So, you've done Cabo and Cancun, and want to kick it up a notch. How about Barbados?

Barbados, a part of the West Indies, is located in the southeastern part of the Caribbean, slightly north of South America. Once under British rule, it established independence about 40 years ago, yet the influence of the British is still prominent. This island is still rather reserved by nature, so it's not uncommon to see people dressed for dinner, with their manners intact.

Compared to many other developing areas, Barbados is also know to have one of the highest standards of living and literary rates. English is the language on this island and its inhabitants are friendly and welcoming.

As a popular wedding destination, Barbados offers many places to tie the knot. If romance is on your agenda, there are several places worth considering. The Crane Beach Resort, on the southeastern side of the island will give you privacy, with its coral beaches, cascading swimming pools, and soon, sophisticated shopping amenities, a conference center, art gallery, museum, a jazz club and many more top-notch restaurants. Check out its Zen Restaurant, with its Asian fusion slant, guaranteed to kick-start your taste buds with its eclectic offerings.

Tiger Woods and Simon Cowell have been known to frequent the Sandy Lane Hotel, which sports one of the best golf courses on the island, aptly named for the rapturous Green Monkey, one of the more festive inhabitants on the island. Lounge in the luxury of this place that also has many engaging amenities for kids.

Also notable are the Colony Club, The House, and Almond Beach Village, all designed with romance in mind, and located right at the water's edge.

If you're an outdoor enthusiast, you'll love Barbados. Horizon Coaches and Tours will usher you around the island where you can get up close and personal with some of the 'residents' of the island. Spotting a Green Monkey, I stupidly tried to get it to come closer by making one of my famous animal imitations. I must have been speaking Chimpanzee though, as he quickly ducked into a ditch.

Mongoose, looking a bit like ground squirrels, also populates the island, dashing across the road like kids that were late for school. One of the more miraculous sounds of the island was the symphony of whispering frogs. A bit flute-like, these creatures began their serenade in the hush of dusk, singing to one another with pure abandon. For ocean enthusiasts, take a catamaran cruise and don your snorkeling gear to swim with the sea turtles. Like slow-falling boulders, as sea turtles cascade toward you, their flippers row like huge paddles. It's truly poetic.

If it's architecture you're after, head to Farley Hill, where several of the structures looked like an abbreviation of the Coliseum in Rome. Drive down any lane and you'll see the landscape punctuated by a number of churches erected hundreds of years ago. Antique lovers should head to the Sunbury Plantation House, or the Fishpond Great House, with its host of ghosts!

Besides the Zen Restaurant, if you're a foodie, try Pices, right on the waters edge, where their sweet lobster was an easy indulgence with their slow drawn butter. I was introduced to Flying Fish at the Colony Club, and at The Almond Beach Village, Kingfish. stole my heart.

From Los Angeles, it takes a good 10 hours to get to Barbados, factoring in my transfer through Miami. But the trip is worth the penance of the planes. I'd much rather hear the hymn of the whispering frogs any day over the hum of the 405.

For more information:
http://www.idobarbados.com/


Mary McGrath is a freelance writer and photographer whose work has appeared in Newsweek, MSNBC.com, Good Housekeeping, Rangefinder, and many other publications. You can reach her through her web site at: www.marymcgrathphotography.com