This mural is the work of Macallan Durkin, who completed the piece in 2020. It is a simple but nice…read morepiece, on it left side, it depicts a woman, in a green and yellow sundress, pushing a shopping cart with some bread, cola, a watermelon, chips, oranges and milk in it. Above her and the cart reads "2020 MINI MART". On the right side of the mural you will find 8 palm trees of varying sizes. I am not sure of the link between the two images, but they are painted nice. It is what I would call a conversation piece. The mural caught my eye as I was driving down the road, so I had to take a closer look and see what it was about. The mural is on the side of some type of warehouse, so, parking to take a closer look was not an issue. I just pulled right in. Durkin is an up and coming local artist who has already did a lot of nice murals across the island. Anyway, enough about that. As with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other murals and attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

This fort, which is located in the heart of Frederiksted on the West side of St Croix, is also…read moreknown as Frederiksfort. This Danish Fort was built between 1752 and 1760 to defend their economic interest from sea attacks. It has bright red and white walls, which are contrast to the yellow and white walls of its sister fort, Fort Christiansvaern. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in1996. The Fort was site of some significant events including the Emancipation Revolt of 1848, the 1878 Labor Riot and Fire burn, and one of the 1917 ceremonies transferring the Virgin Islands to the US. It costs $5 to tour the fort and they only take MasterCard and cash. I had neither, so I had to run to a nearby ATM to get some cash out. The fort has some exhibits set up in some of it rooms. Some of the exhibits include sea glass, the acquisition of the Virgin Islands, the slave trade, a replica of the Commandant's Quarters decorated with furniture from that period, architecture for that period, and slave revolts. You will find some cannons that were used for the fort's defense along the waterfront. It looks like they are pointing at the cruise ship pier. $5 is not a lot of money for a museum entry fee and this is about the right amount for this place. As a bonus, you will find free parking in a lot across the street by the playground and there is also free street parking available. The fort is in pretty bad shape and is in need of some major restoration and renovations. The exhibits are ok. Some of them, especially the slavery ones were damaged by a hurricane, are faded, and very hard to read. There is also very poor lighting in the slavery exhibit area. They do have some nice artifacts in the exhibits such as shackles, wooden fences from the era, and whips. A lot of the fort is outdoors and even though the exhibit rooms are indoors, converted from rooms in the actual Fort, there is no air conditioning. So, it can get kind of hot. With that being said, you may want to bring some water. This place is OK. I spent about 45 minutes here. It is nowhere near as well preserved as Fort Christiansvaern, but it does have more exhibits than that fort though. It is a cool place to check out for history buffs or if you are in the area. There are a ton of other attractions in the immediate area to see including Buddhoe Park, the freedom statues, Frederiksted beach and a very nice playground.

If you are a history buff, you will enjoy this location. They did a great job of really pulling you…read moreback into time so you can see the horrors and reality of colonization for the time. It will give you a true perspective of how this island came to be and make you appreciate, what happened to make this is where it is now

Such amazing art! Every where in the world that i travel to i collect art. So finding this by…read morestumbling into it was the best part. As soon as getting off of the cruise ship you walk into the port and see this shop. I came in thinking it was just a museum but realized it was that as well as a gallery. I bought 2 original pieces from here.

What a delightful art gallery on the main road within walking distance from the cruise port. Local…read moreart including paintings and statues are upstairs over the little shop. There is a little garden outback, with chairs, more art, and lots of luscious plants. We highly recommend this stop!

Interesting museum in a beautiful building with a huge sculpture garden out back. I love the…read morefacade. This is a museum with a purpose -- to show off Puerto Rican art. We enjoyed it. We spent 45 minutes in the building. The sculpture garden takes as much time as you want to give it.

Best museum we visited out of three, truly outstanding…read more Well curated and some really special pieces. Building was beautiful. Also good price, clean bathrooms and a water bubbler.

Gorgeous view and an easy drive up and lookout point if you aren't mobile enough to enjoy on foot…read more There is a sea turtle reserve trail just down the hill and on the left that was a spectacular hike. No cell service down there and a quarter of a mile area marked "beware of bees".

