We had a lot of fun recreating the glamour of yesteryear for our annual swimsuit edition. The brilliant suits meld the classics of decades past with today's hot colors and styles... the original designs of Ronchi de Cuba and Heidi Munzenhoffer jump off the pages.

And speaking of going back in time, our Ecotourism section recommends seeing Aruba the old fashioned way... by foot! Aruba's "wild side" has many hidden trails that can only be reached by hiking, and are easily navigated and mapped out in author and lover of hiking Mike Starling's new book, Rondje Aruba.

Want to continue sampling a bit of Aruba's "old school"? Contributing editor Helene Bongers reviews several of the island's tried and true restaurants that have stood the test of time by staying faithful to their original concepts and menu philosophies, while a visit to a few of the island's infamous rum shops a century old tradition... will propel you to explore a bit of local culture.

Yes, change and progress are good but think blending the new with many of the classic elements that forged Aruba's journey as a world-class vacation destinations worthy of exploration. We hope that this edition brings you a taste of the many interesting flavors of the island, now and then.

Rona Coster
Tina Causey-Escobedo
Ann Brown