St. Croix is
large and its sights are rather spread out,
so if you are not taking an organized tour
or shore excursion, it pays to rent a car
or taxi for at least part of your stay. Bicycles
are not a great idea, because the island is
hilly and the roads have no shoulders. Four-wheel-drive
vehicles are better for visiting the out-of-the-way
scenic regions, since many are reached only
by dirt roads. A word of caution: not all
roads are clearly marked, particularly at
the intersections. Though the American system
of numbered route signs is used, the signs
appear with less frequency than drivers are
used to in the U.S. And there are fewer signs
showing the names of the places you've either
reached or are heading toward than you would
expect.
The island's most prominent
landmarks are the sugar-mill ruins, reminding
visitors of the time when sugar cane was
"king" and the island was divided
into hundreds of plantations. Homes, resort
swimming pools and hotels have been built
around many of these ruins, which are valued
symbols of St. Croix's rich history. Other
reminders of the island's past are the fanciful
names used to identify St. Croix locations.
Jealousy, Wheel of Fortune and Lower Love
are all plantation names dating from the
1760s, when land was divided into low-priced
150-acre tracts used by the Danes to attract
settlers.
St. Croix has been ruled
by seven
nations, all of which left their marks
on the island. Though it is currently an
American territory seemingly reminiscent
of the United States with its shopping centers
and fast-food restaurants, St. Croix has
preserved its West Indian cultural heritage,
attitudes and identity. Families who have
resided here for 10 generations are still
influential, their roots stretching back
to the colonial era. It is worth your while
to make an effort to meet some Crucians
because their stories and family histories
will immeasurably enrich your stay on the
island.
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