Our stylish vintage  inspired travel posters are a great gift for the island lover in your life, and a wonderful way to bring a bit of St. Croix memories into your home, office or business. Purchase one or all of them today! Each poster is 18×24 inches, printed on a beautiful quality 10 point matte finish paper with UV protection. Each poster is sold for $20 plus Priority USPS shipping to anywhere in the U.S. And we will include a personal gift note upon request! Now sold exclusively at gotostcroix.com online, at our Christiansted office location on Queen Cross Street, and at SCUBA’s Scuboutique in Christiansted and Frederiksted.

Poster #1: The Port of Frederiksted

The first poster in the series celebrates the renovated historic Frederiksted waterfront and the welcome return of a lively cruise ship business to our port. Read more about the creative process behind the Frederiksted poster here. Click the PayPal button below to make your purchase now.

Poster #2: Christiansted Boardwalk

The second poster in the series showcases one of our favorite places to hang out on island: the Christiansted Boardwalk! Highlighting some of our favorite features of the Christiansted Harbor, this poster perfectly captures the feel of a sunset cocktail sipped on the boardwalk. Click the PayPal button below to make your purchase now.

Poster #3: Buck Island

St. Croix’s most popular attraction is affectionately known as Buck Island, although it’s full name is Buck Island Reef National Monument. Guests and residents love to take a day-trip by sail or power boat to experience the snorkeling trail, marine life, and pristine Turtle Beach. In the distance, the St. Croix Yacht Club, the residential east end, and another famous St. Croix icon known as “the castle”. This poster will transport you back to one of the world’s most beautiful places every time you look at it.  Aaaah.    Click the PayPal button below to make your purchase now.

Purchase a Two-Poster Set

You can also purchase both posters for $40, with Priority USPS shipping. Collect the whole series and showcase St. Croix in your home, office or business! Just click the PayPal button below to purchase the two poster set!

Purchase All Three Posters!

Want to collect them all? We don’t blame you! Purchase the 3 that have been released so far for $60 (each poster costs $20). You’ll save money on shipping by having them all sent together for $10 USPS Priority Mail. Collecting the whole series allows you to pick where to display each one, together or separately. Just click the PayPal button below to purchase all 3 released to date.

More to Come!

Keep checking back to our site for the new posters as they come out! We’re excited to be working on upcoming posters of more of our favorite places on St. Croix and will be putting them up on the site as soon as they are available for purchase.

If you’re on St. Croix, stop into our Christiansted office on Queen Cross Street to pick up a poster, or buy one from the SCUBoutique in Christiansted or Frederkisted!

Now, St. Croix’s dive shops are turning Lionfish hunting into a sport! Last weekend, N2 the Blue Dive Shop hosted a Lionfish tournament, with prizes for the biggest and most Lionfish caught. Now Dive Experience is bringing the hunt to Christiansted. On Saturday, December 4th, will be the second Lionfish Tournament, with the weigh-in happening at the Fort Christian Brew Pub between 4 and 5 pm, and prizes from the Brew Pub for the smallest and biggest fish and the most caught. All the Lionfish must be caught that day to be eligible for the win. Whether it’s a shore or boat dive, as long as you catch a Lionfish, you could be in the running for some great prizes–and knowing that you’re helping to control the Lionfish population on St. Croix.

The contest will be judged by Dr. William Coles from Fish and wildlife, who recently attended the annual meeting of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute with Delegate to Congress Donna Christensen in Puerto Rico.  St. Croix is just in the early stages of the Lionfish spread, but Michelle Pugh from Dive Experience emphasized the importance of nipping the problem in the bud, before it gets out of control, saying that St. Croix has had the most aggressive response to the predator in the Caribbean. Michelle says that the more people who are educated about it, and help to spread the word about what to do when you see a Lionfish will really be important in helping our community stem this problem and protect our reefs. She mentioned that many people consider Lionfish to be a beautiful, exotic fish but don’t realize what a serious threat they pose to the marine environment. If as many people as possible on island are aware of the issue, the more reports we can get to Fish and Wildlife and the more we can all help to control this issue!

