Well, here it is...
We had been planning our trip to STX for a year before it finally happened and it was everything I had imagined. I want to thank so many on this board for helping in the planning and suggestions as it made our trip much easier.
I booked a room at Tamarind Reef and in my opinion for our first trip was in an excellent location. Very close to Christiansted, close to several good restaurants and close to Schooner Bay Market for treats to pick up.
Day 1 - We arrived right on time around 4:00pm and decided to take a taxi to Tamarind Reed instead of attempting it on our own. I was very glad we did as it was about a 30 minute drive and it would have been hard to find since it was our first trip to STX. I did have a car reserved with Judy of St. Croix. She was there right on time and delivered our car to the Tamarind Reef. Very helpful and gave us more suggestions on driving and things to do. The rooms at Tamarind Reef were very clean and accomodating. We got a room with a kitchenette and that was nice. It gave us a chance to run down to Schooner Bay which was only about a 4-5 minute drive from Tamarind to pick up some water, beer, snacks & etc. My job in the car was to tell Mike, "keep left" .
I also called Sweeny tours to arrange for a tour for our first day(Friday) there. I thought it made sense to do it the first day to get a feel for the island. Sweeny said that he would call me back if there was going to be a tour for the next day as he did not have enough people scheduled at that time. However, he did call our room back about 3 hours later and said he would be by the Tamarind at 9:00am the next morning for the tour.
Tamarind only has about 36 rooms, but they are nice and clean and fit the need. First things first and that was to get unpacked and head to the Deep End Bar at the Tamarind to get started. Nice little bar that sits close to Green Cay Marina. Cheap drinks and very nice people. The bar is right by the pool and next to the nice quaint beach at Tamarind Reef. Locals hang out at Deep End and that gave us a chance to talk to them and get some ideas and thoughts about the island. By this time it was getting close to dinner and saw that the nightly special was Maihi Maihi, so we just decided to eat at the Deep End as we had heard the food was great. Before dinner, we ran down to Schooner Bay Market to pick up some items for the room.
Dinner was great and the fish was some of the best we had while on the island. After dinner we just chilled by the bar, got to know some of the people and listened to the waves while having a few drinks.
Day 2 - Up and had the free continental breakfast which was adequate. Fruit, muffins, bagels, cereal, juice & etc.
Waitied for Sweeny tours to pick us up, which was right on time. The tour was great. It really gave us a good over view of the island. We stopped for lunch in Fredricksted. The tour was complete around 3:30.
We went to dinner at Cheesburgers, which was only about 5 minutes from Tamarind Reef. My kind of place. Open air, casual and really good burgers. There was a guy playing the guitar, which was nice.
Day 3 - Decided to expand our horizons and drive around the island. Headed east and ended up stopping at Cheeseburgers for lunch.
Stopped at Chenay Bay and it was a really nice small resort type with little cottages for rooms and the beach seemed to be a nice area. Went out to point Udall and Grassy Point. Oh My! What sites. Grassy point was absolutely beautiful and breathtaking.
A guy who was smoking a cigar up at Point Udal told Mike where to stop and get cigars.
Met some really cool people while touring these areas. Saw the Grapetree Resort area or what's left of it after Hugo. Went to the Divi and walked around. More of a resort type atmosphere, but very far away from everything. Very nice end of the island. Coming back, we found the little store that sold cigars. It was ran by a cuban lady. She was very cautious with us when we entered, but after seeing we weren't there to rob her, she was very friendly and accomodating. Stopped at Shoys beach and the Bucaneer to check them out. Shoys was a small nice little beach that you get to by walking through a short and narrow path just to the side of Bucaneer. The Bucaneer seemed like a nice resort.
We went to Solitudes for dinner. Went there with some people that we ran into up at Point Udall. They had heard about this place. It was on the east side and we did pass it during our ventures that day. We had Bar-B-Q and it was great and inexpensive.
Day 4 - Decided to go out to Cane Bay for Sunday Brunch and swim at Cane Bay Beach.
