Bon Bini. Aruba Awaits.

Many visitors fall in love with Aruba upon arrival and return year after year. In fact, according to the Aruban Tourism Authority 44% of overnight guests have slept there once before.

This is because of all the many wonderful sights and things to do in Aruba.

It is reported that Aruba is the most visited countries in the Caribbean, which could be a result of its low crime rate, good weather, and abundance of time-share units available.

Tourism is so important to the island that the government actually awards repeat visitors. For those who have visited at least ten years, they can receive a Distinguished Guest award and for those who have visited for at least 20 years, they can receive a Goodwill Ambassadors award.

Many visitors come here because the weather in Aruba is so reliable. With a year round average temperature of 82 degrees and a constant trade wind, it is always beach weather in Aruba.

It rains less than 20 inches every year and when it does rain it usually only lasts a few minutes.

Hurricanes and tropical storms are a rarity. Aruba lies outside of the hurricane belt.

Because of the constant sunshine, sunburned tourists are a common sight. Luckily for them, aloe vera is available in abundance and offers a fast, but temporary relief from the burn.

While on the beach, the fair skinned should take refuge under one of the many umbrellas provided by their hotel or rent one from a beach activities broker.

If you aren't lucky enough to get coverage from an umbrella (and even if you are) you should liberally apply sun block. As mentioned above, the sun is almost always shining and it reflects off of the white sand and the water, so skin care is important.

Read more about skin care tips while on vacation.

Aruba has an interesting mix of food choices, all of which are downright worth eating. The Dutch have their influence, the Americans have theirs, as does the South Americans, and the fellow Caribbean islanders.

Here are just a few of the unique restaurants on the island.

Cuba's Cooking

La Trattoria: El Faro Blanco

Charlie's Bar

100 AD - The Arawak Indians migrate from South America.

1499 - The Spanish discover the island and lay claim to Aruba. The island is not settled because of its arid climate and lack of gold.

1636 - Dutch explorers set out to the Caribbean and capture the islands of Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire. The Spanish do not put up a fight.



1805 - The British capture the islands from the Dutch during the Napoleonic Wars.

1815 - The Dutch return to Aruba and maintain control.

1824 - A significant amount of gold is finally discovered and mined. Alongside the gold mines are divi-divi pods, which are grown for aloe vera and leather tanning. Aruba still grows a considerable amount of the world's aloe.

1928 - Royal Dutch Shell builds an oil refinery as do Lago Oil and Transport Company Ltd., which is one of the world's largest oil refineries to be built at that time.

1932 - Standard Oil Company takes over the Lago refinery.

1953 - Royal Dutch Shell closes its doors.

1985 - The oil refinery closes and the country's economy falters.


1986 - Aruba becomes an autonomous county and a member state of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

1991 - The refinery re-opens by Coastal Oil Company.

2004 - Valero Oil acquires the refinery.

2005 - On May 30, Natalee Holloway disappears while vacationing in Aruba. The case has never been solved.

2005 - On September 2, Aruba's infamous Natural Bridge collapses.

Whether you are an Aruban resident or not, there is no denying that a beach side ceremony in Aruba is an amazingly romantic experience.

It wasn't long ago that only residents were allowed to marry here, but the growing trend of destination weddings prompted Aruba to open up its country to the world for marriage.

A number of the resorts offer wedding packages and there are also a variety of wedding planners in Aruba that can help out-of-towners with the event. Prices vary depending on how extravagant of a ceremony brides and grooms want, and weather in Aruba is consistent and dramatic sunsets never fail.

The picture here is of the Chapel of Our Lady Alto Vista located on the Pacific side of the island. Although all legal ceremonies must be completed at the Civic Town House in Oranjestad, religious ceremonies or other celebrations can be done anywhere.

To learn more about destination beach weddings, visit Dating Tales.net, a blog devoted to matters of the heart and other fun stuff.