Basking in the Beauty of Barbados

Not familiar with the island of Barbados? I’ll give you a few fun facts……Barbados is the most Easterly island in the Caribbean and sits very close to the equator. Most of the island is made up of coral and limestone and has a tropical climate conducive to rainforest landscape. Barbados is also one of the smallest land area countries in the world being only 21 miles long and 14 miles at its widest point. Believe me when I say, there is enough beauty and experiences within these boarders to last for weeks!

We found the best rates through Air Canada for this adventure and off we went. After arriving at Grantley Adams International Airport, we checked in with customs and found our rental car for the week. In Barbados, the roads and most of the vehicles are European style, with left side lane driving and right sided steering wheels.

Now, it was off to our home for the week. We chose the “Wild West Coast” of Barbados to take up residence. They refer to the West side of the island as this due to the ever turbulent Atlantic Ocean pounding against the rocky cliffs!

We rented a house named Wavecrest in the Saint Phillip District, Sam Lords Castle area. This home can be rented through VRBO or the local Ronald Stoute & Sons Realty. Wavecrest sits on the end of a gated peninsula, shared with two other homes. Wavecrest has its own pool and also shares a common pool with the other two homes.

The views from this home and the sounds of waves pounding against the rocky coastline are something to behold…..No one complained about cooking or doing the dishes in this house. The open air concept and ocean views for miles kept the mind off work.

We cannot forget the kids favorite pastime on vacation. A pool with a view never disappoints! This house had a great pool and deck area with a 180 degree view of the ocean.

One of the best surprises of our trip was Miss Jackie. Miss Jackie was a wealth of information about the country and its people. She knew all the spots to visit and helped us navigate the area. Miss Jackie was definitely part of our family for the week. She even helped out Amanda with some island medication (coconut milk) when the sun got to her. Another great surprise for us was our neighbor, Marc the coconut man. Marc lived in a hut down the beach from us. Everyday we would visit Marc to buy our fresh coconuts and some handmade jewelry.

Did I mention the beach next to the house? Yes, hardly a person in sight at any time of the day.

Yes, we did leave the house for some fun excursions but it was definitely hard to leave this view! We visited Harrison’s Cave to take in the beauty of the Stalactites and Stalagmites that have formed over thousands of years. The caves have guided tours where you ride a tram throughout the caverns to see the formations. It is an incredible sight to see these formations, pictures do not do them justice.

As I mentioned in the beginning of this blog, Barbados has a tropical climate which helps produce a rainforest landscape. We stopped at Hunte’s Gardens for a little open air lunch and a walk through the forest and gardens. The colors were amazing!

For a family night out, you have to make a stop at Harbor Lights on Carlisle Bay. It is an evening of dinner, music and fun!

If you’re missing the chill waters of the Caribbean, not a problem in Barbados. The East coast of Barbados has what you’re looking for! Check out the calm waters of Carlisle Bay and stop in at Lobster Alive to pick out your freshly caught meal.