8 Great Things To Do in St Croix

My favorite fun things to do in St Croix include historic and nature activities, amazing tropical food and drink, and water adventures. And be first in USA to see sunrise.

St. Croix is a unique Caribbean island, the furthest away from other islands. 90% of St. Croix is surrounded by a barrier reef, the second largest in the world (after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia). One local authority I spoke with said, “St. Croix is an island of great potential and can be a model for the entire Caribbean.”

When I was invited to a culinary trip to its sister island of St. Croix, I could not say Yes fast enough. The variety and quality of cuisine really impressed me on my two visits to St. John, another USVI island and still one of my favorite places in the world.

St. Croix is one of the three major US Virgin Islands—St. Thomas and St. John are the other two. Of the more than 50 USVI islands only five are populated. St. Croix is known as Twin City, while St. Thomas is Rock City and St. John is Love City.

On March 31, 1917, the United States paid $25 million in gold to Denmark to acquire the Virgin Islands. On March 31, 2017 (Transfer Day) St. Croix and the entire USVI population celebrated their 100th year of independence. Officially, St. Croix has 55,000 residents but unofficially there are 65,000 residents—including part-timers, like former Vice President Biden and many celebrities.

Note: I was hosted by United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism (USVI Tourism) as an opportunity to share my favorite findings with the McCool Travel audience.

8 Great Things To Do in St Croix, USVI

1. See USA’s First Sunrise

Watch the sunrise before anyone in the United States. Point Udall on St. Croix is the geographic easternmost spot of United States territory, where the sun first touches the US soil. The area has panoramic views of the island and the Caribbean.

panoramic view of Point Udall in St Croix
be the first person in US to see sunrise at Point Udall in St. Croix

On a clear day you can see several other islands. The Millennium Monument marks the spot where sunlight first hits the United States and was dedicated on January 1, 2000.

2. Places to EAT in St Croix

Since St. Croix is relatively isolated—35 miles from the nearest island (St. Thomas)—an estimated 80% of food is imported and very expensive. Whenever possible stick to local and fresh products, like seafood and chicken. While farm to table is a trend all over the world, it is a cultural lifestyle in St. Croix.

homemade hot sauce Harvey's Restaurant, St. Croix
try the homemade hot sauce at Harvey’s on St. Croix

One local told me, “The only bad meal you will have on St. Croix is Wendy’s or McDonald’s.” He said his favorite place to eat in St. Croix is Chicken Shack. I ate there and some other places, which I cover in 8 Great Places to Eat in St. Croix.

rotisserie rows at La Reine Chicken Shack
a favorite St Croix restaurant is La Reine Chicken Shack

3. Where to DRINK in St Croix

On a Cruzan Rum factory tour, you will learn, among other things, that Cruzan rum does not cause hangovers. Oh their rum most certainly makes people inebriated but it does not contain impurities which are the reason for hangovers.

The barrels used to age the Cruz Rum comes from Jim Beam, where they use the barrels only one time; Cruzan can use them up to five more times. Old barrels are sold for $40 (my guide said empty, no rum included).

wall art of rum bottle spilling at Cruzan rum factory
visit the Cruzan rum factory on St Croix

St Croix drink masters are becoming more creative with their concoctions. Just a short walk from the Christiansted waterfront is a fun place called BES Craft Cocktail Lounge.

housemade craft cocktails in generic bottles
try the craft cocktails at balter on St. Croix

While some members of our group selected from the menu, the owner/mixologist customized drinks for others (like me). I asked for something spicy and with rum and he created a delicious elixir.

4. Explore Caribbean History

The history of St Croix ranges from native Indian settlements prior to the arrival of Columbus and Europeans to one of the world’s largest oil refineries (Hess oil factory closed in 2012).

Columbus approached the island on his second voyage (in 1493). He said the islands reminded him of the Virgin Queen, thus giving them the name Virgin Islands.

The Danish operated hundreds of sugar mill plantations for nearly 200 years; there were 225 mills operating at peak. The last St. Croix sugar mill shut down in 1966. Many of the Danish windmill buildings have been repurposed into homes, offices, and other uses.

real estate listing for windmill house in St Croix
want to live in a windmill? You can on St. Croix

During the Danish occupation, Alexander Hamilton honed his personality and critical thinking into becoming one of USA’s Founding Fathers. Later, the first freed slaves as a result of rebellion occurred on St. Croix in July 1848. Haiti is the only other island where slaves created their own freedom.

display of Alexander Hamilton history in St Croix
learn about Alexander Hamilton and his life on St. Croix, USVI

Since Columbus spotted the island in 1493, seven different governing bodies have flown flags over St. Croix  (Spanish, Dutch, British, France, Knights of Malta, Danish, and USA).

On his second voyage to the New World, Columbus sought fresh water when he stumbled upon the Leeward islands. The shape of the islands reminded him of the Virgin Queen and the name Virgin Islands stuck.

The first recorded violent encounter between Europeans and native Indians occurred on St. Croix in October 1493. Fatalities happened on both sides and Columbus took prisoners back to Spain.

In addition to Alexander Hamilton, other St. Croix residents went on to fame and fortune. St. Croix was the home of the co-founders of the city of San Francisco, the creator of Lotto games, and NBA star Tim Duncan.

