Tell me about West StX

Almost everyone loves their own "neighborhood" on this Island, everyone I know who lives west loves it, except if they have to commute east for work. 🙂

I've been East for over 2 years and only wish I were closer to "center Isle" for the conveniences of food shopping, Restaurants, and The hospital (I've been a few too many times over the past year)

But we love our neighbors, our home, our views, our commutes are fairly easy.... we both work near C'sted.

I live "near west" on the northshore and I like where I live too. A lot depends on where you wind up working. Make sure you live and work in the same general area.

Speaking of living/working in close proximity, is it really necessary to have a car? I have a good bike, and good legs also for walking. I really don't want to hassle with tags, registration, insurance, gas, etc. etc. It's a necessity where I live, but from what I can tell, my commute to work is more miles than any of the islands ae long!! lol

i think you will find it 'really necessary' to have a car. You will be extremely limited on many fronts without one.

Yes, STX without a car isn't something I'd ever want to attempt. You really do need one here. It's a very common misconception for newbies here -- many think that because we're a small tropical island, a car isn't necessary. Nothing could be further from the truth.

As for the two sides of the island, they are very different. There is a ton of info online, do some searching and you'll find all you need to know.

Fsted has the best sunsets - nothing beats a stroll down Strand street or the Pier at sunset. As far as night life, not much going on there are a few places but after you've been there a couple of times it gets boring

Jamison, it's funny. The island is not large, but I live "mid island" and F'sted seems SO far away sometimes!!! I think it's about 11 miles from where I live, but traveling that 11 miles (which might take about 15 minutes in the states) can take up to 45 minutes here. Everything is relative, and becomes much more so, down here.

I guess what I was asking is, as locals, what are some of the more interesting things to do on the west end, for a guy who likes being outside or on the water. What are your favorite parks and things.

Some things to do out west on the water and on land:

Diving (reefs, wrecks, blue water, pier day or night)
Jet ski rentals
Stand Up Paddle Boarding
ATV Tours
Kayaking
Hiking tours in rainforest
Horse riding tours
Sandy Point
Volleyball at Rainbow beach
barbecues/beach bonfires
swimming/snorkelling/ hanging out at beach at any west end beach
Botanical gardens
Beer drinking pigs/Norma's (especially for roti on Fridays)
Whim plantation
Frederiksted walking tours
Fort tours
Sunset jazz 3rd Friday of every month
Live music at rainbow beach/coconuts
Blue Moon Jazz
Trivia at rainbow on Thursday evenings
Cruise ship stuff when ship is in town (vendors, special activities)
Restaurants: Bernies Beach Cafe, Rainbow, Coconuts, Lost Dog Pub, Blue Moon, Norma's, Polly's at the Pier, LA Cafe, Smoothie stand in rainforest, Turtles Deli, Turtles After Dark, Sandcastles, West End Grill, Rasta veggie place, Roti at many local spots. Napoleons pizza.

There are lots of activities and things to do out west. Honestly, I think right now with the combination of watersports and rainforest activities, there is as much to do out west as east. There is a vibrant transplant (both young and old people) and local community living out west. I think the different groups mingle more out west too. Since the cruise ships have started coming in, Frederiksted has picked up somewhat. I love living West! To me Christiansted is a million miles away...and I'm fine with that.

stxem, thank you, that's what I was looking for. I'm an outdoorsy kind of guy.

another question, I know the farmers market is there, but what about natural food stores. Any of them?

I have been back to St. Croix for seven years now.

First three of those were living in Frederiksted, last four were in Christiansted. Although I am happy about the three years I lived in Frederiksted (it gave me perspective), I would never move back there.

Way to dirty, much more crime and nothing to do after 9 p.m.

i think west end is gorgeous. i live mid island and think i have the best of both worlds...east end seemed much too isolated. mid island i am close to everything i need and venturing to the east and west is kind of an adventure of sorta. but yah, i do feel less safe in f-sted after dark than c-sted. but i'm a wuss. lol.

