Wednesday, July 27, 2011

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

ST. CROIX
Dives
Butler Bay – wrecks include Rosa Marie and several intentionally sunk; see also North Wind and Suffolk Maid.
Cane Bay.
Salt River Canyon – see both east and west walls; this is where Christopher Columbus landed; more coral on gentler east slope.
Hotels
Renaissance St. Croix Carambola Beach Resort – Kings Hill; 340-778-3800 or 866-576-5550; carambolabeach.com.
Restaurants
Montpellier Domino Club – Route 76 (Mahogany Road); 340-713-9052; great hamburgers and roti; also, great local cuisine on Saturdays (try “Chef’s Special”); also, check out “beer-drinking pigs.”
Services
Bluewater Adventures – 1104 Strand Street, #14; 340-773-5994 or 877-567-1367; book 1 of world’s best known night dives; will see eel, octopus, scorpionfish, spotted eagle ray, stingray, tarpon,
Gecko’s Island Adventures – 3C Strand Street (Frederiksted); 340-713-8820; geckosislandadventures.com; for free-wheeling, locals-eye view of island; will take you on miles of trails with beautiful views.
Shopping
Island Boy Designs – Company Street (Christiansted, at Queen Cross); 340-773-4322 islandboydesigns.com; hand-made jewelry.
Sights & Sites
Buck Island – great diving; unspoiled natural habitat.

ST. JOHN
Bars & Nightclubs
Fatty Crab – 18-11A Enighed (Cruz Bay); 340-775-9951; fattycrab.com; try "Love City" (gin or vodka, cucumber, basil, cardamon, and lemon).
Quiet Mon Pub – Cruz Bay; 340-779-4799; quietmon.com; Irish pub and cyber cafe.
Woody’s Seafood Saloon – Cruz Bay (50' from ferry dock); 340-779-4625; woodysseafood.com.
Beaches
Cinnamon Bay – among island’s best beaches.
Coral Bay – opposite end from Cruz Bay; deep and well-sheltered harbor; not much beach but extensive mangrove exploring.
Cruz Bay – major beach destination.
Trunk Bay – near Cruz Bay; among island’s best beaches.
Dives
Carval Rock.
Cow and Calf – swim-throughs, mini canyons, and ledges.
Eagle Shoal.
Hurricane Hole.
Hotels
Caneel Bay – Route 20; 340-776-6111 or 888-767-3966; rosewoodhotels.com.
Restaurants
Fatty Crab – 18-11A Enighed (Cruz Bay); 340-775-9951; fattycrab.com; try "Love City" (gin or vodka, cucumber, basil, cardamon, and lemon).
Island Blues – 10 Carolina (Coral Harbor, on waterfront); 340-776-6800; island-blues.com; live music at night during high season.
Morgan’s Mango – across from National Park dock (Cruz Bay); 340-693-8141; morgansmango.com; popular and busy.
Shipwreck Landing – Route 107 (Coral Bay); 340-693-5640; shipwrecklandingstjohn.com; conch fritters and grilled mahi mahi.
Skinny Legs – Route 107 (Coral Bay); 340-779-4982; skinnylegs.com; hamburgers.
Sticky Fingers BBQ – Coral Harbor; adequate.
Vie’s Snack Shack – East End Road (Hansen Bay, at Route 10); 340-693-5033; good beach meals.
Woody’s Seafood Saloon – Cruz Bay; 340-779-4625; popular with locals.
Services
Cool Breeze Jeep/Car Rental – Cruz Bay; 340-776-6588; coolbreezecarrental.com.
L&L Jeep Rental – Cruz Bay; 340-776-1120; bookajeep.com.
Shopping
Tutu Much – Bordeaux Overlook (Route 10, Centerline Road, Bordeaux); 340-779-4709; accessories and jewelry.
Sights & Sites
Congo Cay – nature reserve with diving and snorkeling.
Flanagan Island – nature reserve with diving and snorkeling.
Virgin Islands National Park – 1300 Cruz Bay Creek; 340-776-6201; nps.gov/VIIS; takes up 2/3s of St. John; 7K acres; make sure to see the Annenberg Sugar Mill ruins.

ST. THOMAS
Bars & Nightclubs
Epernay – 24A Honduras (Frenchtown); 340-774-5348; stylish.
Greenhouse – Veterans Drive (Charlotte Amalie) 340-774-7998 or -6604; thegreenhouserestaurant.com; right on waterfront, with lovely views.
Havana Blue – 5 Estate Bakkeroe (Charlotte Amalie, on Morning Star Beach); 340-776-8500; havanabluerestaurant.com.
Dives
Coral Bowl.
Cow and Calf – swim-throughs, mini canyons, and ledges.
East Wind – Chrysler Reef; wreck in shallow waters; surrounding area rich in marine life.
French Cap – pinnacle on small rock island south of St. Thomas; abundant marine life.
Grain Wreck.
Magens Bay.
Miss Opportunity – slightly spooky, sunken Navy hospital ship; somewhat deep at 85-95'.
Naval Barges.
WIT Shoal II.
Hotels
Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort – 5 Estate Bakkeroe; 340-776-8500; www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sttfr-frenchmans-reef-and-morning-star-marriott-beach-resort.
Restaurants
Epernay – 24A Honduras (Frenchtown); 340-774-5348; stylish.
Greenhouse – Veterans Drive (Charlotte Amalie) 340-774-7998 or -6604; thegreenhouserestaurant.com; right on waterfront, with lovely views.
Havana Blue – 5 Estate Bakkeroe (Charlotte Amalie, on Morning Star Beach); 340-776-8500; havanabluerestaurant.com; Latin fusion cuisine.
Pie Hole – 24A Honduras (Frenchtown); 340-642-5074; piewholepizza.com.
Sights & Sites
Coral World Ocean Park – 6450 Estate Smith Bay; 340-775-1555 or 888-695-2073; coralworldvi.com.
Flat Cay – reef outcropping with shallow diving over corals and wrecked yacht.

No comments:

Post a Comment