The Garrison Historical Zone
Going out of Bridgetown by the Charles Duncan O’Neal bridge, once past the bus station and the Fairchild market, driving by Bay Street, you’ll reach the historic zone of Garrison, where is the Garrison Savannah, where the British Army troops of the West Indies used to march. Now is a horse race track, though every November 30, Independence Day parades take place once again.

East of Garrison is the Barbados Museum (open from Monday to Saturday, Sunday noon; entrance fee, phone no. 427-0201). A British military prison from the beginning of the XIX century, hosts this interesting museum , whose halls, the former cells, are a journey through the island’s history. Likewise, there is an art gallery, a shop, and an excellent café in the shadowy courtyard. Twice a week, stages an historical show called “1627 and all that”, including buffet.

To the Noisy South
Driving by the south coast highway, you will soon confirm it’s the most joyful zone of the island. Its magnificent white sandy beaches have a wide offer of water sports, and the only problem, is that it is full of people, especially on weekends. Next to them, are lots of hotels, shops and restaurants. At sunset, this part of Barbados is very lively, thanks to the tourists and islanders, that come here looking for night fun, from Harbor Lights on Bay Street, an outdoor disco at a beach outside Bridgetown, to the bars and restaurants at St. Lawrence Gap, at 5 km. south of the capital, by the 7 highway.

Following the latter, you’ll arrive to Oistins, the fishing “capital” of Barbados. Is a quiet place, but every Friday night, takes place a very special party called Fish Fry. At the bars and shops next to the fish market, fishes and potatoes are cooked outdoors, in huge frying pans, while a deafening music sounds. People eats, dances and drinks beer and rum.

Oistins has also a part of history to explain visitors. In 1652, the monarchist islanders were harassed for weeks, by the Roundheads of Cromwell. This conflict ended with the Barbados chart, that obliged islanders to promise upon oath, their fidelity to the unpopular Cromwell and his Commonwealth Parliament, in exchange of the right for religious freedom, and to be consulted regarding taxes.

The Plantation Mansion and the Pirate’s Castle
Going from Oistins inside the island to the parish of St. Philip, by the 6 highway, you’ll arrive to Foursquare, where is the Rum Factory and Heritage Park (open daily, entrance fee). Here you can go through the world’s most modern rum distillery, and walk by the park, where there is an amphitheater, an art gallery, and various handicraft shops. Following north by highway 5, you’ll find Sunbury Plantation House (open daily, entrance fee), a more than 300 years old mansion of an old plantation, and now restored. Walking inside, you can see all kinds of relics from the colonial age, and wonder how life was at that time.

Go back to Six Cross Roads, a town were six roads converge, and then drive towards the southeast coast, where there are two hotels, where is worth to spend a day, due to their history and its well preserved beaches. Here is where the Caribbean and Atlantic waters converge, producing huge waves, ideal for windsurf, specially at the beach at the feet of Crane Beach Hotel, located on the top of the cliff, and inaugurated in 1887, as the most select and exclusive establishment in Barbados. Before being built, to this harbor arrived ships bringing merchandise from the capital, and that were unloaded thanks to a crane on top of the reef.

Following by highway 5, you’ll reach Sam Lord’s Castle (open daily, entrance fee), an extravagant castle whose construction was ordered at the end of the XVIII century, by Sam Lord, the owner of and old plantation, and that later become one of the most known personalities of Barbados folklore. It is said, that he accumulated a huge fortune using a curious method: at nights he used to hang lamps from the palm trees, so the captains of the ships sailing in front of the coast, figured they were close to a port, when they were, really, going towards a reef. Then this land pirate, plundered the load of the wrecked ships. Now, the castle is part of an hotel complex that maintains most of the furniture and original decoration. Here you can also enjoy a quiet beach bordered by palm trees, as well as pools, gardens and restaurants.