St. Croix's Beautiful Beaches

Located near major hotels and the largest towns, St. Croix's beaches are as convenient as they are alluring.

By Lynda Lohr

Steve Simonsen

With a few exceptions, St. Croix's most spectacular scimitars of sand are right at your footsteps if you're a hotel or condominium guest. Otherwise, plan to spend your vacation trying out this beach or that, with a break for lunch at a nearby restaurant.

Cane Bay Stretching along the North Shore, Cane Bay is the place to go if you want to dive or snorkel St. Croix's famous wall right from the beach. A lovely coral garden sits just 100 feet offshore in only 25 feet of water. A dive shop just across the road rents equipment and runs trips. If you'd like to paddle around Cane Bay in a kayak, stop by the water-sports rental shop. Of course, you can lounge around on your beach towel if you'd rather. When the sun and the activity pale, head for one of the two very casual restaurants that sit on the sand. Park along the road. Route 80 (North Shore Road)

Chenay Bay The shallow water is perfect for kids, and the long stretch of powdery beach gives youngsters room to roam. Snorkelers enjoy floating over the grassy bottom in hopes of glimpsing a starfish or conch, or heading for a nearby reef to gaze at the sea life below. Chenay Bay Beach Resort rents all manner of beach equipment, including kayaks and snorkel gear, and the hotel's restaurant serves lunch at beachfront tables. Route 82 (East End Road)

Davis Bay Scuff your toes in the talcum-powder sand at Carambola Beach Resort. Sunning is the thing here, so bring your towel and beach chair if you're not a hotel guest. If you're the active type, pack your snorkel gear or rent it from the hotel's dive shop to explore the undersea world that sits just offshore. When you need some refreshment, the hotel's restaurant provides alfresco dining. Off Route 80 (North Shore Road)

Frederiksted Beach One of St. Croix's loveliest beaches stretches two miles northward from Fort Frederik in Frederiksted all the way to Butler Bay. It sports various names along the way, but is really one almost continuous strand. Most folks drop their beach gear near one of the open-air restaurants scattered along the way so they can spend the day sunning, swimming, snorkeling and eating. Park along the road or at the restaurants. Route 63 (Hamm's Bluff Road)