Registration for the Lionfish Tournament starts tomorrow, November 12th and the tournament itself will take place on December 4th, with weigh-in at the Brew Pub at 4 pm. Michelle is offering a first come, first serve $20 2-tank dive on her Dive Experience boats for anyone participating, or divers can take their own boats or do shore dives. Registration is at Dive Experience on Strand Street in Christiansted, or call the store at 773-3307. Registration is $10 and each diver must work in a buddy team. Even if you aren’t a diver, it’s sure to be a fun scene at the weigh-in at the Brew Pub, and you can learn more about these creatures and what you can do to help.

See you there and spread the word!

We don't actually recommend this method of hunting the Lionfish...

Just a reminder of the Lionfish protocol if you happen to see one…

IF YOU SEE A LIONFISH:

1-      Do not touch it! Lionfish spikes are highly poisonous!

2-     Mark the location with a cork streamer. Take a GPS reading if you can or get a detailed description of the location.

3-     Call DPNR immediately (anytime, 24/7) to report the sighting: (340) 643-0800 or (340) 773-1082.

4-     Fill out the Lionfish reporting form from DPNR.

Read more about the lionfish here:

USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources

NOAA Ocean Service Education

The access point to the waterfall hike is right next to the old quarry, near Butler Bay out on the north west corner of the island. We parked our cars, jumped out and waded right into the clear, cold fresh water creek flowing down the hill. The hike isn’t particularly difficult or steep, but you will be knee deep in water for most of the time, with rocks and pebbles underfoot, so sneakers, tevas or Crocs are a good idea for foot wear.  There are some boulders and other obstacles to make your way over and through, but we were hiking with quite a few kids under the age of 10 who were charging ahead of us, fearlessly traversing the rocks and deep water spots. Some hikers also brought their dogs to splash in the water.

There are a few points where we climbed out of the creek to hike on the banks and to make our way through some of the man made pools and falls leftover from the remnants of the quarry. The abandoned industrial graveyard of machinery overgrown with foliage and vines adds to the feeling of remoteness… just spooky enough to make it a real adventure!

As we made our way further into the jungle, we encountered a concrete waterfall from a man made structure with cold fresh water gushing over it and into the stream below. A refreshing way to cool off in the middle of the sweaty hike!

We started to see the boulders and cliffs get steeper– we had arrived! Waterfall time! Hikers lounged in their bathing suits on the faces of the rocks, letting the gushing water spray over and around them. We climbed up and up until we reached the biggest one of all, a full on waterfall stretching up a 30 foot cliff face. It was nice to sit on the rocks at the bottom and feel the cool spray from the fall splashing down. We also climbed up to the top of the waterfall, climbing up a crease in the rocks, water splashing us, grabbing on to roots and trees for stability. Once at the top, we lounged in a cool still pool feeding the waterfall and enjoyed the view of the magnificent waterfalls and trees stretching out below us.

After spending some time playing in the water and climbing around, we decided to head back. Hiking back, I didn’t want the hike to end. It’s rare that these waterfalls and creek flow like this, with fresh rainwater, and it’s such a rare treat to experience it. The canopy covered creek was such a calm and peaceful place to spend the afternoon and the waterfalls were both awe-inspiring and a blast to play in. If a week of rain affords us the chance to experience this natural wonder of St. Croix– I’ll take it!

Photos courtesy of Michele Lee

Toni sometimes welcomes visitors to her property for a tour, though she doesn’t have a regular schedule just yet. During our Saturday morning visit, Toni took us around her gorgeous and historic property on St. Croix’s South Shore, overlooking the turquoise Caribbean Sea, the green lawn dotted with various large cages where she keeps her injured birds of prey and other birds in recovery. It’s the perfect spot for this non-profit bird sanctuary, with sea breezes and tropical trees.  Toni has everything from cattle egrets to great egrets, peacocks, to chickens, a friendly (and hungry!) pelican, and most spectacularly, several red-tailed hawks, a Peregrine falcon, a kestrel and a merlin. She showed us a baby cattle egret who squawked for food and perched atop her head, and a large white crane who is fully rehabilitated but still hangs around the property for feedings.  Of course, as soon as the food came out, the pelican came up, bobbing his head and flapping his wings, going crazy for the little fish she was tossing out for snacks.

