Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge
Sandy Point is a beach on St. Croix's southwestern tip that doubles as a leatherback sea turtle habitat and nearly 400-acre natural refuge. The setting may be familiar from the film "The Shawshank Redemption." The location in the film was said to be Mexico, but the final scene was actually shot on Sandy Point's beach. You can swim in the shallow waters or sunbathe on the buff-colored sand during the day. You might catch some turtles nesting their eggs in Sandy Point's 2-mile stretch if you're lucky.
The beach was praised by reviewers as being immaculate and well worth a visit. They warned that the trade-off is that there will be no restrooms or other amenities, as well as limited shade options. Also, keep in mind that there are only a few parking lots available, and the beach is located at the end of a long unpaved road.
From September to March, the refuge has very limited hours, only welcoming visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays (April through August is when the turtles nest). Visit the official website of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for more information.
- Location: 71 Route 63
- Price & Hours: Free-Sat-Sun 10 a.m.-4 p.m. September-March
- Details: Beaches, Free, Parks and Gardens TYPE,1 to 2 hours TIME TO SPEND
