| Things To Do
Sports, anyone? If tennis is your game, a well maintained
court is awaiting you at the Villa Madeleine complex, just
a few feet away from your Villa. If you prefer golf, St. Croix has 3 golf
courses on the island. The Reef Golf Club is a 9-hole course
that you pass when entering the driveway to the Villa. You
can walk to the course from the Villa 29. If you prefer 18
holes, or a different view, the Bucanneer Golf course is only
a few miles to the west (you will pass it on your way from
Christiansted to the Condo). Both courses provide scenic views
of the Carribean Sea. In Fredericksted, a little further away,
you may want to try the lush Carambola Golf Course, designed
by Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Water sports are a major part of island life -- with many
beaches, reefs, and recreational opportunities available on
your visit. St. Croix is rated one of the top 10 Scuba Islands
in the Caribbean. For scuba divers, its famous wall dives
are without comparison -- with a high probability of an encounter
with some of our abundant sea life. Sea turtles, barracuda,
eels, a host of tropical fish, and an occasional nurse shark
are all part of the tropical dive experience. If you have
interest in scuba diving but are not licensed, for about $60
you can take an "explorer" class and be diving in 40' of water
after a few hours of instruction. If you really like it, you
can get certified in St. Croix in a couple days with a little
study and practice. If you are more the snorkeler-type you
can do that off of any beach in St. Croix. There are many great dive shops to choose from. For convenience, you can't beat Cane Bay Dive Shop where you can walk out to the ocean and with just a short swim be diving the wall or you can hop on a boat and visit one of many great dive sites. Cane Bay is also a great beach and swimming area. For a real treat, consider a night dive at the Fredericksted Pier with N2 the Blue, located a few steps away. Note that the pier is also great for snorkeling with much sea life around the pilons. Another great night dive is the Chez Barge with Dive Experience where you can experience an awesome bioluminescent light show including the "string of pearls."
Sailing - A day sail to Buck Island National Park, an 800 acre natural
reserve, provides the only under-water snorkeling site in
the U.S. National Park system. The boat trip and the snorkeling
are outstanding and the beach at Buck Island is one of the
finest anywhere. Take a sailboat or catamaran for the most
enjoyable cruise to the island. There are many operators you
can choose from leaving from the Green Cay marina or Christiansted
Harbor. We have always been pleased with Captain Heinz and the Terroro II. Big Beard's does a whole-day Buck Island trip with a barbecue at Coaklay Bay. You might also enjoy a two-hour sunset cruise with Caribbean Sea Adventures where you'll have a relaxing time and enjoy light refreshments including killer rum punches.
Kayaking - There are several companies on the island offering Kayak tours. We recommend the tours from the Salt River National Park and Ecological Preserve. The tours offer a historical and ecological background of the area. There are also night tours in which you paddle in luminescent bays, beneath the stars.
Beaches - There are many beautiful beaches on St. Croix. Aside from the Divi Carina beach which is just a short walk from the Seaview Palms, you might also want to explore Shoy's beach (near the Buccaneer). This is a quiet beach during the week with not much more than sand and water (an no facilities). You will also enjoy Tamarind Reef beach where the beach and snorkeling is great and you might even see an iguana! While swimming here is a little challenging, there are lounge chairs and umbrellas available for a minimal fee, and you can also visit their Deep End Bar and restaurant. Further away (but worth the drive), is Cane Bay beach. This is also a beautiful beach with great snorkeling, swimming and scuba diving. There are several beach bars and restaurants nearby including the Eat, Sprat Net, and Off the Wall. You can rent snorkel gear at Cane Bay, Tamarind Reef, the Divi Carina, and at the Buccaneer Hotel beach.
If you like hiking, there are a couple other remote beaches on the East End at Isaac Bay and Jack Bay These are located next to each other and both are maintained by the Nature Conservancy. These two beaches are the most secluded on the island as they're difficult to get to. There is no vehicle access to either beach as they're both home to Hawksbill and Green Turtle nests. The beach to the west is Jack's Bay Beach and it is most easily reached by driving past Grapetree Hotel to the end of the road and walking down. A longer way is to hike over from Cramer Park. While the hike is probably a good 30 minutes, the views from Goat Hill are are spectacular.
