With an abundance of natural attractions, historic treasures and modern comforts, St. Croix is a well-rounded vacation destination. Its beauty lies in its diverse landscapes: tropical forests, verdant hills, mangroves, salt ponds, cactus-covered hills and sandy beaches, Sugar-mill ruins at every turn lend a historic aura to the island, and a welcoming spirit embraces all who come to enjoy it's many splendors. VACATION ST. CROIX.
latitude and 64 degrees longitude, 82 square miles, and the eastern part of the Island is the eastern most point of the United States. St. Croix offers the extremes of environmental terrain, for visitors to explore, with the eastern part of the island being desert and the western part a tropical rain forest. Your days can be filled with a variety of adventurous and leisurely activities.
St. Croix has both suffered and prospered at the hands of many nations and privateers. Upon Columbus’ second journey to the New World in 1493, he landed on an unspoiled, sandy, virgin beach. Because of this, he named this island and the two adjacent as the Virgin Islands. They were individually named later as: St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. The islands area territory now of the United States has been previously ruled by 6 different countries. The flags of Spain, England, Holland, France, Knights of Malta, Denmark and the United States have all flown over the island. Just a short plane ride or boat trip separates the island from one another. Almost two million visitors a year take advantage of what the islands have to offer.
Many species of birds make their home here including frigate birds, pelicans, the brown booby, parakeets, mockingbirds, ground doves, the mangrove cuckoo, the sparrow hawk and the banana quit (yellow bird or sugar bird), which is the national bird.
Tropical flowers and plants abound and include hibiscus, bougainvillea, pink and white oleander, frangipani, flamboyant in summer poinsettia at Christmastime, jasmine, orchids (both wild and cultivated), to name just a few. Check out Flora/Fauna
St. Croix’s climate is typically tropical and sunny with an average daily temperature of 79º F and only a 5º F difference between summer and winter. Trade winds gently blow across the island, keeping the humidity low.
Danish flavor is abundant as you enjoy duty-free shopping, dining, entertainment, and historic tours of the two quaint towns of Christiansted and Fredricksted. You don’t speak Danish! Don’t worry English is spoken by the Virgin Islanders.
Visit or take a tour of the many historical sites including the Cruzan Rum Distillery, the Botanical Gardens, the Estate Whim Plantation and two ancient forts built to protect the island.
Snorkelers and Scuba divers will want to visit Buck Island, just off St. Croix, a truly unique tourist attraction, as it is the only U.S. National underwater trail. The warm tropical waters average 80º F year round.
Other St. Croix activities include: Sailing, Fishing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Water Skiing, Jet Skiing, Wind Surfing, Championship Golf Courses, Para-sailing, Horseback Riding, Tennis and Hiking. Cultural events are also scheduled regularly or you can spend your days just relaxing on the many beaches of St. Croix.
Most hotels and dining facilities provide entertainment on a rotating basis, or you may meet the Cruise Ships and the Moko Jumbie Masked Stilt Dancers for a fun cruise night at Fredricksted. From our new Casino complex to the entertainment of steel bands to jazz or crab races, there is entertainment for all.
Shopping for local artifacts, perfume or hand-wrought gold and silver jewelry, St. Croix is a duty-free shoppers paradise. The U.S. dollar is legal tender and credit cards are welcomed.
For the ecological minded St. Croix has jagged cliffs, quiet pastoral roads, and rolling green hills. For those who like dabbling in this great outdoor paradise more than sleeping in it , say strolling the beach, hiking for an hour or snorkeling for an afternoon, St. Croix fits right in.
Island hopping is easy with 20-minute seaplane service to St. Thomas. Hydra-foil ferries make the trip between St. Thomas and St. Croix in less than 90 minutes. St. John and the British Virgin Islands are just a short ferry ride away from St. Thomas. Visits to the neighboring British Virgin Islands are simplified if you have a valid passport.
The island of St. Croix is accessible by air with direct flights from the U.S. or conecting flights from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Island transportation is abundant from rental cars, to taxis and public transportation. On St. Croix the next adventure is only minutes away.
No matter how you choose to relax, St. Croix is a Vacationers Paradise,
YOUR VACATION PARADISE.
Interesting Links:
http://www.stcroix-beaches.com
http://www.gotostcroix.com/live/harborcam.php
