|
|
When I first heard the word "Buccaneer" I thought of loud swaggering pirates and crowded colonial sailing ships. But despite its swashbuckling name, instead of swords clanging, the only metal I heard at the Buccaneer resort was the quiet tinkling of silverware, for this is a serene spot on the already quiet island of St. Croix in the Virgin Islands.
It's not only tranquil here but spacious. This gorgeous 340-acre beachfront has only 138 guest rooms, so in theory, I had more than three acres of my own. Of course it doesn't work that way, but there was still a lot of space. The 's three beautiful white-sand beaches-- rated the best on the island-- are never crowded. In fact, one beach is over the hillside and no one even seemed to know about it.
Next to the beaches, though, my favorite spot was an open area in the outdoor lobby that has a 280-degree view of the terraced . From this elevated vantage point I could see the green rolling hills before me, with its lush tropical flowers, pink guest houses, three crescent white-sand beaches (well, I could see two of them anyway), two freshwater pools, eight tennis courts and the 18-hole golf course,
It's an excellent course with views of the Caribbean, and when Ted Kennedy stays at his favorite house just off the fairway, he can walk out his front door to play this course. You might also see other celebrities at The Buccaneer besides Teddy, since the list of those who have stayed here is long and impressive. It ranges from people like Jimmy Carter, Gary Hart, Maureen O'Hara, Ann Klein, Morgan Freeman, and Kathleen Turner to Michael Jackson.
St. Croix native Alexander Hamilton also once stayed here, since he lived in the Great House that was once located where The Buccaneer's main building is today. Of course you won't see him, but you can see a lot else that's rich in history in town, like the 17th century fort on the right which is on the harbor in the middle of Christiansted.
The Buccaneer is only a few minutes from Christiansted, the capital of St. Croix, and it's worth going into town not only for the history but for the restaurants. Although the two dining rooms at The Buccaneer serve exquisite food with excellent service, you'll also want to try a few of the top-notch gourmet restaurants in Christiansted like Kendrick's or Truffles.
Like the Buccaneer, St. Croix is a quiet and beautiful island. It's a shame that more tourists don't choose to come to see here-but most have been pirated away by the more popular, more commercial, and less attractive nearby St. Thomas.
THE BUCCANEER
-- Paulette Cooper
Return to Caribbean | Return to Home Page |
