St. Croix - Places to Visit / What to See & Do
The Whim Plantation
The Whim Plantation has been restored as a museum, and as such, is the oldest sugar plantation in the Virgin Islands. It is typical of these type estates as laid out in the 1730's by the Danish West India Company.
Spread over 12 acres, it includes most of the original buildings on the plantation, and shows most all the equipment and buildings required to operate a large successful sugar plantation.
The first records of ownership regarding the Whim Estate are dated from 1743 when it was apparently involved in cotton production.
By 1754, sugar had become the primary crop and continued to be so through the heydays of the 1800's when sugar was "king". In fact, Whim continued to be operated as a sugar plantation long into the 1920's, considerably past the time sugar cane ceased to be a profitable industry.
The sense of history on the property is profound. You can tour the the Great House, cookhouse, servants quarters, burial plots, and most of the buildings, getting a very real sense of what life might have been like during those early times.
Wandering the ruins of this sugar factory, with all its equipment for converting the cane into sugar is fascinating. There is even sugar cane growing in the small garden plot. Plan on spending ample time to see everything, including the old cauldrons, and the fully restored windmill which was used for crushing the sugar cane.
The Heritage Trail
The St. Croix Heritage Trail is a 72-mile long driving tour that covers most of the island. It connects natural areas, attractions, and historical sites, from Point Udall in the East to Sandy Point in the west, along with the north shore and most points in-between.
It's easy to follow by grabbing a map and keeping an eye out for the Heritage Trail marker signs with the brown and white sugar mill symbol on them. It includes all the major historic places plus some of those lesser known, but equally intriguing.
Rainforest
The dense trees covering the hills on the north and west sides of St. Croix provide a lush tropical environment for a wide variety of birds and wildlife. However, St. Croix doesn't get enough annual rainfall for these areas to truly qualify as a rainforest.
However, they are gorgeous to drive and hike thru, and the few vistas found several hundred feet high provide breathtaking views of the island and ocean beyond.
It's well worth the time to explore the rainforest, as you'll come across many old ruins and other sights. But be prepared if you intend to drive some of these scenic routes, by getting a jeep or other 4-wheel-drive vehicle to handle the trails and what's left of many of the roads.
Windmills & Ruins
St. Croix is covered from end to end with the ruins of long dormant windmills. There are around 100 of them spread out in locations picked for their proximity to where sugar cane was grown & harvested, and the ability to harness the wind.
The wood has long since deteriorated leaving only the rock and stone cone-shaped structures behind. They like many other ruins on the island have weathered not just the centuries, but the ravages of hurricanes and a myriad of tropical storms.
The sense of the past they carry with them make for fascinating visits and strolls through history. Standing inside an old windmill, can easily take you back in time, imagining the island much the way it was when first discovered.
Many of the ruins on St. Croix aren't marked, making them great subjects for inquisitive folks to research where they came from, who built and lived in them, and what was life like during that time. Ruins aren't hard to find, although many are overgrown and difficult to see. But within a short drive of just about anywhere on the island, you can find and explore these pieces of history.
Christiansted
Christiansted, a National Historic Site, is the larger of the 2 main towns on St. Croix. It was founded in 1734, was once the capital of the Danish West Indies, and flourished as the seat of government and primary shipping center during the late 1700's and early 1800's.
Many of the colonial era buildings have been restored and the Danish style architecture is prevalent throughout. Government House has had a colorful history with colonial governors hosting great balls and serving various government functions. With many officials located there, it's still where government presides.
Downtown is teeming with stores, boutiques, and restaurants, that now fill spaces previously occupied by shipping offices and warehouses. The harbor serves boaters needs and the boardwalk runs along it, providing visitors easy access to the amenities there.
Fort Christianvaern dominates the eastern end of downtown, sitting prominently guarding the harbor. It along with many historic sites have been restored and opened to the public. Located nearby is the old customs house and the house where Alexander Hamilton once lived.
Frederiksted
The other main town on St. Croix is Frederiksted, which came into being with the construction of Fort Frederik in 1752 to address the problems with smugglers and pirates in the area.
It has a colorful history and is known as Freedom City. Fort Frederik is a National Historic Landmark, and in 1776 the first salute from foreign soil to the new national flag of the United States was fired here.
Frederiksted Pier is an enormous pier, constructed to accomodate cruise ship traffic. It also happens to offer some incredible diving in the water surrounding its pilings and other debris beneath it, which has been grown over with coral and sponges, and teems with tropical fish and other marine life.
Point Udall
Point Udall is the easternmost point in the United States. It is marked by A sundial known as the Millennium Monument was built above Point Udall for the New Year's celebration in 2000, and marks the angle of the first U.S. sunrise for that year.
From monument is a trail down to the black volcanic shore below. It's steep in places, but overall a moderate hike.
The entire eastern tip of St. Croix is fairly desolate, and allows visitors to see the island in it's totally natural state. The hills and beaches are deserted, providing a perfect place for getting away from everything.
Sandy Point
The Sandy Point Natural Area is a peninsula that lies at the westernmost tip of St. Croix. It's has a particularly long & wide sandy beach that goes for 2 miles, and wraps around the tip.
This National Wildlife Refuge was established to protect the nesting grounds of the leatherback turtle, which is on the endangered species list.
Sandy Point is also the location where the final scene of the movie, "Shawshank Redemption", was filmed. If you want a chance to see this pristine natural area, it's only open on weekends, so be certain to plan ahead.
Shopping
A couple of great places for shopping in Christiansted are Baci Duty Free, and The Purple Papaya.
Baci Duty Free has super deals on a wide assortment of jewelry. They also, have cigars and liquor available as well, and everything is at duty free prices.
The Purple Papaya, has a large store in St. Croix, and also in St. Thomas. Check out a wide assortment of clothing, t-shirts, and other souvenir type items, all at excellent prices.