Page 10 - AAA Northampton County – AAA Now! – Fall 2016

TRAVEL
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TRAVEL WITH SOMEONE YOU TRUST®
BEAUTY & CULTURE IN THE SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN
Tucked below the Hurricane Belt, the Caribbean’s “ABC Islands” sit about 20 miles off the coast of Venezuela. Clustered together, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao lure visitors with the promise of an even- tempered climate. Without the threat of hurricanes, travelers aren’t confined to visiting during only certain months of the year. Here, in this Southern Caribbean haven, the climate is dry and arid.
ARUBA
Aruba is the liveliest of the three ABC islands. The two-mile strip known as Palm Beach is teeming with high-rise hotels and beach bars. Latin rhythms waft from terraces.
Palm Beach, also known as Eagle Beach, is the widest and most breathtaking beach on the island. Clear Caribbean waters and pristine white sand draw visitors, but shaded picnic areas and ample parking keep them there. The beach offers a unique and special attraction a few months a year. Four turtle species choose Eagle Beach as their nesting place. They typically hatch around sunset, so stick around after the day’s sunbathing and water sports come to a close.
One island sight that can’t be missed is its volcanic formation, which stands in the center of Aruba. About 540 feet above sea level, Hooiberg (Dutch for haystack) provides a sweeping view of the island and
beyond. On clear days, Venezuela is visible in the distance.
BONAIRE
Much of the beauty of Bonaire is appreciated from
a depth of about 100 feet. Diving enthusiasts come from around the world for this particular type of sightseeing: clear water filled with millions of colorful fish. Billed as the best Caribbean diving island,
Bonaire is surrounded by reefs that are accessible a few feet from the shore, which rapidly drops hundreds of feet. Local scuba shops call this the “wall.”
Bonaire has much to explore above water as well, so come up for air and hike around Washington- Slagbaai National Park, an excellent introduction to the landscape and vegetation of Bonaire. Covering almost one-fifth of the island, the park offers vast
saline plains – where flights of flamingos gather to feed. Trees are filled with exotic birds such as bananaquits, mockingbirds and the Caribbean parrot. Wild donkeys, goats and iguanas that can be found sunning themselves on the beach. The park’s 13,500 acres offer two dirt-road driving trails and a walking trail up to Brandaris, the highest hill of Bonaire.
CURACAO
Brightly colored buildings with white trim flank the streets of Curacao. The island adopted the
Dutch colonial buildings of Amsterdam, but added verandas, porches and shutters – to withstand
the hotter climate – and introduced a bright, bold palette unheard of in the mother country. Tropical fruit-inspired shades like papaya yellow and guava pink are common, especially in downtown Willemstad, Curacao’s capital.
Willemstad’s duality of old-world charm and duty-free shopping is a tourist draw. The port
town preserves some 765 buildings as national monuments, which earned it UNESCO recognition in 1997 as a World Heritage Site. In the Punda District, both the Governor’s Palace and Fort Amsterdam have been well preserved. The Dutch built the fort to protect their settlement; today it serves as the
seat of the government. Some of these national monuments house shops, so a visit to Punda will satisfy an architectural curiosity and well as an urge to browse for tax-free items. Shoppers can find authentic Cuban cigars, fine oriental linens and designer clothing as well as the original Curacao liqueur made from the skins of the bitter, indigenous Laraha orange.
THIS IS A HIGH TECH
HIGH FLYING VOYAGE TO THE FUTURE.
Book your Royal Caribbean® vacation with us to enjoy
AAA exclusive amenities:
Priority Check-in on Boarding Day • Complimentary Champagne • Up to $100 Onboard Credit.
Anthem of the Seas®
12 NIGHT SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN & 7 NIGHT BAHAMAS
Sailing departing January - April 2017 FROM $1,139* USD PER PERSON
Taxes, fees and port expenses of up to $149.19 per person are additional and subject to change.
Contact AAA Northampton County to book your vacation today!
Call (610) 258-2371 • Click AAANC.com • Visit 3914 Hecktown Road, Easton, PA 18045
*Prices are per person, cruise only, based on double occupancy in interior stateroom and in U.S. dollars. All itineraries are subject to change without notice. Prices are subject to availability and change without notice. Certain restrictions apply. Certain Restrictions Apply. Visit AAA.com/AAAVacations for full details or reach out to your AAA Agent. ©2016 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ships’ registry: The Bahamas. 16048987 • 1/29/2016
Celebrate with Celebrity Cruises®.
It’s the special touch from our family for yours.
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From the Southern Caribbean to overnighting in magical Abu Dhabi or Buenos Aires... Celebrate onboard Celebrity Cruises.
Call: 610.258.2371, Click: aaanc.com, or visit
AAA Northampton County, 3914 Hecktown Road, Easton, PA 18045
©2016 Celebrity Cruises Inc. Ships’ registry: Malta and Ecuador. 16051450 • 6/2016
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3914 Hecktown Rd., Easton, PA • (610) 258-2371 • www.aaanc.com
FALL 2016
Now!