Fort Christianvaern

National Park Week is April 20-28 — “a time to explore amazing places, discover stories of history and culture, help out, and find your park!” To kick-off the celebration, entrance fees are waived on Saturday, April 20, at all parks that usually charge an entrance fee, including Christiansted National Historic Site. It’s the Perfect Day to explore Fort Christiansvaern and the other historic Danish landmarks nearby.

Fort Christiansvaern brochures are available for a self-guided tour that will take you back in time to the mid-1700’s. The Steeple Building and Scale House are also included in the site. You might budget an hour or more to explore. The National Park Service web site can help you plan your visit.

If you’re not able to visit Christiansted National Historic Site on April 20, the normal entrance fee is $7 for people who are 16 and over, and children under 16 are admitted for free with an adult. It’s well worth the admission fee!

Leatherback sea turtle nesting season has begun here in the Caribbean. From March to August, the endangered species makes their way onto our beaches to lay their eggs. Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge is a protected beach that sees quite a bit of turtle activity. The Refuge is closed to the public from April 1 to August 31 to keep the turtles safe and give them the best possible chance to thrive; however, there are a few opportunities to observe these incredible creatures. For a very special Perfect Day on St. Croix, we recommend that you Sign up for Turtle Watch at Sandy Point Now.

St. Croix Environmental Association is offering two Turtle Watch dates this year: Tuesday, April 30 or Thursday, May 23. Turtle Watch nights are for SEA members only and you can learn more by contacting SEA at info.atsea@gmail.com or 340-773-1989.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) offers the Turtle Watch Program to community groups and youth groups. The program runs from Tuesday through Saturday, April 15 to July 31. If you would like to schedule a group for a Turtle Watch with USFWS, call 340-690-9452.

To keep on theme, we suggest having dinner at Leatherback Brewing Co. before making your way to Sandy Point. While there, pick up a growler or 6-pack to enjoy after your Turtle Watch experience.

St. Croix Environmental Association will be kicking off turtle season at Southgate Coastal Reserve with a beach clean-up on April 23. If you’re reading this in time, consider joining them to prepare the beach for turtle nesting season.

Things you can do to respect sea turtles on St. Croix

• Do not insert umbrella posts deep into the sand just in case there are sea turtle eggs below the surface.
• Keep a close eye on your dogs on the beach to be sure that they don’t dig up a sea turtle nest.
• Don’t leave any trash behind on the beach.
• Contact Sea Turtle Census Initiative if you come upon a Leatherback adult or hatchling.
• If you do encounter a nesting sea turtle, do NOT shine a light on or near the turtle. Let it be and do not touch it!
• If you live near a nesting beach, remove any sources of artificial light that faces the beach.

Some people can’t wait for the holidays to be over so they can have a break from parties and celebration, but not on St. Croix! Our St. Croix Christmas Festival, also known as Carnival, started on December 26 and culminates with the Children’s and Adult Parades and closing night at the Village with fireworks.

The parades are an opportunity to see many cultural island traditions. Troupes dress in colorful, feathery handcrafted costumes and dance through the streets. Majorettes twirl batons and march along the parade route to the sounds of festive music. The St. Croix Festival Queen and her court are escorted in convertibles while adorned in bejeweled crowns and elegant dresses. Steel pan bands on double-decker trucks fill Frederiksted with island favorites. Mocko jumbies are decked out in their finest cultural attire.

Expect to make a day of the Adult Parade. The start time is 10am, but we are on island time (some groups place friendly wagers on when the actual start time will be). Of course, you’ll also want to get there a little early to scope out the perfect spot along the route. Take into consideration where the sun will be a various points during the day and be sure to bring sun protection (hat, sunscreen, etc.).

For a Perfect Day on St. Croix, visit the Carnival Village for local treats and stick around for the fireworks at 8pm.

Check out the Virgin Islands Carnival Schedules for dates and times, and the Crucian Christmas Festival Facebook page for photos of past festivals and updates.

Photo courtesy of Parasail Virgin Islands

There’s no question, St. Croix is a beautiful place filled with many perfect days. Imagine if you could see it from a completely different perspective — from 350 feet up in the air. Parasail Virgin Islands is back on St. Croix on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through February. If you’re a thrill-seeker, parasailing should definitely be part of your Perfect Day on St. Croix.

Parasail Virgin Islands has a unique winch boat that allows you to take off and land directly on the boat. A 600 foot tow line will put you about 350 feet in the air. By request, you can do a touch ‘n go where they slow down and touch your toes in the water.

The whole parasailing trip lasts about an hour, with you flight being 8-10 minutes, so you’ll have plenty of time for more adventures during your Perfect Day.

For another unique perspective of the island, hop on the ferry over to Hotel on the Cay. The view looking across the water at Christiansted and Fort Christiansvaern will give you a new appreciation for the quaint town.

Hotel on the Cay has a beach barbecue every day from 11am-4:30pm and The Beach Bar is a great place to hang out. Sometimes they have live music and they do trivia on Wednesday evenings. There is also a watersports shack where you can rent snorkel gear, kayaks and other gear, or sign up for a tour. The ferry to/from Hotel on the Cay is $5.

Even if you’re not on a cruise, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy all of the energy of cruise ship day. Vendors line Strand Street in Frederiksted, making it a great time to find gifts from local artisans. You’ll also find several shops and eateries throughout town.

We recommend getting a coffee from Polly’s at the Pier and finding a park bench near the clock tower for some people watching. You may even see a mocko jumbie or two! Often times there will be live music from the gazebo, setting the tone for tourists as they step foot on St. Croix.

As you meander through the street vendors, you’ll find handmade arts and crafts, jewelry, food items, clothing, ceramics and more, as well as souvenirs like t-shirts and hats.

The Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts is also located on Strand Street and has undergone renovations. In addition to the downstairs gallery, explore the upstairs galleries showcasing regional artists. The gift shop has a variety of handmade items for sale. There is even a nice courtyard in the back where you can enjoy a cold drink and free WIFI.

Dive shops and boutiques offer a relaxed shopping environment, while restaurants and bars feed off the energy that the cruise ships brings to town. Be sure to all the way down Strand Street to check out The Fred, St. Croix’s newest boutique hotel, as well as the nearby restaurants. You might even decide to rent snorkel gear from a dive shop and take in some underwater scenery in Frederiksted.

It’s also a great opportunity to tour Fort Frederik, which is a U.S. National Historic Landmark, and pay homage to the Emancipation Monument.

Check out the 2018-19 Cruise Ship Schedule for the Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility at the Frederiksted Pier.