St Croix Food and Wine

St Croix’s New Season Brings New Changes

October 28, 2022 by Cindy @ MyStCroix.VI Leave a Comment

St Croix is seeing a renaissance after the past several years of recovering from Hurricanes Irma and Maria, followed by the global pandemic. Quietly during this time, some businesses have closed, new ones have opened, and many have expanded. It’s certainly an exciting time to be here! Whether you are new to St Croix or have been traveling here for years, I’m sure you are going to be as excited as I am for some of the things you’ll find here. Below is a rundown of some things old, some things new, some things expanded, and a new hotel renovation in the ocean blue.

St Croix Restaurant Updates

Christiansted

El Leon Restaurant is now officially open! It is a contemporary Mexican restaurant located on the boardwalk at the King Christian Hotel. And as with all of the other projects taken on by Chris Pardo of “The Neighborhood Establishment” the décor is divine. Right now they are just taking walk-ins, but they will start taking online reservations via Open Table on November 2nd. Discover More

el leon interior — El Leon Mexican Restaurant

el leon food — El Leon Mexican Restaurant

Jump Up Deli & Dem Tings– Opening Nov 2022! An authentic deli and unique island gift boutique in the heart of Christiansted. I’m really excited about this new spot in the neighborhood. Sadly, the iconic Café Christine has closed for good, but my friends Ellen and Todd have been working hard to bring something new and fresh to town while honoring some of the Cafe Christine vibe (and recipes!). I’ve gotten a sneak peek and can’t wait for them to open. The gifts are, as Ellen says, “Tings you didn’t even know you needed!” and I’ve already put quite a few of them on my wish list! Discover More

Breakers Roar Tiki Bar Has reopened after some renovations and updates. They will announce a new menu in the next few weeks, so stay tuned! Discover More

Rum and Wine Bar – Word on the street is that the new chef at this downtown seafood restaurant below the Comanche Hotel is the bomb and a skilled sushi chef. As someone who has to live gluten-free, I was excited when another “gf” friend informed me that the chef uses tamari (gluten-free) in her kitchen in lieu of soy sauce to make her recipes more accessible. They had a nice selection of sushi rolls and other menu items and I’ve been told that the food is really excellent. I can’t wait to get in and sample some for myself.

Alfio’s Pizza – Speaking of gluten-free friendly restaurants, Alfio’s is a newer business in Christiansted that’s not to be missed. Located in the former Paradise Café (if you’re old school), BES Craft Cocktails (if you’re newer) on the corner of Company and Queen Cross streets, Alfio is well-known island-wide for his pizzas and sauces that can be purchased in local grocery stores. He started out with pop-up tents and now opened his own restaurant serving up pizza, pasta, and daily specials. As a chef who is also gluten-free himself, he offers special gf pizzas too! You just have to call in your special order before 3:30 pm as it takes extra preparation time. Discover more

Café Fresco is closing their location on King Street in the courtyard of the Penthany building and moving to Gallows Bay with an expanded location and menu. Look for them to reopen in December 2022 in their new spot. Stay tuned.

Nauti Bar & Grille has closed on Hospital Street (just past Fort Christianvaern heading East) but it’s being reopened as Jubilee BBQ & Seafood brought to you by the same group that now runs Rum and Wine Bar (see above), ParrotFish, The Galleon, Deep End Bar & Grille, and the Castle St Croix event venue.

Frederiksted

Six Nine Restaurant & Bar has reopened after some downtime this summer and renovations. They’ve renovated the bar and it looks fabulous! You’ll also find a new bar menu available nightly in addition to their lunch and dinner menus. Their sister businesses Tap Deck Bar & Billiards and Lyric Sails are also back in action. You’ll find their entertainment schedules up on STXCalendar.com so you won’t miss a thing!

Flyers Bar & Grill has sadly closed at the Salt River Marina location. However, they are reopening in December at their new location in Victoria House in downtown Frederiksted. They’ll be bringing their well-established menu and, of course, Scottie’s delicious homemade ice cream recipes along with them.

