Fun things to do in Aruba

Day 1

Island Time: The first order of business: Kick back like you're in a Corona commercial. The island's soothing trade winds help set the mood: Feel the breeze from the open-air lobby of Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino, fronting Palm Beach. Immediately after check-in, don a swimsuit and find a spot on the sand. The palapas that line the shore are a hot commodity — use the resort's online service to book yours the night prior. Sip a Chill (a local brew) and, well, chill.

Footprints Beach GrillCourtesy Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort

Just the Two Of Us: To score major brownie points with your dushi (sweetheart), reserve one of the six tables at Footprints Beach Grill. A shoes-optional romantic beach dinner is a surefire way to kick off your vacay. Remember those trade winds? Keep them in mind for your dinner attire: Hats will be blown away, hairdos will be windswept, and short dresses will recall Marilyn Monroe.

Ayo Rock FormationsZach Stovall

Day 2

Hit The Road: Aruba is more than just pretty beaches and turquoise water: It's one of the few Caribbean islands with an arid, dry landscape. To see this other side, go off road with De Palm Tours. Its canary-yellow Land Rovers venture daily through rugged desert terrain unfit for the average rental car. Half- and full-day tours visit attractions like the Ayo Rock Formations. These ancient monolithic boulders provided shelter for the Arawak Indians (evidenced by their rock drawings); today, pathways through the stones make it an easy hike for all ages.

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The Aruba Donkey SanctuaryZach Stovall

Four-legged Friends: Nearby, stop to feed friendly burros at the Donkey Sanctuary. This nonprofit protects the animals that were once the preferred method of transportation but were threatened when the car was introduced.

A limestone cave at Arikok National ParkZach Stovall

Cave In: Post-petting, head to Arikok National Park: Channel Indiana Jones and explore the park's limestone caves, Fontein and Guadirikiri. (Warning: You will see bats.) If weather conditions allow, a swim in the natural pool (Conchi) is the ideal way to cool off.

Charlie's BarZach Stovall

Booze and Browse: After a full morning, it's time to refuel. The famous Charlie's Bar in San Nicholas offers cold beer and fresh seafood with a side of character. Since it opened in 1941, the bar's walls and ceilings have been covered with bric-a-brac: dolls, license plates, mariachi hats, boxing gloves. Ready for some retail therapy? Back at Palm Beach, walk to Arawak Gardens to shop storefronts and vendor stalls selling everything from high-end jewelry to souvenir tchotchkes.

Moomba Beach BarZach Stovall

Paint the Town: Moomba Beach Bar and Restaurant brings the classic beach-bar vibe. The spot is happening every night of the week, but visit on a Friday or Sunday for a barbecue buffet and live music. Order a few watermelon mojitos and dance the night away on the sand. If you're still wired, Sinatra singalongs continue past midnight at The Soprano's Piano Bar. Or try your luck at a casino — many are open 24 hours.

The Dutch Pancake House RestaurantCourtesy The Dutch Pancake House Restaurant

Day 3

Breakfast of Champions: Start your day by going Dutch — for flapjacks, that is. The Dutch Pancake House Restaurant in downtown Oranjestad serves up sweet and savory delicacies all day, plus poffertjes (silver-dollar style) and uitsmijters, a typical Dutch breakfast of bread topped with ham, cheese and fried eggs.

A snorkeling tour with Red Sail SportsCourtesy Red Sail Sports

Fish Tales: Catalina Bay is the first stop on Red Sail Sports' Antilla Snorkel Sail, where the calm water is suitable for all levels. The three-hour catamaran tour (including snacks and an open bar) also anchors at the Antilla wreck. The sea is rougher, but the 400-foot sunken freighter, teeming with marine life, is worth braving the waves.