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Willemstad is both the island's capital and the administrative capital of the Netherlands Antilles.  Most of Curacao's 130,000 residents live in and around this historic town.  On the southern coast overlooking the St. Anna Bay, the city is fabled for its Dutch colonial architecture glowing in pastel colors.  Legend has it that an early Dutch governor outlawed white buildings because the glare from the sun was giving him headaches, and the tradition has continued.  The beautifully preserved buildings house shops, hotels, casinos and a wide array of restaurants.

Willemsted's harbor is ringed with fortresses that were erected in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to fight off attacks from pirates as well as the English and French navies.  Now many of them are restaurants, with their sweeping, panoramic views from their cocktail terraces.

The main tower of Fort Beekenburg, built in 1703, is still standing. Fort Amsterdam dates back to 1769 and now houses the Governor's Palace.  Fort Waakzaamheid was beseiged by the aforementioned Captain Bligh in 1804, and an English cannonball is still lodged in one of its walls.  Fort Nassau was built in 1797 and has been well-preserved, with the recent addition of a restaurant and discotheque.

Willemsted is also home to the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge.  It was built in 1888 and, at 700 feet in length, was regarded as a remarkable feat of engineering in its day.  It's still a major tourist attraction, and floats between the two shopping districts of Punda and Otrobanda. The Lady, as she's fondly called by the locals, swings open up to 30 times a day to let ships into the bay.  When the bridge is open, a free ferry plies across the channel.

Along with its floating bridge, Willemsted also offers a floating market.  Schooners come in from Venezuela to set up shop at the downtown docks to sell fresh fish, fruits, and spices alongside of local merchants, whose colorful canopies offer a picturesque photo opp as well as local crafts and foods.

Mikve Israel Synagogue was founded in 1732 by Sephardic Jews fleeing persecution in Portugal and Spain.  But Curaçao's Jewish community is even older than the synagogue, dating back to 1651 when 12 families came from Amsterdam.  Many religious articles from the old community are on display at the Jewish Historical & Cultural Museum in the synagogue compound.

Located in a large green mansion called Bolo di Bruid or Bride's Cake, the Central Historical Archives hold historical documents from Curaçao's past.  The aptly-named Octagon House is an eight-sided building that provided sanctuary for the sisters of Simon Bolivar when they were in exile and is now is home to the Bolivar Museum.

Once outside of Willemsted, Curaçao's natural beauty seizes the senses.  There are nearly 40 beaches covered with silky white sand, lapped by waters of clear and varying shades of turquoise.  Among the not-to-be-missed:

Westpunt Beach is best known for the huge cliffs that frame it and the divers who entertain beachgoers by jumping from the cliffs into the ocean below. A favorite of locals and visitors alike, the beach, located on the northwest tip of the island, is open to the public at no charge.

Just south of Westpunt is Knip Bay Beach, one of the island's most photographed sites because of its picturesque setting and dazzling, bright blue water.  On weekends, live music and dancing turn the area into a big beach party.

Speaking of beach parties, Mambo Beach is a lively stretch on the island's western coast that includes a club with killer cocktails and nonstop dancing.

Playa Abao, on the northern tip of the island, and Playa Lagun on the northwestern edge, are quieter spots known for their clear blue water and perfect stretch of white sand.

Nestled into the curved shoreline of the southern side of Curaçao, Daai Booi Bay is a romantic beach surrounded by towering cliffs. The modern Cas Abao has a refreshment stand, changing facilities, thatched umbrellas for shelter and ample parking.

For scuba and snorkeling, Curaçao offers more than 100 dive sites with visibility ranging from 60 to 150 feet and water temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees.  The Curaçao Underwater Park is a protected 12.5 mile coral reef.  Guides are available for hire, and lessons are offered for beginners.

One of the island's crown jewels is the park that surrounds Mt. Christoffel, the highest peak on Curaçao. Christoffel Park is a natural preserve covering 4,500 acres of land near the northwest coast, 40 minutes outside of Willemstad.  Many species of plants and animals, some of which can only be found in the Netherlands Antilles, can be seen here.  There are well-marked hiking trails running throughout the park and guided jeep tours for the less adventurous.