RESTAURANTS

Christiansted:

Top picks would be Rumrunners, Kendrick’s, Bacchus, Giovanni’s, Tutto Bene, Tivoli Garden. The choices are many depending on the group, the desired ambience and your pocketbook. All have menus and prices posted. Stay to the main tourist areas bordered by Company Street and the Boardwalk, and by the Waterfront Park (fort) and King Cross Street.

Kendricks Restaurant:  This is our top pick!  Located in downtown Christiansted,  French cusine, courtyard seating as well as a sophisticated dining room with cozy love seats, and candlelight. The menu is equally sophisticated, with entrees such as herb-crusted rack of lamb and shrimp saltimbocca and do not miss the signature dessert, sponge cake with sautéed bananas and spiced rum butter.  For reservations call 340-773-9199

Bacchus Restaurant:  Located in the heart of historic downtown Christiansted. Click on link to see menu. For reservations call 340-692-9922

Tutto Bene:  Located in downtown Christiansted. Italian curisine. click link to view menu. For making Reservations call 340-773-5229

Rumrunners:  Located in Christiansted at the Hotel Caravelle. Steak, seafood, prime rib, salads, pasta. Great place for drinks and appetizers on the deck.  For reservations 340-773-6585

Tivoli Gardens:  Located in Christiansted on Strand Strand Street.  Menu has  salads, sandwiches, lobster, steak and fresh fish.  Guitar music nightly.  For reservations call:  340-773-6782

East End: 

Duggan’s Reef:   Located at Teague's Bay. Very popular upscale spot for dinner with casual atmosphere. Located directly on the beach, Duggan’s tends to have mosquitoes right at dusk, clearing later. Click on link to view menu. For reservations call: 340-773-9800 

North Shore:

There are a number of popular restaurants along Cane Bay as well as the restaurant at Carambola. The latter is a bit of a drive at night along sparsely developed winding roads.  

Elizabeth's at H20:  This is one of our favorites as they are realy close only 5 minutes from Judith Fancy has a wonderful menu and the food is awesome and best yet oceanfront dining. Located at the Hibiscus Resort. For reservations call: 340-719-0735

Galleon Restaurant: Located at the Green Cay Marina on the waterfront. Good reports on food and entertainment. Tends to be expensive. For reservations call: 340-773-9949

Buccaneer: The Terrace restaurant at the hotel is a beautiful place to dine outdoors and see the lights of Christiansted. The Little Mermaid sometimes opens for dinner this season with a more casual menu.

Cheeseburgers In Paradise: Located on the East End in Estate Southgate near Green Cay Marina;  Casual, family style and reasonable with entertainment. There is a large play area where the kids mingle and make new friends.

Frederiksted:   A long drive from Judith’s Fancy or East End at night. Some favorites are Sandcastles, Coyote Café and St. Tropez. Would not recommend wandering these streets at night, but I’m a chicken. One Friday per month, they have a sunset jazz concert on the waterfront. If you wish to go to F’sted in the evening, this is a good time as there’s more activity and restaurants are busy. No coolers allowed at the concert but food and drink can be purchased from local vendors.

Attire: Decent shorts, polo shirts, t-shirts and flip-flops will do just about anytime anywhere. In better restaurants at night, ladies might wish to opt for a cool summer shift and guys perhaps for lightweight long pants (only maybe) and boat shoes. Some restaurants, such as the Terrace at the Buccaneer, require men to have collars (Polo shirt OK). If in doubt, simply inquire when making a reservation what is customary. Jackets and ties or socks are not necessary anywhere.

BEACHES

(Those marked with asterisk tend to be more family-oriented with easier access.)

East End:

Duggan’s Beach*: At Duggan’s Reef restaurant. Decent place for lunch (during high season) and a couple hours at beach. The beach near the restaurant is kept well raked. Shade available.

North Grapetree*: After bearing right toward Divi and South Shore rather than going straight toward Point Udall, take left at bottom hill. You will see a small (about 8 ft. tall) replica of a sugar mill at the entrance to this otherwise unmarked road. Pass among hurricane-damaged hotel buildings (purchased Fall 2005 for rebuilding) and take a right at the “T”. There will be a grassy parking area on your right. Cross the road and take the path toward the beach. This is a very nice and sandy beach. No facilities, some shade. Leave NOTHING in the car, including the trunk or glove box, at this or any other beach.

Jack and Isaac Bay: Follow directions above. Instead of taking right at the “T”, go left. Follow road all the way to the end through a residential development. Ignore the “private property” sign on the green gateposts. Just prior to white gates at last property, park your vehicle along side of road. Path is just prior to the white gates. Climb up the slope leaving the residential property to your right. (Do not walk through the gates and across this person’s driveway.) Just beyond this last house is a stairway leading down to the Nature Conservancy property and a wide path that hugs both beaches. Jack Bay is the first beach. Good snorkeling and calm water. Isaac Bay is all the way over the next hill and down again. Total distance is about 2 miles and is a somewhat long, hot walk for children, elderly or “out of shape.” Bring plenty of drinking water. Isaac Bay beach has beautiful clear water and excellent snorkeling. It is St. Croix’s “unofficial” clothing optional beach. No facilities, some shade. Nature Conservancy signs mark all paths.

