Aruba's capital attracts more shoppers than sightseers; it's also a popular cruise port. The town has a sunny Caribbean demeanor, with Dutch colonial-style buildings painted in vivid colors. While the gingerbread architecture proliferates along the main streets in town, the vast majority is not original; the modern buildings were designed to replicate the ornate gingerbread architecture of the colonial era. The main thoroughfare, L.G. Smith Boulevard, runs along the waterfront and abounds with marinas, shopping malls, restaurants, and bars. Caya G.F. Betico Croes, or Main Street, runs roughly parallel to the waterfront several blocks inland; it's another major shopping venue. The harbor is packed with fishing boats and schooners docked next to stalls, where vendors hawk fruits, vegetables, and fish. On the other side of the Seaport Marketplace shopping mall, Queen Wilhelmina Park, named after one of Holland's longest-reigning monarchs, features manicured lawns, views of colorful fishing boats, and luxuriant tropical vegetation. If you're looking for a little culture, Oranjestad has a handful of museums and houses of worship.
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