St. Croix

St.Croix's rich culture and history, along with its beautiful beaches and world-class recreational activities, create an experience unlike any other in the Caribbean. Since the day Christopher Columbus first arrived at Salt River on St. Croix more than 500 years ago, sugar and rum have shaped the island's life and land. Fifty-four sugar mills, each with imposing windmill towers and factory chimneys, still rest in the shadows of stately eighteenth-century and nineteenth-century homes. Located on the west end of the island, Estate Whim Plantation is just one example of these "greathouses." With acres of rolling green hills,St.Croix's plantation estates also bore crops of okra, cabbage, corn, and other vegetables still prominent in Caribbean cuisine. As the sugar industry declined after the 1960s, tourism became the most important industry on the island.

Christiansted and Frederiksted, the two main towns of St. Croix, flourished as commercial ports during the eighteenth century and nineteenth century. Distinct architecture reflects the seven flags--Spanish, Dutch, British, French, Knights of Malta, Danish, and American -- that have flown over the island. Today, visitors to St. Croix can enjoy a number of indoor and outdoor activities, from fine dining, shopping, and a casino, to golf, scuba diving, and horseback riding.

St.Croix Links:

www.usvitourism.vi/en/stcroix/sc_Home.html
www.visitstcroix.com
www.gotostcroix.com

How to get here:

American Airlines — flies direct to St. Croix, daily, most months, with 737 non-stop service from Miami, Florida. You can also connect on American Airlines to the American Eagle Regional Airline in either San Juan or St. Thomas. 1-800-474-4884

Continental Airlines — operates daily flights to nearby San Juan and St. Thomas with connections on the regional Cape Air airlines from these nearby islands. 1-800-231-0856

Delta — flies non-stop seasonal service, each Wednesday and Saturday, from Atlanta to St. Croix. You can also connect to St. Croix from Delta Airlines flights arriving from Atlanta to San Juan and St. Thomas. 1-800-221-1212

United Airlines — flies daily direct flights from Chicago to both San Juan and St. Thomas. You can connect to St. Croix from these nearby islands. 1-800-241-6522

US Airways — flies non-stop to St. Croix from Charlotte, N.C. each Saturday with seasonal service on Tuesdays. You can also connect to St. Croix from San Juan or St. Thomas on Cape Air or Caribbean Sun Airlines. 1-800-428-4322

Regional/Commuter Airlines:

American Eagle — offers numerous daily flights from San Juan, Puerto Rico to St. Croix. 1-800-474-4884

Liat — offers flights from many nearby islands to St. Croix. 1-340-778-9930

Seaborne Airlines — offers numerous daily flights to St.Thomas 773-6442; www.SeaborneAirlines.com

Cape Air — offers numerous daily flights to San Juan and St.Thomas 1-800-352-0714; www.flycapeair.com