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9 Under-the-Radar Things to Do in Curaçao
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There’s a lot more to enjoy on this island beyond the beaches and famous blue liqueur. The capital of Willemstad is the nexus of museums, history, and beautifully restored monuments, but this quirky little island has all kinds of hidden gems and cool adventures secreted throughout its eclectic neighborhoods and surreal desert-like interior.—Susan Campbell
Pietermaii District
The neighborhood of Pietermaai has transformed recently, with century-old heritage estates and buildings morphing into vibrant and colorful trendy restaurants, cafés, boutique stays, offbeat bars, and cool courtyards. It has its own electric vibe, and the close-knit community presents all kinds of special art and cultural events. You can also take a walking photo tour. Also worth sleuthing out is Scharloo’s new secret nightlife quarter called District 1850. By day, it’s a quiet historic neighborhood, but after dark it comes alive with seven bars enlivening a single block.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Curacao Guide
Curacao Coral Restoration
Curaçao has many cool dive spots, but there’s only one where you can learn to plant a coral forest. The Coral Reforestation Foundation Curaçao is delighted to be celebrating their first anniversary this year with news that the juvenile staghorn and elkhorn corals they planted have grown large enough to be successfully transplanted to grow on their own. They now offer visitors dives among the coral forests and nursery with courses on how to undertake this crucial environmental work. The founders, Ocean Encounters, also offer PADI diving certification courses and excursions to all of the island’s best dive sites.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Curacao Guide
Chichi Curacao
No matter where you wander on Curaçao it’s hard to miss the ladies called “chichis.” These statues come in tiny and midsize figurines and larger-than-life sculptures all over the island in eye-popping colors with avant-garde designs and themes. The brainchild of Serena Israel, who wanted to offer the island’s local female artisans a thriving industry, they have become Curaçao’s most beloved mascots. You can buy them prefabricated as unique souvenirs or you can create your own. Check Serena’s Art Factory website for when their walk-in workshops occur or make a group reservation.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Curacao Guide
Substation Curacao
Imagine exploring 1,000 feet below the waves without even getting wet. You can with Substation Curaçao and their Curasub, a surreal looking four-person submersible. Witness the magnificent colorful coral walls and marine life from inside a glass bubble in the same kind of vehicle that was used to film many of Titanic’s deep-sea scenes. The Curasub is also used in important marine life and ocean research, and the team recently discovered some new species of fish while working with the Smithsonian Institute. The sub descends four times a day and they also offer select night dives.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Curacao Guide
Curacao Ostrich Farm
Africa’s flightless birds are on display at the Curaçao Ostrich Farm, an unlikely attraction in the Dutch Caribbean, yet they are oddly at home in the island’s stark and arid interior landscape. You can learn about the creatures from egg to juvenile to adult with informative guided tours and even hold an egg in your hands or feed the adult birds. There’s also an African-inspired restaurant on site that serves ostrich meat.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Curacao Guide
Villa Seashell
There’s no dearth of beautiful resorts on Curaçao, but if you’re seeking something different than your typical hotel, then how about a treehouse mansion? You’ll find one at Lodge Kura Hulanda at the far west point. Or how about renting a four-bedroom villa on a picturesque beach? Villa Seashell, part of the Coral Estate community, is such a secret spot beside a glorious strand with wonderful snorkeling and diving right offshore. Dining is steps away, and it’s also near Curacao’s newest unique spa emporium 8 The Experience. And all are far away from the typical tourist fray.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Curacao Guide
Aquafari
There are few places on the planet you can motor around 30 feet below the waves without having diving certification, but this offbeat, eco-friendly vehicle allows you to do just that! The Aquafari is a one-piece molded scooter and air helmet that lets you ride and breathe as easily if you were on land. It’s an amazing adventure guided by a diver who shows you the colorful marine life, and you even stop to feed some fish. You need only know how to swim well enough to submerge under the helmet to mount the scooter… and you’re off. Very cool.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Curacao Guide