Many of the building structures in the two main towns (Christiansted and Fredericksted) and around the island were constructed with bricks from Denmark which served as ballast in the ships. It is pretty cool walking around and seeing (and touching) bricks from early 1700s that were probably also touched by Alexander Hamilton.

things to do in St. Croix: sugar mill ruin
sugar plantation ruins: St. Croix attractions

5. St Croix Nature

Since St. Croix is a Caribbean island, water dominates the natural scene. However, St. Croix has seven hills, offering plentiful hiking opportunities. One recurring theme I encountered during my visit was the appreciation and respect for trees.

About 50 baobab trees, the Tree of Life (native to Africa), are found on St. Croix—more than any other Caribbean island. Historically, the Tree of Life blooms every 50 years but one baobab tree, in Grove Place, blooms every two years. 14 women were buried on that spot on October 1, 1878 and local legend says that their spirits cause the more frequent bloom cycles.

St. Croix residents call the massive kapok trees Monkey No Climb. Remember from a prior McCool Travel article about the Boca Resort that kapok trees have spikes along its edges so that nickname makes sense. Unfortunately, plantation owners used these magnificent trees for torture.

Settlers brought Mahogany trees to St. Croix from South America and the local soil created some of the hardest wood on Earth. The mahogany trees on St. Croix are now protected and there are severe fines issued to anyone molesting them.

6. Fun USVI Festivals

Crucians (St Croix residents) love festivals. There is some festival nearly every weekend on St. Croix. During my short visit, we attended Agrifest—the largest annual festival on St. Croix—and a reggae concert.

Agrifest, officially called Agriculture and Food Fair of the United States Virgin Islands—is a massive three day affair attracting people from all over the Caribbean and the world. Vendors from several Caribbean islands were present and the food, music, and fun was nonstop.

colorful vegetable table display at St Croix AgriFest
Nevis booth at Agrifest: St. Croix events

St. Patrick’s Day is crazy on St. Croix, I heard. Transfer Day (when USVI became a territory of USA) is celebrated every March 31. Easter Camp Out occurs every April when people sleep on the beaches and share food with anyone who asks. Carnival on St. Croix occurs between Christmas and Three Kings day. St. John celebrates Carnival around July 4 and Carnival on St. Thomas happens in April (65th Carnival in 2017).

7. Where to STAY in St Croix

My group stayed at Caravelle Hotel and Casino in Christiansted. Caravelle underwent extensive renovation last year and I love its location on the water and close to amazing restaurants and attractions. The onsite Rumrunners is a popular restaurant and bar.

bright yellow hotel building at Caravelle Hotel in St Croix
Caravelle Hotel is one of the best St Croix hotels

It looks like you can walk to the beach on the small 5 acre island in the bay, called Protestant Cay, but most people take the convenient ferry. The boat shuttle costs $5 and operates continuously (about every 10 minutes) from 6am to midnight and by request other times. Check out the super cool Hotel on the Cay is on the small island.

8. Where to PLAY in St Croix

St. Croix is surrounded by a coral reef system—second largest in the world, to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia—with only a small channel opening into Frederiksted.

Maybe four smaller ships a month visit St. Croix, compared to St. Thomas which often houses six or more mega cruise ships at the same time. If you are one of the fortunate few cruisers to visit St. Croix, you will find some unique craft shops plus all of the other things to do in St Croix list covered in this article.

There are about 250 dive spots around St. Croix and SCUBA excursions are the most popular activity and reason visitors come to the island. My group did a half-day trip to nearby Buck Island, where I snorkeled on top of the reef, walked on one of the most gorgeous beaches in the world, and did a short hike through varied terrain (including cactus).

gorgeous beach and blue water at Buck Island Reef National Monument.
enter Don’t Hurry mode at the magnificent St Croix beach at Buck Island Reef National Monument

Other fun things to do in St Croix include sailing, fishing, golf, scenic drives, and much more. As my USVI tourism contact Sharon said, visitors tell me what they want to do and we show them how to do that!

See also these fun Caribbean travel articles:

Great things to do in St. Croix include historic, nature, food, drink, and water activities. Among the things to do in St. Croix is celebrate Transfer Day.

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14 thoughts on “8 Great Things To Do in St Croix”

  1. Good day.

    Please note that “Plantation Perfection” is an extremely culturally insensitive use of words. Considering that 76%+ of the island’s population is represented by people of color, and descendants of the enslaved, there really is nothing perfect about a plantation. Many of them were sites of horrid inhumanity. Additionally, the USVI enacted laws that sugar windmills cannot be converted into offices or used to construct portions of homes any longer. Those structures are now protected.

    • Hello Bridget. Agreed. Yes, I included the photo but it is from a local real estate company and not my words (though they are most unfortunate). Thank you for pointing out that mills are protected and no longer being used for such purposes.

  2. Nice post abt my island home. Quick fact check- the Crucian Christmas Festival happens over Christmas and is not referred to as “Carnival.” For 1 year someone tried to change the name and an uproar ensued. It’s back to Festival.

  3. The coolest place to eat on St Croix and have ice cream is Barefoot Pirate Snow and Rum Ball shack serving breakfast and lunch right off the boardwalk in kings alley check them out on trip advisor and facebbook

  4. Wow! You shared lots of interesting information about St. Croix. Trees with spikes, bricks from Copenhagen, and Easter beach camp outs? Loved reading this post!

  5. I could use a few days in St. Croix right about now. “Don’t Hurry” sounds like a perfect motto to enjoy such a beautiful place.

  6. If the motto of St. Croix is “Don’t Hurry”, I know I’d love it! Thx for the great post, Charles.

  7. I’d like to visit St. Croix one day. Beaches, history, Caribbean vibe – sounds just about perfect.

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