Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Nightlife isn't a major attraction here; it usually consists of sipping rum drinks in a
bar in
Cruz Bay,
and maybe listening to a local calypso band. After spending a day
outdoors, most visitors on St. John are happy to turn in early.
ST. CROIX
This island is the second-most-visited destination in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Like St.
Thomas, St. Croix is highly developed. Cruise-ship passengers continue to flood
Frederiksted
and the capital,
Christiansted,
looking for duty-free goods and a
handful of white sand to take home in a plastic bag. St. Croix is also the only island
that has a casino. Although parts of the island resemble American suburbia, some of
St. Croix's true West Indian-style buildings have been preserved, along with many of
its rich cultural traditions.
One of the best reasons to take a trip to St. Croix, even if only for a day, is to visit
Buck Island National Park,
just 1
1
⁄
2
miles off St. Croix's northeast coast. The
park's offshore reef attracts snorkelers and divers from around the world. Signs posted
along the ocean floor guide you through a forest of staghorn coral swarming with
flamboyant fish.
St. Croix is the premier golfing destination in the Virgin Islands, mainly because it
boasts
Carambola,
the archipelago's most challenging 18-hole course. St. Croix is
also a tennis mecca of sorts: The
Buccaneer Hotel
has some of the best courts in
the Virgin Islands and hosts several annual tournaments. Other sports for active
vacationers include horseback riding, parasailing, sportsfishing, and water-skiing.
The restaurants on St. Croix are generally not as good as those on St. Thomas,
although they claim to be. You will find plenty of small, local eateries serving up
dishes and snacks ranging from West Indian curries to French croissants. Life after
dark is mostly confined to a handful of bars in Christiansted.
As for accommodations, St. Croix has only a few real luxury hotels, but there are
a lot of small, attractive inns. And, as on St. Thomas, it's easy to find villas and condos
for rent at reasonable weekly rates.
TORTOLA
Tortola is the hub of the British Virgin Islands, but not always the best place for visi-
tors, especially if you're planning to spend more than a couple of days here; we think
Virgin Gorda (see below) has better hotels and restaurants.
Road Town,
the capital,
with its minor shopping, routine restaurants, and uninspired architecture, requires a
2
Another Famous Virgin Islander
One of the most popular basketball
players in the NBA, San Antonio Spur
Tim Duncan, is St. Croix born and
bred. Growing up on the island, he
wanted to be a swimmer, and while
still a teenager he became one of the
top-ranked swimmers in the United
States in his age group. When Hurri-
cane Hugo swept away his team's
swimming pool in 1989, Tim gave
up swimming and started playing
basketball. After graduating from
Wake Forest University in 1997—and
being named NCAA Player of the Year
while there—he went on to play for the
San Antonio Spurs. Since then, he has
gone on to become the team captain
and has helped the Spurs win four
NBA championships. In St. Croix,
“Little Timmy Duncan” is a local hero,
and his portrait stands across from
the airport.
20