Brunch was really good and service was great. We asked them to put 4 beers in our tote to take over to Cane Bay Beach. We thought the price of those beers was a little expensive compared to what we had been paying on the island since we got there. Normally beer was 2.00 or 2.50 and they charged us 5.00 per beer! Found out later from a few people that they will do that on drinks, Guess we should have questioned them. However, the food was good. Had a nice swim at Cane Bay Beach. It was really good for snorkeling. Stopped on the way back that afternoon at Off the Wall, which was down the road from Cane Bay. Drinks were reasonably priced and a nice little place for talking with people. Also sampled an order of their onion rings after seeing someone else with some. They were really good. Wished we would have had the opportunity to go back there during our visit to STX, but we didn't.
That evening we went to the "get together" at Breezes. Another good place for food. I had Jerk Salmon and Mike had lobster. Both meals were excellent. It was a nice evening for meeting some of the people on the message board. Linda & Mike volunteered to take us around the island on Tues. and we made arrangements to eat at Nolans Tavern on Tuesday evening.
Day 5 - Relaxed by the pool and beach at Tamarind in the morning. Went into Christiansted and had fish & chips at Rumrunners. Did some shopping and just enjoyed the town until dinner which we had already decided to do at the Christiansted Brew Pub. Monday nights is steak and beer night. Order a steak and get all the beer you want for free. What a deal. Also, had the crab races there that night. What an event. Didn't realize how impressed people could be with crabs racing.
Day 6 - Another morning of relazing by the beach and pool at Tamarind. Mike and Linda came by to get us early afternoon for a day on the island. This time we went towards the southwest end and the rain forest. Stopped at Hai Penny Beach. Nice little beach. I'm amazed at how many small quaint beaches there are. Just so many.
Went to see the beer drinking pigs. Everyone has to go to the Domino Club to see the beer drinking pigs. I have to admit or Linda & Mike will tell on me that I didn't have the nerve to put that can to the pigs mouth. I just knew he was going to take beer and my hand in one gulp. Had some mamawanna(sp) at the Domino Club. It should cure any ailment.
Went to Nolans for dinner. Great little local place just down the road from Tamarind Reef. Mr. Nolan did a good job of cooking dinner for us and made his famous macaroni pie.
Day 7- Had been trying all week to arrange a trip to Buck Island, but kept putting it off and finally yesterday called Capt. Heinze who has a 42 ft. catamaran that leaves out of Green Cay which is right beside Tamarind Reef. A couple of people at the Tamarind said he was good. We called and made arrangements and left out of Green Cay Marina this morning at 9:00am. We only had 8 people on our boat, which made for a great day and not an over crowded boat. I would highly recommend Capt. Heinze.
We actually made the arrangements with a little lady that was sitting on the street in Christiansted booking for several events. Her name is Mary. Another couple on our boat said they booked through her as she was at the Divi one evening.
Capt. Heinze has been sailing for 40+ years and knows his stuff. The trip to Buck island was excellent. He even lets you bring your own drinks and snacks which most of the others do not. We just did the 1/2 day trip which was enough.
That evening we found our way to Gallows Bay which was also close to the Tamarind Reef. Went to a couple of places for just appetizers and drinks. We went to The Golden Rail and the Case Place. Both were very nice with Case Place being a little nicer. Golden Rail was on the marina and an outside more casual type atmosphere. Stopped on the way back to Tamarind Reef at Galleons Restaurant at Green Cay in hopes of getting a cappuccino which is not easy to find on STX. Their cappuccino machine was broke.
Day 6- Leave Day. We just decided to hang around Tamarind Reef to relax on our last day. Spent some time talking to Jerry who runs the beach shack and Dave and Kenna who run the Deep End Bar. Great Folks and very nice. Dave said he'd give me a job if I would work hard and show up for work, which I guess is hard to find on the islands. Almost sounded like an offer I couldn't refuse. Beleive me, it was tempting.
Drove back to the airport without any problems. We got there 2 hours before our flight left and that was not too early. It takes awhile to go through US customs.
Our trip to STX was very calming and relaxing. We got to do alot of things and enjoyed every minute. We ate good food everywhere we went and received good service without any problems. Met some great people that I hope we will see when we go back to STX. STX is a very beautiful island. There are tourist there, but not like some of the other carribbean islands. It is very calming. I really didn't have any idea it was that beautiful.
If anyone wants to email me with specific questions, go ahead.

Yvonne & Mike