St. Croix is certainly very different from St. Thomas and St. John. Because of its history and topography, St. Croix has always been the more agricultural/cultural island, in my opinion.

The people even "feel" different. More proud (even defiant!) - Crucians have a level of pride in self and community that is admirable. This does not mean you will not find the same on St. Thomas or St. John. I just think that because St. Croix is 40 miles to the south, there is a physical distance that is sensed as ideological as well as political.

The snorkeling and diving on St. Croix are outrageously fine. The golf courses. The only casino in the U.S.V.I., the horseback riding, the Whim Plantation Museum, the Cruzan Rum factory, the rainforest, the (near!) Beer-drinking pig, Point Udall and outstanding beaches. Jazz in the moonlight, the Island Center's world-class venue, and many expressions of native pride like the mighty moko jumbi, the hat maker, the rich soups featuring both "sinkers" and "floaters"... St. Croix is worth my while, and I visit Fredericksted in particular whenever I get the chance.

I live on St. Thomas.

While I've never been to St. John and have visited only briefly on St. Thomas, I knew from the start that St. Croix was for me. It is the largest of the islands - less congested/commercial than St. Thomas, less laid back than St. John - it was the perfect compromise. There is a great deal of undeveloped land on the island, which comes as a surprise to many visitors.

As A. Davis has mentioned, there is a ton to do (or not). I'm a bit of a history buff and St. Croix probably has more history and culture to show than the other islands. The architecture is very well preserved. There's not as much shopping as St. Thomas (not as many tourists either), but there is plenty enough to keep me as busy as I want to be. The restaurants are generally regarded as some of the best in the entire Caribbean.

And I love the people I've met there - locals and ex-pats, whites and West Indians - all have treated us fabulously over the 25 (or is it 26 - I've lost count!) trips I've made there.

I think the answer to original question posted is quite simple.
The question was - why do we choose one island over another?

In my own case, and I believe of many many others, many times we will prefer the first island of the three that we visit. Somehow the magic and allure of a tropical island, coming from stateside, is formed by the impressions of that first visit, whether on STJ, STT, or STX.

In my case I can also add that I have lived on STX and am now doing so on STT (year and 1/2 so far), while I would someday prefer to live on STJ (because, you guessed it, it was there that I spent my first week in the islands). I also have other opinions about the three but that is not the topic of this thread.

While I would be inclined to agree that the first seems the best, the exact opposit happened with me. I did STT first, then STX and finally, many years later at the urging of a friend who loved it, I went to StJ. It is the only one I've made mutiple trips to, other than to pass through STT. I'd probably take the BIV's before St Croix. I admit this may come from a strange experience with the rather intrusive villa owner on STX. Spoiled the trip. And I never felt as safe on STX as I do on STJ, even though the houses I stay in there are very remote. With all the positive things I keep reading, perhaps I'll give it another try, but in a different villa!

We have been to all three islands. OOPS. Three of the four (Sorry, Water Islanders). We found STT to be too crowded and commercial for us. It seemed quite urban. STJ is beautiful, but perhaps a little too quiet. It's also expensive. We found STX to have the best characteristics of the other two. In Christiansted you can buy just about everything you can in Charlotte Amalie. Granted there are fewer shops. The snorkeling and other watersports are everybit as good (dare I say even better) as they are on STJ. We also have the undeveloped areas like STJ. The pace here is slower than STT. In a lot of ways it's similar to STJ. We have hills here, but nothing like the hills and curves on STT and STJ. Just my opinion,

I would like to hear from long-timer STX's about the issue of rock fever. We're debating taking a trip in 2006 (Nov 2005 is reserved for our beloved STJ again) to STX rather than just assume we would like to semi-retire or at least vacation only on STJ- the problem to me seems to be rock fever- I can understand loving it for a vacation but how about the long time visitors or residents who chose STX- don't you miss leaving and going to the other islands without the inconvenience of all the commuting? I know I could post this on the relocation board and may do so but for now....

I'm just a vacationer for now, and like earlybrass I'm opposite for now. STX was my first visit, then STT (both during a cruise). Then I visited STT and STJ on another holiday.

I fell in love with all of the islands, but absolutely fell in love with STJ which was the last I visited. Reason being, I'm a big state a national park lover. Stateside I like going to lakes and forests with little to no development...making me feel like I am one of the first to ever visit (even though I know better). I get that feeling on STJ during the low season when I'm all alone (with the wife) on a secluded beach almost feeling like nobody has ever been there before.

However, common sense comes into play when I think of relocating. I doubt I'll ever be able to afford to live on STJ. STT is great too, but too much development for my taste as a corn fed Indiana boy. STX is much more affordable and varied in terrain. I like the small town feel plus being able to "get away" if I feel like it. Someone on this board described STX as having rain forests, agricultural areas, arid (desert like) areas. Sounds cool to me. 🙂

karrieb,
I have lived on STX for two years now. I have been off the rock twice. The first time was to go back to the states to wrap things up there and the second time was to Mexico for my son's wedding. I was gone a week both times. I couldn't wait to get back. I'm going back to the states on the 18th for two weeks. My wife is having surgery. I'm not looking forward to going. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't stay nearly so long.

Having said that, there are things I miss in the states. I have two granddaughters there and I miss them terribly. They come down once a year. Last time in the states, I drove 85 mph on the interstate, just because I could. Other than that, I don't miss much. I was also surprised to see how noisy it was. I didn't remember that. It was especially evident after the quiet of STX.

Ric

Having spent mucho time in the water (diving/snork) around STJ & the BVI. I can say IMHO & my "crew's" the watersports are MUCH better in St Croix! I also agree with the points made by Ric.

Ric, let me know how your wife's TKA goes.

Jim W

Jim,
I'll post on the board how she's doing as soon as I can after the surgery. We both appreciate your concern.