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St. Croix's rich culture and history,
along with its beautiful beaches and world-class recreational activities, create
an experience unlike any other in the Caribbean. Since the day Christopher
Columbus first arrived at Salt River on St. Croix more than 500 years ago, sugar
and rum have shaped the island's life and land. Fifty-four sugar mills, each
with imposing windmill towers and factory chimneys, still rest in the shadows of
stately eighteenth-century and nineteenth-century homes. Located on the west end
of the island, Estate Whim Plantation is just one example of these "greathouses."
With acres of rolling green hills, St.Croix's plantation estates also bore crops
of okra, cabbage, corn, and other vegetables still prominent in Caribbean
cuisine. As the sugar industry declined after the 1960s, tourism became the most
important industry on the island.
Christiansted and Frederiksted,
the two main towns of St. Croix, flourished as commercial ports during the
eighteenth century and nineteenth century. Distinct architecture reflects the
seven flags--Spanish, Dutch, British, French, Knights of Malta, Danish, and
American -- that have flown over the island. Today, visitors to St. Croix can
enjoy a number of indoor and outdoor activities, from fine dining, shopping, and
a casino, to golf, scuba diving, and horsback riding. Discover more...
USVI Tourism.
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