L’Aldea Rainforest
Curaçao is an extremely arid island with only 22 inches of annual rainfall, so it’s the last place you’d expect to see a lush rainforest. That’s why L’aldea Rainforest Mystery is such a surprise. Fashioned after the Amazonian jungle with some 300 critters and creatures, this manmade odyssey is really a trip. The sculptures and art are all hand carved by the owner, and the detail in exhibits dedicated to the Mayan, Aztec, Incan, and Arawak cultures is outstanding. But the biggest surprise is that it morphs into an Argentinean-style grill with music at night.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Curacao Guide
Landuis
There are many well-known ex-plantation houses (landhuizen) that have been turned into historical museums or dining spots on the island, but Landhuis Vredenberg isn’t one of them. It’s the best-kept secret only locals know about, set in a gorgeous heritage mansion with stunning antiques and sprawling lush grounds where weddings and receptions are held. But it’s also an excellent lunch spot as Primas Restaurant for authentic island cooking on the big wraparound terrace. A family-run enterprise, the daily menu of specialties is always entirely up to whatever “Mama” feels like cooking that day.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Curacao Guide
There’s something special about living near a city like Baltimore: When you want to escape, you can head to the port right off I-95, put your car in long-term parking, and board a ship in search of new experiences near and far. Though you may not be aware of it, Baltimore is growing its reputation as a homeport city; if you haven’t thought about booking a cruise out of the “Crab Cake Capital of the World,” now may be the time. According to Maryland’s Department of Transportation, 250,000 travelers sailed out of the Port of Baltimore in 2012 and, in 2013, Royal Caribbean’s newly renovated Grandeur of the Seas joined the ranks of the ships that call the port home.
CRUISE TO THE BAHAMAS
If you’re sick of cold, gray skies, a trip to the sunny Bahamas may be just what you need to get through the rest of this ugly winter. Carnival Pride, a Spirit-class ship, homeports out of Baltimore part of the year (and Tampa for the balance). While this is an older ship—she made her debut in 2002—it’s a favorite because of its size. In today’s world of mega cruise ships, Carnival Pride is a “mid-size” ship that welcomes 2,124 travelers per cruise. The ship still has everything you may need at sea—from nearly a dozens bars to an array of restaurants and in-room dining to Broadway-style shows and a terrific kids program. This itinerary to the Bahamas includes three days at sea so go ahead and treat yourself and book a few spa treatments and spend at least one full day by the pool. The ship stops at Port Canaveral near Orlando, where shore excursions include day trips to Walt Disney World, Universal, and Sea World as well as activities like canoeing and kayaking. This cruise also calls on Nassau and Freeport in the Bahamas. A lot of people spend the day in Nassau at Atlantis, but the line also offers options like a beach day at Balmoral Island or a catamaran sail and snorkel trip. More snorkeling adventures can be found in Freeport and there’s also a fun dolphin encounter.
Dates: Jan. 19, 26; Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23; March 2, 16, 23; Apr. 6; May 11, 25; June 8, 22; Jul. 6
Cruise Fares: As low as $429 per person for 7 nights.
CRUISE TO BERMUDA
Not everyone will be able to snag vacation time for a cruise this winter but there are also excellent options out of Baltimore form April through October. Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas offers six- and seven-night itineraries to Bermuda. Both options include three nights docked at Kings Wharf plus two or three sea days. Beaches of pink sand, dramatic cliffs, quaint villages evoking the country’s British roots, and green-as-can-be golf courses are just part of what makes Bermuda so intoxicating. Most shore excursions are active, like scuba, snorkeling, fishing, and kayaking, but you can also opt to be more of an observer with Royal Caribbean’s island exploration tours and glass-bottom boat excursions. While the 1,950-passenger Grandeur of the Seas is one of the line’s oldest ships, launched in 1996, she underwent a $48-million upgrade in 2012 and now has many of the same features as Oasis-class ships. The cabins were upgraded and new dining options were added, making this ship is an excellent choice for a weeklong getaway.
Dates: Apr. 26; May 9, 23; June 6, 20; July 4, 18; Aug. 1, 15, 29; Sept. 12, 26; Oct. 10
Cruise Fares: As low as $469 per person for the six-night itinerary and as low as $649 per person for seven nights.
