Tying in with my post for different things to do.
When we were there in March it looked like they were putting the finishing touches on a baseball stadium in Santa Cruz. who plays there and when?
When are events held at the dragstrip?
Is the drive-in theater operating?
Is there a bowling alley on the Island?
Just trying to find a few different things to do when our friends are in for a couple weeks. Thanks for any help Al

The drive-in has closed.
Eagle Bowling alley is on Sasaki road not far from La Cabana.Eagle Bowling - Home

Hi gumbo,
Let's see if I can help:

When we were there in March it looked like they were putting the finishing touches on a baseball stadium in Santa Cruz. who plays there and when?
THE FIELD IS FINISHED AND IT HOSTS LOCAL TEAMS. i AM NOT MUCH OF A BASEBALL FAN BUT THOSE WHO ARE, TELL ME THAT THE FIELD IS REALLY GREAT. I TRIED TO FIND A SCHEDULE FOR YOU BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO. SORRY ABOUT THAT.

When are events held at the dragstrip?
MOSTLY ON WEEKENDS. ALMOST ALL WEEKENDS THERE IS SOMETHING.

Is the drive-in theater operating?
NOPE.

Is there a bowling alley on the Island?
THERE ARE TWO. EAGLE BOWLING IS THE OLDEST AND MOST USED. MY SON BOWLS THERE ON SATURDAYS. THERE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT OPENED AT THE PALM BEACH PLAZA. IT IS SMALLER AND HAS FEWER LANES AND IS A MORE HIGH TECH KIND OF A PLACE. LOTS OF KIDS LIKE THAT ONE AS WELL (PRICIER)

Just trying to find a few different things to do when our friends are in for a couple weeks.
TRY TOURING THE NORTH COAST AND SPENDING SOME TIME ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ISLAND. IT IS A VERY SERENE PLACE TO BE AND THERE IS A SMALL RESTAURANT THERE THAT HAS THE BEST FISH DISH ON ARUBA. FRESH AND DELICIOUS. DEPENDING ON WHAT YOUR INTERESTS ARE, YOU MIGHT ALSO TRY A CAMERA TRIP TO SEE THE (FAST DISAPPEARING) CUNUCU HOUSES AND OLD RESIDENCES. I HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE MOST MAGNIFICENT PHOTOS OF OUR EARLY ARCHITECTURE. THE DOWN TOWN AREA ALSO HOSTS SOME SMALL STREETS WHERE YOU CAN FIND SOME VERY NICE PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES. TRY SMALL RESTAURANTS (I LIKE BIG ONES AS WELL BUT TRY THE SMALLER ONES) CUBAS' COOKIN - DOWN TOWN - FOR EXAMPLE IS A NEAT PLACE TO GO. ANOTHER NICE NEW ADDITION IS THE ARUBAN CHEF (LOCAL FOODS).

WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS - RENT A CARE AND GET LOST. YOU WILL LOVE IT.

We've spent 4 & 5 weeks respectively the last 2 years in Aruba. Returning in March for 4 more, the place is addictive. We have a car as the house we rent is inland. Put 1500 km on it last year so I've pretty much been lost on most of the island. That's how I know where the dragstrip is. We have a great map with all the street names on it. I'd be glad to loan it to the Aruban Hwy Dept so they could put matching signs on the streets.
Would be interested in finding the restaurant on the north shore. Do you have a name. We've found you can't judge a book by it's when it come to restaurants. Nos Cunucu not far from where we stay was an example of one we drove past one morning and said no way thats a restaurant.

The one at the end of the National Park road ,Boco Prinz, is more of a snack bar/cafe.

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Eagle-Beach Boy
Ontario, Canada

yes it is but it has great burgers, wonderful pizza, and the coldest beer.

We are not getting younger -- Let's start sharing these special little hide-aways!!

What was the name of the north coast restaurant with the "best fish dish"? Was that Boco Prinz?

Just checking to be sure, so that I could put it on the list for next month!

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Next Aruba Trip!!!
November 24th to December 4th 2011
Let the countdown begin!

Aruba Highway Department......LMAO, now that is funny, and PLEASe if such and entity exists, get them the map !!!! I lived on Aruba for 7 years and NEVER saw a decent map and figured it had to drive tourists crazy, cause not all of them are like me, happy to be rollin along and figuring it out as I go.......LOL

As for doing something different with friends that come to visit, Baby Beach and Roger's Beach was always a highlight, plus giving your friends the history to the Seroe Colorado USA Community that lived there while the refinery was USA owned and operated...they had their own hospital, grocery sotres and activity centers in Seroe Colrado to lessen the homesick feeling for refinery workers and their families.

Also take your friends to the Bon Bini Festival on Tuesday nights (I believe it is still on Tuesdays) and for4 dollars or so you get quite a nice local show that outlines Aruba's history, culture and traditions. Around the parimeter of the show you can buy island art and island food specialities, all very interesting and inexpensive.

My Dad wanted to go on the WEB (Water Plant) Tour one year when he came down. Here I was living on the island and idn't even know that the Water Plant is the 2nd largest water desalination plant in the WORLD !!! I didn't think the tour on Thursdays (I believe they still do it) would be that interesting......WRONG ! It was very very interesting and our host did a great job explaining it all to us !

Hope that's a few ideas for ya !

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Some people get lost in thought because it's unfamiliar territory.

We are on board with you Charles! After 15 years of savoring Aruba & its' many "tourista" offerings, DH & I wish to advance to "the next level."
I believe we are ready for these special little hide-aways.

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Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.
Mark Twain

Hi Claudia! Funny you mention this. In all the years I've been going to Aruba, that's something I've never done, BUT.... we already have our "reservation" for February, and are taking the tour! My brother's coming up on his 28th visit, and went many years ago, but decided it's something he wants to do again, and I'm going, too!!

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That's funny...we were talking about this place not long ago with our kids and no one could remember the name...but first thing I DID remember and said was "they have the coldest beer on the island"!!

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"These are a few of my favorite things"
...Elisa

Is this a map that you constructed yourself? Or...??? Is it available?? It probably has streets listed that most Arubans are not aware of!!!
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made in aruba tour :aloe factory,aruba hand made cigar and green house Aruhiba,Palmera Rum blend and coecoei liquer, balashi brewery aruba beer

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www.wixtours.com
www.limoaruba.com

The map at the house is one left by one of my sons friends. I assume it was bought in the states probably at a map store. Very detailed as it shows the street names ( basically usless as there are no ST signs) and the direction of the one way streets.

Is it one of the plasticised ones? If it is it can be bought on line and at Aruba Book Store.

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Eagle-Beach Boy
Ontario, Canada

It is plasticized.

Most likely it is one of the best that is available on line and at book stores.

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Eagle-Beach Boy
Ontario, Canada