St Croix, US Virgin Islands offers so much more than the beautiful beaches and snorkeling that we are often known for. Here are 5 places we really enjoy on St Croix and highly recommend our friends and family to explore when they are here. As residents here for many years, we still find wonderful little surprises every time we frequent these places around town! Once you visit, you will be immersed with the relaxed island vibe.
1. Walking Downtown Christiansted
A blend of history, culture, and waterfront beauty, downtown Christiansted is a wonderful area to explore for tourists and locals! Find charming stores, art galleries and restaurants as you spend a few hours soaking in all that this historic and walkable area has to offer. Don’t miss Art Thursday, an event in Christiansted on the third Thursday evenings of every month from November through May when the vibrant art community come together in downtown. Learn more about it here.
2. Point Udall
Drive to Point Udall, the easternmost point of the United States and enjoy panoramic sea views and interesting foliage and vegetation.
View during drive to Point Udall
3. Jack & Issac Bay Preserve
The Jack & Isaac Bay Preserve is a pristine haven of marine and coastal beauty, and home to hundreds of species, including endangered sea turtles in need of safe shores to nest. Established by The Nature Conservatory in 1999, the preserve is made of over 300 acres of rolling hills skirted with white sandy beaches and surrounded by crystal waters and vibrant coral reefs.
Jack & Issac Bay Preserve sign
4. Southgate Coastal Reserve
The Southgate Coastal Reserve is located a little over 3 miles east of Christiansted, just north of East End Road. It totals 100 acres and encompasses a coastal salt pond, mangrove forest, beach forest and upland grassland. Look for hand-painted signs along the way.
Hand-made sign
5. Jump Up!
Jump Up! is one of our favorite outdoor events to visit. Come to Christiansted for fun, food, music, shopping, and MOKO JUMBIE DANCERS! These mini carnivals are held four times a year, the streets are closed to vehicles and filled with music, people socializing and dancing, and vendors selling food and wares. The biggest Jump Up is held in February! Click here to the see the upcoming dates.
Photo of a Moko Jumbi performance from February 2023
We have been following this exciting major redevelopment effort on the eastern edge of downtown Christiansted along Hospital Street. WTJX’s latest article about the redevelopment project shares the project status an that plans include short- and long-term rental units, a fitness gym with a restaurant, a coffee shop, and possibly a boutique hotel. It continues to gain momentum as the developer and executive branch seek legislative approval to sell a government-owned residential property.
Developer Peter Zielke is in the process of purchasing an abandoned house on Hospital Street in Christiansted from the government, pending legislative approval, to expand housing in the area. It is another piece of the broader strategy to revive the historic district, expand housing, and strengthen St. Croix’s tourism. The contract to sell the Hospital Street property has been transmitted to the Legislature pending approval.
Peter Zielke, a retired technology entrepreneur who is now committed to developing real estate, has been revitalizing properties in downtown Christiansted for the past few years. Zielke’s first restoration project on Hospital Street in Christiansted resulted in four vacation rental units within this historic house, known as the “Mocko Jumbie House” for the life-size sculpture in the front yard.
We are excited that more modern, state-of-the-art health care resources will be available on St Croix in a new health center! Construction has officially begun on the Donna M. Christian Christensen Health Center, the first Rebuild USVI project to move into the construction phase. The VI Daily News reports that the new public health facility is being built at the former Charles Harwood Memorial Complex site in Estate Richmond. The five-level, 117,000-square-foot facility will house primary care, behavioral health services, laboratory services, emergency medical services, environmental health, WIC and administrative offices.
The health center is name after medical doctor Donna M. Christian Christensen. In the groundbreaking ceremony, Dr. Christensen was honored as a physician, nationally recognized public health advocate and the first woman to serve as the territory’s delegate to Congress. Christensen’s work in health equity, minority health advocacy and federal policymaking, as well as her service to the Virgin Islands during the COVID-19 pandemic was also highlighted.
This holiday season, my sister-in-law visited us here on St. Croix. Experiencing all the warmth and beauty the island has to offer in her week here, she was ready to bring home a piece of paradise with her to share with family and friends. I dropped her off downtown one day so that she could enjoy a day of local shopping. I love shopping in unique shops and friendly marketplaces for gifts and downtown Christiansted is a wonderful place for visitors and locals to do just that. From artisan jewelry shops to charming galleries and boutiques, I knew she would find treasures that reflect St. Croix’s beauty and culture. I was eagerly curious to hear the wonderful local stores she patronized and the souvenirs and gifts she had chosen. As I had expected, she had a lovely shopping experience and found gifts for loved ones that are as unique as St Croix itself and will remind her of the meaningful time on the island. Here were her top picks:
1. From the Gecko – the T-shirts with the map of St. Croix on them as gifts for all her grandchildren.
2. Mitchell Larson Studio – a beautiful handmade fused glass plate as a keepsake gift for family.
3. Riddims – music from Bill Bass and Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights which is a great way to add Crucian vibe to her holiday.
4. Cultured Naturals – wonderful body butter in different tropical scents as gifts for her friends and herself.
5. Many Hands – a mystery gift for us which we will open on Christmas. This time of year one must be nice, not naughty!
Holiday shopping is fun, especially when you buy from our wonderful shops or at holiday events! You are not only buying something very special, but supporting Crucians. Your purchase can make a difference to that shop owner or artist. Buy local! Season’s Greetings!
According to Travel + Leisure, St. Croix, with it’s its convenient access from the United States mainland, pristine white-sand beaches to a buzz-worthy culinary scene, seems to fly under the radar. They created “tried-and-true” suggestions after speaking to locals and the St Croix Tourism board.
Key points as listed from the article:
Snorkelers and scuba divers can explore the underwater worlds of dive sites like Buck Island Reef, which has a submerged “trail,” and Butler Bay, which boasts several shipwrecks.
Going for tastings at rum distilleries like Captain Morgan and dining at popular local eateries like La Reine Chicken Shack are great ways to sample the island’s food scene.
The are looking for the holiday season and pleased that the St. George Village Botanical Garden will have a special month long event running from Dec. 5 through Jan. 4. The “Garden of Lights” fundraising event will be open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to view gorgeous holiday lights throughout the grounds! As reported in the St Croix Source, colorful, twinkling lights will deck the garden along with artwork from local schools for the enjoyment of all ages as they stroll along the paths!
Opening night is Friday, Dec. 5, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Cocktail Walk will feature holiday cocktails, local cuisine, an auction, steel pan music, and the We Dey Yah Quadrille dancers. Children’s Night will be Friday, Dec. 12. Santa will be available for photos with children and families, and more. Read the article here for more information.
The botanical garden is a wonderful place to visit in the community year-round, so we are very excited to hear about the debut of their special Holiday of Lights event!
For tickets to the Garden of Lights Cocktail Walk at the St. George Village Botanical Garden, go to Eventbrite here.
