The towns of Christiansted and Frederiksted encompass the best of many worlds: small town American life, the Caribbean’s natural beauty and several cultural reminders of the many European flags that once flew over it, particularly Denmark. While life here, like other islands of the Caribbean, revolves around snorkeling, hiking and the great outdoors (and a visit to Buck Island Reef National Monument is a must for those with sea legs), St. Croix’s boutique and culinary scenes are remarkably cosmopolitan.

While the cultural offerings are small in number, they offer a rich immersion into island life beyond the beach as well as corners of U.S. and European history rarely explored. The Christiansted National Historic Site, with Fort Christiansvaern, the Steeple Building and nearby Apothecary Hall, is a great place to start a visit, providing a historical point of reference. The roads between the towns are not paved with gold, but with reminders of the era when sugar was the island’s cash crop. These include such “great houses” (restored homes turned historic landmarks) as the Whim Plantation Museum, Lawaetz Family Museum and Estate Little Princess, as well as lively hiking trails through the rainforest and along the coastline.