I've been to Aruba more than 30 times. These are the beaches, snorkeling spots and island adventures I always recommend.

More than 30 trips to Aruba have given me plenty of time to venture beyond the beaches, and I'm still finding new places to explore. It would be easy to spend a week here without leaving your lounger, and plenty of people do exactly that.

But one of the best things about Aruba is that its world-class beaches are only part of the appeal. You can also snorkel a WWII wreck, drive into the national park or spend a slow afternoon on the water. Here's what I'd recommend.

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Relax on Eagle Beach or make the drive to Baby Beach

Eagle Beach, just south of the main Palm Beach resort area, is still my first choice for a relaxing beach day. Unlike Palm Beach, where the high-rise resorts, restaurants and water sports keep things busy, Eagle Beach is wide and relatively quiet, with plenty of room to haul in a cooler and spread out on the sand.

If you've rented a car , make the drive south to Baby Beach, a half-moon lagoon near San Nicolas on the island's southeastern tip. The exceptionally calm, shallow water makes it especially good for families and anyone who wants to float.

Get in the water

I'm a snorkeler, and my favorite way to do it in Aruba is by catamaran. The boats reach spots you can't from shore, including the Antilla wreck , a sunken World War II ship off the island's northwestern coast. Much of the wreck is visible from the surface, so even snorkelers can get a good look at the ship and the marine life that's made a home around it. If you'd rather stay closer to land, Mangel Halto is one of the island's best spots for snorkeling from shore. You can swim out on your own, book a guide or take a boat tour.

See Aruba from the sea

Boat trips range from lively pirate cruises to smaller luxury sails, so there's an option for just about every crowd. Jolly Pirates runs a traditional wooden ship with a rope swing off the side. Pelican is my catamaran pick — it's laid-back and not too rowdy. For something smaller and more upscale, Monforte runs a luxury cruise.

Most companies offer morning and afternoon snorkel trips, plus evening sunset or dinner cruises. Each one has its own vibe, from younger party boats to quieter, more relaxed sails, so read recent reviews to find the one that best fits your trip.

Explore Arikok National Park

Nearly 20% of Aruba is protected within Arikok National Park , a rugged stretch of desert and coastline on the island's eastern side that spans more than 12 square miles. The landscape feels worlds away from the resort strip, with cactus-covered hills, limestone caves and rocky coastline that set Aruba apart from the lush tropical islands you might picture elsewhere in the Caribbean.

One of the park's highlights is the Natural Pool, a swimming hole surrounded by volcanic rock. I prefer to see Arikok on a guided vehicle tour over the more rugged off-road options, especially if you want to reach the Natural Pool without navigating the rough roads yourself. Full-day tours cover more ground, but there are also abbreviated half-day versions if you don't want to give up an entire day.

Tour the Aruba Aloe factory

Aruba's connection to aloe runs deep. The island was a major producer and exporter in the early 20th century, and Aruba Aloe in Hato is one of the world's oldest aloe companies, still growing and processing the plant on-site. Take the free factory tour, or sign up for the 30- to 45-minute class. A guide will walk you through an aloe-cutting demonstration, then you'll mix your own scrub to take home.

Take an art tour in San Nicolas

On Aruba's southern end, San Nicolas is the island's second-largest city and a former oil-refinery town that grew rapidly in the 1920s, drawing workers from across the Caribbean and beyond.

In recent years, it's become best known for its colorful street art. You can explore the murals on your own, but I'd book a tour with Aruba Mural Tours , led by the same people behind the island's Art Fair, who can tell you the story behind each wall. If you can time it, ArtWeek Aruba takes over the town every September. That's when San Nicolas turns into an open-air gallery of murals, exhibitions and live performances.

Try locally made spirits

In the heart of downtown Oranjestad, Pepe Margo offers a closer look at Aruba's growing craft spirits scene and the distilling process. Keep an eye out for its spirits at bars around the island, including an aloe vera liqueur.

For wine, head to Alto Vista , Aruba's first and only boutique winery, where grapes are grown on-site despite the island's desert climate. Book a guided tasting or stop in for a glass before visiting the nearby Alto Vista Chapel .

Visit Aruba's donkeys

Donkeys have been part of Aruba for around 500 years, once carrying passengers and carts as one of the island's main forms of transportation. After cars took over, many were left to roam, and the Donkey Sanctuary was established in 1997 to give them a protected place to live. Today, you can meet the donkeys up close, feed and pet them, and learn more about their history on the island. Admission is free, though donations are encouraged, making this an easy stop for families and animal lovers.

Walk among butterflies

At The Butterfly Farm Aruba near Palm Beach, hundreds of butterflies from around the world fly freely through a tropical garden. A guided tour walks you through their life cycle, from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly, and mornings are the best time to visit if you want a chance to see newly emerged butterflies take their first flight.

Bar-hop on the Kukoo Kunuku

And when you want a lively night out without worrying about driving, Kukoo Kunuku is close to an Aruban tourist rite of passage. You'll hear the bus rolling down the street before you see it, packed with people hopping between local bars. No driving, no planning and no designated driver required.