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Published: January 17th 2016
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Okay, so just head west southwest from Los Angeles, then continue west from Hawaii and turn south at Saipan. Go past Tinian and Rota and you’ve arrived. If you get to Australia you’ve gone too far. Where are you? Hafa Adai! Greetings! You are in Guam, U.S.A. That’s right. Guam, United States of America. Proud to be an American territory since 1898 with official such status since 1949 with only a short interruption during the Japanese World War II occupation which lasted from December 10, 1941 until liberation by American forces culminated three weeks after landing on July 21, 1944. Guam, the western-most United States territory is where “America’s day begins” as the people of the island proudly proclaim. Whether you are native Chamorro or one of the many tourists that visit here, you will be treated genuinely warm by the island people. With a population numbering 167,543 according to 2014 World Bank data, Guam has a neighborly feel to it with hospitality brimming all across the 212 square miles of the island.
I’ve been a guest of these gracious people having worked on Guam for the past 5 months and recently had my family visit me which
allowed me to play the role of tourist for a week. We were pleasantly surprised to find that over the course of a week a family can tour Guam in a thorough yet quite leisurely fashion.
With a family of five that includes two adults and three children ages 11, 6, and 3, there are a few constant themes that seem to reoccur every, oh, five minutes while driving in the car. The first question that usually arises is, “when are we going to get there?” Fortunately in Guam, the answer can always be “soon!” The island is only 35 miles long and 4 to 12 miles across and with a good “Best of Guam” map in hand that can be picked up at car rental locations or hotels, a family can easily map out a day trip or a trip over several days to see the sights. For ease of navigation, a seamless stretch of Highway One and Two will take you on a north-south journey on the west side of the island where most of the popular destinations are. On Guam, the easygoing island feel is everywhere and the experience is literally priceless, in other
words, free.
There are several sites with breathtaking views of the seemingly endless ocean with an apron of cliffs and valleys before it. The Cetti Bay and Sella Bay Overlooks provide such vistas. We stopped at Cetti Bay and climbed the steps there to take in the grand views. These stops also provide a good location for everyone to stretch their legs and for the kids to run around before resuming the auto tour. After Cetti Bay we continued south to the village of Umatac. This quiet hamlet with a tranquil bay has the distinction of being the landing point of the famed explorer Ferdinand Magellan who in 1521 became first person of European descent to visit the island. There is a small obelisk monument there noting his feat. The monument is dwarfed by the beautiful San Dionisio Church which, as represented in other Guam communities, is the literal and cultural center of the village. After driving over a unique tower-graced bridge we ascended to the ruins of the old Spanish Fort Soledad overlooking Umatac Bay. There is still a tower there that you can walk into to share the same view a Spanish sentry would have
had while standing watch centuries ago.
We visited these sites in an afternoon which allowed us to experience the sunset driving back north. There are numerous parks along the seashore where you can exit for a relaxing walk along the beach at sunset. If you want to add a little history to your island ambience, the parks at Agat and Asan are great peaceful open areas that in 1944 were contrasting violent landing beaches during the U.S. liberation of Guam. All of the aforementioned areas cost nothing to enjoy. I recommend bringing cameras to capture these postcard views. Visiting these areas might also provide an opportunity to tell your kids what postcards are.
Another stunning place to visit and watch the sunset is at Two Lovers Point. This historic point on the northern edge of Tumon Bay is tied to a Chamorro legend of forbidden love where a young couple, according to the story, jumped to their deaths from the cliff rather than be forced to live apart by their parents. The view from the point is magnificent and costs nothing. For three dollars, you can climb a staircase to get a little higher viewpoint.
The next comment and question combo coming from the backseat of the car is usually, “I’m hungry. When are we going to eat?” Well, if you’re in Guam, the answer can again be, “soon!” If it’s Wednesday night from about 5:00 to 9:00, a can’t-miss spot is Chamorro Village in the cultural and political Guamanian center of Hagatna. The festival atmosphere has aromatic barbeque stands that you can smell long before you see them. There are combinations of pork, beef, chicken, and red rice that are easy on the eyes, nose, and wallet. Afterward, there are tasty deserts such as fresh coconut and other fruit smoothies. One of the big hits is drinking with a straw right from the coconut. While enjoying your smoothie you can weave your way through dozens of artisan stands with many handmade items and other items for sale related to Guam and the island culture.
Guam also has no shortage of high quality restaurants. With local flavor and friendly service, the food on the island is excellent. The hamburgers on Guam are unbelievably tasty along with some great Mexican, Thai and other Asian cuisine. There is also the standard selection
of American franchise favorites if you’re looking for a taste of home. For a snack, check out the delicious bakeries and quaint markets for unique Asian and American-influenced treats.
The final question that is likely to be asked is, “When are we going to go swimming?” The response is, of course, up to the parents. However there are a variety of beaches from which to swim. Tumon Bay is ringed by a contiguous and continuous sandy beach with a mixture of public property and private hotel beaches. Guam is also an excellent place to snorkel, scuba dive, and enjoy other water recreational activities. A note of caution, the reefs around the island can be dangerous and deadly so it is important to pay attention to advisories and warnings, and to swim only in designated areas.
If you are a history buff, Guam provides 4000 years of nativist, colonial, and territorial heritage to absorb in the form of museums, trails, ruins, and military historic sites. I personally enjoyed the opportunity to stand on a World War II landing beach and imagine the much more menacing view American Soldiers and Marines must have had wading ashore over 70
years ago.
Whatever you’re looking for in a truly relaxed vacation in a tropical environment, you’re likely to find it in Guam, “where America’s Day Begins!”
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