Visiting colorful Curacao? Save time for a trip to Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage site

Are you visiting Curaçao for the first time? Below is a list of “Insider Tips” for things to see and do in dushi Korsou – the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao.

Did you know that downtown Willemstad, in the Dutch Caribbean of Curacao, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

If you are looking for typical Curaçaon cuisine, I recommend Jaanchie’s on the West end of the island.

Looking for a quiet place to escape and unplug from the digital world? Check out one of the beautiful beaches on the western part of the island.

When you come to Curacao, takes pictures at the Floating Market in Willemstad

When you come to Curaçao, take your picture on the floating bridge in front of the colorful Handelskade.

The best item on the menu at Restaurant La Bahia, is the Keshi Yena (Stuffed Gouda Cheese).

Seeing a lot of Iguanas on the island? Curaçao is best known for Iguana soup – oh my!

Plenty of Iguanas to be found in Curacao

Looking for cheap and authentic food in Curaçao, go to Marshe Bieuw, the Old Market, in downtown Willemstad – where the locals eat.

For quality Swiss and French cuisine, go to the five star Bistro Le Clochard.

In Curaçao, take your picture with an ostrich at the Ostrich Farm!

For your best pictures and viewing, walk to the top of Riffort Village.

The Fort Nassau offers great views and Handleskade is the best place to watch or experience the Heineken Regatta Curacao.

In Curaçao, outdoor enthusiasts will want to hike Christoffel Park or hop on one of Eric’s ATVs.

Looking for a little exercise? Walk along the Jan Thiel walkway.

If you are a museum lover, Curaçao’s best museum is Kura Hulanda Museum.

Ready to enjoy a night out on the town? For a night of dancing, go to Mambo Beach.

Eat authentic Curacao food at Marshe Bieuw in Willemstad, Curacao

The Truk’i Pan  – a food truck,  is the spot for late night dining.

K-Pasa, offers movie reviews and will keep you posted on what’s happening in Curaçao.

You can tell a lot about Curaçao from visiting and watching Carnival, the island’s Mardi Gras!

In the spring you should attend Curaçao Kite Festival.

In the summer you should plan a trip with Substation Curaçao.

Did you know that Curaçao is known for its annual North Sea Jazz Festival? Plan a visit to Curaçao in the fall, this Labor Day weekend.

Come to Curaçao for pagaras and firework events in the winter – all the local business participate.

Visit Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue in Willemstad, Curacao. The oldest synagogue in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere.

Insider Tip:  Check out the often over-looked Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue in Curaçao. The oldest synagogue still in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere.

Go to Landhuis Daniel for a great breakfast treat or coffee.

If you are looking for a dolphin experience, just outside of Willemstad you can visit Dolphin Academy, and have lunch at the Seaside Terrace.

Do you plan to travel around the entire island of Curacao? You’ll need to rent a car. I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Curacao, which offers transportation to the resort from the airport and an inexpensive shuttle service to downtown Willemstad.

Don’t miss the Sea Aquarium if you have kids traveling with you.

What are your favorite things to do in one of the Caribbean ABC islands of Auruba, Bonaire and Curacao?

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Thanks to Curacao Tourism for assistance with this post. I was a guest of Hyatt Regency Curacao.

Come to Hawaii's Big Island, Get Your Picture Taken with King Kamehameha

My favorite tips and locations for the Big Island in Hawaii.

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park! (HVNP)

When I crave Big Island cuisine, I turn to Hilo Farmers Market.

To escape work I go to  Kalapana. I like the Hawaiian Lava Daily blog for what’s currently happening with the lava flow. The official site is the County of Hawaii site.

For complete quiet, I can hide away at Waianuhea Inn in Honokaaa.

If you come to the Kohala Coast, get your picture taken by the plume coming from Halemaumau Crater, or the black sand beach at Kalapana or the King Kamehameha statue in Kapaau.

If you have to order one thing off the menu at Hilo Bay Cafe, get the Blue Bay Burger.

The Kohala Coast is my one stop shop for adventure. On my recent visit I swam with dolphins and sea turtles, went horseback riding, took a helicopter ride over lava flows and watched my friends go zip-lining!

Go on a horseback riding vacation on Hawaii's Big Island

When I’m feeling cash-strapped, I go to Café 100.

For a huge splurge, I go to Monette’s at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.

Photo ops on the Big Island include HVNP, sunsets on the Kohala Coast, boats and giant cleats on Kailua Pier, Ahuena Heiau, the Puna coastline, Hapuna Beach, Puukohola Heiau, the pastures and ranches of Waimea and sunsets at Mauna Kea summit.

The best vantage points are taken by walking to the top of Mauna Kea.

The most random thing about the Kohala Coast is the Kona Coffee & Cultural Festival – this is its 40^th year.

On the Big Island, an active day outdoors involves walking or hiking the Kilauea Iki Trail, HVNP, horseback riding, swimming with dolphins and sea turtles or surfing.

My favorite walking route is the Ala Kahakai Trail along the Kohala Coast or Queen Liliuokalani Park in Hilo.

The Big Island’s best museums are Imiloa Astronomy Center and Lyman Museum.

Kona Village for an authentic Hawaiian Luau

For a night of dancing, go to Lulu’s in Kona.

Ken’s House of Pancakes in Hilo is the spot for late night dining.

To find out what’s going on a night or on weekends, read the  Hawaii Tribune Herald –Saturday section has the Calendar of Events. West Hawaii Today and Big Island Weekly, as well.

You can tell a lot about Hawaii’s Big Island from visiting the Kohala Coast
and watching Outrigger canoe racing events.

In the spring you should attend Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, if you can get tickets!

In the summer you should attend Queen Liliuokalani Canoe Races in Kona and the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament in Kona.

In the fall you should visit Kona coffee country.

In the winter you should go to Mauna Kea. The volcano could be covered in snow!

Hidden gem on Hawaii's Big Island is the Love Pond at Mauna Lani Resort

A hidden gem on the Kohala Coast is Love Pond at the Mauna Lani Resort.

For a great breakfast treat or espresso, go to the Island Lava Java on Alii Drive in Kona

In Hilo you can visit Rainbow Falls or Akaka Falls, just outside of Hilo. Have lunch at the Hilo Bay Café, or What’s Shakin’ in Pepeekeo.

The best way to see the Kohala Coast is by car and helicopter.  You are able to walk around in Hilo and Kona, but to get around the island, you gotta have a car.

If you have kids, you won’t want to miss: going to Hapuna Beach State Park or to Imiloa Astronomy Center.

What are your favorite things to do on Hawaii’s Big Island?

Take a helicopter ride over Hawaii's Kohala Coast and flowing lava

Thanks to Big Island Visitors Bureau and Jessica Ferracane of Irondog Communications for assistance with this post. You may also follow the Hawaiian Island on Twitter or become a Facebook Fan of Hawaii. I was a guest of Big Island Visitors Bureau. Article, YouTube video and photos by Nancy D. Brown

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When in Zeeland, take a picture of a Dutch windmill

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is to Deltapark Neeltje Jans and Middelburg.

When I crave Zeeland cuisine, I turn to Braai Tapperij de Mug, Middelburg.

To escape work I go to  the beach.

For complete quiet, I can hide away at nature reserve Oranjezon in Vrouwenpolder.

If you come to Zeeland, get your picture taken at Deltapark Neeltje Jans; get a picture from the Stormvloedkering.

If you have to order one thing off the menu at Brouwersdam in Zeil, get the fish soup.

Zeeland is my one stop shop for the Hema.

When I’m feeling cash-strapped, I go to Restaurant Binnen en Buiten in Goes.

For a huge splurge, I go to de Kromme Watergang in Hoofdplaat.

When in Zeeland, Holland, take a picture of the Dutch tulips

Photo ops in Middelburg include Abbeyplace – Abdijplein. Nothing says Holland like tulips in the spring.

The most random thing about Zeeland is the Zeeland Nazomer Festival at the end of August.

In Zeeland an active day outdoors involves walking, sailing, body sliding and windsurfing.

My favorite walking route is the shopping route.

Zeeland’s best museum is Zeeuws Museum in Middelburg.

A restaurant on the Boulevard in Vlissingen is the spot for late night dining.

To find out what’s going on a night or on weekends, read PZC, the Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant.

In the spring you should visit the dikes with trees and blossoms at Zuid-Beveland in Zeeland.

Oyster Fisherman from Yerseke, Zeeland in the Netherlands

In the summer you should go to the beach.

In the fall you should visit the woods near Oostkapelle called Park Westhove.

In the winter you should go to the woods of Westenschouwen, Schouwen Duiveland.

Just outside of Zeeland you can have lunch at the Domburg and at Apparthotel Bommelje.

The best way to see Zeeland is to walk or bike.

If you have kids, you won’t want to miss: Mini Mundi in Middelburg.

So Many Wonderful Places to Visit in Zeeland

I had no idea there were so many wonderful places to visit in Zeeland. I particularly enjoyed my visit to Zierikzee.

What are your favorite things to do in Zeeland?

Visit the Zierikzee Boat Museum, Zeeland, Netherlands

Thanks to Sonja van der Voet and Visit  Zeeland Delta for assistance with this post.

Article, photos and YouTube video  by Nancy D. Brown. I was a guest of Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions.

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