Toni then showed us her amazing birds of prey. It’s not often you can get to see, and even touch, these predators up close. These birds are with her for the long haul, as they have injuries that will never allow them to fly in the same way again, due to broken wings, lost wings, etc. Many of these birds have been shot with guns or completely lost half of wing, which renders them unable to fly, hunt or feed themselves. Toni has taken these magnificent creatures in and provides them with food, shelter and companionship. Two red-tailed hawks live in the same cage, a male and a female and have partnered and started mating. They have laid two eggs, but unfortunately, they have not resulted in a baby chick as of yet. Toni will still keep trying to get them strong and healthy enough to nurse an egg full term and maybe there will be a new red-tail on the horizon!

The birds of prey are tame enough to be petted and used for demonstrations in schools and for environmental groups that arrange tours with Toni. She also brings her blind blue pigeon Miracle to visit the kids. It’s really important to her to teach them about the proper treatment of animals– not just our pets (although that is important too), but the animals that we interact with in our natural environment of St. Croix.

Finally, Toni invited us inside to show us some of her paintings. Toni might be even more well known for her detailed and expressive watercolor and oil paintings of birds and wildlife. You can even see some of her work on the current issue of St. Croix This Week! With a background in science and training in medical illustration, Toni brings a lifelike detail to her colorful portraits, and because she is so emotionally connected to these animals, perfectly captures their essence and spirit. She usually has an annual art show at Walsh Metal Works gallery in February, so keep an eye on our calendar for her next event! It’s a rare opportunity to experience her newest work.

It was a rare and inspiring opportunity for us to get to experience the work that she dedicates herself to every day.  She is able to do this work through private donations and a supportive community, and the birds of St. Croix are lucky to have someone as skilled and caring as Toni looking after them.

And, while we were finishing up our tour, someone stopped by Toni’s house with a baby pearly-eyed thrasher they had picked up on the road. Toni accepted the little baby bird and we helped feed it in her living room… a bird lady’s work is never done.

You can make donations to the St. Croix Avian Sanctuary by calling (340) 773-1839.

We have also created a video of our visit to the St. Croix Avian Sanctuary, please watch it and share with your friends! It is linked right here:  Toni Lance and the St. Croix Bird Sanctuary

The lionfish is a species native to the Indian-Pacific Ocean, and began popping up in the Atlantic Ocean area in the early 2000s. Some speculate that their appearance may be due to their presence in exotic aquariums in the States.

Lionfish are distinctive for their brown or maroon and white striped appearance and for the long venomous spines on their fins. These spines are used defensively and are not lethal to humans, though if stung, some people often have strong reactions beyond just pain, redness and swelling, such as headaches, cramps, nausea, paralysis and seizures.

The real threat posed by the lionfish is their voracious appetite for smaller fish—it is said they will eat anything that swims. Because of their striking natural defense mechanisms in their spiny fins, they have few predators and exist at the top of the food chain. They often corner smaller fish with their intimidating spines. They have already overtaken reefs in North Carolina, and 85% of young fish on reefs in the Bahamas were lost in a matter of just 5 weeks due to the lionfish, disrupting the delicate ecosystem of varied animals that keep the reefs alive and healthy. With their presence noted in St. Croix, it is of utmost importance that we monitor their presence and preserve our world-class reefs.

Michelle Pugh at Dive Experience told me that St. Croix has the best response team to this invasive species she has seen so far, and I think that is due to the early awareness and proactive organization of the community in partnership with Fish & Wildlife. In spreading the word to locals and tourists alike, everyone who goes for a snorkel or a dive in our beautiful tropical waters can be on the lookout for these stripy, spiny predators. Michelle herself has found two lionfish at the Salt River underwater canyon.

