Barbados
St. James Parish is located on the western shore of Barbados, an area known as "the platinum coast" due to the beautiful golden sand beaches that dot the coastline. Like the rest of Barbados, St. James Parish is flavored with its British past. Street names, cricket, and afternoon tea offer subtle suggestions of this heritage. But you needn't look far to find the island's West Indian roots. Calypso music and sugar cane fields are just a few reminders. A day's itinerary in Barbados can include snorkeling, surfing, parasailing, wind surfing, scuba diving, shopping, or lying on a beach soaking up the Caribbean sun.The beaches near St. James are legendary for their golden sand and calm Caribbean waters. Payne's Bay has great snorkeling, and is great for families due to the gently deepening surf. Sandy Beach is another family favorite due to the calm waters and gentle slope of the beach that empties into a magnificent lagoon. If you have time, spend some beach time at Bottom Bay, located on the southeast coast, perhaps the most photographed beach in Barbados. The beach is set against a backdrop of cliffs and palm trees and even has a small cave for exploring. The beaches on the eastern shore, facing the Atlantic, are popular with surfers especially near the Bathsheba and Cattlewash areas.
Because of its extensive coral reefs, Barbados is a paradise for scuba divers and snorkelers. The area is home to thousands of different reef fish, plus a large number of the rare hawksbill turtles. North of Holetown rests the SS Stavronikita, a Greek freighter that was intentionally sunk in 1976 a quarter mile off the coast. The wreck is part of the Folkestone Underwater Park. Snorkelers can also explore the inshore reef in the Recreational Zone of the park. Another local favorite is the North Point Lighthouse dive. Features include a relatively undisturbed reef system regularly visited by schools of barracuda.
Golfers have ample opportunity to tee it up during their vacation near St. James. One of the most spectacular loops anywhere is the Royal Westmoreland Golf Course, designed by golf architectural icon Robert Trent Jones Jr. It will be hard to find a more scenic layout; all 18 of the course's holes are adorned with views of the Caribbean. Another option is the Barbados Golf Club, designed by Ron Kirby. The course played host to Barbados's first championship event, and served as a stop for the PGA Senior Tour in 2003. Mature trees line the fairways waiting to capture errant shots. Two lakes gobble up wayward efforts on five of the course's holes.
St. James is a great "jumping off point" for your Barbados adventures. For a sense of local history, visit the area around National Heroes Square (formerly Trafalgar Square) in the capital city of Bridgetown. A statue of Lord Nelson honors his victory, and subsequent death, at the battle of Trafalgar. Another popular activity on Barbados is touring the distilleries that produce some of the finest rum in the world. One of the oldest, Mount Gay in Bridgetown, offers a great tour describing the rum-making process, and has an excellent restaurant overlooking the sea. Animal and nature lovers will want to check out the Barbados Wildlife Reserve, where they can see native green monkeys, red-footed turtles, caimans, brocket deer, and iguanas. If you want to experience some fun in the Caribbean sun, set your compass for St. James Parish in Barbados.
