A Visitor’s Top Picks for Holiday Shopping on St Croix

A Visitor’s Top Picks for Holiday Shopping on St Croix

Dec 18, 2025 | Island News

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 holiday shopping on St Croix. 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 for holiday shopping on St Croix:

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!

USVI Drawing Visitors in Large Numbers

USVI Drawing Visitors in Large Numbers

May 30, 2023 | Island News

We are excited to see that tourism in the US Virgin Islands has remained very strong! The Caribbean Journal reported that ForwardKeys data shows the US Virgin Islands leading Caribbean destinations in international arrival growth, with a 22 percent increase over the first quarter of 2022. That’s ahead of destinations like St Maaten, Guadeloupe, Turks and Caicos and even the Dominican Republic.  It also reported that since 2019, the numbers show an even more robust, sustainable jump: the US Virgin Islands has grown at a rate of 24 percent, the highest growth rate in the Caribbean.  Read the full article here.

We have noticed that since beginning of the year, the island continues saw many many are visiting for the first time through the increase of cruise ship arrivals and stayover visitors from the mainland. It doesn’t surprise us that reports show in St. Croix, cruise traffic has increased by 150 percent! While the cruise ship season has ended here on St. Croix now that we are approaching June, our island arrivals by air are at an all-time high with visitors from all over the mainland coming to our shores for a taste of the island’s captivating energy.

We are so happy to also see the U.S. Virgin Islands has received top honors from several prestigious media companies for 2023. Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine, Yahoo! Life and Frommers all underscored the territory for its ease of travel and new developments. Condé Nast Traveler highlighted the USVI as one of the Best Places to Go in 2023; Travel + Leisure ranked USVI as one of the 50 best destinations to travel to thanks to our beach vibes. We’re thrilled to share St. Croix with new and returning visitors in 2023.

Photo from The Caribbean Journal