Some things to do out west on the water and on land:

Diving (reefs, wrecks, blue water, pier day or night)
Jet ski rentals
Stand Up Paddle Boarding
ATV Tours
Kayaking
Hiking tours in rainforest
Horse riding tours
Sandy Point
Volleyball at Rainbow beach
barbecues/beach bonfires
swimming/snorkelling/ hanging out at beach at any west end beach
Botanical gardens
Beer drinking pigs/Norma's (especially for roti on Fridays)
Whim plantation
Frederiksted walking tours
Fort tours
Sunset jazz 3rd Friday of every month
Live music at rainbow beach/coconuts
Blue Moon Jazz
Trivia at rainbow on Thursday evenings
Cruise ship stuff when ship is in town (vendors, special activities)
Restaurants: Bernies Beach Cafe, Rainbow, Coconuts, Lost Dog Pub, Blue Moon, Norma's, Polly's at the Pier, LA Cafe, Smoothie stand in rainforest, Turtles Deli, Turtles After Dark, Sandcastles, West End Grill, Rasta veggie place, Roti at many local spots. Napoleons pizza.

There are lots of activities and things to do out west. Honestly, I think right now with the combination of watersports and rainforest activities, there is as much to do out west as east. There is a vibrant transplant (both young and old people) and local community living out west. I think the different groups mingle more out west too. Since the cruise ships have started coming in, Frederiksted has picked up somewhat. I love living West! To me Christiansted is a million miles away...and I'm fine with that.

Stand up paddle boarding is big in St. Croix? That's really cool! i thought you needed really calm waters to do that activity?

Many of our bays ARE very calm much of the time.

My favorite outdoor thing to do in the West End is bicycle up Creque Dam road and make a right at Victory Camp continuing further up to some gorgeous views then coast back down Jolly Hill Road to Mahogany Road and back to town -or vice versa. On Sundays I often bicycle to the Frederiksted pool then jog along the shore down to Sandy Point beach where the "beautiful people" seem to like to hang out . I find that to be a much easier way to get there than driving to Sandy Point beach the way everybody else does. Years ago going out with Earthwatch to Sandy Point at night to weigh 2000 pound leatherback turtles when they come in to lay eggs was fun but a different organization named Geocon is in charge of doing that now and I don't know what their policy is on tagalong's.

My favorite thing to do out west is run or volunteer for the St. Croix Scenic 50 mile ultramarathon. Of course it's 50 miles so if you prefer C'sted it goes through there too! Yes, by now you may have realized I've hijacked this thread for the shameless promotion of St. Croix's newest endurance challenge. I hope ya'll don't mind, maybe you'll even discover something new about the island we all love. Have a blessed day and good luck to Jamison on the move!

My favorite outdoor thing to do in the West End is bicycle up Creque Dam road and make a right at Victory Camp continuing further up to some gorgeous views then coast back down Jolly Hill Road to Mahogany Road and back to town -or vice versa. On Sundays I often bicycle to the Frederiksted pool then jog along the shore down to Sandy Point beach where the "beautiful people" seem to like to hang out . I find that to be a much easier way to get there than driving to Sandy Point beach the way everybody else does. Years ago going out with Earthwatch to Sandy Point at night to weigh 2000 pound leatherback turtles when they come in to lay eggs was fun but a different organization named Geocon is in charge of doing that now and I don't know what their policy is on tagalong's.

That all sounds great. What's the Fsted pool? Can you just go swim in any water you want to?

My favorite outdoor thing to do in the West End is bicycle up Creque Dam road and make a right at Victory Camp continuing further up to some gorgeous views then coast back down Jolly Hill Road to Mahogany Road and back to town -or vice versa. On Sundays I often bicycle to the Frederiksted pool then jog along the shore down to Sandy Point beach where the "beautiful people" seem to like to hang out . I find that to be a much easier way to get there than driving to Sandy Point beach the way everybody else does. Years ago going out with Earthwatch to Sandy Point at night to weigh 2000 pound leatherback turtles when they come in to lay eggs was fun but a different organization named Geocon is in charge of doing that now and I don't know what their policy is on tagalong's.

That all sounds great. What's the Fsted pool? Can you just go swim in any water you want to?

The pool is a swimming pool and park at the end of the ocean road that goes south from the fish pier, kind of a south extension of Strand St. The north end of Sandy Point starts at the pool and I figure it's another mile and a half to 2 miles further down to the southern tip end and it's popular beach.

Well, everything that didn't sell is being picked up by the salvation army in the morning, my duffle bag is packed and I'm ready.

Tomorrow at last call, my ride brings me to the airport and away I go.

Safe travels!

Best of luck to you. I am so envious!