As travelers from the States, Zane and I were craving some excitement for our summer. We never thought that we would end up in St. Croix, but here we are! And, boy, are we amazed at the amount of culture and adventure we’ve heard of and experienced in the 24 hours we’ve been here.
As an eager planner, Zane started researching for this trip months in advance. We were ecstatic to be traveling to St. Croix and dive into island life. Because of his detailed research, we got to the island thinking we had a plan. However, as life goes, our plans changed as soon as we stepped off the plane (literally… we stepped right onto the tarmac!).
Our journey began with a taxi ride from the airport. With our heads practically out the window, we couldn’t stop commenting on all the natural beauty St. Croix had. Our first stop on the island was our hotel, and after about an hour or so of unpacking, we were itching for some snacks. Luckily, the hotel staff helped us by pointing out some nearby stores to fill our cravings. 10 minutes later, with snacks in hand, we found ourselves in the heart of Downtown Frederiksted. Instead of heading straight back to the hotel, we decided to look around and admire Frederiksted’s beauty.
We learned very quickly that Frederiksted is special because of its unique culture and people. If you walk through the stores, you can meet islanders with compelling life stories and suggestions for places to venture. We were delighted when one friendly shop owner invited us into their store to relax and get a horoscope reading. We couldn’t stay because it was time for some dinner, but we will have to go back and experience that another day.
Our first dinner on the island was absolutely incredible. I can’t think of a better way to start a trip: enjoying the sunset, sitting by the beach, and sharing the experience with someone you love. And we can’t forget how good the food was. Zane was so happy to see that seared tuna was on the menu. I had the best salad of my life. All the food was gorgeous and refreshing. You could taste the different island flavors.
One of the biggest surprises about the island was how many people we met in such a short time. Everyone we’ve talked to is informative and friendly. Meeting people is helping us get the true essence of St. Croix. You can’t always search the internet for the experience and knowledge that local islanders have. For instance, our Monday Night Bar Trivia would have never happened without the help of a local friend.
When we walked into the bar, we immediately felt the positive energy from the trivia-goers. We loved watching everyone shout cheers of joy when they got questions right. It was a bonus when a team won the “name the album” round of trivia and the bar handed out free shots. Zane and I are going to make trivia at that bar a regular during our time here.
We never expected our first day on St. Croix to be as eventful as it was. We were instantly charmed by the town’s personality and endless possibilities for exploration. There are so many hidden gems on this island just waiting to be found. We cannot wait to learn more about St. Croix and its rich history and culture.
I love this.