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Mid-Morning

Located at the eastern end, Red Hook makes the perfect starting point for your island tour. Pick your stops so you’ll have time and energy to enjoy the island’s main attraction – the beach. Follow Red Hook Road, perhaps pausing for a stroll around Compass Point, before heading to the busy Tillett Gardens/Tutu area. To watch artisans at work, pull into Tillett Gardens. Or stop at Tutu Park Mall for anything you need.

Shop for take-home gifts at the malls at Haven-sight, or wait until you reach Charlotte Amalie.

Once there, spend a little time poking around the shops housed in old warehouses and the historic sites before breaking for Caribbean-inspired French fare at Hervé Restaurant (seeHervé Restaurant), located a flight of stairs uphill on Government Hill.

Afternoon

Keep along Veterans Drive, making side trips at Frenchtown for the sea-faring ambience and at Crown Bay for the megayachts. Veterans Drive turns into Brewers Bay Road and takes you past the University of the Virgin Islands campus. Continue along the island’s spine till you see the splendid views at Drake’s Seat.

Late Afternoon

End your day with a swim at Magens Bay Beach. The crowds are gone, the beach is quiet unless it’s the weekend, and the residents come out to enjoy the serenity.

Morning

Get up early to watch the sun rise at Point Udall, at the island’s easternmost tip. Sunrise varies by season, so check with your hotel’s front desk to find out what time to depart. After snapping a few photos of the sun peeking over the horizon, head west to the Buccaneer Hotel’s (seeThe Buccaneer Hotel, St. Croix) attractive dining room for its scrumptious breakfast served buffet style and the fabulous sea views.

The point of a St. Croix vacation is not to shop till you drop or tour till you’re bored, but rather to see the sights at a slow pace and spend some time in a chaise. So after breakfast, head back to your hotel for a few hours at the beach. Don’t forget the sunscreen. When the sun gets high in the sky, head off to Christiansted for lunch at Café Christine (seeCafé Christine), where you can sit in blissful shade at the alfresco porch tables.

Afternoon

Walk off your lunch with a stroll around Christiansted, stopping at its small shops and taking in the town’s historic ambience. A halt at Christiansted National Historic Site (seeChristiansted National Historic Site) will help you understand the island’s history.

Pause for a few moments at one of the benches strategically placed along the waterfront boardwalk to enjoy the sea view.

Wrap up your afternoon with a sunset sail from the Christiansted waterfront, or simply return to your hotel for a nap.

Late Afternoon

Since you’ll want your stomach well-lined before starting a busy night, head for the Bitter End Yacht Club’s Clubhouse Steak & Seafood Grille (seeClubhouse Steak & Seafood Grille, Virgin Gorda) for sundowners and then dinner. To get there, park your car at Gun Creek, located at the end of a steep downhill road in North Sound, and take the complimentary ferry.

Evening

Drop in for after-dinner drinks and dancing at Saba Rock Resort (seeSaba Rock Resort, Virgin Gorda), just a 200-yard (180-m) boat trip away from Bitter End Yacht Club. Call them at284-495-7711orVHF 16for a ride.

Get back to Bitter End Yacht Club, to wind down at The English Pub. This bar stays open till very late, but remember that the last ferry to Gun Creek departs at 10 pm.

Later

If you have any energy left, stop by The Restaurant at Leverick Bay (seeThe Restaurant at Leverick Bay, Virgin Gorda), located a short drive shore-side in North Sound, for a nightcap or cup of coffee.

Make sure someone in your group abstains from drinking throughout. On your drive back to the hotel, the twisting roads can be treacherous with a few drinks down the hatch.

Saba Rock Resort often closes in September and other places may have shorter hours during the summer and fall. Always do a last-minute check of opening and closing hours.

Mid-Morning

While the air’s still cool, spend an hour or two poking around snug Cruz Bay ’s few sights and numerous shops. You can pick up a bathing suit at Bougainvillea (seeBougainvillea Boutique).

Take time to sit awhile on Cruz Bay Park ’s benches. The shady park with its flower-fringed walkways serves as the town’s crossroads (seeCruz Bay Park).

After shopping and people-watching take a break for lunch at the popular Lime Inn (seeLime Inn).

Afternoon

Gorgeous white sandy beaches fringe the coast. Pick the one that most appeals to you. If you’d like some quiet, Maho Bay Beach may be your best option. Just park along the road and stretch out on the beach for an hour or two in the sun or, more wisely, in the shade of the seagrape trees.

After a swim and a snorkel, make the brief drive along the North Shore Road to the Annaberg Plantation cut-off. A visit to the sugar plantation ruins will take about 20 minutes, unless you spend time absorbing the spectacular view of the sea and nearby Tortola or walking along the shore.

Late Afternoon

Continue along North Shore Road until you meet Centerline Road. Make a quick trip to Coral Bay for late afternoon drinks and a chance to mingle with the local folks at Skinny Legs Bar & Restaurant (seeSkinny Legs Bar & Restaurant) before heading back to Cruz Bay.