St. Croix

In the U.S. Virgin Islands, if you want to go shopping, cruise to St. Thomas, and if you want to go back to nature, make a beeline for St. John. But if you want to go back in time, set sail for St. Croix.

History is more than a footnote on this former Danish crown colony, where the sugar mill ruins and architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries in the harborside towns of Christiansted and Frederiksted are daily reminders of the past. The best way to explore? Follow the road signs of the Heritage Trail, a self-guided driving tour that links attractions and landmarks across the island, from Salt River, (where Columbus landed in 1493 on his second voyage to the New World) to the handsomely restored Whim Greathouse, a window to the island's early plantation life-style.

If history isn't your favorite subject, you can work on your swing at the renowned Carambola Golf Club or hit the beach. For a day trip to remember, take a tour to Buck Island just off the north coast. It's an 800-acre underwater national park, with a pair of outstanding snorkeling trails. And the beach on the island is the prime picnic territory.