We found beautiful hook bracelets, which represent the Crucian symbol for love. And we loved the Chaney bracelets, which are made out of pieces of China from the 1750s-1900s.
There’s also fantastic local shops offering crafts, boutique clothing, Crucian rum, and souvenirs.
Dining
Foodies won’t be disappointed by the quality of dining options in St.Croix.
Ama at Cane Bay is the perfect spot for a Caribbean upscale vibe with an amazing view. It’s where you want to go for a special night out.
The Landing Beach Bar was our go-to for casual digs. It’s a great dive spot. And the view from the bar will make you want to quit your job and move to the islands.
The Cruzian Bayou Bistro features food served in an unassuming, write-your-name-on-the-wall kind of setting. We met Chef Christy Brown while we were there and it was one of the highlights of our trip. She shared how her travels have influenced her cooking, which helps explains why the food will knock your socks off.
Other not-to-miss spots? Hamilton’s, Too Chez, and Le Reine Chicken Shack, the latter of which practically has a cult following.
Hiking at the Tide Pools
Hiking and tide pools
One of the best ways to view the scenery of the island is by hiking in St. Croix. The land offers something for every hiker, from high points overlooking the ocean to places to wade in the water.
Annaly Bay and Tide Pool, sometimes called Carombola Tide Pool, is one of the most picturesque hikes. It rewards walkers with an opportunity to splash in the naturally formed pools at the end. The trail is located on the west end of the North Shore and begins with a somewhat challenging hike that levels out. A word of caution that to access the tide pool you must cross a rock ledge that’s not for the faint of heart. To cross the rock ledge, make sure it’s low tide.
Other oh-so-sweat-worthy hikes include Jack and Isaac Bay Preserve Trail and Goat Hill to Sugarloaf Hill Trail. Both are about 3 1/2 mile out-and-back trails through drier areas of the islands. The second features 360 degree views from the top.
For a shorter hike, check out out Ham’s Bluff Lighthouse Trail. At less than a mile, it also has great views. And it offers an opportunity to see an old lighthouse that was once in use on the island.
Distilleries and Breweries
Want to taste famous St. Croix rum right where it is distilled? Visit the best rum distillery in the island, Cruzan Rum Distillery, for a walking tour. You’ll get a first-hand look at rum production and learn how rum shaped the history of St. Croix. At the end of your tour, you’ll get your choice of 2 mixed drinks or up to 4 samples.
Sion Farm Distillery is the place to go if vodka is your spirit of choice. It’s a sleek space serving drinks that are good for the eyes and the taste buds.
For a laid-back, Caribbean-style brewery experience, Leatherback Brewing Company was our choice. Virgin Islands craft beer are served alongside traditional beer styles. And the St. Croix location is just a stone’s throw from the Cruzan Rum Distillery.
Historical sites
In addition to hikes to old sugar plantations or other sites, St. Croix has more opportunities for exploring its history.
See what it was like to live on a sugar plantation at Estate Whim Museum.
Explore 16 acres and over 1,000 Caribbean plants amongst 18th century ruins and repurposed buildings at St. George Village Botanical Garden.
Or take a tour of Fort Frederiksted or Fort Christiansvaern, both former Danish forts.
Check out one of my favorite posts:
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View from our condo at Gentle Winds
Short History of the Island
Exploring a destination’s present is always a bit better once you know something about its past. Here are the CliffsNotes version of St. Croix’s history.
St. Croix was originally inhabited by indigenous people like the Igneri, Taíno, and Caribsbut. It was later explored and then colonized by various European countries.
Christopher Columbus was one such explorer. He sailed to the island in 1493 and gave it the name of Santa Cruz. Eventually, in addition to Columbus’s Spain, France, England, the Netherlands, and Denmark all laid claims to the island.
The big draw to the little-ish island was St. Croix’s ability to provide a good environment for producing sugar. For many years, the natives of the land were used for slave labor to harvest the sugar cane.
While this initially lead to economic prosperity, sugar production declined and slavery was abolished in 1848.
In 1917, the United States purchased St. Croix, which was then Dutch owned. The purchase was part of a $25 million deal that included all three West Indies islands that now make up the USVI.
After World War II, the U.S. began investing in infrastructure to support tourism on the islands. Since that time, the tourism industry has steadily increased. Yet, St. Croix, remains less crowded than many of its Caribbean neighbors and maintains a more local feel.
St. John is another must-see and sailing in one of the best ways to do it. Check out:
All You Need To Know For Easy Sailing On An Amazing St. John Vacation
Christiansted pier
St. Croix Facts
Wondering what else makes St. Croix unique? Here are 10 fun facts for curious travelers.
Even though people born in St. Croix are considered U.S. citizens, residents cannot vote for President of the United States. And although they elect a delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, that official is a non-voting member.
Thinking a short vacation isn’t enough time on the island? You’re not alone! The number of permanent residents in U.S. Virgin Islands has nearly tripled since 1960.
You might be in the U.S., but you’ll be driving on the left side of the road in the USVI.
St. Croix marks the easternmost point in the United States.
St. Croix climate is subtropical and year-round average high temperatures are 82°F.
St. Croix marks the only place in modern-day America where Christopher Columbus stepped on land.
Alexander Hamilton spent much of his childhood in St. Croix.
Seeing a stray cat here is less common than seeing another type of stray animal. Feral chickens are abundant on the island.
In the early 1800s, 26,500 people among the 30,000 who lived on St. Croix were slaves. They planted and processed sugar cane.
No need to be a defensive driver here if someone toots their car horn at you. A short car horn toot is a friendly gesture. It usually means “go ahead” or “thank-you”.