This is more than just a monument; it is a sundial. Even though it is commonly mistaken for Point…read moreUdall, the Easternmost point in the US. It is not. It is situated behind and above the Point. It was built for the New Year's celebration in 2000 and welcoming of the new millennium. It marks the azimuth of the first United States sunrise of that year and was designed by by Bill Rich. The monument consists of 4 identical triangular pieces sitting up on their back sides with the points pointing up to the sky. They kind of resemble a door stop. They are made from stone and mortar and have a metal pole placed vertically in between the 4 structures. There is a brass information placard on one of the structures that gives some information about the monument. This is an attention getting piece that welcomes you to Point Udall. It is very fitting there and I am glad that I was able to see it. Sadly, the monument (the pole and the stone) has become an object for people to write their names on and graffiti. It could use a little love. There is no designated parking at the site. I, along with all the other visitors just parked along the wall in the circle. There are a few benches across from the monument across from each other and you will see some specular views. I highly recommend checking this place out while you are on the island. The good news is that it is a package deal and you also get to check out Point Udall, both at the very low price of free.

Checking out El Morro (Castillo San Felipe del Morro) in San Juan, PR was 1 of those experiences…read morethat really stays w/ you long after you leave. This historic Spanish fort was built in the 1500s & played a major role in defending San Juan from sea attacks during the colonial era. Walking through it, you can really feel the weight of that history. The thick stone walls, open courtyards, tunnels, and lookout points all reflect how strategic & intense life had to be back then, especially w/ the constant threat of war & invasion. What really hit me most emotionally was just being there & taking it all in. Standing on the grounds overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, it was easy to imagine what it must have been like centuries ago(soldiers watching the horizon, waiting for ships to appear). There's something powerful about physically being in a place that played such a major role in PR's history. It was honestly a really memorable moment for me. Not just b/c of what I learned, but b/c of how it felt being surrounded by so much history in 1 place. It gave me a deeper appreciation for San Juan & the stories built into the island itself.

El Morro is it must see for anyone who visit old San Juan. It's inexpensive to get in, however, you…read morecan use your America the Beautiful Pass valid for up to four guests. There are so many different exhibits and displays available to take plenty of photos. There's a small gift shop and clean restrooms available. It is handicap accessible. Be sure to secure a brochure guide on your way in. This will Hope keep you on track so that you don't overlook anything.

I had a really good time on our cruise! The port itself…read morewasn't too far from the airport and was easy to get an uber around. Coming onto the port was quick and easy! Getting off the port was the challenge! Even waiting for an uber or shuttle would've taken at least an hour. We decided to walk off the port before calling a cab. The port exit was long and there wasn't much in the area. It was at least a mile or two walk from port exit to the main road. There wasn't much to see after exiting the port. Kinda sad it's not as built up as others we've been to.

Pulling into the Port of San Juan during our Eastern Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean was…read morehonestly one of the most memorable moments of the whole trip. Waking up and stepping out on the deck to see the colorful buildings of Old San Juan, the historic forts sitting on the cliffs, and the bright blue water surrounding the harbor was absolutely incredible. It felt like sailing straight into a postcard. The port itself was super easy to navigate once we got off the ship. Everything felt organized and welcoming, and there was a great energy with cruise passengers exploring, ships docked along the harbor, and the ocean breeze coming through. One of the best things about this port is the location. You literally step off the Royal Caribbean ship and within minutes you're walking through the historic streets of Old San Juan. The cobblestone roads, colorful colonial buildings, shops, and amazing restaurants are all right there. It's one of those rare cruise stops where you don't even need transportation because so much is within walking distance. The scenery around the harbor is also next level. Watching ships come into the bay with the massive stone forts guarding the entrance makes the whole arrival feel dramatic and historic. It really adds to the experience of visiting Puerto Rico. Out of all the stops on our Eastern Caribbean cruise, San Juan was definitely one of the highlights. Between the views, the history, and how easy it is to explore right from the port, it's an amazing place to visit. Pulling in on a Royal Caribbean ship made the whole experience feel even more epic.