World Ocean School Update

First, the bad news. Schooner Roseway will not be here in Christiansted harbor this season. She is currently hauled out in dry dock for some necessary maintenance and repairs. Now, the good and exciting news, the World Ocean School is still coming to St Croix for the season with a different vessel. Along with Roseway, they have added another exciting vessel to their fleet, the Denis Sullivan. The Denis Sullivan is a three-masted, gaff-rigged schooner, a Great Lakes tall ship built by Milwaukee community volunteers 20 years ago. I was excited to have participated in a Zoom call where the captain, Christa Miller-Shelley, discussed the new ship, the challenges of getting the ship from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the plans for an inland transit down the Mississippi River.

You can keep track of the Denis Sullivan‘s trip down the Mississippi River, through locks and making its way to the open sea via the World Ocean School Ship’s Log – I can’t wait to see this amazing tall ship as it sails into Christiansted Harbor! The ship is expected to make it to St Croix in mid-December and sunset sails start up from Gallows Bay on December 22nd. I hope to see you aboard. Discover more about World Ocean School

2023 St Croix Calendars - Now on Sale! — 2023 St Croix Calendars – Now on Sale!

St Croix Places to Stay – Resorts & Hotels

Hotel on the Cay – I’m really excited about this project, I think the entire island is! Located in Christiansted Harbor on Protestant Cay, this property has been in need of some love for a long time, and now it’s going to get it! The Neighborhood Establishment was awarded the RFP back in 2020. Since then, they have been negotiating the lease with the USVI Government. They finally signed that last week. The next step is for the lease to be approved by the Legislature of the US Virgin Islands at which point they will have a fully executed lease. And then, the fun begins! The project is multi-phased due to the existing conditions, permitting challenges, etc. The first phase will focus on improving the public beach, amenities, and the existing hotel rooms and event spaces. This will include food and beverage outlets, water sports, the pool area, and other amenities. The second phase includes the building of the new rooms, a marina/dock expansion, and various infrastructure improvements.

Renderings of the proposed new resort renovation on Hotel on the Cay

Hibiscus Beach Hotel – Once a popular spot on St Croix along the Pelican Cove beach in Princess, the Hibiscus Beach Hotel fell into disrepair and foreclosure many years ago. Just yesterday, the new owners announced a plan to revamp the hotel, located next to the Palms Hotel, with 80 rooms, a swimming pool, convenient parking, a gift shop, a meeting center, a fitness center, a spa, a restaurant, and other recreational facilities. Owned by several local brothers, including those that own The Market (formerly known as Plaza West), the project is expected to be accomplished in three phases with a target start date of 2023.

Chenay Bay Beach Resort -Chenay Bay recently announced that they are under new ownership and are undergoing much-needed renovations to the ocean-front property on the East End. Plans are to re-open the existing restaurant in a few weeks. They announced that they will be completely rebranding the property, renovating all cottages, building two new pools and a new restaurant. They have begun the cottage renovations while awaiting approval and permits for the additional plans for the pools and new restaurant. Their goal is to break ground near April 2023 (permits pending) and be complete by November 2023. Stay tuned!

Breadfruit: The New Spirit of St Croix

August 7, 2019 by Cindy @ MyStCroix.VI 1 Comment

MUTINY Island Vodka™, is the world’s first and only vodka distilled from breadfruit and is the brainchild of award-winning Chef Todd Manley. The vodka is the inaugural spirit distilled and bottled at the newly-opened Sion Farm Distillery on St. Croix.

The name of the vodka was inspired by the famous tale of the mutiny on the Royal Navy vessel HMS Bounty in 1789. You’ve likely heard of Captain Bligh and “The Mutiny on the Bounty”, but did you know that the HMS Bounty was actually on a mission to sail to Tahiti and bring back breadfruit to the West Indies?! (specifically, Jamaica)

Breadfruit a Tropical Superfood

Breadfruit is considered by many to be an untapped superfood and is a versatile tropical fruit. Widely eaten throughout the Pacific Islands where it is known as ulu, more breadfruit is produced per hectare than rice, wheat, and corn. Enjoyed locally on St Croix in West Indian and Latin cuisine, breadfruit is cultivated in 90 countries, throughout South and Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, the Caribbean, Central America, and Africa.

