Barbados
Vacations in Barbados can be as peaceful or as active as you like. Chill out on the pink-and-white sand of the Southern Caribbean with a stiff rum punch in hand watching the clouds drift by, or go snorkeling, wind surfing, kiteboarding, kayaking, sailing, scuba diving or swim with the green turtles. World class golf courses, music festivals, and exquisite dining by the sea.
There are plenty of reasons to visit Barbados, whose West Indian and British influences give the island a unique culture all its own. Barbados has the third highest literacy rate in the world and as a result, Barbados experiences low crime, good jobs, and a generally high quality of life.
In sharp contrast to other resort-laden Caribbean islands, Barbados is still carpeted with sugar cane crops, dotted with the occasional weathered windmill, as well as English churches whose first stones were laid well over three centuries ago.
Barbados is free of chain hotels and mega-resorts. In fact, no building can be higher than a royal palm, or three to four stories. All of Barbados' beaches are public, and open to tourists and locals alike.
The South Coast, is a good choice for younger travelers and those on a budget as well as families.
The atmosphere is lively, and there are plenty of small resorts and beach condos for rent, and there are comparatively cheap places to eat, and superb fresh fish dinners at Oistins.
St. Lawrence Gap also located on the South Coast is the center for shopping, restaurants, pubs, and nightlife. At night, the sidewalks come alive with food vendors. The Ship Inn, an English pub that's been around for decades in the Gap serves pints of stout and shepherd's pie, but it also serves a mean rum punch and flying fish and chips
It's a well-known fact that McDonald's failed miserably on Barbados, but you will find Kentucky Fried Chicken. Bajans eat well, and the island offers a range of culinary choices. Flying fish is one of the most common fish offered on menus (the fish is marinated in lime, salt and herbs, then broiled, grilled or seared). Street vendors serve delicious snacks such as conch fritters, fried kingfish and fishcakes.
Barbados, which sits far outside the hurricane belt, has not had a serious storm hit its shores since 1950. The constant breeze of the trade winds give Barbados
a mild and pleasant tropical climate.
The trade winds blow directly south from Boston to Bridgetown, the island's capital city to form a triangle with London in what was the most active and profitable shipping route of the day.
Ties between Barbados and the US first started when the first president of the United States, George Washington lived for a year in Barbados 1751 when he was 19. The house was recently discovered and is presently being restored with TLC by the Barbados National Trust.
For more detailed information
about Bartbados visit -
www.visitbarbados.org/default.aspx
Barbados Tourism Video
a must watch video that
captures the essence of
the magical allure of
Barbados....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GJRs3M8uKQ
a video of one of the
many fans of Barbados