Barbados: 6 Great Reasons to Visit

Do you need about 70 miles of silky sandy beaches on a coral based island? Add to that the turquoise waters and endless palm trees and you have Barbados - and your adventure has just begun. A dose of beauty is the best medicine and Barbados has plenty of it. Additionally, for the shopper, Barbados is well known for duty free shopping on quality items such as high-end jewelry.

Once you get here to Barbados, if you can tear yourself away from the powder soft beaches, palm trees and the Mount Gay rum (Barbados is known for its rum and there is a tour available at the rum distillery) take in some of the other attractions. For undersea beauty, include a submarine tour of coral reefs that are 20 million years old. In fact, Barbados boasts of more attractions per square mile than any other island in the Caribbean.

6 Great Places to Visit in Barbados:

1 - Bridgetown - This is the capital and commercial center of Barbados. Here you will find banks, department stores, small shops and vendors. Bridgetown is known for duty free shops that sell items for 30-50% less than the costs in the US and Europe. Large international jewelers have branches here in Bridgetown.

The Parliament Building is here in Bridgetown, and from this starting point - within a half mile there are number of places to visit including Independence Square and Pelican Village, where you can shop for local handicrafts and find plenty of great restaurants.

2 - Folkestone Marine Park - This west coast location is ideal for snorkeling. Reefs are close to shore and are inhabited by tropical fish, anemones and sea lilies, and sponges. You have the option of taking a glass-bottom boat tour. Then there is the Atlantis Submarines Barbados. Here you can sign up for a tour and experience an underwater adventure in an authentic submarine. You'll explore the coral reefs that are about 60 feet high and 2 miles long. This formation started about 20 million years ago.

3 - Andromeda Botanic Gardens - Part of the Barbados National Trust, the colorful Andromeda Botanic Gardens are filled with palm trees and ferns as well as hibiscus, bougainvillea and orchids. There are also shaded grottoes.

4 - Harrison's Cave - This limestone cave system remains the top tourist attraction. You can board a tram and take a trip deep below the earth's surface to enjoy the subterranean waterfall and geological formations.

5 - Mount Gay Rum Distillery - This is the oldest distillery in Barbados and where rum has been distilled for 350 years. During the narrated tour you can sip some of the aged rums. Lunch is available here and of course a gift shop.

6 - Crane Beach - Rated as one of the 10 best beaches in the world by Lifestysyles of the Rich and Famous, this beach was originally a harbor. Located on the south coast, the beach is free from over-development, with cliffs allowing you to look down on the beach at the powdery pink sand, and turquoise water. There always seems to be a nice soft breeze here from the Trade Winds.

Looking for more beautiful places to vacation and snorkel? See links below: