Guam is one of the Western Pacific�s most beautiful and multicultural islands. From its quaint villages to its pristine beaches, this Micronesian paradise has welcomed travelers to its shores for centuries.

Its unique environment and cultural history offer something for every traveler. Water sports, golf, shopping, village fiestas, entertainment, restaurants, sightseeing and nightlife are among the many activities in which visitors partake.

Here�s a sampling of Guam�s most popular visitor attractions:

LATTE STONES As early as 500 A.D., Chamorros built their homes on stone pillars known as latte stones. These pillars are noted for their two-piece construction: the supporting column and their capped head. The latte stone bases, made from limestone, were usually carried several miles from the quarry to the home site. The latte heads were made from coral, collected from the nearby reefs.

The most commonly visited latte site is Latte Park in Hagatna, which has several latte stones that were relocated from their original setting. Visitors can tour more than 100 latte sites around the island, most of which are in their original setting. The most popular sites are located in Hila�an Point, north of Two Lover�s Point; Fa�fi Beach, south of Two Lover�s Point; Cella Bay in Umatac; and Pagat, Mangilao.

AUTHENTIC CHAMORRO VILLAGE Gef Pa�go in Inarajan is reminiscent of the traditional Chamorro Village of 300 years ago. Here, tourists can experience Chamorro culture, lifestyle, food and dance. Native Chamorros demonstrate traditional activities including coconut-candy making, rice basket weaving, fish net throwing and palm-leaf hat and purse making.

The Chamorro Village in Hagatna is a marketplace that highlights the varied ethnicity of the island. Farmers, artisans and craftspeople sell their Guam-made goods directly to locals and visitors, and authentic Chamorro and multiethnic food is cooked and served here. At the Folk Arts Center, events and demonstrations by local artisans are scheduled throughout the year. For more information on these activities, contact the Chamorro Village by calling (671) 475-0376, sending a fax request to (671) 472-9446, or visiting www.admin.gov.gu/commerce/chamorro_village.html.

HORSEBACK RIDING At the Southern Comfort Ranch, visitors can experience the countryside of Guam on horseback. Guam�s largest operating horse ranch is located along the beach and below the mountains between the pristine villages of Inarajan and Merizo. Rides take visitors through low jungle areas, banana plantations, over graceful hills, past rock formations and to a panoramic mountain overlook for a breathtaking view of southern Guam.

SUNSET DINING The Chamorrita Sunset Fiesta, a dinner show on Hagatna Bay, under the direction of Guam�s famous recording artist Jimmy Dee, features a troupe of Guam�s finest local dancers and the best in local island music, fun and food. Sunset dinner cruises along Guam�s rugged tropical coast offer a romantic escape complete with island delicacies and dancing under the stars.

WAR MEMORIALS Visitors can view more than 100 World War II sites located across the island, including the remains of a Japanese bunker at Gun Beach and the War Dog Cemetery honoring canine �soldiers.� The visitor center at the War in the Pacific National Historical Park showcases exhibits and films on the island�s military history. A special Web site � www.LiberationDay.com � gives an overview of Guam�s WWII history and a detailed accounting of the July 1944 battle that liberated the people of Guam from Japanese forces.

Three memorial statues commemorate those who fought in WWII: two are located in front of the Governor�s Office in Adelup; the third is at the Asan Beach overlook. At the Governor�s Office, a life-sized statue of three GIs and two Chamorros honors the soldiers and Chamorros who battled the Japanese. A second large statue of women and children marching to Manengon Hills memorializes the journey of the Chamorro people to one of the Japanese detention camps prior to the infiltration of U.S. troops during World War II. At the Asan Beach overlook, several National Park Service bronze relief sculptures depict Guam�s occupation by the Japanese and its liberation by U.S. troops.

South Pacific Park�s Queen of Peace is the site of the last Japanese garrison on Guam and commemorates the 500,000 Japanese and American soldiers, civilians and Pacific islanders who lost their lives in the war. The 50-foot Memorial Tower of hands clasped in prayer symbolizes a hope for world peace.

Located in Tumon across from the Tumon Trade Center, the Pacific War Museum features relics and other historic memorabilia from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The museum showcases war vehicles, a water mine, and anti-aircraft artillery.

GUAM'S GOVERNMENT HOUSE The first floor of the Governor�s House, Guam�s 22,000-square-foot Government House, is open to the public. Visitors find its unique architectural design -- incorporating elements of the Chamorro and Spanish cultures -- to be as interesting as its mini museum of Guam�s antiquities. Built in the early �50s, the house was severely damaged in 1976 by Super Typhoon Pamela and received major renovations and maintenance, most recently in 1996.

Visitors can tour the grounds, containing trees and vegetation native to Micronesia, as well as enjoy the views of Hagatna and Hagatna Bay. SEA STUDIES The University of Guam�s Marine Laboratory is a world class center renowned internationally for coral reef research. The lab welcomes academic and research inquiries from those interested in Guam�s marine life. Inquiries should be directed to Professor Barry Smith by telephone at (671) 735-2190, or fax (671) 734-6767.

BOONIE STOMPS Every Saturday at 9 a.m., the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) offers �Boonie Stomps,� three-to-four-hour walks ranging from one to eight miles long, to waterfalls, beaches and jungles highlighting the flora and fauna of the island along the way. The cost is $2 per person. For a Boonie Stomp schedule, contact DPR at (671) 472-2887 or (671)477-8280, or visit www.admin.gov.gu/dpr/boonie/home.html.

In addition, an abundance of hiking trails allows visitors to explore Guam on their own. A good example is the trail to 30-foot Talofofo Falls, a popular spot for swimming and picnicking.

TWO-LOVERS' POINT Legends say that two Chamorro lovers whose parents forbade them to marry jumped to their deaths from the 378-foot cliff, located at the north end of Tumon Bay. Two Lovers� Point is an outstanding viewpoint of the island�s white-sand beaches and lush hillsides along the Philippine Sea.

For more information on these and other attractions, contact the Guam Visitors Bureau, 1301 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 210, Alameda, Calif. 94501, or call (800) US-3-GUAM, or (800-873-4826) or e-mail guam@avisoinc.com. Or, visit the Guam Web site at www.visitguam.org.

# # #

For media information, contact: Dianne Newton-Shaw Guam Visitors Bureau (800) 873-4826 (9 a.m. � 5 p.m. PT) di@avisoinc.com