VI Settler's Handbook. Mr. Cheyenne Harty

      Nestled in the tranquil, tropical valley of Estate Little LaGrange (on Rt. 76) is Lawaetz Family Museum, a traditional homestead museum. This Danish West Indian house, with its rambling gardens, orchards and authentic furnishings, was the home of the Lawaetz family for more than one hundred years.

      Self-guided tours now introduce visitors to the traditions and values of a farming family living and working on St. Croix now transforming to a 21st century farm. Call 220-0466 for information or [email protected]. St. Croix Landmarks Society’s preservation efforts also extend to the Apothecary Hall exhibit, a nineteenth-century Danish colonial pharmacy museum on Queen Cross Street in Christiansted, and the St. Croix Heritage Trail. The nationally recognized Heritage Trail is a 72-mile driving tour that connects St. Croix’s historic sites, attractions and natural areas.Watch for the brown and white sugar mill symbol road signs and visit http://heritagetrails.stcroixlandmarks.org for more information. Take Midland Road, Route 72 on the maps, to Friedensfeld Moravian Church. This intricate structure was prefabricated in Germany and carried to the islands in the mid-1800s. This is just one of the many historic churches on St. Croix.

      The territory’s oldest plantation home, Sprat Hall dates back to the 17th century French occupation, but as of press time is not currently availabe for tours. The owner’s daughter Jill, still offers the opportunity to tour Frederiksted’s beaches, historial ruins and rain forrest on horseback. For a historical, pleasure filled horseback ride contact Paul and Jill’s Equestrian Stable at 332-0417.

      Cruzan Viril Ltd., located in Estate Diamond, off Queen Mary Highway and left on Route 64, or West Airport Road, is home of the famous Cruzan Rum. The rum factory traces its origin back to 1760, symbolizes longevity in the rum category, and embodies the real “spirit” of a hand-crafted, nurtured product. Produced by three generations of the Nelthropp family, this distillery owes its legacy to hundreds of years of Crucian rum culture. Despite the termination of nearly 200+ sugar cane crushing mills on the island, the distillery has increased production capacity to serve a greater global demand for rum and has adapted its technology to remain current without sacrificing quality. Among the largest rum distilleries in the Caribbean, the Cruzan credo is to produce superior rum, as exemplified by its Estate Collection, which has raised the industry standard. Popular Cruzan products include Cruzan Estate Light and Dark Rums1-year light, two- year dark, and Single Barrel Rum— the world’s only single barrel rum, which has earned the title of “World’s Best Rum” and won double gold at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirit Competition in 2010. The oak-aged Cruzan Rum was also voted best in a blind test conducted by The Washingtonian Magazine.

      While on your tour along the Melvin Evans Highway you will see the huge Captain Morgan Distillery previously mentioned in Chapter 1.

      Be sure to visit the west side of Salt River on the north shore on Rte. 80, just off of Route 75. It is here that Christopher Columbus and his fleet skirmished with Carib Indians on November 14, 1493. The Salt River Park also has the largest remaining mangrove forest left in the territory. The 1,015-acre Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve is jointly managed by the National Park Service and the USVI Government. Within the Salt River Park, ownership is divided such that NPS has 212 acres and the V.I. Government has 653 acres.

      Guided kayak tours can be accessed through Salt River Marina’s office, as can diving the east and west Salt River Canyon Walls with Anchor Dive Shop at Salt River. There are bioluminescence (glow in the dark microorganisms) to be seen at the Salt River and Altona Lagoon. Guided ecological tours of the Salt River Mangrove shore and other breathtaking spots are available. Be sure to call Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism (CHANT).

      Golf buffs will love the world-class Carambola Golf and Tennis Club, located just off Route 69 and east of the Rain Forest. An outstanding course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Senior, Carambola twists around a beautiful valley. The Buccaneer Hotel (18 holes), and the Reef (9 holes), offer challenging courses for their guests and the general public. For a spectacular view of the island, take Route 58 just outside of Frederiksted, the Creque Dam Road, and wind between the mountain tops and through the Rain Forest. Because the roads go up hill and down dale, drive them only in the daylight, and with care, in a 4-wheel drive vehicle. The Mahogany Road, or Route 76, near Frederiksted, is another beautiful, peaceful drive through the lush Rain Forest.

