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Oranjestad Review

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Oranjestad

Category: Towns
Location: Aruba

Fodor's Review:

Aruba's charming capital is best explored on foot. L. G. Smith Boulevard, the palm-lined thoroughfare in the center of town, runs between pastel-painted buildings, old and new, of typical Dutch design. You'll find many malls with boutiques and shops here.

The Archaeological Museum of Aruba has two rooms chock-full of fascinating artifacts from the indigenous Arawak people, including farm and domestic utensils dating back hundreds of years. J. E. Irausquin Blvd. 2A, Oranjestad. 297/582-8979. Free. Weekdays 8-noon and 1-4.

Learn all about aloe—its cultivation, processing, and production—at Aruba Aloe, Aruba's own aloe farm and factory. Guided tours lasting about a half hour will show you how the gel—revered for its skin-soothing properties—is extracted from the aloe vera plant and used in a variety of products, including after-sun creams, soaps, and shampoos. Though not the most exciting tour on the island and unlikely to keep kids entertained, it might be a good option in the event of a rainy day. You can purchase the finished goods in the gift shop. Pitastraat 115, Oranjestad. 297/588-3222. $8. Weekdays 8:30-4:30, Sat. 9-1.

One of the island's oldest edifices, Ft. Zoutman was built in 1796 and played an important role in skirmishes between British and Curaçao troops in 1803. The Willem III Tower, named for the Dutch monarch of that time, was added in 1868 to serve as a lighthouse. Over time, the fort has been a government office building, a police station, and a prison; now its historical museum displays Aruban artifacts in an 18th-century house. Zoutmanstraat, Oranjestad. 297/582-6099. Free. Weekdays 8-noon and 1-4.

The Numismatic Museum displays more than 40,000 historic coins and paper money from around the world. A few pieces were salvaged from shipwrecks in the region. Some of the coins circulated during the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and the ancient Chinese dynasties; the oldest dates to the 3rd century BC. The museum had its start as the private collection of an Aruban who dug up some old coins in his garden. It's now run by his granddaughter. Weststraat, Oranjestad. 297/582-8831. $5. Mon.-Thurs. 9-4, Fri. 9-1, Sat. 9-noon.

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