Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/704649
B M & T ••• March/April 2016 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 42 St. CROIX Easily accessible by direct flights from the U.S. or a short 30-minute flight from Puerto Rico, St. Croix, the capital at 22 miles long and 8 miles wide, is a remarkably div- erse landscape. The primary towns are Frederiks-ted and Christian-sted, each possessing their own unique historic sites, 18th and 19th- century architecture, and culturally signif- icant churches. For its overall fla- vor and flair, be sure to visit the Christ- iansted National Hist-oric Site, enco- mpassing a handful of historic buildings over seven picturesque acres; the Estate Whim Plantation Museum, built by slaves and the only sugar plantation museum in the Virgin Islands; and Fort Frederik, built in the 18th century and cen- tral to the abolition of slavery here. Sugar cane production was and still plays an integral role in the cultural and economic landscape here, as evidenced by places such as the world famous Cruzan Rum Dis-tillery. Among the am- azing accommoda- tion offerings are the R e n a i s s a n c e C a r a m b o l a Beach Resort, nestled on beautiful white sand beaches at the foothills of a rainforest; as well as the Buccaneer Resort, the Carib- bean's longest run- ning family-owned resort. Regular and annual festivals in- clude traditional town parades, folk dance performanc- es, the Beach BBQ & Caribbean Floor Show, Sunset Jazz in Frederiksted, and The Crucian Christmas Festival, among others. ST. THOMAS Formerly a busy trading port when this part of the world became a major commercial and shipping region, St. Thomas is the still the bustling center of the USVI. The wild party reputa- tion of St. Thomas can be experienced at the nightly bar crawls happening in Red Hook, and you can shop-'til- you-drop in the energetic capital, Charlotte Amalie (pronounced a-mall-e-a) at numerous places, including the world-famous open-air Vendors Plaza. Outdoor adventures include fun at Tree Limin' Extreme, "the ultimate zip line trip;" Coral World Ocean Park, a diverse 5-acre eco-tourism, attraction; and the historic St. Peter Great House and Botanical Garden, 20,000 square feet bursting with tropical birds, 150 species of Caribbean vegetation, West Indian architecture, and more. St. Thomas is also known for its excellent golfing at spots like Mahogany Run Golf Course, delectable epicurean adven- tures at places such as the Old Stone Farmhouse and Iggie's Beach Bar, and noteworthy his- toric and cultural sites including Frederik Evangelical Lutheran Church, originally bankrolled by a free black parishioner in the late 1700s. For a comfortable place to lay your head, try the Frenchman's Reef Marriott Resort overlooking Charlotte Amalie Harbor, or the Ritz Carlton-St. Thomas, a 180-guest room, 30-acre tropical estate.