Tropical breadfruit is an energy-rich food and an excellent source of complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is also naturally GMO and gluten-free. With nearly 1 billion hungry people worldwide, 80% of whom live in the tropics, the expansion of breadfruit as a viable crop is exciting. In line with their mission, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of MUTINY Island Vodka™ will be donated to the Trees That Feed Foundation to support their efforts to alleviate hunger in tropical countries.

Currently, the breadfruit that is turned into vodka is sourced from Polynesia. Breadfruit trees can be found across the Virgin Islands growing in backyards, but it hasn’t yet taken off as a commercial crop.

Sion Farm Distillery, St Croix

Sion Farm Distillery is committed to changing that and is working in conjunction with the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture and other non-profit organizations to provide local farmers with seedling trees and the ability to grow the crop commercially.

With a commitment to the environment, the Sion Farm Distillery is also a zero-waste facility. After distillation, 12% of the volume becomes vodka, which results in 88% waste. By incorporating only natural ingredients, 100% of the waste is reusable as “nutrient water”.

By recycling waste for agricultural use, the Distillery can then conserve water for other useful purposes. The “waste” will be used to water their own planted breadfruit trees and will be given to farmers for the cultivation of their crops. It is also a nutritious feed product for goats.

Born on St. Croix and perfected during the 2017 Hurricane season that brought us Irma and Maria, Mutiny Island Vodka™ started commercial production in a Virginia distillery in April the following year. The stateside distiller produced the original vodka until June 2019 when the new Sion Farm Distillery took over.

Now, the brand is 100% VI production, being distilled AND bottled right here on St Croix. MUTINY Island Vodka™ is the inaugural spirit of the newly-opened Sion Farm Distillery and is available in 750ml and 50ml sizes.

Originally from Virginia where he was chef/owner of multiple restaurants, Chef Todd Manley has called St Croix home since 2010. A serial entrepreneur, he owns four popular restaurants on St. Croix in downtown Christiansted: 40 Strand Eatery, Rum and Wine Bar (RAW), The Mill Boardwalk Bar and Brick Over Pizza, and Toast Diner.

St. Croix is a magical place where history, culture, and incredible people come together to create a rich experience. Mutiny Island Vodka™ started as a way for us to give back to this amazing island and its people.
~ Chef Todd Manley

Grand Opening Celebration

Grand Opening Sion Farm Distillery

Attending the Grand Opening of the distillery on August 10, 2019, will be celebrity chef, restaurateur and television personality, Sam Choy, who was raised with breadfruit as a staple ingredient in many Hawaiian dishes and is an enthusiastic supporter of MUTINY Island Vodka™.

Chef Choy has visited the island numerous times in the past bringing Aloha to the annual Taste of St Croix and participating in many of the Food & Wine Experience activities that give back to the community. In addition to Choy, Samoan celebrity and Polynesian culture-bearer, Kap Te’o-Tafiti, will also be on hand. Together, they will perform a traditional Samoan Kava Welcome Ceremony with dignitaries and invited guests enhancing the cultural exchange of breadfruit with St Croix.

MUTINY Island Vodka™ currently retails in the Virgin Islands for a recommended retail price of $25 per 750ml bottle. And just like with other locally produced spirits like Cruzan Rum & Captain Morgan Rum – you can bring up to 6 bottles per adult back with you to the United States as checked baggage at no cost to you (the USVI covers the cost!). Distribution is right around the corner for Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands with the United States soon to follow. (likely starting with Texas, Florida, and Virginia). The Sion Farm Distillery has also started production on a unique, hand-crafted rum. Additionally, they plan to expand the Island Vodka™ line with infused vodka flavors from seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.