The fastest access to Isaac Bay is to go to Point Udall, and hike down from the trail that starts just before the Millennium Monument. This drops you into East End Bay, and then you have to hike up and over the knob to Isaac Bay. It's probably a good 15 minute hike to Isaac Bay.
Both Isaac and Jack have good beaches, and great snorkeling along the barrier reef. There are no facilities of any kind there and you are asked to be sensitive to the turtle nesting, especially between July - October.
At the other end of the island in Frederiksted is Sandy Point Beach. This National Wildlife Refuge hosts what is probably the prettiest white sand beach on the island, but it is only open on Sundays closed from April through August. It's a major Leatherback Turtle nesting area so access is extremely limited. To get there, follow the 4 lane (Route 66), continue straight ahead when the 4 lane ends. Follow the main road (even though it's dirt). It's quite a ways in but once you get to the beach area you'll see cars parked. There are also some very nice beaches just to the north of Fredericksted.
How about some off road fun? Check out Gecko's Island Adventures. You get to visit parts of St.Croix not reachable by car and see ruins as well as beatiful views of the island and rain forest. The ATV's seat 2 comfortably and they also offer Jet Ski combination packages. Another adventurous way to see the island is with Tan Tan Tours. Take a wild jeep tour of the island and explore the rainforest and tide pools. Tons of fun on land and sea! If you prefer the non-motorized tour, you should look up Paul and Jill's Equestrian Stables. Aside from the beauty of St Croix, you will learn about the island, ruins, and tropical trees and flowers.
Casino and Rum Factory - For those preferring a dry and more tame island experience, don't forget
the excitement of St. Croix's Divi Carina Bay Casino.
It is located on the east-end of the island and provides nightly
entertainment while you try your hand at the many table games
or slot and video machines. Also worth the visit is the Cruzan Rum Factory where you get to learn the history of Rum on the island and take the tour.
Restaurants - If you like to eat out, you can try many of St. Croix's excellent
restaurants. One of our favorite areas is in Christiansted on the waterfront. Here you can enjoy food at Angry Nates, the Christiansted Brew Pub, or Rum Runners. Also nearby is Savant, Tutto Bene, and Bacchus restaurants. To the east you will find Cheeseburgers in Americas Paradise, Mahi's at Chenay Bay, the Galleon at Green Cay, Blue Water Terrace, and Duggan's. To the north shore, you will find The Palms at Pelican Cove, and Salud Bistro. Out by Cane Bay, you will find some great beach bars and restaurants as mentioned above including Eat, Spratnet, and Off the Wall. Traveling west to Frederiksted are Coconuts on the Beach and the Beachside Cafe. Restaurants vary in amosphere, price, and food, so be sure to check them out online. A good guide to restaurants and beaches can be found at the gotostroix website.
The St. George Village Botanical Garden of St. Croix is located on a sixteen acre site just off the Queen Mary Highway. The botanical collections, including over 1500 native and exotic species and varieties, are established in and around the restored buildings and stabilized ruins of a 19th century Danish sugar cane plantation and partially overlap an Amerindian settlement which dates back almost 2,000 years. St. George offers island visitors and residents a unique blend of St. Croix’s botanical, historical, and cultural heritage.
Point Udall - Visit the easternmost point of the United States by going to Point Udall. There are stunning views of the ocean and a huge sun dial that was constructed to celebrate Y2K, the year 2000.
Climate- The climate is generally sunny with year round temperatures
ranging in the 80's during the day to 70's most nights. The
gentle trade winds blowing in from the east tend to keep the
humidity low. Rainfall is generally in the form of brief island
showers. Annual rainfall averages about 40 inches with September
- October rainier than the winter months.
Current Events - To find out what's going on in St. Croix, be sure to read
St.
Croix This Week. You can pick up a copy at the airport
and all around town. Look for information on horseback riding,
jeep tours of the island, ATV and Jet Ski rentals, various water sports, beaches, Point Udall (the easternmost
point of the United States), the Domino Club and its beer
drinking pigs, the rain forest, the Whim Plantation, the Mahogany
factory, restaurants, etc.
Getting Around - There are many rental car companies on the island. Getting around is not a problem; however, you
drive on the left, not the right side of the road. It takes
a few minutes to get used to it but at least the steering
wheel is on the left. You can rent a car at the airport, or
for great rates and personalized service, we recommend www.judiofcroix.com. Their friendly staff will meet you at the airport and have you in your car with all the paperwork ready in just minutes.
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