The charm of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas, also known as the U.S. Virgin Islands, lies in each island's fascinating history and vastly diverse personality. Of course, there are beaches—some of the best in the Caribbean—together with underwater scenery, but the islands have much more. The people welcome a visitor to their homeland with a quiet smile. And some of the history here includes pirate gangs and lost treasures lending a nostalgic tone to adventurous tales. For those who dig deeper into the heart and soul of the real U.S. Virgin Islands, they'll find a wealth of rich traditions and cultural diversity, which can only add to a remarkable stay.
When the United States bought these island from Denmark in 1917, it got itself a marvelous vacation area. The beaches are exquisite, the climate superb and the shops and boutiques are quite unique. Most visitors come here by cruise ship and want to return for longer stays. There is much to do in the USVI from its beautiful beaches to its underwater activities, the US Virgin Islands provide visitors with a wealth of Activities & Interests.
Capital: Charlotte Amalie
Population: 109,000
Area: 133 square miles
Language: English. Spanish and creole can be found.
Time: +1 from New York
Electricity: 110 Volts AC, 60 Hz
Geography: The US Virgin Islands are locate just to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands are subtropical.
Tipping: Most bills include a 10-15% service charge. A few extra coins are appreciated.
Shopping: Shops are usually open by 8:30 in t he morning and close at 5:30. Many shops will close for lunch except when cruise ships are in port.
Food and Drink: Local specialties are usually involve fish. Turtle soup is easy to come by and is known as " kalaloo." Drinks are fairly much what you would find in North America.
Social: Life is informal here. Scantily clothed people in shops are not appreciated. You may find a cold shoulder or even not given service if not appropriately dressed.
Business: Informal attire is acceptable, but suits are often worn. Appointments are strongly recommended.
The three U.S. Virgin Islands are as different as any sisters you’re likely to meet. St. Thomas bustles with glitzy high-rise hotels, duty-free shopping and non-stop watersports activities. Just 20 minutes away by ferry, St. John and its Virgin Islands National Park entices visitors with its lush hillsides sheltering powdery palm-fringed beaches. St. Croix, 40 miles to the south of St. Thomas and St. John, gives visitors a peek into the past. Dotted with old plantation ruins, the island speaks of days when sugar was king and slavery prevailed.
A U.S. dependency since Denmark sold it for $25 million in 1917, the territory has 100,000 residents and 1.7 million annual visitors who enjoy almost year-round sunshine. Of course, hurricanes do occasionally hit, so check the weather before you go in August and September, the peak hurricane months.
Duty-free shopping is the main reason to visit the 28-square-mile St. Thomas. U.S. residents can bring home $1,200 worth of goods, twice the limit for many other Caribbean countries and three times that from foreign countries. Should you go over your exemption, the duty runs 5 percent rather than the 10-percent tab when you shop elsewhere.
The duty-free allowance includes four liters of liquor. If you buy a bottle of St. Croix-produced Cruzan Rum or a locally made liqueur, the allowance rises to five liters. Any items made here, uncut precious gems and original paintings are exempt from duty-free allowances.
Baccarat, Limoges, Movado, Guerlain and other familiar names fill the shelves of the shopping districts. Look for interesting and eclectic jewelry that ranges from Casio watches to multi-thousand dollar necklaces.
Historic Charlotte Amalie, named after the wife of a Danish king, serves as the main shopping area. Its narrow streets are lined with shops, once used as warehouses when wooden ships took the island’s sugar and cotton back to Denmark after dropping off its cargo of slaves.
If the plethora of shops and the size of the crowds on a busy cruise-ship day overwhelm you, try Havensight Mall, located adjacent to the cruise ship docks. It offers a microcosm of what’s downtown.
Like to bargain? Shop at the Vendor’s Plaza located at the eastern end of the shopping district, but keep a wary eye. Some vendors have been know to try to pass off fake Guccis as the real thing.
Charlotte Amalie’s roots go back to the 1600’s, when all manner of pirates, plantation owners and just plain folks populated the place. Its original name, Taphus, or Tap House, provides a feel for its past.It’s still possible to wine and dine within the city limits. There are any number of restaurants on a par with fine restaurants elsewhere. Prices are high, however.
If you’re watching your pennies, do what many of the 50,000 locals do. Try the barbecue chicken, ribs or brisket at Texas Pit Barbecue. A more-than-generous takeout portion comes with your choice of delicious potato salad or cole slaw, a roll and plastic utensils. Look for their carts starting around 6pm on the western end of the Charlotte Amalie Waterfront and near the shopping center in Red Hook. Prices start at $5.
