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.

Once a major mercantile center, rivaled only by some U.S. East Coast cities, Barbados is more important these days to the immediate Caribbean region than to the world at large. It is here that major government agencies are located for the region, and abroad. For example, the US Ambassador for the Eastern Caribbean makes his home here, and Caribbean people must go through that office to gain entry to the US. Other countries maintain embassies here as well, such as France, Australia, Venezuela and China.

With good airline services, a wide range of accommodations and many restaurants, Barbados is a comfortable place to visit. It's a relatively flat island, coral rather than volcanic in origin. The tourist services are very well developed. Compared to some other islands, roads are well signed (and paved) and tourist sites abound. With a highly evolved Barbados National Trust, the island has created many spectacular sites and restored many old buildings to their original splendor.

Following with the British tradition, cricket matches and horse races at The Garrison are a sight to see. There are also many Anglican churches and beautiful gardens on the island, in keeping with their English heritage.

At the same time, Barbados is decidedly West Indian, and Bajans, as they call themselves, enjoy West Indian cuisine and entertainment, as does the rest of the Caribbean. With more than 260,000 people living on its 166 square miles, Barbados has a somewhat diverse economy. Tourism, of course is the greatest source of income for the island. Sugar products, mainly rum and molasses, are its major export, along with other agricultural products. There is also some light manufacturing that supports the gross national product. A visit to Bridgetown is a good indicator of how Barbados has developed into a bustling commercial center, creating substantial employment for its residents.

The cuisine of Barbados can be gourmet as well as Caribbean in flavor. A national delicacy, the flying fish, is served throughout the island using a variety of recipes. Other indigenous dishes include golden apple relish (made from a local apple-like fruit), cou-cou made from cornmeal and okra, and pepperpot stew.

The South and West Coasts are the areas most developed for tourism. The South Coast features wonderful white sand beaches, lively hotels, and many restaurants and nightspots. It is quite easy to find acceptable and affordable accommodations here. There are also some exquisite places to stay, and a few that are historic landmarks. The South Coast tends to display moderately rough surf in some places, attracting surfers and accomplished windsurfers. The calmer beaches are along the West Coast near the hotels. The East Coast, while boasting a majestic rocky coastline, is not for swimming.

While Barbados' one-time sugar economy has waned, today the island produces fine Sea Island cotton, tropical flowers, and livestock. It also is able to generate about 60 percent of its own oil from oil wells found throughout the island. Duty-free shopping is also a booming business on the island.

A visit to Barbados definitely allows one to step back in time. Its history is evident everywhere. A visit to the Barbados Museum and the Historical Society's wonderful homes, like Tyrol Cot and Heritage Village, serves to exemplify the historical significance of the 1800s and 1900s.

The range of activities here is endless: from fabulous golf courses and beaches, to great windsurfing, surfing, scuba diving, and hiking. There are several amazing caves to explore, and old plantations to visit. There are luxury villas and hotels for those that prefer the upper end as well as affordable, comfortable accommodations for the bargain hunters. In Barbados, there's something for everyone.