Page 12 - AHATA

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LOCAL Wednesday 4 december 2024

Why You Should Not Miss Aruba’s Free City Center Street Car Tour

ORANJESTAD - Aruba’s City Center and naturally air-conditioned ve-
Street Car - or as we call it in Dutch; hicle? The tour consists of a total of
“Tram van Oranjestad’ - is a single 9 stops approximately 200 meters
track tram line in Oranjestad, the apart from each other; all stops are
capital city of Aruba. It was inaugu- clearly marked. The tram will bring
rated on 22 December 2012, being you close to different museums,
the first and so far the only passen- historical plazas, monuments, the
ger rail service on Aruba and the Protestant church, Aruba’s high-
rest of the Dutch Caribbean. There end mall, retail shops, and a vari-
are two trolleys, a single-deck one ety of local and international cui-
with 42 seats and a double-decker sine restaurants. The “I love Aruba”
with 64 seats. The line was inspired trademark also belongs to that list.
by the popular battery-powered The third stop on the route is close
streetcar operation at the Grove in to a 5-minute walk to the famous
Los Angeles, USA. Aruba’s street- Renaissance Marina showcasing
cars are powered by hydrogen fuel luxurious yachts and Aruba’s blue
cells, which are charged by the is- waters.
land’s year-round trade winds.
The “Tram van Oranjestad” starts
Caya Betico Croes, mostly re- from a balloon loop near the Port
ferred to as our “main street” has of Call and serves the downtown
been developed into a pollution- area and ends at Plaza Nicky. The
free pedestrian mall. The double- first ride starts at 10:00 am sharp
decker offers you a 360 degree with intervals of 25minutes. The last
view of the down town area with trolley departs from the cruise port
a picture perfect scenery of the is- at 5:00pm. Don’t miss this tour of
land’s clear blue skies. Who would the beautiful Aruba’s City Center–
not enjoy a ride on this beautiful it is free for all!q

Aruba’s most family-friendly beaches

their children play in the shallow ing right around your knee before Boca Catalina is a small bay beach
shores of the beach. Beside the re- slowly getting deeper: perfect for near the Malmok beach area fur-
laxing atmosphere, there are also kids to safely play. ther down the hotel areas. Though
several services that may accom- it may not be a very sandy beach,
modate your stay, like a parking Eagle Beach/Palm Beach in the it is relatively quiet and tranquil.
lot, sun tent rentals, chairs, bath- hotel area This is a great place for family to
(Oranjestad)—One of the big- rooms and a snack bar right at the Yet another highly popular beach lay down a big blanket and have
gest concerns that parents have far left of the beach. site, Eagle Beach and Palm Beach a little picnic. This is also one of the
when travelling with their children is where most of our visitors go to best places to snorkel, as this area
is a guarantee of their safety and Mangel Halto in Pos Chiquito tan, swim or play in the white sand. is filled with little fish and corals,
healthy enjoyment. Therefore, we Mangel Halto is situated in the Because they are near the low-rise even close to the shore.
thought it would be a great help back streets of the Pos Chiquito and high-rise hotel areas, these
to travelling parents to list off some city. Though there are several stairs beaches are the most accessible Palm Island
the most family-friendly beaches on the sides of the beach cliff for visitors on foot. These beaches Ok, this one is technically not a
around the island. leading you down, the best spot also offer many palapas free to beach, but a must-visit attraction
for families to hang out is across use, but you can also rent chairs for family fun. This small water park
Baby Beach in San Nicolas the bridge, passed the mangrove and tents. Much like Baby Beach, oasis is located further down the
Baby Beach is one Aruba’s most trees near the entrance sign. Here, these sites are one of the best Mangel Halto Beach and is reach-
popular and visited beaches, and there are small and big palapas, beaches for your children to play able by boat. This water park of-
for good reason: This sandy and perfect for big and small families and build sand castles. fers 6 hours of fun activities, food,
quiet lagoon is a great place for to set up their belongings. In this drinks, and a chance to see pink
parents to sit back and relax while area, the shore is also shallow, fall- Boca Catalina in Malmok flamingoes up close! q