Bridgetown Facts

Barbados, the easternmost Caribbean Island, has the advantage of being just outside of hurricane range, for the most part. Decidedly British and sophisticated, Barbados is a beautiful island, surrounded by white sandy beaches and azure water. The interior is still filled with acre upon acre of sugar cane, and the cane-growing season is an important part of the local culture.

Decidedly, it is a wonderful juxtaposition of two cultures; the natives and the tourists. While cosmopolitan travelers jet off to Barbados from the UK on the Concorde for a day at the races, the local residents can still be seen toiling over a sugar cane harvest and celebrating the yearly bounty at a festival called Crop Over....

...is a smorgasbord of cameras, watches, crystal, gold jewelry and local Mount Gay rum. Buy straw bags and rum cakes from the Pelican Crafts Centre and whimsical, vibrantly colored ceramics from Earthworks, a longtime artistic highlight. Find quintessential Barbados handicrafts like black-coral jewelry and clay pottery on the east coast, near Chalky Mountain. Shops across the island brim with a fine selection of locally made vases, pots, mugs, glazed plates and ornaments.

Nightlife and Entertainment

Nightlife on the west coast revolves around the big resorts, many of which have waterfront pubs and wine bars. For an authentic Bajan evening, try Baxters Road in Bridgetown for a ""caf crawl."" The...