Lester Burnham in American Beauty says ?? but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world?. He does not mention it, but we?d claim he probably had been to Tropical North Queensland, and certainly to Cairns.

Cairns is a town that comes to mind when you think of thoughtless languor in a lap of natural surrounding beauty. Turn to lazing on beaches that are situated in tropical idyll. Live an experience of eating and living exotica throughout your stay. Try spending that romantic evening on the Cairns Esplanade.

Most cities have at least one space which becomes the symbol for the whole city, that appears on postcards and news templates, on tourists? minds when they think of it, that becomes a meeting spot for strangers. Cairns Esplanade is one such living space that comes to mind first of all when one thinks of Cairns. And unlike many other landmarks in other cities, the Esplanade acts as many things to many people.

The Esplanade has had a pretty curious history. Old photographs say it was once a sandy beach. The dredging of the nearby Grafton Channel resulted in the dumping of a lot of mud, translating the stretch into a muddy flat with mangroves. It soon flourished into a swampy ecosystem, and today is a declared fish and bird habitat.

At great expense, and in recognition of the huge number of international visitors who call Cairns their playground, a muddy tract has now been converted into a sandy lagoon and frontage, making it an ideal vacation playground.

A consequence of this changeover has been that the Esplanade has been the focal point of the life of both citizens and tourists. Here people come for an early morning jog, while the teenagers skate around on the skateboard ramp. Children play with Frisbees or skipping ropes and families come for a picnic lunch on the grassy lawns. Bikini-clad young backpacker maidens sun themselves while fit young men for their attention ? a kind of tropical version of Venice Beach !

This is the location for many a rendezvous, of rallies, reunions, parties and festivals. Feel like having a barbeque? Feel free ! Feel like playing cricket? All you need is a bat and a ball. The Esplanade has been the nerve center of all cultural activities in Cairns. The artificial lagoon is perhaps the most visited place within the Esplanade. A sandy pool of water that is free to use, it is safe as it is not too deep. Throughout the day, thousands of tourists come for a relaxing dip in this safe and friendly pool.

Each month there are promotional and cultural events in Cairns, with many of them are held on the Esplanade, or easily accessible from there. You can find the posters for the current and forthcoming month in different places around the area. There is the weekly market, held every Saturday on the promenade by the lagoon. You can also benefit from the free weekly fitness classes, held from Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Cairns being the launching pad for the Great Barrier Reef, travel services leave regularly from the Port of Cairns. Numerous tour operators provide various travel options to cater to all needs ? you can go snorkeling or scuba-diving, yachting or speed boating. Numerous adventurous tourists throng the pavements awaiting their introduction with the Reef with its promises of excitement and natural beauty.

Best of all, the Esplanade is a treasure trove for the cuisine lover. Whether it is a quick cup of coffee you are looking for, or leisured seven course Thai dinner, it is all available. A number of restaurants, bistros, bars, coffee shops line the promenade. Here you can find the finest of sea food as well as delicious local wine to wrap up your perfect day.

Cairns, any day, is a perfect recipe for holiday-making. And the Esplanade is really the icing on the cake.

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