It doesn't take much imagination to picture what St. Croix must have looked like to the pirates that preyed on passing ships in the 1700s. As my wife, Brenda, and I looked out from the terrace of our waterfront room at The Buccaneer^THC, admiring the view of a turquoise sea and protected cove, it was easy to imagine smugglers and pirates choosing these shores as the perfect hiding place for their stolen loot. No wonder the island was a hotbed of activity for pirates in their day!

Brenda and I, on the other hand, found The Buccaneer and the island of St. Croix to be peaceful and relaxing, a perfect match for our laid-back travel style. We tend to seek out little-known places and those offering an authentic experience, while hopefully getting to know the locals. To that end, our plan was to rent a car and spend the majority of our days exploring the island, knowing we had a fantastic place to come home to each evening.