Shoy’s Beach*: At Buccaneer Hotel gatehouse, take the smaller right hand gate by the golf course into the residential community. Tell the gate keeper that you are going to the beach. Follow road all the way to the end where it curves left. Parking for the beach is on the right. Cross over and follow path to beach. This is a long, wide sandy beach with clear water. Best snorkeling is at the point at beginning of beach with “apex” house. No facilities, some shade. While in the subdivision, drive around the roads and snoop a bit. The homes are impressive.

Buccaneer Beach**: Take left hand gate into the hotel property. Tell gatekeeper you are going to the “Little Mermaid” for lunch. Follow road straight in, up over crest of hill and then down and to the right for the Mermaid parking. Very nice, casual, open-air restaurant right on the beach. Good food, good drinks. Simply proceed onto beach and it is highly unlikely that it will be questioned. If so, you may be charged a small fee for use of chairs. If not dining, go around left hand side of restaurant building onto the beach. If you say at the guard station that you are going to the beach, you will be charged there. If you say you’re going to lunch, you will not be charged. If the car is obviously filled with kids, sandpails and people in swimsuits, you will most likely be charged.

Divi Carina Bay Beach**: Ample parking and beach facilities. Nice beach with poolside/beachside restaurant. Pool is for hotel guests only. The service here is known to be slow.

Chenay Bay Resort**: On East End Road, across from Cheeseburgers in Paradise. Popular spot for families.

Tamarind Reef Resort*: Adjacent to Green Key Marina east of Christiansted. Deep End Bar has beachside lunch. Snorkeling is said to be good here.

West End:

Beaches to the north of Frederiksted are best. Drive out of town with the sea on your left. There are several beach restaurants that have reasonable lunch menus and beach facilities. They include Rainbow Beach Club and Sunset Grille*.

Sandcastles on the Beach: South of Frederiksted, Small boutique hotel with beach. Beachside restaurant/bar is very popular with good mix of entertainment in the evening. Jazz every Saturday night. Make reservations.

Sandy Point: Said to be the nicest beach on St. Croix. Open only on weekends. Recommended only for groups due to its remoteness.

North Shore: Carambola Beach Hotel*. Very nice hotel and beach. Access to water is somewhat limited to far end due to coral and rocks directly in front of restaurant area. Worth exploring, nevertheless.

Cane Bay Beach: Famous beach known for its swim-out “wall” diving. Beach is directly on the North Shore road which makes it somewhat unappealing to some but other guests consider it to be their favorite. It is also a narrow beach with coral ledges along the water’s edge. You can check it out as you drive along the north shore. There are a number of small “islandy” beachside restaurants along this section of the north shore for a burger or local fish.

Christiansted:

Hotel on the Cay Beach** is good for snorkeling with calm waters for kids and beachside restaurant with strong drinks for adults. Take launch from Christiansted wharf near fort for a $3 charge per person. There is a separate charge for beach chairs.

West of Christiansted:

There are a number of beaches at the various condominium and small hotel complexes along this stretch. They include Club St. Croix (Breezez Restaurant)*, Sugar Beach and Mill Harbor.

Closer to Judith’s Fancy are Hibiscus Beach and the Cormorant Hotel. The latter still has vestiges of its previously all-gay clientele but is under new ownership and is welcoming of all. These beaches are both pretty and next to one another but have been known very rarely to have “rip” currents when seas are stormy. I would not stay away for this reason, but I feel it should be mentioned. The water is very pretty here and the snorkeling is good.

South Shore:

There are a number of long sandy beaches mid-island along the south shore. They are isolated, accessed by long dirt roads and I would not be inclined to go there other than in a group.

Buck Island

Take a sailing tour to Buck Island; you'll understand why the island and its reef have been made a National Park. There are concessionaires that offer full and half day trips to Buck Island, so getting there is not a problem. Usually the problem lies in getting you to leave. Turtle Beach on Buck's west end has been voted one of the world's most beautiful beaches by National Geographic. The underwater trail is a snorkelers' dream come true. If you're not a snorkeler, don't worry! Your professional guides can make assured snorkelers of even the most timid swimmers. Take a guided snorkeling tour of the underwater trail and surround yourself with coral, angel fish, and crustaceans. Since the trail is protected by the national park system, capacity is limited - so do not delay in reserving your space on one of several boats that sail to Buck Island daily.

Below are guides and saling adventures:

Big Beard's Adventure Tours 340-773-4482 www.BigBeards.com

Caribbean Sea Adventures 340-773-2628 www.CaribbeanSeaAdventures.com