Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1198098
90 90 PHOTOGRAPHS, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT BY GREG LORD, BY COREY WEINER, COURTESY ARUBA TOURISM AUTHORITY (PORTUGESE ARTIST BORDALO), AND COURTESY OF ARUBA MARRIOTT RESORT & STELLARIS CASINO Aruba, Beyond the Beach Even away f rom the water, Aruba of fers endless adventure . The ocean view from my balcony at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino is stunning. And yet, aside from a quick dip at the beach, I plan to remain almost totally ignorant of the water. There are no catamaran rides on my itinerary, no deep sea fishing excursions, no kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding. I can plainly see that the water looks incredible. But I'm more excited to discover what this "One Happy Island" has to offer beyond the surf and the sun. We bring our explorations inside the Marriott's beautiful lobby, where the expert bartending staff teaches us how to stir and shake exotic cocktails. Although I quit drinking years ago, I've always loved making drinks, and I soon find myself burning woodchips with a small blowtorch and piping the smoke into a decanter to add flavor to an old fashioned (which, my traveling companions tell me, is delicious). As night settles over the island, we dine at Atardi, Marriott's on-the-beach restaurant, and I dig my toes into the sand while digging into a delicious macadamia-encrusted grouper. In the morning, we travel to San Nicholas, on the opposite end of the island, to check out a couple of museums. The first, the Museum of Industry, provides a fascinating look at how Aruba evolved from a gold mining colony to a country whose economy relies predominantly on tourism. (Along the way, other major industries have included aloe, oil, and guano—petrified deposits of bird droppings used as fertilizer.) Just down the street, the San Nicholas Community museum provides a more intimate look at Aruban history, with displays including a colonial kitchen and a 19th-century barbershop. Each September, San Nicholas hosts the Aruba Art Fair, and it feels like half the buildings in the small city are covered with stunning murals. Walking around, we spot colorful fish, sea Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino is a great place to make basecamp on a trip to Aruba. TRAVEL By CALVIN HENNICK