The St. George Village
Botanical Garden is a lush garden, housing
more than 1,000 species of tropical flora,
and is set among the ruins of an 18th-century
sugar plantation. A self-guided walking
tour takes you through a tropical forest,
the cactus garden, the orchid house, a tropical
orchard, as well as a garden showcasing
St. Croix’s long used medicinal plants;
of particular interest are the giant kapok
trees and some of the rare cacti. This incredible
garden is considered to be one of the best
in the Caribbean.
Tours of the Estate Whim
Plantation Museum, explain the workings
of an 18th-century sugarcane plantation.
Here you will find the village area and
sugar factory, where a complete windmill
still stands. Surrounded by a dry three-foot
moat of stone and coral, the stately European-influenced
great house has been fully restored by the
Landmarks Society and has West Indian antiques
on display. The Estate Whim Plantation Museum
is open Monday through Saturday from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. (summer schedule varies).
The Lawaetz Family Museum,
nestled in a tranquil, wooded valley at
Little La Grange, Frederiksted awaits you
with rambling tropical gardens and fascinating
historic ruins. It's an ideal setting for
experiencing St. Croix’s rich heritage.
Tours are available Tues-Sat 10 a.m. to
4 p.m. (summer schedule varies).
This distillery has been
producing one of the world’s finest
rums for 300 years, with only a brief interruption
during Prohibition. A major export, the
rum is both shipped in bulk to U.S. distilleries
and bottled locally under the Cruzan Rum
label. Guided tours depart every morning
and afternoon, Monday through Friday, and
include a complimentary rum drink.
By far one of St. Croix’s
most exciting attractions, Buck Island Reef
National Monument comprises 880 acres—176
of pristine land and 704 of crystal-clear
water and coral reef. An irregular arc of
reef creates a wide and shallow lagoon between
the shore and the reef. Within this area,
off the island’s far eastern end,
is the park’s well-marked underwater
trail. Numerous tour operators around St.
Croix offer trips of varying length to Buck
Island, located one mile off St. Croix’s
northeastern shore.
St. Croix Aquarium and
Marine Education Center, in the Caravelle
Arcade, houses hundreds of creatures from
local waters with the intention to familiarize
beginning snorkelers and divers with the
underwater world and to educate them on
the effects of damaging or threatening the
ecosystem in any way. There’s also
a touch pond with starfish, sea cucumbers,
pencil urchins, several varieties of fish,
colorful coral and much more.
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