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Excerpted from St. John Off The Beaten
Track ©
2006 Gerald Singer
The National Park Service maintains the Visitors Center in
Cruz Bay. It is staffed by Park Rangers who provide a wealth
of information about St. John and the Virgin Islands National
Park.
Schedules and descriptions of Park activities, such as the
guided Reef Bay Hike, snorkeling trips and children’s
programs are available. Reservations can be made at the desk.
Books, topographical maps, trails guides and nautical charts
are offered for sale. History buffs can buy an inexpensive
copy of the Oxholm Map of St. John drawn in 1800, showing the
roads, plantations and estates of that era. Many brochures
and pamphlets can be obtained free of charge.
The Visitors Center also features several interesting displays
including a large relief map in the center of the room. This
map is a miniature St. John, complete with mountains, valleys,
guts, salt ponds, lowlands, bays, headlands, roads and trails.
Hikers will love this exhibition!
An entertaining and informative
video about St. John can be seen upon request. This is a good
way to spend time downtown while waiting for the ferry or as
an alternative to shopping. It is a five-minute walk from the
Visitors Center to the ferry dock and a one minute walk to
Mongoose Junction. |