CRUISE TO THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN
Grandeur of the Seas also offers a 10-night Western Caribbean itinerary out of Baltimore with two sea days followed by stops at Labadee, Haiti; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten before spending three more days at sea and returning to port in Maryland. The longer length of this cruise makes it popular with people—like retirees and those with young children who aren’t yet in school—who can take off more than a week at a time.
Dates: Jan. 21; Feb. 8, 18; Mar. 8, 18; Nov. 1, 11, 29; Dec. 9, 27
Cruise Fares: As low as $619 per passenger for 10 nights.
CRUISE CHESAPEAKE BAY
For people who think they’ve already sailed every itinerary there is, we suggest American Cruise Lines’ glorious seven-night Chesapeake Bay voyage that blends just the right amount of history, culture, and the great outdoors. The cruise takes guests to Yorktown and Williamsburg, Virginia, to view Civil War battlefields and colonial homes. The ship also calls on Tangier Island in Virginia along with Crisfield, Cambridge, Oxford, St. Michaels, and Annapolis in Maryland. From aquariums to National Historic Landmarks and the U.S. Naval Academy to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, you’re guaranteed to visit places you’ve never been before. Three ships—American Glory, Independence, and American Star—sail this unique itinerary in May, June, and November.
Dates: May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; June 7; Nov. 2, 8
Cruise Fares: As low as $3,245 per person for six nights. Seven-night cruises as low as $3,750.
Andrea M. Rotondo is a freelance writer based in New York City. She covers cruise news and luxury travel trends for Fodors.com and writes for a variety of outlets, including her website Luxury Travel Mavens. Follow her on Twitter: @luxtravelmavens.
If you haven’t been to Aruba lately you might not recognize Oranjestad. The small city has been refreshed and rejuvenated with both locals and visitors in mind, and there are more innovative improvements to come.—Susan Campbell
Linear Park
Aruba is creating the longest linear park in the Caribbean to provide a smooth paved trail ideal for walking, jogging, biking, and sightseeing. The trail begins at the airport and stretches along the sea to downtown Oranjestad with plenty of resting spots, refreshment stands, and dining options along the way. Catch a stellar sunset at Surfside Beach and try out the new public workout equipment or take a dip in the sea along the trail. The main park plaza has also become a popular outdoor venue for events like marathons, yoga, and cultural festivals.
PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide
Market
Located beside the downtown bus terminal, the new local market has grown to become a visitor favorite. With 40 buzzing stalls—all with permanent coverings to shield them from the elements—it’s an ideal spot to find locally made items and affordable Aruban souvenirs. The owners entice local creators to showcase their wares there, so you’ll find unique items like sand art, wood carvings, oil paintings, seashell jewelry, and all manner of cool handmade keepsakes. You’ll also find excellent local fare on site, including BBQ and fresh fruit shakes, and there’s free parking as well.
PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide
Bon Bini Festival
Beyond the Bon Bini Festival held every Tuesday showcasing local food, music, and dance at Fort Zoutman, Oranjestad is seeing all kinds of new events popping up throughout the year. There are many spinoffs, from the annual music festivals to arts and crafts fairs, and Queen Wilhelmina Park on the marina often has free entertainment like the new “Crazy Wednesdays,” where the Renaissance sponsors a new show every week. There are often live bands at the many dining spots and new events like “Eat Local Restaurant Week” and street food festivals are also bringing more life to downtown.
PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide
Plaza Daniel Leo
The downtown grid is also punctuated with many new outdoor plazas. These were designed to be the lungs of the little city and ideal spots for resting, replete with fountains and benches. Enjoy people watching in busy Plaza Daniel Leo or enjoy Plaza Torismo’s wide-open spaces at Linear Park. There’s also a new Plaza at Parden Baai where the trolley begins, and at Plaza Nicky you can sample Aruba’s only locally roasted java at Coffee Break Aruba.
PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide
Arts
Aruba has a vibrant art scene, and now at Cas di Cultura you’ll find the island’s first permanent display of Aruban art sponsored by UNOCA. The new downtown Cosecha building is another permanent home where Aruban artists and crafters can display and sell their work. There are also many cool new outdoor sculptures scattered about downtown, including the “Blue Horse” series, a tribute to the island’s past importance as a horse-trading port. And visit Korteweg’s Facebook page to see when their outdoor pop-up art exhibits will magically transform an entire street into a cultural happening.
PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide
Trolley
Now there’s a fun new way to explore the newly refreshed streets and attractions of Oranjestad, and better yet—it’s free. Aruba’s eco-friendly battery-powered trolleys loop the downtown region and offer hop-on/hop-off access from nine stops beginning at the cruise terminal. Two cars are double-decker for great views, and both have shaded seating options. The trolleys move slowly on dedicated tracks and all cars are wheelchair accessible. Aruba is the only island in the Caribbean with this cool mode of transportation.
PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide
Dining
Aruba has more than 200 fine-dining spots covering a vast range of cuisines, and many of them are located in Oranjestad. The Renaissance Marketplace houses a variety of restaurants; new dining options there include Sea Salt for fresh fish and Sidebar for gourmet burgers and craft bourbon cocktails. And the new Wilhelmina Restaurant close by has been drawing crowds eager to try their avant-garde international menu. On Surfside Beach just down the linear park path, you’ll also find West Deck for great local fusion fare and Barefoot for romantic sunset dinners on the sea.
PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide
Shopping
Oranjestad has always been a hotbed for retail therapy seekers looking for upscale jewelry, gold, silver, diamonds, and Swiss watches or designer fashions at very good prices. But now the well-established family run businesses behind modern malls like the Renaissance are also benefitting from a new influx of foot and trolley traffic. Specialty stores are also moving into the new malls like Margarita Plaza, offering sportswear, baby items, footwear, and duty-free cosmetics and perfumes.
PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide
Main Street
Oranjestad’s original “Main Street” was once Caya G. F Betico Croes, directly behind the Renaissance Marina hotel, but over time the neighborhood became badly neglected and business slowed down because visitors—especially cruise ship passengers—preferred to stick close to the marina’s L.G. Smith Blvd., where the souvenir market stalls are set up. But now, the old main street has rebounded thanks to the new trolley, and the newly completed palm tree-lined pedestrian-only portion of the street.
PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide
Undersea hotels represent one of the newest frontiers in hospitality. From Zanzibar to Sweden, beautiful underwater properties with one-of-a-kind views have been popping up around the globe, featuring some of the most unique rooms that travelers can book. Meanwhile, closer to home, many celebrated US aquariums offer sleepovers that aren’t just for kids anymore. Check out our picks for places that allow you to sleep under the sea (or at least pretend that’s where you are).
By Rachel B. Doyle
The Manta Resort
Pemba Island, Tanzania
Pemba, a verdant Indian Ocean island in the Zanzibar archipelago, has long been enticing divers with its pristine coral reefs and clear waters. Now the chic Manta Resort has taken the aquatic worship one step further, last month opening Africa’s first underwater hotel room. Submerged 13 feet underwater, the room has eight large, lit windows through which guests can gawk at a Technicolor parade of fish and cephalopods. A ladder leads to a sundeck and lounge.
Insider tip: Guests can have meals sent out to them by boat, such as grilled snapper with rosemary bread, followed by chocolate mousse and spiced pineapple.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Tanzania Guide
Jules’ Undersea Lodge
Key Largo, FL
The granddaddy of underwater hotels, Jules’ Undersea Lodge–a former marine lab that opened as an inn in 1986—has an unusually high bar to entry. All guests desirous of spending the night need to know how to scuba dive. There’s no other way to enter this two-bedroom retro hideout, 30 feet below the surface in a mangrove-laden lagoon. The customary underwater dinner is pizza from Papa John’s, but guests can upgrade to local lobster or filet mignon.
Insider tip: Don’t want to commit to a whole night among the angelfish and barracudas? Jules’ also offers a three-hour lunchtime “mini-adventure” for $150 per person, pizza included.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Key Largo Guide
Hydropolis Underwater Hotel and Resort Dubai
Dubai, UAE
Where would they build the most ambitious luxury hotel under the waves? Dubai, of course. The Emirate that brought you a man-made island in the shape of a palm tree now hopes to unveil the Hydropolis Underwater Hotel, in a Hyde Park-sized complex 66 feet under the sea. Guests staying at one of the 220 suites will be greeted at the “land post” on Jumeriah beach and taken by submerged subway to the main part of the hotel. The developers say that they hope to welcome 3,500 guests a day, once they overcome “financial constrictions.”
