Thinking Vacation? Think St. Croix!

I know that it is hard to pick a vacation destination. With so many beautiful spots in the world to visit, it can be hard to know which is right for you and your family.

I can’t stress enough how beautiful and enjoyable all of our trips to St. Croix have been though. And… it’s not just me who feels that way!

Anne, one of our valued Gentle Winds guests, writes to us after her stay on the island:
“It was a trip of a lifetime... St. Croix is stunningly beautiful! We had a blast exploring the forts (the cannons were a big hit with the boys), gazing at the ocean from Point Udall, eating at the brew pub in Christiansted, enjoying the activities at Heritage Day at the Botanical Garden, seeing the big cruise ship and the Moko Jumbie and vendors in Fredericksted, and of course swimming in the pool and ocean. By far the highlight was snorkeling at Buck Island. Matthew, our 7-year-old, and my husband Andy had a blast on their guided outing, and I went out by myself for a bit after they got back. The two little ones stayed on the boat and looked at the fish through the glass bottom and were happy as clams :-)”

That smiley face designation at the end of her paragraph says it all! It sounds like Anne and her family truly enjoyed their island exploration… and their stay at our beautiful condo! Anne went on:
“And the condo was perfect! All the kids slept well (you might remember how important that can be with little guys) and it was great to have a full kitchen so we could avoid taking all 3 kids to restaurants too much (not much fun!). The balconies were great for just hanging out to look at the ocean or the stars. So, a big thanks to you and Pam! We truly appreciate the chance we had to visit your little slice of paradise!”

If you’re planning a family vacation, why not consider the island of St. Croix? And, if you decide that’s the right destination, we hope you’ll consider staying on our Gentle Winds property, too. We’re sure you’ll experience the ‘trip of a lifetime’ just like Anne and her family.

Thanks, Anne for sharing your story with us!


P.S. Do you have a great Gentle Winds St. Croix story to share? Don’t hesitate to send it to us!

National Parks in St. Croix: Salt River Bay

When you think of U.S. National Parks, you may not think of St. Croix. While it may not boast hot springs, geysers or erupting volcanoes like other popular parks in the National system, the island is home to several wonderful and well-preserved National Parks.

One park in particular, Salt River Bay and Ecological Preserve, was established in 1992. Along with the beautiful climate (about 80 degrees all year long) and relatively low humidity levels, the park features a mangrove forests, tropical reefs, and canyons. In fact, the preserve is a scuba diver’s paradise. It contains diverse sea creatures and deep water coral.

There is also a visitor’s center on the park property. The visitor center is open November through June. (When the visitor center is closed, you can still visit the park and obtain visitor info online or at the Christiansted National Historic Site. )

If you’re coming to enjoy the National Park system in St. Croix, there’s no better place to stay than at O’Neill Gentle Winds. The beautiful condo grounds providing a relaxing retreat after a long day of scuba diving, snorkeling or hiking. They are also located just minutes away from the Salt River Bay.