St Peter

St Peter Parish is home to a couple of very fine resorts, where guests tend to stay put.  It's far removed from the island, but what the parish lacks in other pursuits, it makes up for with exceptional beaches. Two resorts anchor the region north of Speightstown, and they couldn't be more different. Sprawling Almond Beach Village has something for everyone, while the intimate upscale Cobblers Cove Hotel is refined and luxurious, drawing mostly British vacationers (and is restricted to adults during the high season from January through March). Wherever you go, you'll find the Bajans (bay-juhns) are friendly and welcoming.

The large Almond Beach Village resort draws a wide-ranging mix of adults and families, divided pretty evenly between Britons and Americans, while the more refined appeal of Cobbler's Cove appeals primarily to adults and to a much lesser degree families (and then only after the high season, when children are not allowed).

Barbados stands alone in the Atlantic, 160km (100 miles) east of the other Windward Islands in the Caribbean, its closest neighbour being St Lucia. The modern and comfortable Grantley Adams International Airport is near the southern tip of the island and can be over an hour's drive from the resorts in St Peter. St Peter Parish is on the northwest coast of the island, and most resorts are north of Speightstown. Most resorts are approximately 35km (22 miles) north and west from the airport.

Beaches on the west coast have delicate white sand. With little surf and smooth, sandy bottoms, they are excellent for both swimming and sunning.  The shores in St Peter Parish are somewhat wider than those in the posher resort areas of St James. Mullins Beach, south of Speightstown, is a popular day destination; local restaurants serve food and drinks and will rent you a chair and umbrella. The beach at the Almond Beach Village is particularly long, wide, and inviting.

Arbib Heritage & Nature Trail in Speightstown offers two of the island's best hiking trails, one an easy walk through the back streets of Speightstown itself. St Peter also has two of the island's more interesting historical sights. Farley Hill, a national park, includes the ruins of a plantation great house and some excellent views. St Nicholas Abbey in Cherry Tree Hill is the island's oldest remaining great house, one of the best-preserved examples of Caribbean Jacobean architecture. Golfers may be interested in Almond Beach Village's nine-hole course, but the island's best courses are south in St James Parish, at Sandy Lane or the Royal Westmoreland.

The Barbados Wildlife Reserve in Farley Hill has examples of all the island's native wildlife and birds. To the north, the Animal Flower Forest, at North Point, some magnificent tidal pools and sea caves harbour all kinds of sea life. To the south, Harrison's Cave, on Highway 2 in Welchman Hall, is a favourite for all ages.

Speightstown has a few charming shops, but you will need to make the trek to either Holetown or Bridgetown to find a decent number of stores. The best duty-free stores are in Bridgetown. A charming Chattel House Village in Holetown has a good range of shops and is closer. Tyrol Cot offers the opportunity to watch local artisans make their wares. Blue or green Earthworks Pottery is top-quality.

St Peter is far removed from the island's major nightlife centre, the St Lawrence Gap, but it's worth the long drive if you are looking for something livelier than what might be offered in your resort. The Oistens Fish Fry, the island's best street party, is near The Gap. If you don't want to drive, organised tours go to either place.

Barbados has many fine restaurants if you want to escape your resort, including a few upscale offerings in the Port St Charles villa development where you can expect chic, international cuisine and fine seafood. Check out some of the local specialities, including Bajan-style pepper pot, a rich, spicy stew of oxtails and beef with vegetables.

Frequent (though somewhat slow) bus service connects Speightstown with Bridgetown, but if you want to do any serious exploring, you'll need to take tours or rent a car. Rental cars are popular for exploring but can be expensive, so most holidaymakers only rent for a day. Most resorts offer shuttles to shops, and taxis are always an option, though an expensive one. Almond Beach Village has a free shuttle to its sister property in Holetown.

The 40-minute flight to Vigie Airport near Castries, St Lucia, makes it possible to do a day tour and return in time for dinner. Barbados is well connected to other Caribbean islands by reasonably priced flights for those who wish to spend a few days on more than one island.

If you are looking for a romantic rendezvous, then look no further than La Mer in Port St Charles, where you can dine on fresh fish plucked straight from the bay with a view of moonlight on the lagoon.

Barbados's Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI)