Recommend January 2012 - (Page 34)

ANTIGUA Antigua Antigua’s ambiance is one part Caribbean comfort, one part British elegance, with its history deeply rooted in British colonialism. Nelson’s Dockyard served as the base of England’s naval fleet during the 18th century, led by Admiral Horatio Nelson, and today, the dockyard has been restored, giving visitors a glimpse of what life was like for sailors who lived and worked here. The Dockyard Museum sits inside a building that once served as the Naval Officer’s Home, while the onsite restaurant seats its customers in an area formerly reserved for the seamen’s galley. Visitors can look down on Nelson’s Dockyard and the bay it once commanded at Shirley Heights, another former military outpost set on a cliff on the opposite shore. The remnants of its military errands remain here in the form of gun emplacements and a monument to soldiers. But today, the area is more well known as a site for weekly parties. Each Sunday, tourists and locals alike gather here to enjoy BBQ, drink and dance to local reggae from the afternoon into the night. And that’s not the only place to kick-back and relax. Antigua boasts 365 beaches—one for every day of the year—and plenty are totally deserted. Divers and snorkelers will want to head to Cades Reef, a 2-mile stretch of tropical fish habitat where explorers can count dozens of species. Nature lovers will want to make a trip to Antigua’s sister island of Barbuda, a largely undeveloped area with no cities to speak of. The birds here far outnumber the people, especially at the Frigate Bird Sanctuary at Wa’Omoni Beach Park. Here, the birds thrive year-round, but are especially fun to watch during the mating season that lasts from September to April. Facts • Best time to go: November to May • Fun Fact: Barbuda is circled with the wrecks of 17th century ships, many of which haven’t been officially explored • getting there: Delta flies from New York (JFK) and Atlanta to Antigua • entry documents: Valid passport • currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar; U.S. currency is widely accepted • must-try local Food: Locally caught seafood • Best Buys: Local handicrafts, including palm-frond bowls and woodcarvings • inFormation please: Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority— antigua-barbuda.org aruBa Aruba Facts • Best time to go: Year-round—Aruba lies outside the hurricane belt • Fun Fact: “Bon bini” means “hello” in Aruba’s native language, Papiamento • getting there: Delta flies from New York (JFK & LGA) and Atlanta to Aruba • entry documents: Valid passport • currency: Aruban florin • must-try local Food: Goat stew • Best Buys: Duty-free goods like liquor, jewelry and designer clothing • inFormation please: Aruba Tourism Authority—aruba.com Aruba’s capital of Oranjestad is one of the Caribbean’s most modern cities, peppered with upscale boutiques, hip restaurants and plenty of exciting nightlife. It’s a cruise port, but there’s more to this town than duty-free shopping—though there is a wealth of designer clothing, accessories, jewelry, liquor and more to choose from. It’s also home to action-packed casinos, like the ones at the Renaissance Aruba. Many have theaters attached that draw in gamers with Vegas-style shows featuring flamboyantly dressed dancers and singers. Not far from there, Palm Beach is Aruba’s traditional tourist hotspot: a wide, serene beach lined with resorts from the subdued Westin Aruba to the active and family-friendly Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort Aruba and Hotel RIU Palace Aruba. The beach itself is a playground for young and old alike, with banana boat rides and other watersports available from any of the tour operators along the shore. The best way to see the rest of Aruba—and there is plenty to see—is via Jeep tour. From the open-air backseat of a large vehicle specially outfitted to rough it in Aruba’s diverse terrain, visitors have the chance to see its many attractions. There’s the California Lighthouse, a tall landmark on a picturesque bluff; and the site of the former Natural Bridge, an arch formed by the erosion of the waves that collapsed several years ago. The Aruba Aloe Museum & Factory shows off the island’s unique aloe industry, while several other farms, including the Butterfly Farm, Donkey Sanctuary and Ostrich Farm, show off the island’s friendly and exotic wildlife. You’ll see more of that at Arikok National Park, too, home to fascinating rock outcroppings, lava formations, and rare species of snake, lizard and bird. D14 january 2012 recommend.com http://www.antigua-barbuda.org http://ruba.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend January 2012

Editor's Note
Hotel Desk: Hard Rock Hotels and Resorts
Tour Talk: Lindblad Expeditions
Holland America's Veendam
Delta Air Lines' 2012 Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America Travel Guide
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
Las Vegas' 2012 Offerings
Hot European Tours for 2012
Hokkaido, Japan
Egypt's Antiquity Attractions are Eternal

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