Page 10 - AAA Now! – AAA Schuylkill County – Winter 2022

TRAVEL
GOING SOUTH
IN THE 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 only certain months of the year. The climate is dry and arid in this region – even cactus-strewn in some areas.
Aruba is the liveliest of the three ABC islands. The two-mile strip known as Palm Beach is lined with high-rise hotels and beach bars. Latin rhythms waft from terraces. One of the island’s many other attractions is the popular Eagle Beach, a nesting site for four turtle species.
You’ll also want to explore Aruba’s volcanic formation, which lies in the center of the island. 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. Climbing the Hooiberg is a bit of an adventure – there are about 587 steps to the top of the hill. Although not the highest point on the island, visitors feel like they’re on top of the world from this vantage point.
Much of the beauty of Bonaire is appreciated from a depth of around 100 feet. Diving enthusiasts come from around the world for the amazingly clear water, teeming with colorful fish. Billed as the best Caribbean diving island, Bonaire is surrounded by reefs that are accessible a few feet from the shore.
Bonaire has much to explore on land as well, so come up for air and hike around Washington-Slagbaai National Park for an introduction to Aruba’s landscape and vegetation. Covering almost one-fifth of the island, the park offers vast saline plains, where flights of flamingos gather to feed and trees are filled with exotic birds such as bananaquits, mockingbirds and the Caribbean parrot.
In Curacao, brightly colored buildings with white trim flank the streets. The island adopted the Dutch colonial buildings of Amsterdam but added verandas, porches and shutters to withstand the hotter climate. 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 has preserved some 765 buildings as national monuments, including the Governor’s Palace and Fort Amsterdam in the Punda district, a popular shopping area for tax-free items such as fine linens and designer clothing.
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AIRPORT PARKING
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WINTER 2022
Now!
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