A little background on Saipan:
There are 14 tropical islands in the Northern Marianas chain ~ they stretch across 400 miles in the western Pacific Ocean and are adjacent to the famed Marianas Trench. The Trench is the world’s greatest known ocean depth of 35,810 feet.
The Northern Mariana Islands were governed by Spain, Germany and Japan before being liberated in 1944 by US forces, after some of the bloodiest battles of WWII. After the Japanese surrendered, the American Navy administered the islands until the were turned over to the United Nations as the “Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.” The islands gradually gained their rights to self-govern in 1975 when they chose to become a commonwealth of the United States. Now, they are known as Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Or more commonly referred to as CNMI.
Saipan is the largest of the islands and is the most populated with 75,000 people. There are two indigenous people of Saipan: The Chamorro and The Carolinians. Saipan measures 13 miles long and 6 miles across at the widest point. The average year-round temperature of the ocean is 82 degrees. According to The Guinness Book of World Records, Saipan has the world’s most equable temperature which averages 81º F.
Our flight from Guam to Saipan was a short 40 minutes and will no doubt become a frequent weekend getaway for us. FG especially enjoyed our hotel, the Pacific Islands Club (PIC). It was my first stay at a PIC but I’d heard of the company from a friend who used to manage the company. The staff was so well trained and the customer service was so outstanding that on our second night there, FM said “This is the best customer service I’ve everencountered.” This comes from a man who has been dragged by me to some of the top resorts in the world. Werner, my friend who worked for PIC, left a great legacy at the Saipan PIC.
The Resort had such a variety of activities that we didn’t get to participate in all of them. First off, there’s the huge pool complex with a lazy river, slides, lap pool, a “shipwreck” in the pool and a surf pool. Then, there are tennis courts, miniature golf, driving range, rock climbing, kayaking, archery, kids club. game room ( with the big chess set) and intro to diving. There are clubmates at all activity stations to help with the kids ~ the clubmates are mostly college students on a break from school. I thought I was adventurous going to the Grand Tetons to work during my summer breaks from school. These students travelled a lot further from home!
Our favorite restaurants in Saipan::
- The Cafe by the Park, located across from the American Memorial Park, for a fabulous breakfast
- Coffee Care, on Capitol Hill, for a yummy lunch
- Seaside Grill, at the PIC, for dinner by the sea
- Esco’s Bake House, Capitol Hill, for local treats
If you find yourself in this part of the world, Saipan is a must-see!
Displaced Beachbums 
Let me know what you think...