Garrison Savannah Racetrack, Bridgetown

Originally, the Garrison Savannah or Savannah in short, was a parade grounds for the West India Regiment stationed at St. Anne's Fort. But horse racing was popular back then, too. Regimental officers would race their horses against those of the wealthy plantation owners.

Today, the Savannah is still all about horse racing. It is home to the popular Barbados Turf Club. The club hosts the annual Barbados Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, and on Gold Cup Day--the first Saturday in March--the place is packed. Other races are much more relaxed and are perfect for wandering around, meeting the locals, and relaxing at the track.

The Savannah remains one of Barbados' most popular recreation spots. On any given day, you'll spot people of all ages and from all walks of life out enjoying the day. You might see walkers, runners, rugby players, kite flyers, or folks just relaxing and people-watching.

The track is also home to the Barbados Independence Monument. Here, the Union Jack--the flag of the United Kingdom--was lowered on November 30, 1966, and the flag of the independent nation of Barbados was hoisted in its place.

You'll notice an impressive collection of cannons and guns all along the racetrack. Interestingly, Barbados is home to one of the world's largest collections of 17th-century English iron cannons. To date, more than 400 have been discovered on the island. You'll spot them all over, from the Main Guard and Savannah to other sites on the island like Charles Fort and the Gun Hill Signal Station.