The Garden of the Antilles. Explore 20 attractions across the island.
St. Croix is the US Virgin Island that rewards the curious traveler - the one who wants more than a beach chair and a rum punch, though it delivers those beautifully too. Start in Christiansted, the former capital of the Danish West Indies, where a waterfront boardwalk runs past Fort Christiansvaern, a mustard-yellow Danish fortress built in 1749 that still guards the harbor with its cannons and thick stone walls. The fort is part of the Christiansted National Historic Site, and the $7 entrance covers several surrounding buildings including the Danish Customs House and the Scale House where sugar and rum were once weighed for export. Walk the town's narrow streets lined with 18th-century arcaded buildings now housing restaurants, boutiques, and art galleries - Christiansted has one of the best-preserved Danish colonial cores in the Caribbean.
Buck Island Reef National Monument, a half-hour boat ride offshore, is the crown jewel of St. Croix's natural attractions and the only underwater national monument in the United States. The marked snorkeling trail passes through an elkhorn coral barrier reef teeming with blue tang, parrotfish, and hawksbill turtles - half-day catamaran trips run about $65 to $85 per person and include gear and a beach stop on Buck Island's white sand.
On the island's west end, the landscape shifts dramatically. The rainforest canopy around the Scenic Road gives way to rolling mahogany groves, and the Cruzan Rum Distillery offers tours and tastings for $10 that walk you through a working distillery producing rum since 1760. Frederiksted, the west coast town, has a quieter, more Caribbean feel than Christiansted, with Victorian gingerbread architecture and a deep-water pier that is one of the best shore dives in the Caribbean - seahorses, frogfish, and octopus cling to the pier's pylons, and night dives here are legendary.
At the island's eastern tip, Point Udall marks the easternmost point of the United States, with a sundial monument and views of the open Atlantic that are spectacular at sunrise. Salt River Bay National Historical Park preserves the only documented site where Columbus's men encountered armed Carib resistance in 1493, and the bioluminescent bay here glows blue-green on moonless nights during kayak tours.
For hikers, the Jack and Isaac Bay Preserve on the southeast coast protects a pristine stretch of coastline with trails to two secluded beaches where leatherback sea turtles nest from March through July.
The only underwater national monument in the United States, with a marked snorkeling trail through elkhorn coral gardens. Half-day catamaran trips from Christiansted cost $65 to $85 and include gear, a guided snorkel, and a beach stop. Hawksbill turtles are frequently spotted along the trail.
One of the Caribbean's top shore dives, the pier's pylons host seahorses, frogfish, octopus, and juvenile reef fish. Night dives are particularly spectacular, with bioluminescent creatures and hunting tarpon. Dive shops in Frederiksted rent gear and offer guided dives from about $75.
This working distillery has produced rum since 1760, making it one of the oldest in the Caribbean. The $10 tour walks through the fermentation, distillation, and aging process, ending with a tasting of multiple varieties. The gift shop sells distillery-only bottlings unavailable elsewhere.
On moonless nights, microorganisms in Salt River Bay create an electric blue-green glow with every paddle stroke and hand movement. Guided kayak tours run about $55 per person and last two hours. Book during a new moon for the most dramatic effect.
Fort Christiansvaern and its surrounding buildings preserve the heart of Danish colonial St. Croix. The $7 admission covers the fort, Customs House, Scale House, and Steeple Building museum. Allow 90 minutes to explore the full complex and walk the town's arcaded streets.
A 20-minute trail from Point Udall leads to two pristine, undeveloped beaches where leatherback sea turtles nest from March through July. The Nature Conservancy manages the preserve. Bring water and sun protection - there are no facilities or shade structures.
As the easternmost point of the United States, Point Udall is where the first rays of sun touch US soil each morning. A Millennium Monument sundial marks the spot. Arrive 15 minutes before sunrise for the full experience - the drive from Christiansted takes about 25 minutes.
A self-guided walking tour through Frederiksted's Victorian gingerbread district, passing the 1878 Fort Frederik where the emancipation of enslaved people in the Danish West Indies was proclaimed in 1848. The fort museum is free, and the surrounding streets showcase colorful restored buildings.
Cruzan Rum Distillery is a nature attraction on St. Croix. This natural area showcases the lush tropical landscapes and diverse ecosystems that St. Croix is known for. Visitors can explore the local flora and fauna in a serene setting.
Christiansted Boardwalk is a nature attraction on St. Croix. This natural area showcases the lush tropical landscapes and diverse ecosystems that St. Croix is known for. Visitors can explore the local flora and fauna in a serene setting.
St George Village Botanical Gardens is a nature attraction on St. Croix. This natural area showcases the lush tropical landscapes and diverse ecosystems that St. Croix is known for. Visitors can explore the local flora and fauna in a serene setting.
Annaly Bay / Carambola Tide Pools Trailhead is a nature attraction on St. Croix. This natural area showcases the lush tropical landscapes and diverse ecosystems that St. Croix is known for. Visitors can explore the local flora and fauna in a serene setting.
Vibrant European fort from the mid-18th century, featuring an art gallery, museum & waterfront park.
Serene park on the bay featuring a historic fort & a marked, self-guided walking tour.
Caribbean Sea Adventures is a nature attraction on St. Croix. This natural area showcases the lush tropical landscapes and diverse ecosystems that St. Croix is known for. Visitors can explore the local flora and fauna in a serene setting.
Cruzan Cowgirls is a nature attraction on St. Croix. This natural area showcases the lush tropical landscapes and diverse ecosystems that St. Croix is known for. Visitors can explore the local flora and fauna in a serene setting.
Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve is a nature attraction on St. Croix. This natural area showcases the lush tropical landscapes and diverse ecosystems that St. Croix is known for. Visitors can explore the local flora and fauna in a serene setting.
Gecko's Island Adventures is a nature attraction on St. Croix. This natural area showcases the lush tropical landscapes and diverse ecosystems that St. Croix is known for. Visitors can explore the local flora and fauna in a serene setting.
Carambola Zip Line is a nature attraction on St. Croix. This natural area showcases the lush tropical landscapes and diverse ecosystems that St. Croix is known for. Visitors can explore the local flora and fauna in a serene setting.
Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge is a nature attraction on St. Croix. This natural area showcases the lush tropical landscapes and diverse ecosystems that St. Croix is known for. Visitors can explore the local flora and fauna in a serene setting.
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