Living on St. Croix With Kids – Why I Loved Growing Up Here

When people ask me what it was like growing up on St. Croix, I usually smile before answering. It’s hard to explain in just a few words, because it wasn’t just about living near the beach or having warm weather year-round. It was the rhythm of life here—slower, simpler, and deeply connected to nature and community.

As a child, weekends didn’t mean malls or movie theaters. They meant packing a cooler and heading to the beach with family and friends. Sometimes it was Rainbow Beach, where we’d swim until our fingers pruned and listened to live music as the sunset, and other times it was Altona Lagoon, where we fished, shrimped and crabbed. We didn’t need much. A towel, a few snacks, and the Caribbean sea were more than enough. The island was our playground—and it still is for so many kids growing up here today.

School days were filled with familiar faces. Class sizes were small, and it wasn’t unusual to have cousins, neighbors, or lifelong friends sitting beside you. Teachers knew your name—and your parents’ too. There’s comfort in that kind of closeness, even if it meant you couldn’t get away with much.

But it wasn’t just the sunshine or the freedom to roam that made growing up on St. Croix special. It was the culture. We celebrated local holidays with steel pan music and parades. We learned the importance of respecting elders, of sharing what we had, and of taking care of our island. Kids were raised not just by their parents, but by their neighbors, teachers, church members—by the whole village, really.

Of course, no place is perfect. We didn’t have every big-name store or the latest entertainment, and sometimes that felt limiting. But in hindsight, those “limitations” gave us something greater: imagination. We got creative. We made our own fun. And we built strong, lasting friendships along the way.

Now, as an adult, I often reflect on just how much my childhood here shaped who I am. It taught me to value community, nature, and the little things. It also makes me incredibly proud to share this place with all of you—both those just starting their journey here and those who’ve called it home for generations.

If you’re thinking about raising kids on St. Croix, just know this—it might not look like the childhood you grew up with, but that’s kind of the beauty of it. It’s a place where kids can still climb trees, run barefoot, and grow up in a community that truly looks out for them—whether you’re new to the island or rooted deeply in its soil.

So if you're considering your piece of St. Croix, I’d love to help you find a place. Reach out today!