Chenay Bay Beach Resort, St. Croix

Growing up with a Danish grandfather who often spoke of his homeland, I was intrigued by the Danish heritage of St. Croix. My visit to this warm island coincided with the last blast of winter we always seem to experience in late March. As expected, I did hear a great deal about Denmark.

France opted to sell the island of St. Croix to Denmark in 1733. Ownership changed hands through the years, but eventually, the United States purchased St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John from the Danish government. One of the goals was to prevent the islands from becoming a German submarine base during World War I. These three dots on the map became the U.S. Virgin Islands.

While in St. Croix, I lodged at Chenay Bay Beach Resort, named for a French sea captain. The property sits on a gently terraced hillside on the northeast side of the island, just three miles from the capital city of Christiansted.

Although the entire resort has exceptional ocean views, the uppermost cottages can claim the most scenic vistas. As dusk approached and lights cast their glow across the water, I couldn't have asked for a better vantage point to witness the dramatic darkening skyline. Another tiny island called Green Cay sits directly out of Chenay Bay, adding variety to the horizon.

Mega-resorts are fine for some, but if you want to be more than a face among the masses, a smaller, more personable resort might suit. Chenay Bay has just 50 West Indies-style cottages with fully equipped kitchens and welcoming, why-not-rest-awhile front porches. The resort sits on 30 acres of a former sugar plantation, and there are camera-friendly ruins to prove it. At one time, St. Croix had more than 200 sugar plantations.

The bar and restaurant at the resort sit very near the water. For me it's the epitome of luxury to sip my morning coffee next to the sea, especially when I don't have to get up for refills!