Visit the Sion Farm Distillery on your next trip to St Croix. Take a tour of the facility, learn more about breadfruit, and enjoy lunch while sampling some of their signature vodka drinks or sample a MUTINY Island Vodka™ flight. Pro-tip: Try the breadfruit salad as your side when available. It’s like potato salad 2.0, super yummy!

Sion Farm Distillery tour on St Croix — Tour the Sion Farm Distillery on St Croix

Mutiny Island breadfruit vodka distillery

breadfruit salad with grilled cheese — Gourmet Grilled Cheese on gluten-free bread with plantain chips & breadfruit salad – delish!

St Croix’s New Kids on the Block

December 8, 2017 by Cindy @ MyStCroix.VI Leave a Comment

St Croix has been undergoing a culinary renaissance for the past decade with the opening of restaurants and food trucks of every variety to tempt your palate. This year’s memorable Hurricane Season hasn’t stopped new eateries from opening up. I recently stopped by two of the newest on the scene braving the aftermath and putting things into over drive to open for season.

Common Cents Pub

This location has a special place in my heart. In the early 2000s I bartended at what was then “Bongos Bar & Grille” and met my now bffs, one who was part owner at the time. We sure made a lot of memories in that place! It’s since gone through several owners as both Bongos and Tavern 1844. Now, two year island resident Jenn Seay is ready to put her stamp – or pennies – on it and I’m so excited!

I’ve only been here for two years and I’ve just been embraced by everyone: locals, transplants, everyone. My St Croix is strong community and sunny days.

The name Common Cents came from the concept for renovating the bar top. Via facebook, Jenn reached out to friends and family both here on St Croix, back home in Nashville and abroad. She asked for folks to send her pennies to cover the expansive bar top and she got lots, from all over. Her network came together to help her fulfill her vision and thus, Common Cents. Fun right?! (And the bar looks pretty amazing too)

Seay, her brother and her wife worked hard completely renovating the kitchen with all new equipment, adding in banquet seating, including a VIP booth in the pub area and will soon renovate the open-air beer garden. As someone who has a history with the place, I’m excited to see the upgrades while they still honored the character of the historic building. Future plans include a small arcade of classic video games on the lower landing.

The menu at Common Cents Pub is Pub-style, Americana comfort food with some Tennessee influences like Nashville Hot Chicken. Get adventurous and try the Peanut Butter Blue Cheese Burger or the Doughnut Bacon Cheddar Burger. Yep, it is on a doughnut! They’ve also got a terrific beer and spirits menu and you’re sure to find the evenings game on one of the flat screens. Common Cents Pup opened on November 14, 2017 and now is open Monday through Saturday with Happy Hour Monday through Friday from 3-7pm. You’ll find Common Cents Pub on Company Street next to our friends at ib designs.

17/64 Kitchen + Bar

17/64 is now closed and has reopened as Parrot Fish

Andrew Hyatt came to St Croix four years ago by way of St John following the trade winds and his passion for kite boarding. According to Hyatt, St Croix has THE BEST kite boarding conditions in all of the Virgin Islands. So after a brief stint back home in Southeastern Virginia, he made the move to the big island.

Andrew Hyatt 17 64 Kitchen Bar — Andrew Hyatt, Proprietor 17/64 Kitchen Bar

My St Croix is multi-faceted. Truly a melting pot. That’s what America is. I also love that it is a multi-sport island as well. There’s so much to do … I’m never bored here. The restaurant keeps me busy enough, but even if I weren’t doing this: I can mountain bike here; I can paddleboard, scuba dive, surf, I can kite – obviously that’s why I’m here. Or, I can just sit on the beach and drink Cruzan Rum. That’s pretty awesome.

