BARBADOS
Barbados (twenty-one miles long by fourteen miles wide at its broadest point) is a charming place with lots of family appeal. Bridgetown is a popular stop on many Caribbean cruise itineraries.
With a standard of living among the highest in the Caribbean, this is not an island where visitors get coaxed and cajoled by overeager vendors. In fact, the government licenses vendors, who are not allowed to walk the beaches in search of buyers. Barbados incorporates many British traditions-the locals play cricket, the Bajan national sport, and relax with afternoon tea. Either of these would be fun for a family to sample.
A paradise for watersports enthusiasts, the island's powdery sandy beaches on the calm west coast are perfect for young children while athletic teens might enjoy windsurfing on the south coast shores.
www. barbados.org Barbados Tourism Authority 800-221-9831
-Candyce H. Stapen
Barbados: BEACHES, WINDSURFING, SNORKELING
All beaches in Barbados are public, with the calmest waters found on the west coast. Mullins Beach, a favorite, offers easy parking, food and beverages, and clear, calm water plus lots of shade. Snorkeling equipment is also available for rent. Church Point has soft white sands, gentle slopes and barely visible waves.
Windsurfing: To windsurf or to watch head to the south coast beaches. The expansive Casuarina Beach, where you'll find the Casuarina Beach Hotel (food and beverages available at reasonable prices), offers a good breeze and medium waves. The Silver Sands Beach, close to the south point of the island, presents a picturesque expanse of white sand beach with superb windsurfing for more advanced enthusiasts. Boards are available for rent, and instructions are given at Silver Rock Bar and Restaurant, or try the Barbados Windsurfing Club Hotel in Maxwell (428-9095).
Snorkeling: Beaches throughout the island offer snorkeling, but the west coast beaches are best-suited for families. Folkestone Underwater Park north of Holetown, and easily accessible by car or taxi from Bridgetown, features an underwater snorkeling trail around Dottin's Reef. A glass-bottom boat trip reveals the wonders of the sea to non-snorkelers. An aquarium and museum display coral, sponges, artifacts, and photographs of marine life. Other pluses: a playground, tennis courts, and restrooms on site.
Many cruise lines offer snorkeling shore excursions on the Tiami, a 60-foot catamaran with expansive deck space. The ship provides snorkeling equipment and vests. Prices usually range from $40 to $45 per person with lunch included. To arrange a sail, call 427-SAIL.
-Candyce H. Stapen
Barbados: BARBADOS: NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Caves: At Harrison's Cave (438-6640/1/3/4/5), underground explorers find stalactites, stalagmites, waterfalls, and pools. Located in the central part of the island along Highway 2, the cave is a popular sightseeing stop. Formed by crystallized limestone and highlighted by special effects and lighting, the cave is viewed via guided tours from electric trams.
Views and Gardens: Many cruise lines combine a visit to the caves with a stop at historic Gun Hill Signal Station so visitors can enjoy its sweeping views. The tour may also visit the Flower Forest of Barbados, where fifty acres of flowers, plants, and nature trails delight people of all ages. Because the caves are so popular, there may be long waits. If your children have toured other caves, you may want to skip this one and head straight to the Flower Forest. Some nature trails may be too uneven for strollers. There are restaurant facilities on site. (Located on Highway 2 close to Harrison's Cave; open seven days; call 433-8152.)
Submarine Dive: Atlantis Submarine is another exciting-albeit expensive-way to see Barbados' marine life. The transfer boat, the Yukon II, takes passengers along the west coast to the dive site. The submersible vehicle, which descends to depths of 150 feet, seats twenty-eight and offers a number of viewing ports plus a narration by the copilot. Two divers appear on underwater scooters to answer guest's questions while feeding the numerous colorful fish that flock around them. Keep in mind that if your kids (or you) have a queasy stomach, there is sometimes considerable bobbing while entering and/or re-entering the sub. Also, people who tend to feel claustrophobic should avoid this trip. Most cruise lines offer this ninety-minute dive as an excursion at about $80 per adult and $40 per child, or book your own by calling 436-8929 in Barbados or (800) 253-0493 in the U.S. Children under twelve are half price; no children under three feet tall are allowed. (Some cruise lines set the minimum age allowed on Atlantis excursions at four years old).
The Barbados Wildlife Reserve, north of Speightstown, is home to the famous Barbados green monkey as well as mongoose, otters, peacocks, tortoises, porcupines, and iguanas. Children delight at the site of free-roaming animals, including monkeys riding on the backs of tortoises. Other children, however, may find it frightening to be suddenly confronted by a scampering critter while strolling a nature trail. The only caged animal in the reserve is a giant python. An Information and Education Center includes a display of Arawak artifacts (422-8826).
More Adventures: Highland Outdoor Tours specializes in adventure travel. Among the offerings are half- or full-day horseback treks, hiking expeditions, and tractor-drawn jitney rides. Best with younger kids-unless it's very hott (then go to the beach), a two-hour plantation tour on a tractor-drawn open jitney through plantation lands. Travel through cattle fields, gullies, and historic paths with a stop for a fruit drink and beef kabob. Cost is $25 U.S. including transportation to and from the facility if you book yourself, or about $39 U.S. via your cruise ship. (Reservations required; call 438-8069/70.)
-Candyce H. Stapen
BARBADOS: HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS AND MUSEUMS
About one mile south of Bridgetown on Highway 7, the Barbados Museum houses artifacts of military history and everyday nineteenth-century life in addition to wildlife and natural history exhibits. A Children's Gallery, along with a guidebook entitled "Yesterday's Children," helps bring to life these exhibits, many of which are hands-on. But for kids accustomed to high-tech museum displays, the Barbados Museum may be a disappointment. The gift shop has a good selection of adult and children's books on the West Indies, and there's a cafe for snacks (427-0201).
Barbados has a number of "great houses." For children , these houses and the drives to get there often prove boring. (So we drove two hours so we could look at "furniture?").
-Candyce H. Stapen
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