All about Barbados

The island got built on a dried dead reef of corals. It is the only one island in the caribbean which consists out of a whole riff of coralls and grows a tiny bit every year.
The pear shaped island’s surface is about 430 m2 big, 32km long and 24 km wide.
Landscape is flat mostly. Mount Hillaby in the north is a 341m high mountain. The northern part of the island is called Scotland District. Along the westcoast there are beautiful beaches, the east coast towards the atlantic is rougher and more rocky.
Barbados is divided into 11 districts, so called "parishes".

Those parishes are:
Right at the north point, a wonderful viewpoint is St.Lucy, this is where the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea meet. Occasionally it is said you can watch some whales.
You can go down into the Animal FLower Cave, a cave where you can look out onto the sea and after that have a break and walk up into the little hut, which apparently has got the biggest collection of visiting cards world wide!
Rather cliffs than beaches are typical for St.Lucy, however Archers Bay is a gorgeous little hidden beach.

Going south there is St.Peter. The Stagfield House is in the Parish of St. Peter. Here in Speightstown, where you find all the shops you are looking for, also a postoffice or an art gallery. New refurbished is the fishmarket with pretty surroundings, which is worth looking at from the Fishermens Pub.

Driving along Cherry Tree Hill (actually it is mainly Mahogany Trees today) which is 260m above sea level, there is a beautiful view over the whole east coast of the island. If you go along you will get to the Barbados Wildlife Reserve. There are many different animals and if you like walking in the shade, not far is the Grenade Hall Forest, a teaching path with lots of trees and plants. Farley Hill and St.Nicholas Abbey, built in 1650 are there too.
Towards the west there is the Parish of St.James, Sunset Crest has a big Shopping Mall, a 24h emergency doctors office and Sandy Lane Golf Course. Also the Folkstone Marine Park with museum is around the area, where you can picknick and snorkel. The parish got its name after King James I from England. The first english arrived here in 1627.

On the east side there is the Parish of St.Andrew with Barclays Park, a nice spot to view the rough Atlantic. Chalky Mount, a little mountain, shows a brilliant view over the island. Here is Morgan Lewis Mill also. Interestingly there is a red clay only up here which gets used for pottery. Sure this is the pottery village of the island.
St.Joseph lies a little bit to the south with Bathsheba, the famous Surf Bowl where you can expect very big waves occasionally. Andromeda Garden has got its place here and also the Flower Forest.
Westside next to St.James at the level of Holetown there is St.Thomas, if you want to see Harrisons Cave, it is there. In this parish there are mainly sugar cane fields. Not far from the cave is Welchman Hall Gully, there are many tropical plants at home.
St.Michael might be the most lively place, it is close to the harbour, the Bajan Helicopter starts there or the Pirate ship 'Jolly Roger'. The Atlantis Submarine starts their journey to the underwater world there too.
Opposite of the fishmarket there is a colorful place Pelican Village, where you can aquire goods produced in Barbados, be it any kind of art, like paintings, wooden sculptures, books, food like rumcake, cards, pottery, clothes, gifts and souvenirs.
You are welcome to go up to the Royal Barbados Cigar Factory and look at the tools.
Going on towards Bridgtown, you go along Broad- and Swan Street with the best shopping and viewing opportunities.
In Queenspark you can chill or take part in the festivals and parties.
Starting from the harbour again but going along the Alice Springs Highway up north you will come to the famous Malibu Beach Club, it is possible to visit the rum factory, almost opposite is the Mount Gay Brewery which offers a very interesting tour through the factory.
Further up you come to the West Indies University.
Another place going down south again past the Hilton Hotel reopened in 2006, to see is Garrison Savannah the horse racing place. Not far from there is the Barbados Museum which used to be an old british military prison.
Museum

Down South there is the Parish of Christ Church with Grantley Adams International Airport and Graeme Hall Swamps, the protected swamps which are very important for the island. Many animals and plants grow there and it's a lovely walk through. St.Lawrence Gap and beautiful Dover Beach is down here.
The little fisherplace Oistins is just round the corner.

On the south east is the Parish of St.Philip. Beautiful beaches like Crane Beach or Foul Bay are not to be missed or an early sunrise at Sam Lords Castle gets you impressed.
Dont forget there is the East Lighthouse with a great view over the cliffs and Culpepper Island, a tiny island next to Barbados. It is a 40m x 50m big rock which comes up to 10m out of the water.
Bottom Bay is a little hidden bay surrounded by palm trees.

Between St.Michael and St.Philip without a beach at all there is St.George, Gunhill Signal Station with the big white sculpture of a lion or Francis Plantation House can be visited. Get an impression of the beautiful Orchid World.
At last there is the Parish of St.John on the east coast, Villa Nova and Codrington College with the huge pond full of sea roses can be found here. If you stop in Bath you will find the safest place on the east coast to swim, a very tidy beach with picknick tables. By the way there is the only waterfall of the island and you can see the old trainline, where once the train used to go from east to west.