Hyatt has a 20-year history in the industry and designs restaurants for women. He really wanted women to feel comfortable yet maintain a bit of a masculine touch. He opted for a Coastal Living style beach house. The serene ocean color palette puts the focus on the food, wine, and cocktails. The goal is for people to come in and feel like they are hanging out in his home where they can sit outside on the patio or in the lounge area enjoying a cocktail or beer with friends without the pressure of having to order a full meal. However, should you opt for dining at 17/64, you’ll be delighted by Chef Kenny Biggs (formerly of Galangal and The Galleon) who is heading up the kitchen and designing a creative American menu with some Caribbean flair. The food is fully complemented by an eclectic beer and wine menu.

Renovations are well under way at 17/64 Kitchen + Bar

17/64 Kitchen + Bar’s custom designed logo is multi-faceted which speaks to one of his favorite things about St Croix. The diversity – in faces, accents, customs, and cuisine. The menu also celebrates the multi-cultural dynamic of St Croix through food.

Andrew said that even with the hiccups of Hurricane Maria, the process of doing business has been terrific after the storm. Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs and Fire have all been helpful and efficient furthering the sense of community coming together on the island.

~~The opening will happen soon (possibly this month)~~ ~~They are now open as of late January 2018 with the restaurant closed Sundays and Mondays for Kite Boarding, Mountain Biking, Scuba Diving!~~ You’ll find 17/64 Kitchen + Bar on Strand Street diagonally across from Crucian Gold.

Fun Fact – The name 17/64 is derived from the longitude and latitude of the island, but it also has another meaning. Not far from where Hyatt grew up in Virginia, there’s an intersection of Rte 17 and I-64. A fun coincidence!

Other Notable new places to grab a bite and a cocktail…

Uptown Eatery is now closed and has reopened as Gwann Manye but you can find the Kendrick family at Too Chez

Opened mid-year before Hurricane Maria paid us a visit, Uptown Eatery is one of downtown Christiansted’s favorite new lunch spots. Chef Dave Kendrick is back along with wife Jane and daughter Mia offering a mouth-watering menu that includes fresh pasta in their hip Queen Cross Street Bistro.

Out in Frederiksted in the blue building right across from the Pier, Tap Deck Bar & Billiards opened earlier this summer.

The second-floor bar is comfortable, full of custom touches like the hand-painted bar and boasts a terrific tapas style menu. OF COURSE there’s billiards.

Tap Deck is open daily from 3-11pm and features draft beer and a great craft cocktail menu with live music many evenings. If you’re looking to thank the linemen here helping us energize the island or the FEMA folks helping us get back on track, you’ll likely find a few hanging out here with the locals. You can even sign up for a sunset cruise aboard Lyric Sails while you’re at it.

Agrifest: A Caribbean Country Fair

February 15, 2016 by Cindy @ MyStCroix.VI Leave a Comment

Each year President’s weekend brings a celebration of Caribbean agriculture to the Big Island. Agrifest is the largest country fair in the Caribbean showcasing local produce, livestock, food, music and more.

Once known as the bread basket of the Caribbean, St Croix’s rolling green hills and fertile lowlands have recently rebounded with an agricultural renaissance. Nowadays, farm stands can be visited 365 days of the year offering locally grown seasonal fruits and vegetables. Many also offer fresh, free-range eggs and meat. Growers like Sejah Farm and Ridge to Reef Farm have led the charge to meet the demands of local restaurants and consumers. In the main building you’ll find farmers from across the island and throughout the Caribbean selling plants, fresh produce, jams and jellies, hot sauces and seasoning, fresh local honey and more.

Vendors also offer handmade items made locally in the Virgin Islands and across the Caribbean.

Like any country fair, it’s a chance for 4-H, farms and others to showcase their livestock.

But my favorite part is, of course, the local food!

Agrifest happens each year over President’s weekend from Friday through Monday. It’s a terrific event to plan your trip around!