Lionfish stay within an area of five feet for several days at a time, so divers who spot one can leave a marker and then alert DPNR Fish & Wildlife, or even just let one of the local dive shops know so they can contact the right people to search for and capture the fish.  The homemade markers are made of a metal washer connected to a wine cork wrapped in red tape. This DIY flag works well for marking a spot where a lionfish was spotted, and you can pick some up from DPNR, Fish & Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy and most dive shops, along with an information card with a photo.

IF YOU SEE A LIONFISH:

1-      Do not touch it! Lionfish spikes are highly poisonous!

2-     Mark the location with a cork streamer. Take a GPS reading if you can or get a detailed description of the location.

3-     Call DPNR immediately (anytime, 24/7) to report the sighting: (340) 643-0800 or (340) 773-1082.

4-     Fill out the Lionfish reporting form from DPNR.

Dive Experience also does free dive trips once a month for experienced divers to search for lionfish at Buck Island National Monument and East End Marine Park. It’s a great (FREE) dive trip and is also a fantastic way to give back to the community and keep our St. Croix marine ecosystems free of this dangerous predator. You do have to be experienced and have navigational skills as a diver to go on this trip. The three tank dive takes place the last Saturday of every month and includes two dives at Buck Island and one at East End Marine Park. Pack a lunch for a picnic at the beach at Buck! If you’re a SCUBA enthusiast visiting St. Croix, it’s a great way to give back to our island by searching out lionfish, and you get a free dive trip out of it!

Please spread the word about the lionfish, the only way we can really combat this threat is with widespread knowledge throughout our community. Be sure you know what a lionfish looks like and to contact authorities as soon as you see one.  Be sure to pick up a marker before your next dive or snorkel trip!

Read more about the lionfish here:

USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources

NOAA Ocean Service Education

KEEP THE VIRGIN ISLANDS BEAUTIFUL!

Residents and visitors appreciate the Virgin Islands for a number of reasons, but the gorgeous beaches and stunning underwater ecosystems definitely rank at the top of our list of favorite things about St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. That’s why it’s important that we all keep our marine life healthy and safe. The Virgin Islands Network of Environmental Educators (VINE) has launched a new awareness campaign called “Leave Paradise in its Place” to tackle the problems we face in protecting our delicate ecosystems.

Click on these links to listen to our radio spots!

1. Radio Spot 1
2. Radio Spot 2
3. Radio Spot 3

IT’S THE LAW!

All native plants and animals of the USVI are protected under the Indigenous Species Act. It is illegal to take, catch, possess, injure, harass, or kill any native animal, or plant. All fish (unless harvested for food), coral, shells, and other marine life are protected. This means no one is allowed to leave the territory with shells, corals or any other marine life in their possession, or to mail them off-island.

WHY SHOULD WE LEAVE PARADISE IN ITS PLACE?

Pieces of coral that wash up on the shore today will break down and help form the sandy white beaches of tomorrow. Please, do not remove anything other than trash from the beach.

CORAL, SAND, AND SHELLS ARE NOT GOOD SOUVENIRS!

Did you know that in the past two years alone, more than 1 ton of sand, coral and shells removed from St. Croix beaches  have been confiscated by customs agents at Henry E. Rohlsen airport from visitors wanting to bring a piece of paradise home with them?  Our famed white sand beaches are beautiful places to relax and hang out, but they are also living organisms that play an important part in the balance of our ecosystem as a whole. Sandy beaches are made of coral and shelled organisms whose remains erode into sand particles. Shells also serve as homes for hermit crabs and other sea creatures. By leaving the treasures of the beach in their place, you will be helping to keep our beaches  beautiful so they can be enjoyed for years to come.

THE BEACH IS WHERE LIFE BEGINS

Many animals use the beaches for nesting and hatching. Green, leatherback and hawksbill sea turtles come ashore throughout the year to lay their nests, and the baby turtles then make the harrowing journey from sand to sea upon hatching. These turtles are all on the Endangered Species list, though their numbers have started to climb in recent years due to positive intervention and awareness. Please be careful where you walk, drive or place your belongings when hanging out at the beach!

