Brad Dorcik is our Associate Online Merchandiser in our E-Commerce department here at Classic Accessories and wears many hats. On any given day, Brad has his hands on our items’ full lists of content as it is fed to our retailer’s websites. Shopping online? Brad is the guy who makes that happen!  Brad focuses heavily on ensuring retailer sites have all available, up to date content whether that is images, video, text copy and/or fit guides. He ensures our retailers have everything they need to keep our products purchasable and reviews most websites for opportunities to showcase our products even better. Brad also assists fit matching our products to what our customers have in their homes. He is also the ear to many reviews (for the better or worse) and gathers what our customers say and helps generate those reviews into actionable steps for our teams here. Many, many hats that he wears so well. When he told us he was going on vacation, everyone here said “We  hope it’s a relaxing one!” And he did not disappoint. When asked where, he said without hesitation – Aruba!  The tropical island isn’t just a vacation spot, it’s a home away from home for Brad and his family.

Aruba –  ‘One Happy Island’

When mentioning a vacation spot like Aruba, the most frequently asked question is, “Where is Aruba!?”

The sunniest island in the Caribbean, Aruba is located below the hurricane belt approximately 20 miles off the coast of Venezuela. With an average of 82-degrees year round, Aruba provides cool, blond beaches, gentle surf, constant trade winds and warm, friendly people. These are just a few of the reasons why so many families return to Aruba year after year.

Our family knew in an instant we wanted to make Aruba a big part of our lives. With numerous places of interest and activities, Aruba has something for everyone.
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With the constant trade winds garnering Aruba as a world-class destination for windsurfing and kitesurfing, there is plenty more to see beneath the water. Recognized by Scuba Diving Magazine as one of the top wreck diving destinations in the Caribbean, Aruba offers a diverse selection of dive sites to satisfy any level of scuba diver.

Over the years our family has tried a bit of everything the island has to offer. Whether it is parasailing, tubing, jet skiing, horseback riding, plenty of volleyball, snorkeling and scuba diving, the fun doesn’t stop at the beach (especially when the crowd favorite is Happy Hour!)
One of many places of interest, to name a few, is Aruba’s Natural Pool. Also known as “conchi” or “Cura di Tortuga,” is a natural pool of water formed by rock and volcanic stone circles. The rugged terrain surrounding the pool only allows all-terrain, four-wheel vehicles. Or depending upon your mood can be a beautiful hike.

Another favorite spot, frequented by locals and tourists alike, is Aruba’s Baby Beach. The water is so calm and shallow it’s safe for small children and anyone new to snorkeling. Water levels can reach waist high but deepens significantly towards the inlet. Marine life towards the inlet includes barracuda, squid, parrot fish, blowfish, angelfish, eels, and many other small fish.

Away from the ocean and covering approximately 18-20% of the island, Arikok National Park is an incredible nature preserve and is the largest national park in the Caribbean. The park includes 3 primary geological formations: the Aruban lava formation, a quartz diorite formation, and a limestone formation. The Natural Pool is located in the northeastern section of the park
A diverse culture and European influence shows in both the language and architecture. The local tongue, Papiamento, is derived from African and Portuguese with some influences from American Indian languages, English, Dutch and Spanish. A Sovereign State of the Kingdom of Netherlands, Dutch influence can still be seen from national holidays to the cuisine. With that said, there are now over 90 nationalities harboring the island. You can certainly taste the international diversity in Aruba’s cuisine!

If ever you find yourself on the island, highly recommend Madame Janette’s. The ‘Lobster Thermidor’ is oh so good! Not prepared as it once was but nevertheless good if you fancy lobster.

Brad’s family has called Aruba a ‘home away from home’ for over 10 years. No matter the gained knowledge, the constant wind can fool you with the true temperature. A lesson the island eventually teaches us visit to visit. So be sure to layer up with the sunscreen.

Nonetheless, we love Aruba! If you’re looking for this kind of vacation – don’t wait!

Photo Credits:
Aruba.com
Deborah @ Taste and Tell Blog
Tori @ Gustatori
Ann Angela
occidentalhotels.com
saraquiriconi.com