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METRO GETAWAYS: Island Adventure Awaits with Tropical Breezes and Desert Beauty in Aruba

Getaway to Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino

By Ronda M. Parag

Aruba is known as “One Happy Island” and on a recent trip to experience all that Aruba has to offer, I can happily agree that Aruba has plenty of activities and beauty for travelers to discover. While Aruba has sparkling blue waters and offers plenty of diving, snorkeling and water activities, the northeastern coast of the island shows off its dry arid climate and plenty of desert-like landscape dotted with cactus.

A great place to stay is the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, located on the beautiful white sands of Palm Beach with the friendly and welcoming staff. Ideal for adults and families, the resort offers 414 newly refreshed rooms and 24 suites, along with both family and all-adult H2Oasis pools, 10 bars and restaurants, a spa and casino. The Tradewinds Club offers a boutique experience for adults with reserved beach area, concierge services and lounge area, offering five meals and drink services throughout the day. Between the pristine beach, the relaxing pools, 24 hour casino fun, and numerous dining options, there is no need to leave the property. The main pool offers a swim-up bar serving tasty tropical cocktails. Dine under the stars, and in the sand, at Atardi, as it’s the ideal place to catch the sunset and dine on delicious seafood. Get into the spirit of Carnival at La Vista (a buffet serving breakfast, lunch and dinner), every Thursday evening, with a Caribbean Carnival show complete with lively music and costumed dancers.

We discovered the island with an off-road jeep tour by De Palm Tours. The all-terrain vehicles took us up the hills and rocky landscape to breathtaking views of the sea. We saw the flora and fauna of the area, along with goats atop the hills that seemed quite at home in the arid landscape. We stopped at a couple of the picturesque beaches, the lagoon that now showcases the Son of a Bridge, after the collapse of the Natural Bridge, The Chapel of Our Lady of Alto Vista, Aruba’s first chapel and the California Lighthouse. On the water, a half-day snorkeling trip with Red Sail Aruba allowed us to see plenty of fish, a shipwrecked boat and even sea turtles.

To experience the transformation of the San Nicolas area, I recommend the mural tour with ARTISA’s (Art is Aruba) Founder Tito Bolivar, who has created the Aruba Art Fair and proudly navigates the 40+ murals created by international muralists.

There are plenty of events and festivals that attract tourists to the island including Carnival, Soul Beach Music Festival, Sea Jazz Festival, Summer Festival, Aruba Art Fair, Aruba Fashion week, and the perfect place to call home during a stay on the island, the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino. M

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