Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

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Landmarks and the Technical Part

St. Croix (IATA: STX, ICAO: TISX, FAA LID: STX). Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, formerly Alexander Hamilton Airport, is a pubic airport located 6 miles Southwest of Christiansted on the Island of St. Croix in the U.S Virgin Islands. At an elevation of 74 ft., it’s a small international airport with one long asphalt (10/28) runway that measures 10,004′. Commercial traffic is provided by American Airlines every day from Miami. Seasonal flights to and from Charlotte, Atlanta, and Fort Lauderdale are added by US Airways, Delta, and Spirit.

There are regional flights to St. Thomas provided by Cape Air, Seaborne Airlines, and LIAT.

Transport

St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport offers several transportation options, including rentals and taxis. Be forewarned, rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft are not allowed in the U.S. Virgin Islands. As mainlanders, we are somewhat dependent on instantaneous gratification, and it just doesn’t occur to us that the rest of the world isn’t on the same page. You can also get a pre-arranged private pickup.

All taxis are locally owned and operated and governed by the Virgin Island Taxi Commission. The Taxis from Christiansted include Rolly’s Transportation Services, Taxi Service & Tours, St. Croix Taxi & Safari Tours, and Rudy’s Taxi Service. There are also a handful of smaller taxi services all over the island. Grab a cab from the airport by the baggage claim.

Renting a car is easy enough, but remember which side of the road to drive on if you’re from the mainland. Also, know that you must be 25 here and hold a valid driver’s license to rent. Budget, Hertz, Avis, and Skyline Car Rental are here. Additionally, there are five more locally owned car rental agencies.

There’s also a bus service, and though it’s cheap, it’s not recommended if you have any time constraints. Remember, you’re on island time here, and so is just about everybody else.

Ferry crossings from St. Croix to St. Thomas take a little under 2 1/2 hours, or a seaplane will get you there in less than 30 minutes.

Things To Do!

It seems many people come here to get married. It’s a hotspot for destination weddings. From the elegant Buccaneer Beach and Golf Resort to the more casual Tamarind Reef Resort, you won’t find more beautiful surroundings. However, don’t go with your significant other dreaming about a spontaneous barefoot beach wedding, as there’s an 8-day waiting period for a license.

Cane Bay, North Star, and Pavilions on the North Shore are great places for scuba diving and snorkeling, as are Salt River Canyon and Sandy Point. The best shallow dive where you can spend all day seems to be a pretty unanimous Frederiksted Pier.

Next, would be simply enjoying the beach, a good book, no electronic nonsense, and a sunset. This is the place to relax and recharge. Be amazed that you can see the bottom of the ocean right through that mesmerizing Caribbean water. Find the easternmost point of the United States at Point Udall, marked by the Millennium Monument. This is the first spot in the U. S. to see the sunrise! The world is hard, so take it easy and enjoy. I know that’s a big ask for some people, but you won’t regret it.

Island tours are everywhere, but if you prefer, explore the island on your own. Many resorts offer different packages that include activities, but the island is only 27 miles long and about 7 miles wide at the widest point, so you can’t even get that lost. Try some horseback riding or kayaking, add a little fishing or sailing, and you’ll need a vacation to recover from your vacation.

If you have time, see the Buck Island National Monument. Believe it or not, it’s an underwater National Park!

Where to Eat in St. Croix

St. Croix is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands and has two towns, so your choices are Christiansted at the center of the island or Frederiksted at the southern end. Both towns are filled with typical Danish architecture. Christiansted was the capital of the Danish West Indies from 1755 to 1871.

La Reine Chicken Shack in Christiansted is the number 1 choice all around. Followed by Savant and No Bones Cafe for seafood and Blues’ Backyard BBQ & Grill for burgers, BBQ, and live music. Also highly rated were Island Vybz Grill, Caroline’s Breakfast, Cruzarican, and Cruzian Bayou Bistro. For great sunsets on the harbor, it looks like Rum Runners Restaurant is one of the best seats in town. Although I think it’s pretty hard to find a bad view here. If you’d like, you can hang with the locals and learn a new cooking skill.

Frederiksted offers Turtle’s Deli, Polly’s at the Pier, and Rhythms at the Beach. You can also enjoy the breeze at the Six Nine Restaurant & Bar. For a romantic dinner coupled with a beautiful view, try the Beach Side Cafe.

St. Croix Pubs and Hangouts!

If you explore the North Shore, you might wind up close to the Landing Beach Bar at Cane Bay, where you can have a drink and a meal after a day at the beach.

You could also check out the view at Carambola Beach Resort or take a water taxi to Protestant Cay and enjoy a lazy afternoon and evening.

As we all know, Caribbean Rum is the best in the world, so for a unique perspective on what it takes to be the best, take a tram ride through the Captain Morgan Distillery. You’ll learn a little history and get a taste of a few of the many different varieties of Captain Morgan. If rum is a favorite, there’s also the Cruzan Rum Distillery, with charming old buildings and insight into the distillation process. Both are in Frederiksted.

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Thank You!

A shout out to Jan Stinnett for the destination suggestion and Mike Mullett of Laser Aviation Inc. for the photos! I appreciate it!

Once again, safe flying, safer landings,

Please note: If there are no links to an establishment, it simply means they don’t have a website, their site is not secure, or it redirects you to another site. You can still look them up. You can find most of them on Facebook or Instagram.

jo@jettreks.com