Insider tip: This hotel also plans to offer a plastic surgery clinic, and recovering patients can stay out of sight under the sea.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Dubai Guide
Utter Inn
Västerås, Sweden
The most rustic underwater hotel of the bunch, the tiny and adorable Utter Inn gently bobs in Sweden’s Lake Mälaren. The visible part of the hotel is designed like a typical Swedish home, with an A-frame roof, red sides and white gables. Down a 10-foot ladder there’s a cozy room with twin beds and panoramic windows to watch pike and perch swim by. With no electricity, the tranquility here is absolute.
Insider tip: Use the on-board inflatable canoe to visit an uninhabited nearby island. Many of Lake Mälaren’s islands were once Viking settlements.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Sweden Guide
Poseidon Undersea Resort
Fiji
Some 150,000 people have allegedly signed up to be notified once Poseidon Undersea Resort opens for business. The five-star underwater resort in Fiji was scheduled to launch in 2008, but a combination of the global recession and the difficulty of sub-aqua building have led to it still being incomplete. Ambitious projections show an underwater library, golf course, and tennis court, while the website promises future guests the use of a personal submarine.
Insider tip: If you really want to jump the queue, contact Poseidon about booking a wedding in the undersea chapel. Just don’t set a date yet.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Fiji Guide
The National Aquarium
Baltimore, MD
Although the U.S. only has one underwater hotel, America leads the pack when it comes to aquarium sleepovers. At the National Aquarium in Baltimore, home to over 17,000 animals, overnight visitors can choose between shark or dolphin-themed sleepovers. An underwater viewing area morphs into dramatic sleeping quarters, and guests can take nocturnal tours, watch dolphin shows, or see sharks being fed. At $115 per person including breakfast and dinner, this may be the best deal in Baltimore’s popular Inner Harbor area.
Insider tip: Discounts are available for groups of over 15 people.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Baltimore Guide
The Georgia Aquarium
Atlanta, GA
Kudos to the Georgia Aquarium, the world’s second largest, for realizing adults might want to have aquarium sleepovers too. This aquarium, home to some 100,000 sea creatures, offers the 21+ crowd a package with live jazz, cocktails, and behind-the-scenes tours. Guests can then sleep in until 10 am on mattresses plopped in front of beluga whales or a giant Pacific octopus.
Insider tip: Wear comfortable shoes. This aquarium is enormous.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Atlanta Guide
The Oregon Coast Aquarium
Newport, OR
Overnight guests at the Oregon Coast Aquarium get to bed down in underwater walkways along with some 5,000 species. With its 360-degree views, this exhibit has an apt nickname: the shark tubes. The itinerary for kids includes a scavenger hunt through different marine habitats, and the package also comes with two meals for $60. The program for adults is less scripted (sadly, no scavenger hunt), but can include a tour of a nearby brewery.
Insider Tip: Bring warm clothes for sleeping–it can get chilly in the shark tubes.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Newport Guide
uShaka Marine World
Durban, South Africa
Slumber parties at this South African aquarium take place in a highly realistic replica of a wrecked 1940s steam ship outfitted with massive fish tanks. Overnight visitors to the cleverly designed uShaka Sea World can wander through four connected “shipwrecks,” where they’ll find 32 tanks boasting many species of rays, an array of incredibly poisonous reptiles, and one of the most diverse collections of sharks in the world.
Insider tip: Take your swimsuit. The uShaka complex has a nice stretch of sandy coastline.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Durban Guide
The Aquarium of the Pacific
Long Beach, CA
Leave it to Southern Californians to figure out that aquariums and meditation are a perfect match. The adults-only package at the Aquarium of the Pacific involves a yoga session, fish feeding, and an informal lecture on marine life for $80. A pizza dinner and light breakfast are included, and alcohol is available (once you’re done demonstrating chakravakasana poses to sea otters.)
Insider tip: Download the aquarium’s free “Explorer” app before going.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Long Beach Guide
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