This 200-mile long rock lies in the middle of the West Pacific Ocean near the rim of the deepest known ocean depth called the “Marianas Trench”. Mystery and guile behold the tiny island representing a minuscule speck on the World Map barely noticeable to the naked eye, but definitely, a place of reckoning for tranquil escapes from the hair-pulling, butt-crunching hassles of daily life.
Board the plane to an adventurous vacation where America’s Day Begins and explore a vast land where the air is a salty-fresh breath of relaxation. Though small in dimension, it hordes many activities during the day, where the sun almost always shines daily, and the night becomes cool with the ocean air. The island is surrounded with endless horizons of ocean as far as the eye can see and when the sun begins to set, sit by a coconut tree facing west to experience an ultimate calm as the breeze playfully tugs at the strands of your hair while you gaze at the captivating orange and deep red glow beyond the gleaming sea.
During the day, you can experience a long week full of activities like shooting ranges, racecar action, and jungle hikes. There are six golf courses, two water parks, and thirteen lookouts. At night, there are fine restaurants serving exotic foods like the Japanese-style Teppanyaki and Sushi, more Mediterranean style dishes, like Indian Curry, or the Korean Bulgogi and Kalbi, however if you prefer traditional fine dishes, try Hawaiian-spiced foods or Outback Steak House. Don’t forget that Guam is also a seafood specialist, so kick it up a notch with buffet-style seafood restaurants. If you’re on the go and don’t care for fine dining, the fast food restaurants are ready to serve.
Moreover, if you think the sunset is endearing to the soul, try grabbing scuba gear and dive into the darkest blue to immerse yourself in the silence of an unforgettable experience that would leave a lasting impression on both the beginner diver and the more adept. Guam, next to Palau, would give you the most deep-sea explorative diversity known throughout the West Pacific depending on your gut level. For less than $200 a person, Marianas Diving Association offers classes for shipwreck diving, simple navigation over the coral reefs, and shallow water scuba diving. They also host dolphin-watching tours.
Other water activities include jet-skiing, boat sailing, surfing or kayaking, otherwise, pack a nice picnic and head out to Ypao Beach with the whole family and spread your beach blanket on the soft white sands while the kids explore and soak in the warmth of the ocean blue.
There are places to call to book a nice hike through the jungles and up the mountains where caves and caverns lie in hiding from civilization. Guam takes pride in the natural resources that still exist in its pre-war condition, like Inarajan Pool, which is a natural deep pool of water inland that draws in from the ocean and Talofofo River that runs wide several miles across the island where the Jungle Riverboat can take you on a cruise to view ruins of an ancient Chamorro Village. Once you finally controlled the urge to jump the Riverboat into the invitingly cool water of the river, grab a rock under the freshwater spring of Talofofo Falls and let it massage your shoulders as you lean back against the slate of granite.
However, don’t get too comfortable, because you still have to temper the mood with a final splash of thundering music at dance clubs, karaoke bars and pool halls littered throughout the island at night.
Finally, end your day with a touch of class at the top of Fort Soledad, where you should walk to the cliff side and inhale a majestic view of the ocean water lapping against the rocks and dancing in the moonlight sprayed across miles of enchanting sea.
The best part about Guam is that you don’t have to wait until Summer to book a vacation, because the weather is constant all year round. Typhoon season comes between August and December, however it is a tropical tendency that phases out now and then and never causes any fatalities, unless you dare to challenge the storm by staying outdoors.I call Guam a mini-Hawaii, because this tropical island is closely related to the popular vacation site in the world, but because the cost, of what you would normally do in Hawaii, is slightly less than our sister island. There is always something for everyone to do on this small little speck of dust on the map.
