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“Oh I want to go, under the boardwalk, down by the sea (oh yeah)...” The Beach Boys
BARBADOS - Imagine walking by the sea, wind in your hair and waves crashing on the shore... (No, this is not a scene from Baywatch – you are not going to see any slow motion running and hear background music in the air – I promise!)
This is the South Coast boardwalk, one of Barbados’ newest must do activities. Stretching over 1.6 metres from Camelot to the famous Accra Beach, the boardwalk attracts everyone from casual sightseers to fitness enthusiasts. Almost every evening, rain or shine, the boardwalk is a hive of activity. From 5pm, you get the after work groups who come in full exercise gear ready to break a sweat. This is especially evident in the months of May and June as people prepare for the upcoming Crop Over festival – after all, you have to look good when you are planning to strut about in revealing costumes! There is even a fitness group for new mothers that encourages women to bring their babies in their strollers and a mid-week Zumba class!
As night falls, the atmosphere along the boardwalk changes. The newly established Boardwalk Bar comes alive with music and patrons enjoying a few drinks. There are also several prominent South Coast restaurants including Black Pearl and Tapas that face onto the Boardwalk, creating a lively, open-air setting. The boardwalk then becomes ideal for a romantic stroll (or the perfect spot to pop the question, just saying) or that necessary walk after you’ve eaten too much (we all know how that goes). There are also regular patrols by police officers late into the night ensuring a safe, secure environment.
Designed with both aesthetics and durability in mind, the structure of the boardwalk penetrates deep into the sand. There are five manmade headlands designed with granite and rocks to withstand crashing waves. These headlands have also been enhanced with plants and benches allowing visitors to sit and enjoy the scenery.
The boardwalk is one of those things that you have to experience in order to fully appreciate its value. For me personally, I enjoy walking the boardwalk in those rare quiet periods, just before the evening crowds. Both relaxing and rejuvenating, it is indeed one of Barbados’ newest gems and is thoroughly enjoyed by both locals and tourists.
“Under the Boardwalk, we’ll be having some fun...”
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