Walk Through History

By Chris Goodier

Island tours allow you to immerse yourself in colonial history, especially when a knowledgeable tour guide explains the sites.

Steve Simonsen

>> LAWAETZ MUSEUM
A 100-year-old Danish family farmhouse surrounded by tropical gardens and trails. Tour days and hours vary seasonally. Adults $8, seniors and students with ID $5, children 6-12 $4, under 6 free. Estate Little La Grange, two miles north of Frederiksted on Route 76 (Mahogany Road). 340-772-1539, www.stcroixlandmarks.com

>> WHIM PLANTATION MUSEUM

An 18th-century greathouse and outbuildings including restored sugar and animal mills. Tour days and hours vary seasonally (call to verify), usually Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Adults $8, seniors and students with ID $5, children 6-12 $4, under 6 free. Estate Whim on Route 70 (Centerline Road) two miles east of Frederiksted. 340-772-0598, www.stcroixlandmarks.com

>> CRUZAN RUM DISTILLERY

A working rum factory located on former plantation grounds. Tours weekdays, except holidays, continuously 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.-4:15 p.m. Adults $4, including beverage samples, minors 6-18 $1. Estate Diamond on Route 64, west of the airport near Frederiksted. 340-692-2280, www.cruzanrum.com

>> ST. GEORGE VILLAGE BOTANICAL GARDEN

Sixteen acres on the site of a 19th-century Danish sugarcane plantation with more than 1,500 native and exotic species of plants. Self-guided tour adults $6, children under 12 $1. 127 Estate St. George, four miles east of Frederiksted off Centerline Road. 340-692-2874, www.sgvbg.org

>> FORT FREDERIK

Historic 1760 structure and site of the 1848 emancipation of slaves. Guided tours, museum and special exhibits. Weekdays 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Adults $3, 16 and under free. 340-772-2021

St. Croix In Depth

By Mary Hull

Steve Simonsen

St. Croix has some of the best diving in the Caribbean, and now, taking excursions to its 30-plus sites has gotten simpler. The island's seven retail dive operators have joined forces to offer the Dive the Island Passport, a shared dive package. Visitors can pay one price for a set number of dives and use them with any variety of operators, allowing them to explore more sites for less money. For information, call any dive shop or visit www.diversevirgin.com. The sites are phenomenal:

>> REEF - and lots of it. St Croix is home to the largest barrier reef in the Caribbean, which houses several kinds of fish, sponges and coral.

>> SHIPWRECKS. Where there's reef, there are wrecks. Explore the hulls, masts and infrastructures of several underwater vessels just offshore. In fact, five wrecks lie within 100 yards of one another.

>> THE PIER. A site known for its macro-organisms, the life under the pier will amaze you. Feeling bold? Try this one at night.

>> WALLS. Did we mention that St. Croix has some of the best wall diving in the world? Keep an eye on your gauge; the floor can drop to 13,000 feet below sea level.