5 Highlights from My Trip to Aruba for ATECH

This blog post is written by Ally Denton.  Follow Ally on Twitter @AllyDenton and check out more of her work at allydenton.com. 

This September, I had the privilege of traveling to Aruba for the first time, thanks to the second annual ATECH conference. The conference brought together entrepreneurs, tech startups and innovators from all over the world for three days in arguably the best place to host a conference on the planet -- Palm Beach, Aruba.

I spent a solid portion of my time in Aruba at the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino, where the conference was held. It was an incredible experience to meet, hang out with, and hear from so many talented, diverse entrepreneurs, however, I have to say that my most memorable experiences happened when I ventured away from the resort and explored all that Aruba has to offer.

Here are five highlights made my trip to Aruba a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

1. Aruba Aloe Tour

I'm a beauty and skincare product junkie, so getting a chance to tour the Aruba Aloe factory was an awesome experience. It's difficult to find products in the U.S. that aren't full of toxic ingredients, so I was thrilled to discover a new brand that values an organic and natural approach to skincare. After touring the facility, our ATECH group got to hang out by Aruba Aloe's beautiful aloe fields, sipping aloe cocktails and nibbling on some yummy appetizers -- it was a perfect night in Aruba!

2. Aruba Art Fair

When a group of us set off to explore the Aruba Art Fair in San Nicolas, I felt like a local. The energy at the art fair was electric -- there was live music everywhere, beautiful handmade jewelry on display, and unique art installations around every corner. I walked around the art fair sipping water out of a giant coconut and felt right at home.

3. Sunset Catamaran Cruise

I love the ocean, so going on a sunset cruise on the last day of my trip was a major highlight for me. Our guides at Red Sail Sports were extremely knowledgeable and helpful and ensured everyone on our cruise had a fun experience, complete with music, drinks, and food. I'm not sure I've ever seen water so blue or a sunset so gorgeous! It's that beauty that truly sets Aruba apart from the rest of the world.

4. ATECH 2016

I know I mentioned the conference already, but it's worth mentioning twice! While at ATECH, I had the opportunity to teach a workshop on the topic I love most -- writing and blogging. It was so much fun to meet and work with other entrepreneurs who were eager to learn and excited about their projects. I'm definitely putting ATECH 2017 on my calendar and hope to keep coming back to this awesome, highly-valuable event.

5. The People of Aruba!

I met a lot of local Arubans on my trip, both at ATECH and outside of the event. Whether I encountered locals within my resort, at the art fair, out at a restaurant, or simply in passing, everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I met some people in Aruba who I know I will continue to stay in touch with in the future, and for that, I'm very grateful.

Now that I'm home from my trip to Aruba, I'm already thinking about when I can come back to the One Happy Island! Beautiful beaches, perfect weather, and amazing people -- what's not to love? I feel so fortunate that I got to see and experience Aruba the way I did and I can't wait to come back soon.

This blog post is written by Ally Denton.  Follow Ally on Twitter @AllyDenton and check out more of her work at allydenton.com.