CARLISLE BAY
A FULL DAY AT CARLISLE BAY With so many beaches to pick from you can’t go wrong when you select a location to bury yourself in a lounger and settle into a good book for the day. Every beach has its own character and attributes, but for the discerning visitor who wants more than just sand, sea and sunshine under a clear blue sky then Carlisle Bay ticks most of the right boxes. Located just outside Bridgetown on the South Coast Road this crescent-shaped beach can be busy, but never packed because its long rambling strand stretches from the Hilton Hotel to Pierhead and the inlet into the Careenage in the heart of the old Colonial seaport. Sundays are the most active days, but Carlisle Bay never sits still as it offers much more than a lazy day at the beach. The first impression when you arrive at the bay is one of beauty and serenity with lots of little boats and catamarans bobbling up and down in the water and a few larger merchant ships anchored sedately out in the deeper water. Occasionally a kayak or SUP (Stand Up Paddler) will pass or a bunch of sailing dinghies from the Yacht Club heading out to race at the far end of the bay where they have total freedom. There are several hubs in the bay, most notably the bustling Boatyard Bar and Restaurant, the historic Barbados Yacht Club, and the Radisson Hotel/Barbados Cruising Club area where kayaks, boogie boards and paddle boards meander in and out continuously on Sunday afternoons. The Boatyard hires out beach chairs, jet 50 • www.sportingbarbados.com