Where are you staying? Has she been to STX before? Christainsted is an interesting place to shop, but if her idea of a shopping trip is a mall, she's gonna be disappointed.

You didn't mention kayaking. Would she like that? HERE'S an idea, maybe you could arrange some dive lessons for her. There are several excellent dive schools here.

Another expensive, radical idea. If you can afford it, how about inviting someone else to come with her? Maybe a cousin, or her best friend. I know this may not be possible, but I'm a mom who has traveled with reluctant teens, and I can't think of anything else that might help,

Good Luck.

Thanks for the ideas.
Kayaking sounds like a good idea.
We considered the bring-the-friend plan for a while. In the end, knowing all her girlfriends, very nice girls, I just did not want to be responsible for two teen girls instead of one. I could just picture coming back to Ohio and telling one of my golfing friends whose daughter I took with us to the VIs that his daughter married one of the locals and stayed in paradise.
My idea for my daughter is a quiet club or cafe scene where she can hang out, maybe do some dancing, but not get involved in any of the things I did when I was 16.

Don

Hi Don...

Dont know if you read the follow up post on the B&B or not, Might want to check there.

Too funny about when you were 16,....me too though,....Might ask her if this coming year if she has any school projects/reports that include geography, history etc....might be a good chance for her to do some hands on research and exploring. The history of the islands is really quite interesting and worth visiting the Forts, etc. Not to mention the bragging rights with all the pictures when she gets back home!

All of you will have a chance to learn more of things to do when you get down there, I will be stateside this holiday season, setteling things up for the retirment move.

Andrew

Personally, I like the idea of scuba diving lessons. Couple of reasons.

If she has never done it, what a wonderful something really different to tell the girlfriends back home in Ohio about! Especially with all the snow on the ground. And they do make pretty inexpensive underwater cameras that don't go really deep, but would allow some fun shots to share.

If she's bright, and athletic it might just challenge that side of her in a good way.

Quiet club or cafe scene......no way.

There are some beach barscafes that we enjoy -- but we're OLD. And the places we go are missing the one thing that she'll want, other kids.

I know, the University of Virgin Islands has a Scrabble Club that meets once a week. Now that sounds exactly like what YOU have in mind.

Yeah, I'm 18, so I can provide a young-person perspective on life on St. Croix. The young people who have lived on St. Croix all their life think it's boring (like me sometimes), but young people from the States usually think it's awesome, since they don't have stuff like nice beaches and good weather at home. St. Croix isn't much known for its nightlife. Moonraker is a nice place to go out to on Weds (Karaoke night) and Fridays/Saturdays. There are LOTS of young people there to meet. There's also Club 54, and don't forget all the numerous restaurants. My favorite ones are Tutto Bene in Christiansted, and Le St. Tropez and Blue Moon which are in Frederiksted. And they don't check your age for alcohol, even though the drinking age is 18, so if you don't mind letting her get some drinks, no one here would have a problem with it, like in the States. Ummm theres also the movies, but who would go to the movies while on vacation? Buck Island is also fun, though me personally, I've never been there. I know a lot more about stuff to do, but unfortunately I have a bunch of assignments to finish (I go to college in Rhode Island), so if you have any more questions, drop me an email, and I'll be glad to answer them.
Dominic

Thanks everyone for their suggestions. They were great. She has decided to get involved in a little bit of scuba diving.
Andrew I did get your post on B & Bs and have Emailed the realtors. Thanks a bunch.
Dominic you may get an Email from us so beware. (We have also spent a lot of time in Rhode Island.)
Now, I have four days of writing and photographing basketball and wrestling in snowy Ohio than we are out of here.

Don

Hello Don,

Scuba will be lots of fun for her and for you guys too - and its a great place to learn!!

Another fun activity for the family might be kayaking in the National Park area at Salt River - more info visit http://www.stcroixkayak.com/tours.htm

Also if interested horse back riding is also an option and its offered through the beautiful north shore area - rain forest area. Try http://pws.prserv.net/paul-and-jills/

Have a great time!! Definately let us know what you decided to do and how you liked it!!

--Islander