Surrounded by miles of magnificent white sand beaches, protected by coral reefs and brushed by the constant breeze of the trade winds, Barbados is a swimmer's paradise. The west coast beaches are calm and lapped by the Caribbean. The south coast has small to medium waves that are great for windsurfing and boogie boarding, while the southeast coast has big waves and is only suitable for strong swimmers. Because of its location, tropical storms and hurricanes common to other Caribbean islands generally miss Barbados. As a coral island, Barbados is home to a vast array of caves and underground lakes, which provide some of the purest drinking water in the world. The island is also home to rainforests, marshes and mangrove swamps, along with pastures and sugarcane fields. It has a diverse and interesting landscape, making it a fascinating place to explore. Bridgetown is the only city outside of North America that George Washington visited. The house where he stayed has been renovated, and is now known as the George Washington House. Bridgetown is the main shopping center in Barbados and is home to a large and varied selection of shops. You will need to take your passport with you in order to take advantage of the tax-free shopping. If you are planning a purchase of high-end jewelry, precious stones, electronic or photographic equipment, the shops in Barbados offer some great duty-free deals; some even sell at wholesale prices. Christ Church is the southernmost parish, bordered by St Michael to the west, St George to the north, and St Philip to the east. Grantley Adams Airport is in this parish, and it is one of the most developed parts of the island, with numerous restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, and bars. The beaches are generally safe for swimming, but can have strong currents and occasionally strong waves. There are lots of water sports on the south coast, including windsurfing, kite surfing, wake boarding, snorkeling, jet skiing, and a host of others. All of the detailed information you need is in this guide about the hotels, restaurants, shopping, sightseeing. But we also lead you to new discoveries, turning corners you haven't turned before, helping you to interact with the world in new ways. That's what makes our Adventure Guides unique. Barbados too is unique and fascinating, a melange of Africa and Britain in the Caribbean. The easternmost of all the Caribbean islands, Barbados is uniquely situated so as to avoid virtually all hurricanes. Its 166 square miles of forests, cliffs, fishing villages, wildlife, nightlife, and, of course beaches are surrounded by miles of coral reefs teeming with an incredible array of sea life and shipwrecks. Some of the best sailing in the Caribbean is here, with southeasterly trade winds to carry you across the water. This is a land rich in history and culture, with an abundance of wildlife, beauty and nature. With 500,000 tourists visiting per year, Barbados is a major attraction with very little guidebook competition. We detail the best diving spots, all types of accommodations, dining, tours, local lore and festivals, services. Extensive background in included on the history, government and economy of the island. The author has been a regular visitor for over 20 years and the guide is filled with inside information on which festivals are worth your time, where to find the best Bajan music, classes that will teach you the local cooking and artistic styles. None of the other guides take the Adventure Guide perspective that we do, immersing you in the local culture and in the active things to do on the island. Today's traveler is eager to explore--not just sit on a beach. "[Adventure Guides] aim to deliver content... Moderately-priced and truly user-friendly, they are packed with information that other series rarely cover." Library Journal "Bursting with relevant and exciting information... " Booklist ""Highly recommended... " Library Journal
