USVI Pelican Island The US Virgin Islands are part of the Antilles chain which separates the Caribbean and Atlantic. St. Croix, the largest of the three Virgins, is 28 miles long and 7 miles wide. St Croix has massive stone forts, Danish and Victorian buildings, historic plantations and Buck Island Reef National Monument. This is an 880-acre nature reserve with an underwater snorkelers' trail and an incredible diversity of marine life. Buck Island is the Caribbean's ONLY underwater U.S. National Monument. It is a must see for everyone who comes to St. Croix. Today, visitors to St. Croix can enjoy a number of indoor and outdoor activities, from fine dining, shopping, and a casino, to golf, scuba diving, and horsback riding. Buck Island off of St. Croix is world famous for the beauty of its coral reefs and crystal-clear water. St. Croix has two resorts with 18-hole championship golf courses, and one resort with a casino. When it comes to shopping, Christiansted's King's Alley on St. Croix offers handmade goods and designer fashions. Cramer Park is a very nice place to relax the day away during the weekdays. The Park has a beautiful beach and picnic area. On weekends the park is transformed into a outdoor bar atmosphere with DJ's and music. The nightlife on St. Croix offers many different moods and a variety of music. You'll find beach bars, boardwalk bistros and balcony cafes. You'll hear reggae, rock, and jazz. If you're really raring to go, you can dress up and go dance the night away. Many of our hotels and resorts have music, bars, and game rooms. Salt River is where Columbus first arrived in the Virgin Islands in November 1493 on his second voyage to the New World, with 17 ships and 1500 men. He called this island Santa Cruz. St. Croix visitors can take advantage of historic inns in the towns of Christiansted and Frederiksted. Once the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Christiansted is the perfect place to begin your visit to St. Croix. Fort Christiansvaern, built by the Danish as protection from pirates and other plunderers, stands over Christiansted Harbor. On the west end of the island, Fort Frederik still stands over the Victorian homes and nineteenth-century churches of the town of Frederiksted. St Croix is a real international melange of tastes and styles. Count on fresh-caught seafood such as lobster and conch to make their appearance on the menu. No matter the cuisine whether it is French, American or International, St Croix Chefs always manage to add their local twist to every dish. USVI Sailing and Kayaking The U.S. Virgin Islands have daily, non-stop flights from New York, Newark, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Miami. Connecting flights are availabe to and from Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, Miami, and Atlanta via the San Juan hub. In addition, there's connecting service from Canada, Europe, South America, and the Far East. Commuter service between San Juan and St. Croix and St. Thomas is also available. Taxis are available everywhere, anytime, on all three islands. Rates are based on destination instead of mileage. Car and four-wheel drive rentals are a popular way to see the sights of each island. Most major rental companies and several local rental companies rent automobiles on the islands. If you do rent a vehicle, please remember to drive on the left! The U.S. Virgin Islands also offers convenient bus service. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/St_Croix/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Sat, 6 Sep 2008 20:00:17 EST http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/St_Croix/ Sat, 6 Sep 2008 20:00:17 EST The Virgin Islands, just 18° north of the equator, has a true tropical climate. The peak period for visiting is January through April. However, some of the best snorkeling is in early summer, when the whens are calm and the water flat. Summer daytime temperatures range from the high 80s to low 90s, and winter temperatures range from the high 70s to low 80s. Winter is about 5 F/3 C cooler than the rest of the year, and it's a good idea to take a sweater for the evenings any time you visit: Trade winds blow continuously. Expect rain all year long, with October and November being the wettest months, and February and March being the driest. Hurricane season centers around August and September. June-November is officially the hurricane season, though it's usually still a fine time to go (if you're worried that a hurricane might come through, get trip-cancellation insurance that covers inclement weather). http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/weather/St_Croix/ Sat, 6 Sep 2008 20:00:17 EST http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/car_rentals/St_Croix/ Sat, 6 Sep 2008 20:00:17 EST Restaurants and Dining: http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/restaurants/St_Croix/ Sat, 6 Sep 2008 20:00:17 EST