On a non-cruise ship day Frederiksted seems like a ghost town, but every other Wednesday is Harbour Night, when cruise ships stay late and the town stays open with special entertainments. The rain forest to the north of town is worth a visit. In the 1950s Laurance Rockefeller bought about half of the island but later donated his holdings to establish a national park which was to take up about two-thirds of the predominantly mountainous island. The trail can be hiked without the ranger, but the national park trip provides a boat at the bottom of the trail so you do not need to walk back up the three-mile hill. The trails are well-maintained and clearly signed with interpretive information along the way.
Insect repellent is essential.
A seashore walk in shallow water, using a glass bottomed bucket to discover sea life, is recommended. An informative, historical bus tour goes to the remote East End. There are evening programmes at Cinnamon Bay and Maho Bay camps, where rangers show slides and movies and hold informal talks. All rights reserved.