Aruba.... What's fun there?

There is a possilbility that I will be traveling to Aruba this summer and I don't know what else is fun there besides lay on the beach and get a sun tan. It will just be me and my mom going as a mom and daughter trip. Also anything that you wish you knew before going there that be good for me to know?
I plan on a 5 day trip there. And one more thing... for any one who has stayed at marriott aurba surf club or marriott aruba ocean club what hotel accomodations should I request, view types or anything that make the hotel room awesome to stay in. who ever gives the best answer get s at least 2 stars from me.

We went to Aruba a few years ago and stayed at the Marriott Ocean Club hotel. It is a very nice hotel. We had an ocean view room that was fabulous. It had a king bed and a sofa and side chair. The balcony was huge too and had a nice view of the ocean looking in the direction of the lighthouse. We went to the Marriott site and found a special promotion rate called Sand Dollar that was pay for 4 nights and get the fifth free but you had to pay with your reservation and I think that rate was available only if you booked months in advance.

Everything in the hotel is first class, food, staff, pool and grounds, beach, and they hotel has a small casino.

There is really not a lot to sightsee in Aruba. It's an arid island (not green at all) and its windy most of the time (maybe 15 MPH winds). The best things to do are beach activities, casino and go to some of the other hotel casinos and restaurants. On the beach you can get all types of water related activities like para-sailing, jet ski rentals, wind surf board rentals, etc. You can easily take a public bus to town from the beach areas.

Arufun!

Been there, did not do the drinking, bar hopping thing. Had a great time. Carlos and Charlies is incredibly loud, stay away from there after dark. Go to a Ranch, ride horses through what amounts to a Cactus forest. I had no idea cactus grew as big as trees and in clusters like a forest. If you are staying at a Marriott, ask a staff member for a local fun trip, you'll get a suggestion, maybe even two. Do remember, in the resort compound you are protected, out in the community is a different story. This is not the good 'ole USA, don't let your guard down. Enjoy your trip, it is a beautiful island on one side, a desert on the other and enjoyable every day..

i have been to many islands in the Caribbean and by far i think the best island is Aruba. i stayed at the JW Marriot there and it was very good for kids and fun place. i also liked how Aruba has many good restaurants.

ever heard of Natalee Halloway

lets see...
-snorkling at Babybeach, remember to bring a loaf of bread to attract the fish
-watersports, on the waver and paragliding
-go to the bars like Carlos and Charlies and Mambo Jambo
-horseriding along the coastline
-get on this jeep tour or quadbike tour around the island
-try the restaurants outside the hotel i say; El gaucho, Gianni's, Amazon, Driftwood, Sole Mare,
-atlantis submarine
avoid the butterfly farm and the ostrich ranch, total ripoff
not really much to shop on the island
i would say to pick a hotel that gives u a room thats just one step away from the beach, like the Divi (Tamarijn) Resort
there are some (party) busses that takes you to downtown at night
there are some attraction around the hotel area, in front of the Playa Linda resort, got bars and cafe
but marriot is kinda an enclosed area so u have to walk like 20 min to get to these attractions or get through Holiday Inn and its quite dark at night and streetlight are not very sufficient
u can always rent a car and go everywhere u like
its a pretty small island u wont get lost
aruba is more for like a place to chill out than hardcore partying
yeh i say 5 days is pretty much enough to get to know the island well
and aruba is pretty safe, that issue of natalee holloway is just something CNN likes to talk coz they got nothing better to do
case like this is the first time i heard in my 20 yrs in aruba

I hear they sell some great date rape drinks in the local bars.