      Staying on the Island...

      Since nothing on St. Croix is more than an hour away, stay at a hotel that best suits your fancy or your pocketbook. For top-notch resort vacations, stay at The Buccaneer Hotel, Carambola Beach Resort, or Divi Carina Bay Resort and Casino. Carambola Beach Resort is located on the north side, west of Cane Bay. Divi is at the far east end on the south shore, and the Buccaneer is east of Christiansted. All have beautiful beaches, pools, gift shops, and a range of restaurants from casual to formal dining. Smaller, but definitely first class beachside hotels, are The Palms, and the Hibiscus Beach Resort, just west of Christiansted, and Chenay Bay Beach Resort (cottages), and Tamarind Reef Hotel, both east of Christiansted. In Frederiksted south of the fish market you will find the Sand Castles Hotel. For condo rentals there are many choices: Sugar Beach Resort Condos, Club St. Croix, Colony Cove, Long Reef -west of Christiansted and east, Coakley Bay, Schooner Bay at Gallows Bay, Carden Beach. On the north shore you will find Gentle Winds, Cane Bay Reef Club and Waves at Cane Bay. For the serious golfer, Carambola Golf and Tennis Club has a number of villas available for vacation rental which overlook their spectacular golf course.

      St. Croix is known for its charming small inns (bed & breakfast hospitality); to name a few: Carringtons Inn, Arawak Inn, and the remodeled Comanche Hotel. If you should choose to stay in Christiansted, you will find yourself near many of the island’s finest restaurants and specialty duty-free shops. Located in town are a number of hotels that reflect the owner’s personalities, Caravelle, The Company House Hotel (once the Danish West India and Guinea warehouse), Holger Danske, Hotel on the Cay (a quick 3-minute boat ride), Kings Alley Hotel, and King Christian, most of which reflect the Danish architects influences. For further information on where to stay call The St. Croix Hotel &Tourism Association or for rentals try the various realtors.

      Dining Out

      Experience a little St. Croix history as you are dining in a plantation greathouse, a restored Danish colonial townhouse, or simply sitting by the water enjoying a beautiful sunset. Watch yachts and sailing craft from your harbor-front table, or beachfront table, or enjoy the panoramic view of the Caribbean from a restaurant tucked into an island hillside. There are a full variety of cuisines from West Indian, French, Danish, Continental, Cajun, Latin and American, to fast food and deli specialties.

      For upscale dining in downtown Christiansted, try Thai food at the Galangal and intimate Savant, winner of the 2011 Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence. For more casual dining in Christiansted, try: Rum Runners at Hotel Caravelle, Angry Nate’s on the boardwalk, Bombay Club, Paradise Cafe, Mexican food at Luncheria, and Maria’s Cantina, French at Christine’s. In Gallows Bay, The Golden Rail and No Bones offer casual and not too pricey dining. Just outside of Christiansted heading east is - opa! The Pickled Greek. The Buccaneer Hotel, with three restaurants, has elegant dining and entertainment. The Galleon at Green Cay Marina has been an island favorite for a long time. A well-known beachfront restaurant at the east end is Duggan’s Reef. The Cultured Pelican, located at Coakley Bay, offers pasta dishes, seafood and continental. Try the homemade pasta and the casual popularity of Cheeseburgers in America’s Paradise, just before Chenay Bay Beach Resort, and not far away at the Tamarind Reef Hotel, The Deep End Bar & Grill, and a little farther Blue Water Terrace. For authentic local fare try Kim’s Restaurant in C’sted, Gertrude’s on the Hess Rd or La Reine Chicken Shack in Kingshill or have a mean steak then shoot some pool at El Sol Bar & Restaurant. For the spice lovers there’s