US Virgin Islands
Introduction
The three principal islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands are St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas. St. Croix is the largest and lies 45 miles south of St. Thomas - capital Charlotte Amalie - in the Caribbean Sea. St. John, 2/3 of which is a national park, is three miles east of St. Thomas.
US VIRGIN ISLANDS (USVI): COUNTRY PROFILE AND MAP
GEOGRAPHY:
St. Croix, the largest (84 sq mls) is the easternmost Atlantic point of the United States and is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. St. Thomas (32 sq mls) and St. John (19 sq mls) are next to each other 35 mls north of St. Croix. They lie between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Highest points above sea level are: Mt. Eagle St. Croix 1,165 ft. St. John Bordeaux Mountain 1,277 ft. St. Thomas Crown Mountain 1,556 ft.
US VIRGIN ISLANDS (USVI): USEFUL INFORMATION
TOURIST OFFICES:
St. Croix has two tourist information offices. One is in Christiansted, the other in Frederiksted. Both are located close to the forts of each city. Their mailing addresses are:
St. CroixTourist Information Office
Frederiksted Custom House Building
Strand St., Frederiksted, St. Croix
United States Virgin Islands 00840
Ph.: 340-772-0357
Postal Address: PO Box 4538, Christiansted, St. Croix
United States Virgin Islands 00822
Ph.: 340-773-0495
US VIRGIN ISLANDS (USVI): MONEY/ BUSINESS GUIDE
BANKS:
* St. Croix: Banco Popular of Puerto Rico. Bank of Nova Scotia. Bank of St. Croix. Chase Manhattan Bank. Virgin Islands Community. First Bank of Puerto Rico. Merrill Lynch. Charles Schwab.
* St. John: Bank of Nova Scotia. Chase Manhattan Bank.
* St. Thomas: Banco Popular of Puerto Rico. Bank of Nova Scotia. Citibank. Chase Manhattan Bank. Virgin Islands Community. First Bank of Puerto Rico. First Virgin Islands Federal Savings Bank. Merrill Lynch.
BANKING HOURS:
* Monday to Thursday 900 AM - 400 PM.
US VIRGIN ISLANDS (USVI): HOW TO GET THERE
AIRLINES:
St. Croix:
* Air Sunshine.
* American Airlines.
* American Eagle.
* Bohlke International Airways.
* Cape Air.
* Coastal Air.
* Continental Connections (Gulfstream).
* Four Star Aviation (Commercial).
* LIAT.
* Seaborne Aviation Inc.
* US Airways. Vieques Airlink.
St. Thomas:
* Air Anguilla.
* Air St.
* Thomas.
* Air Sunshine.
* American Airlines.
* American Eagle.
* Bohlke International Airways.
* Carib Air.
* Clint Area (Helicopter Service).
US VIRGIN ISLANDS (USVI): WHAT TO SEE AND DO
DINING:
Restaurants available: Continental. Chinese. French. Scandinavian. Steak houses. Mexican/Tex-Mex. Mediterranean. Thai. Vegetarian. Italian. Gratuity is 15% is most restaurants.
NIGHTLIFE:
* St. Croix: Jazz, disco, calypso/reggae, Latin and rock 'n roll nightclubs. Karaoke. Cultural entertainment: Steel pan music, limbo dancing, and street mini carnivals "Jump Up" and "Harbor Night".
* St. John: Local bars offer live entertainment and satellite TVs that broadcast sporting events.
Excursions
St Croix: Agriculture was long the staple of the economy, cattle and sugar the main activities, and today there are the ruins of numerous sugar plantations with their Great Houses and windmills.
St Thomas
St Thomas rises out of the sea to a range of hills that runs down its spine. The highest peak, Crown Mountain, is 1,550ft. On St Peter Mountain, 1,500ft, is a viewpoint at Mountain Top.
St John
St John is covered with steep hills and is hot. The roads are steep and rocky and require four-wheel drive to get to many places. A drive from Cruz Bay across to Coral Bay is a worthwhile experience and allows you to appreciate how much land is owned by the park, though there is not much in Coral Bay. Skinny Legs is where the old hippies and liveaboard cruisers hang out.
St Croix
At the east of the island, St Croix is rocky and arid terrain, the west is higher, wetter and forested. Columbus thought that St Croix looked like a lush garden when he first saw it during his second voyage in 1493. He landed at Salt River on the north coast, which has now been approved as a national park encompassing the landing site as well as the rich underwater Salt River drop off and canyon.
Christiansted
TThe old town square and waterfront area of Christiansted, the old Danish capital, still retain the colourful character of the early days. Overhanging second-floor balconies designed by the Danes to shade the streets serve as cool arcades for shoppers. Red-roofed pastel houses built by early settlers climb the hills overlooking Kings Wharf and there is an old outdoor market.
Charlotte Amalie
The harbour at Charlotte Amalie capital of St Thomas and also of the entire USVI, still bustles with colour and excitement, although the harbour area can be a startling contrast for the visitor arriving by sea from the British Virgin Islands. As the Fort Christian Museum puts it, “Oversized, architecturally inappropriate buildings have marred the scenic beauty of the harbour.
Shopping - St Thomas
Charlotte Amalie is packed with duty free shops & shoppers of all description. If you want to shop seriously, then this is the cheapest island of the three and has the largest selection. Nevertheless it is a good idea to have done your research at home and know what you want to buy.
Shopping - St John
Scattered around Cruz Bay and concentrated in Wharfside Village and Mongoose Junction are shops selling souvenirs, arts and crafts and jewellery. Right in the Park is Sparkey’s, selling newspapers, paperbacks, film, cold drinks, gifts. The St John Drug Center Inc, open 7 days a week. For groceries: Starfish Market and Marina Market in Cruz Bay, Joe’s Discount near Shipwreck Landing in Coral Bay.
Shopping - St Croix
St Croix Leap (Life and Environmental Arts Project, PO Box 245, Frederiksted, T7720421), on Route 76, the Paved Rain Forest Rd, is a non-profit woodworking centre, from which the artefacts may be bought direct. They take orders for custom made work and will ship finished work, anything from totem poles to salad servers in a variety of woods.
