Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
St. Croix
St. Croix (Croy) offers a more traditional Caribbean vaca-
tion than does St. Thomas. It's a place to unwind, relax
and recharge your batteries. Where the pace in Charlotte
Amalie is bustling and frenetic, that of St. Croix's capital,
Christiansted
, is leisurely and laid back, and that of
Frederiksted
(the island's second town) is almost somno-
lent.
Although St. Croix's beaches aren't as beautiful as those of
St. Thomas or St. John, the island itself is physically beauti-
ful. Its 84 square miles are green and fertile, with rolling
hills rather than mountains, and the island is dotted with
picturesque sugar mills - both in ruins and restored - as
well as elegant Great Houses. In the early 19th century, half
the island was covered by sugar cane plantations and over
30,000 slaves worked here. St. Croix is almost three times
the size of St. Thomas, yet it has only a few thousand more
residents.
It's hard for today's visitors to comprehend the devastation
caused by Hurricane Hugo in September 1989. Homes, busi-
nesses, churches, schools and libraries on every part of St.
Croix were damaged or destroyed. Some two-thirds of the
available hotel rooms, many restaurants and shops, as well
as such key infrastructure as the cruise ship dock in
Frederiksted, were knocked out. The island grappled with
the long-term effects of that destruction for years. Ironically,
Hurricane Hugo caused virtually every hotel to renovate
and refurbish, allowing exciting new restaurants and shops
to replace some tired old ones. The enlarged pier in
Frederiksted is back in operation and wide-body jets arrive
daily. A gambling casino has opened directly across the road
from the Divi Hotel, which was rebuilt after Hugo.
As you drive around (roads are paved and well maintained),
you will be struck by the variety of foliage. While the island
gets little rainfall, it has over 40 varieties of orchids and
