Looking for a place to get away from it all? Like the sunshine and white, sandy beaches? Aruba may be just the place for you.
Where is Aruba?
Aruba, a small desert island, is located in The Caribbean Sea, just 17 miles north of Venezuela. Because of its location, it is safe from the hurricanes that rip through The Caribbean each year. This is a great benefit if you like to vacation during the hurricane season like my husband and I do.
Fabulous Ocean Waters and Beaches
The turquoise waters beckon you to swim, snorkel, scuba, windsurf, or go for a romantic sunset sail. The reefs are healthy and teem with a variety of colorful sea life. Splash in the ocean, or laze around the hotel pool -- there is seldom a rainy day in Aruba. In fact, after three visits we’ve been sprinkled on one day. (We usually visit the last week in September.)
What Else Can I Do?
If you tire of the outdoors, there are plenty of other activities to keep you busy. There are numerous stores where you can shop (with no sales tax) for jewelry, clothing, electronics, collectibles, or artwork. There is a wide selection of excellent merchandise, with many well-known brand names.
There are also a dozen casinos located in local hotels and in downtown Oranjestad, the capital city. You will also find many discotheques for those who like to dance the night away.
Must See Locations
Sightseeing offers such unique areas as Natural Bridge - a huge formation carved out by thousands of years of pounding seas.
There is also the California Lighthouse, which has a spectacular view of the island. It is at the north end of the island. From here you can see the dunes and crashing waves on the rugged windward side of the island. You can overlook the golf course, or watch a magnificent sunset over the turquoise ocean.
You can play golf at Tierra Del Sol, a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed course with an abundance of Aruban wildlife. This is a very unique golf course, with a very nice club house and restaurant.
Dining
There are many fine restaurants on Aruba -- there seem to be an abundance of Italian and Chinese restaurants. My favorite restaurant so far is El Gaucho, a wonderful Argentine steakhouse. The steaks are huge, tender and delicious. Our service was very prompt and efficient and the price was quite reasonable.
Tourist Friendly Atmosphere
The Arubans are very friendly and quite dependent upon tourists to keep their island bustling. Aruba is a very clean, safe island and it is very easy to get around. You will not find beggars or people hassling you to buy cheap merchandise. You can go to the market at the harbor to buy local goods and you can haggle the price if you wish.
Highly Recommended
I have visited three times and I like it more each time. It is a great place to get away, relax, enjoy the ocean, shop, and gamble!