Byers' Take on Barbados: 12 Great Things to Do
Amazing beaches, great shopping, A-1 resorts, and a wide range of activities. There's a reason Canadians flock to Barbados every winter. Here's a list of 12 Great Things to See and Do from someone who's been a half-dozen times.
Sip Some Rum
The Mount Gay Visitor Centre allows guests to learn all about the oldest rum distillery in the Caribbean (1703). Yes, you get to taste some of the product, too. St. Nicholas Abbey is also a nice spot in the northeast part of the island, with beautiful, jungle-like grounds and a pretty outdoor café. Exhibits show the development of the area, and you can take a tour and do a tasting. There’s also a 17th-century home you can admire and a heritage railway train you can ride.
Explore Cool Caves
Animal Flower Cave is a wonderful spot on the wild north coast of Barbados. There’s also a nice café overlooking the water and viewing platforms to see the waves dash against the cliffs. Harrison’s Cave is another top spot, a crystallized limestone cave with amazing rock formations and underground streams.
Friday Night Fish Fry ... and Fish Cutters
The Friday Night Fish Fry in Oistin’s is a great way to mix with locals and visitors and enjoy fresh food grilled right in front of you. An inexpensive, fun way to spend an evening in Barbados. In Barbados, a grilled piece of meat on a bun is called a "cutter." Fish cutters are very popular. I love the outdoor vibe at Cuzz's in Bridgetown, near the Hilton hotel, and the more upscale feel at Cutter's in St. Philip Parish, near the Crane Resort. Mick Jagger is said to be a fan, and they make one of the best rum punches on the island.
Great Golf
The spectacular Green Monkey course is carved out of an old quarry and offers remarkable views and impeccable conditions. Royal Westmoreland is another beautiful course you can try. Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren were married at the Sandy Lane Golf Course, not that that ended very well.
Gorgeous Gardens
Hunte’s Gardens is one of the best places on the island to see amazing, lush tropical plants and trees. There’s a winding path that takes you down inside a former quarry site, past small statues and dazzling flowers in every colour of the rainbow. There’s usually classical music playing over the p.a. system, which adds a lovely touch. Owner Anthony Hunte is known to invite guests to his treehouse-style home for a drink of rum punch or lemonade. Other popular gardens include Andromeda Botanic Gardens and Orchid World.
Explore Bathsheba
No one place represents the “real” Barbados, but Bathsheba is much more of a local spot than the hotel zones in the south and west parts of the island. Stop at a local rum bar or casual restaurant for a fish sandwich or maybe a cold Banks beer. I like the Bay Tavern Bar and Restaurant. Take a walk on the beach at Bathsheba and admire the pretty rock formations and rolling waves on the Atlantic.
Retail Therapy
One of the prettiest places to shop is the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre in Holetown. It features some of the island’s best retail and dining destinations and has shops from many of the world’s top designer brands. Much more casual is Chattel Village, a series of small wooden buildings in shades of brilliant green, lavender, flamingo pink and canary yellow. The landscaping is equally delightful. Non-shoppers can always find a place to sit and enjoy a drink or a cup of coffee while their partner hits the stores.
Snorkeling and Diving
The west coast is best for underwater sports as the water is more calm than other parts of the island. Carlisle Bay Marine Park has six shipwrecks and is home to a wide variety of marine life. Also popular is the wreckage of the SS Stavronikita, which is part of the Folkestone Underwater Park.
Go For a Stroll
It’s free to walk the beaches of Barbados. One of my faves is Enterprise Beach, also known as Miami Beach. There’s a fine boardwalk that runs along the south coast called the Richard Haynes Boardwalk. It runs several km from Accra Beach to Camelot. Bonus: it’s wheelchair accessible.
Surf’s Up
There’s pretty good surfing to be found on the east and south coasts of the island, and there are more than a few places to rent a board. Barry’s Surf Barbados offers lessons and rentals. It’s next door to the O2 Beach Club and Spa in St. Lawrence Gap.
Explore Bridgetown
Barbados’ main city is home to handsome Parliament buildings, local markets (I quite like Marhill Street Market), rum bars (Old City Bar is a classic) and a historic synagogue. Try a food tour with the folks at Lick Rish Food Tours and dine out on what the locals eat.
See Barbados by Boat
Several companies offer boat tours or catamaran rides, allowing you to see Barbados from the water (and perhaps enjoy a rum drink while you sail along). Tiami Catamaran Cruises is one outfit. Another one to try is Silver Moon Barbados.
