Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Carl and Marie Lawaetz Museum The home of one of the island's oldest and
most prestigious families can be visited for a rare glimpse into plantation life. Set in
a valley at La Grange, this 1750 farmstead has been owned by the Lawaetz family
since 1899. Visitors can tour the estate with a member of the family. Originally a
sugar plantation, the estate was later turned into a cattle ranch. On the grounds are
the reminders of a bygone era, including a decaying sugar mill on a nearby hill. The
19 acres of land are filled with beautiful flowers and tropical trees and bushes.
Inside you can inspect the family heirlooms, many brought over from Denmark.
Marie decorated the home with her paintings, still hanging in almost every room.
You're even shown the mahogany four-poster bed in which all seven of the Lawaetz
family were born.
Mahogany Rd., Rte. 76, Estate Little La Grange. &   340/772-0598. www.stcroixlandmarks.com. Admis-
sion $10 adults, $5 students and seniors, $4 children 6-12, free for children 5 and under. May-Oct
Thurs-Sat 10am-4pm; Nov-Apr Thurs-Sat 10am-4pm.
Cruzan Rum Factory This factory distills the famous Virgin Islands rum, which
some consider the finest in the world. Guided tours depart from the visitor's pavilion
and include a visit to the factory's old windmill. The whole affair is topped off with a
complimentary mixed drink, of course. Call ahead for reservations.
Estate Diamond 3, W. Airport Rd., Rte. 64. &   340/692-2280. www.cruzanrum.com. Admission $5
adults, $1 children 18 and under. Tours given Mon-Fri 9-11:30am and 1-4pm.
Estate Mount Washington Plantation This is the island's best-preserved sugar
plantation and a highlight along the St. Croix Heritage Trail. It flourished from 1780
to 1820, when St. Croix was the second-largest producer of sugar in the West Indies.
The on-site private residence is closed to the public, but you can go on a self-guided
tour of the 13 acres at any time of the day you wish (there is no admission charge,
although donations are accepted). You'll see what is the best antiques store on St.
Croix, but you can only visit the little shop that houses them by calling &   340/772-
1026 and asking for an appointment (see “Shopping,” below).
At the very southwestern tip of the island, off Rte. 63, a mile inland from the highway that runs along
the Frederiksted coast. Free admission.
Estate Whim Plantation Museum This restored great house is unique among
those of the many ruined sugar plantations that dot the island. It's composed of only
three rooms. With 3-foot-thick walls made of stone, coral, and molasses, the house
resembles a luxurious European château. A division of Baker Furniture Company
used the Whim Plantation's collection of models for one of its most successful repro-
ductions, the “Whim Museum-West Indies Collection.” Upscale reproductions of
some of the furniture are on display within the Whim Plantation, and are for sale
on-site. Slightly different inventories are available from an associated store in down-
town Christiansted: the St. Croix Landmarks Museum Store, 58 Queen St.
( &   340/713-8102 ).
The ruins of the plantation's sugar-processing plant, complete with a restored
windmill, also remain. The estate is also site of many events held by the St. Croix
Landmarks Society, such as evening concerts and wine tastings. Check their website
(www.stcroixlandmarks.com) to see what's happening during your visit.
Centerline Rd. (2 miles east of Frederiksted). &   340/772-0598. Admission $10 adults, $5 children.
Mon-Sat 10am-4pm.
St. George Village Botanical Garden This is a 16-acre Eden of tropical trees,
shrubs, vines, and flowers. The garden is a feast for the eye and the camera, from the
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