The Ultimate 5 Day St Croix Itinerary

June 15, 2014 by Cindy @ MyStCroix.VI 2 Comments

st croix us virgin islands vacation itinerary

So, I have friends from High School coming to the island for the first time later next week. Of course, I want to show them the very best that St Croix has to offer, so I’ve put together the ultimate St Croix Itinerary to make sure they see the island, experience the culture, and go back home raving and telling all their friends about what a magical place St Croix is. I’ve got five days to convince them that our little sunny island is the bomb-diggitty so here are my suggestions for the ultimate St Croix experience.

Arrival Day – relax, check-in and make your way into Christiansted to the Boardwalk for harborside sunset cocktails. Then head over to one of my favorite St Croix restaurants, Savant, for a delicious dinner on the über sexy back patio under the stars.

Day 1

Rum Tours! If you’ve heard of St Croix, you’ve likely heard of Cruzan Rum – but did you know that Captain Morgan Rum is also made here on St Croix? And both plants offer cool tours and, of course, tastings! I recommend heading first to the Captain Morgan Experience Center. The tour there is about an hour and you get two drink tokens to sample the goods in the Captain’s Lounge. The Captain Morgan plant is state-of-the-art and mostly automated. The Experience Center offers a museum-like walk through the history of rum, piracy, and the Caribbean.

After the tour, head West on the Melvin Evan’s Highway and take a right at the second set of lights – follow that Road down to the Cruzan Rum Factory. Here, the Nelthropp Family has been (and still is) making rum since 1760! You’ll take a tour through their facility and see how their hand-crafted rums are made and learn all about the rum-making process. As you wind your way through the warehouses of vats and rum aging in oaken barrels, you’ll end up at the appropriately named “Don’t Hurry” lounge. This is the perfect spot to sample the MANY flavors of Cruzan Rum and the bartenders will share with you their favorite recipes. And don’t forget to grab rum to take home! Travelers over 21 years of age can bring home 6 bottles of alcohol as long as one was made in the Virgin Islands. Price-wise, this is actually one of the best places to make your purchase and they’ll even box it up ready to check-in at the airport. Of course, you’ll want a few bottles to enjoy while you’re here too!

After learning everything there is to know about rum, take a ride up into the “rainforest” to the world-famous Domino Club to visit the “beer-drinking pigs”. It’s worth the trip just to sample some of beloved former owner Norma’s original mamawana which is a secret recipe of rum and spices that’s carefully aged. Sip it, shoot it or have it in a mixed drink … I love the “Mama Rosa” which is mamawana and ruby red grapefruit juice. Refreshing!

Following the Domino Club, come down the hill and head west to one of the Frederiksted Beach Bars which is the perfect spot to lime for the rest of the day and watch the sunset into the Caribbean sea. If you’re lucky, you may even catch the fabled “green flash”.

Day 2

Sleep in. Now that you’ve been properly indoctrinated into the rum culture here on St Croix, it’s time to hit the beach. Grab some snorkel gear and head out to the North Shore of St Croix and hit Cane Bay Beach. This popular beach is not only an awesome place to get in some excellent offshore snorkeling but it’s also the place to see the world-famous Cane Bay Wall.

If you’re a certified diver, you can grab tanks and head out on a spectacular and easy shore dive that will have you peering over the underwater cliff into the abyss. Over the side of the wall, you’ll often encounter sea turtles, schools and schools of bright tropical fish, and the occasional reef shark looking to see if anyone has a lionfish treat for them.

After a late morning/early afternoon of beach time, walk across the street and grab lunch from The Landing. This funky little beach bar has some of the best food on the North Shore and a fantastic array of fruity, frosty cocktails at their walk-up bar.

If you’re up for some more activity following lunch, take a hike down to the Annaly Bay Tide Pools – there’s a trail from the Carambola Beach Resort public parking lot. The hike takes roughly an hour in and an hour out. You’ll go up and downhill each way. It’s not a killer hike but is a moderate one. So be sure to bring a backpack with water and wear sneakers or tevas. Once you are down to the beach landing, you’ll climb over some rocks to get into the pools – so flip-flops aren’t recommended. Be sure to make your way back at least an hour and a half before sunset to ensure you have plenty of light on your way back.

