| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| Barbados. |
Top Barbados Attractions
The first time you visit Barbados, or any new destination,
the question asked isn’t usually what attractions should be
scene but what attraction to see first, what to expect, how to get
there, and how much time is needed. We’ve provided tips, advice,
and other information about the top tourist attractions in Barbados
to help with your itinerary planning.
|
|
|
Harrison’s Cave
|
| Address |
Near the southern end of Welchman Hall Gully |
|
| Admission |
$16 for adults and $7 for children 12 and
under. |
|
| Hours |
9:00 am - 4:00 pm daily |
|
| Phone |
246-438-6640 |
|
|
|
The most popular attraction in Barbados, perhaps in large part because it attracts
the entire family, is Harrison’s Cave. First reported in historical
documents in 1795, the caves were virtually forgotten for two centuries
until local residents “rediscovered” them 30 years ago.
They officially opened to the public in 1981. After a trip to the
Visitors Centre (which has a snack bar and restaurant), the tour
starts in a theatre with an audio-visual show documenting the geological
history of Barbados. The shows illustrate how this marvelous cave
came about. Visitors then board a tram for a ride underground to
see calcium-rich water dropping from the ceiling. Visitors look
right and see a fast-flowing stream. On the left there’s a
spectacular view of a 100 by 150-foot cavern. Thousands of stalactites
and stalagmites hang from the ceiling. Many of these formations
have been here for thousands of years, previously unseen by human
eyes. Along the way, visitors see a blue-green underground lake
that like much of the cave has an eerie beauty. Riders on the tram
can get out at periodic stops for pictures.
|
Bridgetown
Because it’s such a small island, less than three times the
size of Washington, DC, visitors often find explorations to the
towns and villages are well worth their time. You can start out
at Bridgetown, the capital and commercial center of the island.
It’s a very walk-able city of less than 100,000 residents.
With ships and yachts in the background, visitors find an abundance
of duty free shops and harbor-side vendors. The parliament buildings
are also here. Opposite Parliament, there’s Trafalgar Square
and a statute of Lord Nelson. The later was erected in 1813 and
is older than the London version. If you’re hungry, fast-food
vendor Chefette has five locations here which offer pizza and barbecue
but also salad bars. If you want to learn something about the architectural
heritage of Barbados, visit Speightstown just north of Bridgetown.
It was the country’s first commercial center and has been
revived and restored to its former glory. There are art galleries
and beachfront restaurants. At another village, Holetown, you can
see where the first English ship landed in 1625. Fitts Village is
a small town that has good snorkeling and swimming as well as one
of the best Italian restaurants on the island. St. Lawrence Gap
with its numerous night clubs and bars is tailor-made for the late
night revelers.
|
Atlantis Submarine Adventure’s
|
| Address |
Location is the Shallow Draught in Bridgetown |
|
| Admission |
Tickets are $84 for adults, $57 for teens
(13-17), and $44 for children 12 years and younger |
|
| Phone |
800-546-7820 |
|
| Website |
www.atlantisadventures.com |
|
|
|
It’s not cheap but the Atlantis Submarine Adventure’s
claim to see the Barbados “few ever get to see” is certainly
true. Eighty-ton submarines carry 48 passengers in air conditioned
comfort through a 50-minute, guided ocean tour. The subs, which
have various safety certifications, carry passengers down to depths
of 130 feet to view ship wrecks, sponge gardens, coral reefs, and
exotic fish and marine life. The voyage begins with a seven-minute
ride on a shuttle vessel, the “Ocean Quest,” which takes
passengers to the Atlantis submarine, where the crew explains the
voyage. The submarine first dives to 55 feet to view the coral reef
and an abundance of marine life. Windows for seeing this underwater
paradise are spacious. The pilot throughout the journey points out
sea life and talks about the submarine itself -- a 65-foot-long
vessel that has such safety features as constant radio contact with
the shore. At the end of the cruise, an adult ticket includes a
free lunch or t-shirt. All guests receive a complimentary drink
and free transportation. The tour operator guarantees customer satisfaction
or free tickets to another attraction.
|
Flower Forest
|
| Address |
Highway 2, Richmond Plantation, St. Joseph |
|
| Admission |
$7 for adults, half for children |
|
| Hours |
9:00 am to 5:00 pm Daily |
|
| Phone |
246-433-8152 |
|
| Website |
www.barbados.org/flowfrst.htm |
|
|
|
Visitors to Flower Forest generally come for the plant life but
the monkeys an added pleasure. The 50-acre island of tranquility
is like a headquarters for the “sounds of silence” --
except, of course, for those jabbering monkeys. But don’t
worry about them. They are tame and conditioned to seeing humans.
The real attractions here are the flowers: brilliant clusters of
Heliconia also known as bird of paradise and three-foot high begonias,
with leaves the size of human hands. There’s an immense variety
of plants and an explosion of color as visitors walk the winding
pathways that are reminiscent of a jungle. Tours are available or
visitors can stay as long as they like strolling the various pathways.
There are benches to rest. There’s also a snack bar that has
everything from hot dogs to flying fish. And oh yes, a well-stocked
film department for photographers who find there is more to film
here then they planned. The forest is very popular. With some exaggeration,
perhaps, that is reflected in the visitor book with one notation:
“If I owned Paradise and Flower Forest, I would rent Paradise
and live in Flower Forest.”
|
Jacobean Mansions
Visitors should not miss seeing some of Barbados’s old great
houses, many of them several centuries old. Two of only three genuine
Jacobean mansions in the Western Hemisphere are located here, St.
Nicholas Abbey and Drax Hall (the third is in Virginia). Both were
built in the 1650s. Drax Hall was believed to have been built by
two brothers who prospered in the sugar industry. St. Nicholas Abbey
shows off such interesting architectural features as Dutch gables,
cedar paneling, corner chimneys and a Chinese Chippendale staircase.
The home is set amidst a lush forest of mahogany trees. Visitors
will find a world of fine antiques, china and silverware at another
grand house, Francia, which also has on display a map dating back
to 1522.
Sam Lord’s Castle
If you want to see the lifestyle of an alleged pirate, Sam Lord’s
Castle built in 1820 is also open to the public. Some of his original
furnishings remain in the castle.
Farley Hill
There are also ruins such as Farley Hill, which was once the most
magnificent home in the country. Today, the house gets attention
because of its well-landscaped gardens which have plants the owner
imported from all over the world.
Typically, prices for the great houses that are open to the public
are about $10. Some of the island’s most historic and private
homes can be visited from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, mid-January
to mid-April, under the National Trust’s Open House Program.
These range from the old plantation houses to opulent modern villas.
A $15 entrance fee gives visitors access to the homes. Children
5 to 12 are charged half price, while those under 5 are free. (tel.
246-426-2421)
|
Barbados Travel Guides
 Frommer's Barbados
Lonely Planet Barbados
Let's Go Barbados
Fodors Barbados
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
