Minnesotans Migrating South

Hey there,

I am a Minnesotan myself. I live in STX in winter and Minneapolis in summer. Been doing that for 10 years now. LOVE IT.

1. I think that will only be sufficient in the short term. For the first month or two, it would work, provided you live close to where you work. Remember that Taxis don't run 24 hours, so if you work a bar resturaunt job, they might not be running when you get off of work. Taxi's can also be unreliable, once in awhile they won't show up when they're supposed to. Here's the thing about STX that some newbies don't realize: it's really an automobile island. It's bigger than you think, going from point A to point B can literally be 20 miles taking you 30-45 minutes, sometimes more depending on traffic. To really experience the island to it's fullest, you pretty much NEED to have a car. Expect to pay $3000-$5000 more for any given car than you would in the States. There are several dealerships on the island, as well as many private parties selling. Check the local papers (St. Croix Avis) and this site. Are there young people who move here and don't get a car? Sure there are, but they are definitely the minority. Also, many of them never get out to see the island. (I know some 20-somethings that work out at the VI Sustainable Farm Institute in the rainforest. Most of them don't have cars. Some of them have told me that they don't get out of the farm very much at all.)

2. There are plenty of places for 20-somethings... pretty much the whole dang island. I started coming here in my mid-20's and many, many others do the same. STX is a great place for people your age. Lot's of fun people out drinking and having fun on any given night. Plenty of new people just like yourselves come every year. (Some love it and stay for years, but many don't last more than one season.) Obvioiusly, Christiansted will have the greatest concentration of bars/resturaunts to check out.

3. Sharkeys is arguably the biggest, best sports bar on the island, and it's right in Christiansted towards the east end of town. Any game you wanna watch will be there. Also No Bones cafe usually has games on. It's about 100 yards behind Sharkeys.

4. Employment will be the most crucial thing for you. Jobs are still out there, but it ain't as easy as it was just five years ago. There just aren't as many tourists the last few years. Just bust your butt and apply everywhere. And be sure to be friendly to everyone and to network. Word of mouth is EVERYTHING on St. Croix! It's a small community so connections go a long, long way.

5. Make yourself aware of the local customs. DON'T be the annoying mainlander that assumes everything should work the way it does in the States. Examples: A) ALWAYS say "good morning", "good afternoon" or "good night". ALWAYS. The locals consider it rude if you do not. B) NEVER walk around town with your shirt off. I know it seems wierd being that it's on the tropics, but that's jus the way it is. If a cop sees you without your shirt on he will chastise you and insist you put one on. C) When driving, it's customary to stop and let other cars by. Be prepared for vehicles in front of you stopping suddenly. And don't forget to drive on the LEFT side of the road.

6. Never been to Long Reef. Sorry.

Hope that helps! I usually don't write this much, but I had to help a fellow Minnesotan out. If you need anything else, just holler. 🙂

Nick -
I am from MN also. When I moved here (years ago) I lived and worked downtown and did not have a car for the first 18 months I lived here. It is do-able but not always fun. You have to taxi or borrow a car to get groceries and water (can't drink the tap water here) and it's not fun walking with all of your laundry to the laundromat (very few apartments have any type of laundry facilities).
Sharky's is technically "in" Christiansted, however, it is about a mile from downtown and part of the way there is without sidewalks. Very walkable but be careful if walking it at night (cars are not always the best at watching for pedestrians). Sharkey's and No Bones are the places to go see a Vikes game. There are bars on the boardwalk downtown that do show games but just what is on the major networks.
I have never been in the Long Reef condos but have known a few people who lived there and liked it
The best advice I can give you is to be careful. Too many people come down here and get lost in the party scene. I'm not saying you shouldn't drink but be sure you keep your wits about you.
Good Luck!
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Thanks for all the info guys. We have been researching a lot but advice from the horses mouth is always best. It helps to calm the nerves a bit. My biggest worries are jobs, transportation, safety and vikings games:) I'm a college graduate so hopefully that helps but also have been working with concrete for years and my buddy Scotty's a painter. Our condo is right by a grocery store and we have laundry there too supposedly. Is it too hilly to bike? I have no problem biking 10 miles or so if its not too hilly. And is it safe to walk around at night as long as you're with someone?

Some areas are hilly but from Long Reef to town it's not too bad. Be sure to have a really good bike lock. It is safe to walk around at night in pairs as long as you stay in the right areas (just like anywhere - I wouldn't walk around northeast Minneapolis at night) and you will learn those areas pretty quickly.

OMFG, you've got to be kidding divinggirl. I've lived in NE Mpls for 13 years and I've NEVER felt unsafe in NE Mpls and wouldn't hesitate to walk anywhere there at any time. Perhaps you meant NORTH Mpls?

And, Nick, the main issue with biking is A) the roads are narrow with no shoulders B) some drivers are hoorrible in STX and simply do not watch out for bikers or pedestrians, especially at night. Just be careful man, and I mean it. Not to burst your bubble, but I would NEVER bike on some of the roads in STX at night.

nugblazer - check your pm's

Nugblazer - I would most likely not even drive into North Mpls alone at night but yes, I meant NorthEast Mpls - some areas are very safe but others, not so much for walking alone at night.

move to Key West, Miami, San Diego, New York or Maui instead.