The iconic statue is a symbol of freedom in the US Virgin Islands. It is located in front of the…read moreCustoms House and sits in what is called the Freedom Fountain. The fountain is dry though and does not have any water. The sculpture is one of two statues of Gottlieb in the area. The other being in front of the bandstand. It is the work of Ghanaian-American sculptor Bright Bimpong and depicts Gottlieb, also called General Buddhoe, blowing a conch shell. Legend has it that Gottlieb blow a conch shell setting off a slave revolt of thousands of slaves that ultimately resulted in the Danish governor freeing them. It was dedicated in 1998, on the 150th anniversary of the Islands' emancipation proclamation. The sculpture has seen better days and has that green staining the you see a lot in older statues. The statue was one of a trio, known as "Freedom Statues," that were commissioned by Walter G. Brunner of St. Croix, an art collector and political consultant to former governor Roy L. Schneider," said Lonnie Willis, president of the St. John Historical Society. I really like what it stands for to the island and its significance a lot. There is a free parking lot, across the street, within a reasonable walking distance from the statue and there is also free street parking available as well. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area such as the Fort or the Clock Tower, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

While walking down El Paseo De Los Presidentes, my family and I were astonished at all the…read moredifferent monuments and memorials nearby. One of the memorials is the Holocaust Memorial. This memorial was dedicated on March 29, 2012 in memory of the atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis in Europe before and during World War II. The sculpture in the memorial is titled: "In the Shadow of Their Absence". The artists, Michael Berkowicz and Bonnie Srolovitz as per an article on Prweb stated this about this monument: "'in this new Holocaust Memorial we want to share symbolism that visitors, whether Jewish or not, can relate to. The key message of the sculpture is not only to acknowledge the loss of the victims themselves, but also the impact of their loss extrapolated (the generations who would have come from those lost) on society of the future. The message of the Path of the Righteous is to share, through personal stories, that one person CAN make a difference..."A Holocaust memorial," he added, "more than any public monument, is art with a responsibility, is art with a mission, a statement, art with a lesson. This Memorial is about a dark and tragic moment in the history of mankind; it is about life and death, about pain and suffering, it is about loss. But most of all, it is about remembering, about memory. The shapes of the flame at the top of the sculpture contain the Hebrew word "Zachor," meaning remember, never forget." Sadly, although the nations of the world proclaimed they would never forget, that they would never allow something like this to happen again, we have not kept that promise. The killing fields of Cambodia, the horrors of Rwanda, the deaths in Darfur, the blood spilled in Bosnia and so many others... the world continues to turn a blind eye to the wholesale slaughter of entire peoples. We ignore the atrocities that occur due to apathy and it not affecting our own petty and narrowly defined national interests. I am reminded of a quote by the philosopher Phillip Hallie: "If history is a nightmare, it is because there is so much cruelty in it. In peace as in war members of our species are cruel to one another, and human progress seems to consist not so much in diminishing that cruelty as in finding more impersonal and efficient ways to crushing and grinding one another." Heaven help us all.. may our children be better than this and may they both forgive us.

Moving and meaningful tribute to the souls lost in the Holocaust and to the righteous among nations…read morewho risked their lives to save countless others. Very informative plaques, and a memorial to 17 Puerto Ricans on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, murdered in a terrorist attack. Tastefully and beautifully done.

Exploring Viejo San Juan (Old San Juan) was such an adventure & it was so much fun!I felt like Dora…read morethe Explorer! I visited the castle, explored different historic spots like El Morro,ate @ a couple of popular restaurants,went shopping,& saw so much art throughout the city. Not to mention the gorg ocean views!There were photo ops everywhere I turned which made it even more enjoyable just walking around & taking everything in. It's such a beautiful place w/ so much character & history. The colors, the architecture,& the overall vibe really made it feel special & memorable!

Absolutely Amazing!!…read more The History, the culture, the views, the food, the vibes, the music is a 10/10!! So thankful and grateful for this experience The architecture is beautiful, the colors are so vibrant Cute quant shops, bars and restaurants, cobble stone streets and cafes I loved it here