Sun-drenched beaches. Clear-blue waves. Friendly locals. Rich cultural history. A vibrant art and music scene. Sophisticated, exciting nightlife. A vacation in Barbados is time spent in the quintessential tropical paradise, filled with fascinating places to go, things to do, food to eat, and people to see. As one of the world's most-visited destinations, with an average of over half a million visitors annually, Barbados is simply one of the most beautiful Caribbean islands on the planet.

By far the most common reason people vacation in Barbados is to enjoy its pristine beaches. Fine white sand stretches for miles along the coastline, and coral reefs provide recreation for divers and snorkelers. Trade winds across the Caribbean give Barbados a consistently mild climate, with temperatures ranging in the high 70s to low 80s Fahrenheit (24-28 ºC) year-round. Warm sunshine is a constant companion to the mild breezes, so you should make sure to bring sunscreen - the comfortable temperatures can mask the fact that Barbados is only 13 degrees off the equator, and you can burn easily!

If you're not so interested in the beaches, Barbados is home to a number of inland parks, including the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary in the south and the Barbados Wildlife Reserve in the north, both home to mangrove forests, majestic egrets, flamingoes, and brilliantly colored parrots. The stunning Animal Flower Cave, hewn out of the northern Barbadian cliffs, is home to underwater rock formations so brilliant they look like flowers. In the center of the island, be sure to look for the Flower Forest, a veritable paradise of flowering trees and plants in bloom year-round.

Fish fry and rum! Barbados is famous for its seafood and famous for its rum, of which Mt. Gay is its most famous export. Nearly anywhere you go in Barbados, you can treat yourself to excellent rum and rum cocktails at extremely reasonable prices. The Mt. Gay distillery offers tours every weekday from 9 AM to 5 PM, along with free samples!

If it's food you're looking for, try some flying fish, served lightly breaded in a hot mustard sauce. The pepperpot, a traditional Barbadian dish of pork served in a spicy dark brown sauce, is not to be missed. One of the best restaurants.

Finally, the place to be on Friday nights is Oistins, on the southern coast. Every week they offer up a village-wide fish fry, with singing, dancing, and celebration involving tourists and locals alike.

Barbados has a rich history, and the culture comprises a mix of indigenous peoples from South America and Mexico, British settlers, and former slaves. The local population consists mainly of middle-class, educated people of African descent. With a literacy rate of 99%, the average education level and quality of life is third in the Western hemisphere, behind only the United States and Canada. Museums abound on the island, discussing the role of Barbados in British colonization and later popular liberation, and galleries showcase inspired local art that reflects the cultural mix inherent on the island.

No discussion of Barbados would be complete without mentioning its people. Those who make Barbados their home year-round are extraordinarily kind, polite, friendly, and sincere. Always ready to greet you with a smile, Barbadians, known on the island as Bajans, are some of the most welcoming people on the face of the earth. It helps, of course, that they live in one of the most beautiful spots in the world!

Are you ready to plan your trip to Barbados yet? What's keeping you? You want your vacation to be as stress-relieving as possible, and the natural beauty, warmth, and sophistication of Barbados promises to do just that.