Head back to your accommodations later in the afternoon to wash off the salt and sand and then treat yourself to a relaxing evening at one of Christiansted’s finer restaurants. St Croix has become a beacon on the culinary map developing some super start chefs. Each April the island boasts a week of food-centric events, seminars and competitions with the St Croix Food & Wine Experience. It also attracts some renowned chefs from across the country who share their talents and passion for the art of eating.

Day 3

Head out to the Eastern most point in the United States. If you’re an early riser, you can even try to catch the sunrise and be the first peeps in the US to feel the warmth of the sun on your face. From there you’ll see a little parking area and the entrance to the hiking trail down to Jacks & Isaacs Beach. This pristine white sand beach is surrounded by reef and coral heads and so has some of the best snorkeling on the island. There are no facilities so you’ll want to bring down a backpack with water, snacks, etc. to make a day of it. And don’t forget sunscreen!! I recommend bringing and wearing a rash guard to protect your back while snorkeling too. You can read about our fun family day a few years back at Jacks & Isaacs.

Beautiful Jack's & Isaac's Bay — Beautiful Jack’s & Isaac’s Bay

Following the day exploring the beach – stop by Ziggy’s Libation station on your way back. This fun little gas station/bar/deli is a popular happy hour spot for locals. Take a break and play corn-hole or if you’re there at the right time, sign up for one of their famous “Dinners on the Deck” by the uber talented Chef Aaron.

The Libation Station at Ziggy's — The Libation Station at Ziggy’s

Day 4

You’ve explored both ends of St Croix and honed your snorkeling skills, so now it’s time to head out to Buck Island Reef National Monument! Book a full day or a half-day trip out to this little gem that sits 2 miles off of St Croix’s North/East coast. In the 60’s this was a favorite spot of the Kennedy’s and so President John F. Kennedy designated it a National Monument to preserve it. Nowadays it’s managed by the National Parks and this uninhabited island is actually less than 1/3 of the park – the rest is below sea level. To get there you must book your trip with one of the official concessioners licensed to take guests out to Buck Island. Tour operators will supply you with snorkel gear (unless you have your own to bring along) and instruction for newbies. You’ll spend about an hour or so exploring the underwater trail and reef on the east side of the island. This spot has some of the most diverse schools of fish and marine life in the Caribbean and is featured in 1,000 Places To See Before You Die – so don’t miss it! Full day trips on Big Beard’s Adventure Tours include a beach barbeque on a secluded beach back on St Croix just across from Buck Island.

Big Beard Adventure Tours Buck Island MJS Visions — Big Beard’s Adventure at Buck Island. Photo by www.mjsvisions.com

Day 5

Spend the morning in historic downtown Christiansted to get in a little shopping and explore St Croix’s history. This 18th Century Danish colonial town was once the capital of the Danish West Indies and is a beautiful example of neoclassic Danish architecture. The town itself is on the National Register of Historic places. Take a self-guided walking tour through the Christiansted historic district starting at Fort Christianvaern. Here you’ll find the National Park Service office and can pick up a map that will lead you to historic points of interest following your exploration of the fort. Throughout the district you’ll find shops that house local artisans and jewelers – you simply MUST bring home a St Croix bracelet, all the cool kids where them. For true. You’ll find plenty of treasures to bring home to friends and family and to remind you of your St Croix experience.

In the afternoon, wrap up your St Croix adventure with a magical riding tour with Cruzan Cowgirls Horse Riding Tours. Most rides head out from Rainbow Beach in Frederiksted. You’ll explore the beach and the rainforest while riding horses who have been lovingly rescued and rehabilitated by Jennifer and her family. Read more here! After your ride you can catch one more West End sunset with a cocktail and reminisce about your week.

There are SO MANY things to do that I didn’t get to in this itinerary, but it’s a great first introduction to the island – so you’ll just have to plan another St Croix vacation to get to everything! Ready to explore? Plan your trip here.