For a look at politics island-style, stop at the Legislature. It’s the green building on the waterfront across from Fort Christian. When the 15 senators are in session, fireworks usually fly. Even though it’s difficult to follow the action when you’re not familiar with the issues, it’s worth a stop to see how island-style democracy works.
While you’re in the neighborhood, visit at Fort Christian. Built from 1672 to 1687, the Fort once served as the centerpiece of the island’s security. It now houses a museum that provides a glimpse into the island’s past. Admission is free, but the staff accepts donations.
When you’ve tired of the St. Thomas pace or if you’d like a more laid-back vacation, hop the ferry to St. John. This 19-square-mile island is home to 3,500 souls who brave the inconveniences of very small town living so they can enjoy the Virgin Islands National Park.
The park encompasses more than half of the island’s land. Its borders extend a half-mile out to sea. Spectacular beaches curve around the park’s north side. Hiking trails that once connected sugar plantations crisscross the island.
Taxis run from beach to beach, but a rental car lets you explore the island’s out-of-the-way beaches and sites at your pace. Cruz Bay is the island’s main town. While the guidebooks all tout Trunk Bay and its underwater snorkel trail as the place to go, it gets the bulk of the island’s day trippers and package plan tourists. It does have showers, flush toilets and hamburgers, but there are many other beaches with far more ambiance.
For someplace close to town, try Hawksnest Beach. Just a five-minute drive along the North Shore Road, the palm-fringed beach attracts mainland transplants who gather in small clusters to hear what’s new on the coconut telegraph, the island’s grapevine.
To combine a hike with a day at the beach, take the Cinnamon Bay trail from Centerline Road to Cinnamon Bay Beach. The logistics are easy— drive your car to Cinnamon Bay and ask any one of the taxi drivers there for a ride to the trailhead. The taxi fare runs around $6 a person.
It’s downhill all the way, a pleasant change on this hilly island. Once at Cinnamon Bay, site of the National Park Service’s campground, Mother Nature provides snorkeling off the gorgeous beach and the concessionaires the rest. The watersports center rents equipment, the toilets flush and the showers run cool.
The commissary sells cold drinks, lunch fixings and Dove Bars, a pleasant respite for hot and hungry folks. Enjoy lunch and dinner at the campground’s T’ree Lizards Restaurant, one of the island’s best-kept secrets. While the restaurant always attracts campers, dinnertime usually finds a good smattering of locals who drive out to meet friends for good food at won’t-break-the-bank prices.
Stick around for the 7pm program put on by park rangers. The topics are potluck, from senior citizens reminiscing about the days 40 years ago before they had electricity to naturalists describing the underwater sights.
Should you find yourself on St. John on July 4th, be sure to attend the island’s Carnival. While there are similar celebrations on the other two islands—April in St. Thomas and late December in St. Croix—St. John’s is more manageable. The parade lasts only two hours instead of all day and the crowd seems a little less frenetic.
St. Croix is a good place to combine a beach-it vacation with some historical exploration. With its 50,000 residents spread out over 84 square miles, it affords an easy pace with many of modern conveniences.Christiansted, with its yellow Fort Christianvaern looming over the harbor, reeks of its Danish past. Once the capital of a thriving sugar economy, the city’s old buildings date to the 1800’s. The architecture adds an attractive ambiance to this West Indian town.
The National Park Service runs Fort Christianvaern and a handful of nearby buildings. It’s worth the $2 admission price for a glimpse at the island’s history. Out on the island, look for names like Judith’s Fancy, Anna’s Hope and Upper Love, all leftovers from the days when 100 plantations created a vibrant agrarian economy. The end began on July 3,1848 when the Danish governor, Peter Von Scholten, freed the slaves that made that way of life possible.
For lunch or dinner, try the Mexican food at Luncheria on Company Street. This outdoor eatery with bargain prices attracts a coterie of local business people and professionals grabbing a bite with friends.
You’ll probably be able to enjoy the water right from the beach in front of your hotel; however, a sail to Buck Island Reef National Monument on any one of the charter boats that leave from the Christiansted Waterfront displays another side to St. Croix.
The Reef, another link in the National Park System, has some of the most spectacular snorkeling in the territory. The crew will teach you how to snorkel if you don’t know how, and will stay in the water with you to ensure your safety.
After a few hours viewing the underwater sites, the boat heads to the white sandy beach at Buck Island’s western end for lunch and a chance for more snorkeling. A hike to the top of the island is definitely worth the effort for the bird’s-eye view of the reef below and St. Croix’s vastly different siblings to the north. | 