Starfish and sand dollars are living animals. They find food in shallow sea grass beds. Enjoy them by observing them in their natural habitats.

The Virgin Islands is well known for having some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world, and we need to keep it that way! When enjoying an underwater adventure, please respect the corals and sea life– they are integral to the underwater ecosystems and animals that use reefs for shelter and food. Because they are so delicate, reef organisms are affected by the slightest touch by a hand or snorkel fin. Please look but don’t touch when exploring underwater.

If you’re operating a boat, please be careful where you toss your anchor! You can protect our vital reefs by making sure you anchor in the sand only. Grab an underwater camera and take a few snaps of your snorkeling trip, but leave everything where it is so that other travelers and residents can enjoy the beauty of the reef!

FREE SNORKEL TOURS AT PARTICIPATING HOTELS!

One of the ways the “Leave Paradise in its Place” program will be reaching out is through guided snorkel trips once a week at four St. Croix hotels:

Conch shells are hideouts for octopus and other sea creatures. Leave them as a shelter or haven for sea life.

* Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort on Monday

* The Buccaneer Hotel on Tuesday

* Chenay Bay Beach Resort on Thursday

* Sandcastle on the Beach on Friday

Jennifer Travis will be leading the sessions, all of which start at 10 am and include a 30 minute talk about the ecology of the different habitats and the animals and organisms snorkelers might encounter along the ways. These trips are free of charge, and gear will be provided (hotels can elect to use their own gear). Eight participants can go on the trip at one time, and children under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

There are several ways you can help or get involved:

• Take advantage of FREE Snorkeling trips!
• Pick up some postcards while in the Virgin Islands, and share them with others.
• If you are a parent, make sure you encourage your kids NOT to take that shell or piece of coral off the beach, but instead gently give it back to the environment by leaving it where you found it.
• If you are a teacher or educator yourself, you may want to take some posters back to the mainland with you toshare with your students. The next time they go to the beach (wherever that is) we hope they remember to Leave Paradise in its Place.

With the power of our community, we can come together to protect our most precious natural resources and the delicate ecosystems of our island home. Won’t you join us? Please contact  the Virgin Islands Network of Environmental Educators (VINE) for more information.

It’s important to note that the Boys & Girls Club Recycle Center is in Phase One right now, which means they are only accepting cans to recycle. Any kind of aluminum beverage cans or steel cans from soup, canned vegetables and fruit, juice, etc. are okay to drop off. Please make sure everything is rinsed well to minimize pests.  Hopefully the Recycle Center will be so successful with cans that they will be able to move on to Phase Two, which is plastic bottles and then Phase Three– glass. They cannot accommodate plastic, glass or motor oil as of right now, so please don’t drop off these things until they have moved on to the new phase.

As important as the service the Recycle Center provides us islanders, it’s even more important that we show them our consistent support. They need to process at least 5 million cans to break even– it sounds like a lot but that’s only 20% of the 27 million cans that are imported into our island each year. We need to do our part to keep those cans out of the landfill and into the recycling system. Our island is too small to sustain that kind of waste and damage to our ecosystem will affect us all immediately.  If we want to keep recycling on St. Croix, we need to be sure to support the facilities that provide such fantastic resources for us.

Also, restaurant, hotel, bar and condo owners and managers– it’s really important that you make the effort to collect cans and drop them off at the center. Because such a high volume of cans move through restaurants, bars, and hotels, contributions from those places will make a huge difference in supporting the center and making sure they reach their 5 million and more mark. Making lasting environmental change is all about the small contributions and lifestyle habits we as a collective group must adopt to sustain the world around us. Just a small effort by a large group can make an enormous difference.

I’m very excited about the ability to recycle on St. Croix! I’ll raise a can to their efforts, and then promptly drop it off at the new center!

For more information, you can contact us at info@gotostcroix.com or Colleen Sullivan, who is the new director of the Recycle Center– her email address is recyclecolleen58@yahoo.com.