Bahamas: Junkanoo Music and Dancing

Junkanoo is the colorful, exuberant festival held at Boxing Day and New Years each year. Featuring bright, colorful costumes (especially elaborate headdresses of jewels, feathers, and much more) and rhythmic, enchanting music.

From the first moment she stepped off the plane and heard drums, our three-year-old daughter developed her island dance. She was all about enjoying the buskers drumming along the marina, then the sound of music seemed to follow us everywhere throughout the week. She heard it in taxi cabs, stores, restaurants, even poolside, where a DJ with a laptop and a pair of turntables mixed a variety of upbeat jams.

Twice we experienced a special treat -- junkanoo parades or "rush outs". Sort of a cross between something traditionally African and a marching band, junkanoo is very energetic, with dancers moving to the sound of goatskin drums, cowbells, whistles, and horns.

The first time we saw the group near the pool, weaving their way through crowds of bikini-clad travelers. The second time was far more spectacular, as the entertainment for the farewell party for the N21 event that brought us to the Bahamas.

Photos simply do not do the experience justice. The dinner was on a large area beside a the glistening, still Royal Baths Pool near the Royal Towers. We were just wrapping up a dinner of Bahamian delicacies and yummy desserts when suddenly across the pool appeared a row of musicians and dancers clad in bright purples, shimmering golds. They announced their arrival with a blast of horns, then sprang into music that brought everyone to their feet.



The parade made its way around the pool and through the crowd, dancing to the front of the group and entertaining us with a few pieces. Bria rocked out the entire time, and the lead dancer (shown in purple) got really into dancing with her. It was great! Then she started a conga line, and Bria got right into the action. What a fun way to wrap up our experience at the resort!

TIP: Junkanoo brings a great taste of local culture to the resort atmosphere, which we really enjoyed. If you're visiting Atlantis, be sure to ask about the Junkanoo Rush Out which is held at the Marina twice a week.

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Bahams: Nassau Straw Market

On the way from the airport to the resort, our taxi driver pointed out the Straw Market. He said it as the place to go to find locally made crafts and souvenirs. So Tuesday after breakfast, we grabbed a cab (about $4 per person from Atlantis) and headed out to see what the local crafters had to offer.

The market is located right near where the cruise ships dock at the harbor. It is a long, low building with wares from floor to ceiling throughout. The smell of the ocean hangs in the air, mixed with the sweet scent of the straw bags hanging everywhere. 

Here are a few tips from our experience:

• When you find something you like, haggle. It's expected!
• It wasn't crowded with customers (at least at the time we went), but the stalls were cramped together, with very little walk way between them.
• I have read warnings of pick pocketing and can say that while that was not our experience, the conditions were certainly ripe for it.
• Everyone was selling the same manufactured junk. Stall after stall, hundreds of them, all had the same things.
• We found that most vendors did not take no for an answer. Smile politely and keep on walking.
• We had our hearts set on finding actual local craftsmanship, and struggled with getting our hands on much. There were ladies making bags and dolls out of straw, as the name suggests, but it appeared as though most of the booths were selling things made by a few people.

We didn't take any photos inside the Straw Market because it was chaotic, and we had our hands full trying to keep track of a 3-year-old as every single vendor on the island zoned in on her as a target customer. The gentleman carving masks and other designs in one of the open air stalls on the outer edges of the market posed for a photo with the girls as he wrapped our package, though!

According to the history page on the Straw Market's website, the straw vending industry in the Bahamas was born in the mid-1940s after the local sponge industry saw a decline. Women began braiding and decorating the dried leaves of the palm tree and sisal plants as a new source of income. The Bahamas became a vacation destination following World War II, and the souvenirs grew in popularity, Today's products include baskets, handbags, and dolls. (Alongside lots of screen-printed t-shirts, mugs, magnets, and the like.)

If you are looking for more shopping, a few blocks away are the high-end duty free shops, and the ladies offering knock off bags on the street corner.

Nassau Vacations

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Bahamas: Nassau and Paradise Island

We just returned from a beautiful trip to Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. We also did some touristy stuff in Nassau.

It was a lot of fun and a great family trek! I have a notebook filled with notes to write a series of posts on the trip, so watch this space! For now, here's a photo to get things started...

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Montana: Geocaching - Wolf Point Bridge

Grandma and Grandpa have been getting into geocaching lately, so we joined them on an adventure today, on the way home from paying some Memorial Day respects with the extended family.

Geocaching is a great family activity. It's like a treasure hunt! How fun is that? The kids have a great time combing the countryside, looking for some special little trinket.

The closest spot was near the Wolf Point Bridge (about five miles outside Wolf Point, Montana), so we trekked over there to see what we could find.

I have to admit, I was surprised at how beautiful the area was! I have driven by it thousands of times, and never stopped to take the time and notice this pretty little spot along the Missouri River.

In this case, we were looking for a magnetic key holder stashed near the bridge. 

Once we zoned in on the coordinates, we read the hints. We decided "en guard" meant it was probably on the guard rail. But after over an hour looking for it, we couldn't find it!

We decided it must have been moved (all the hints called it "easy") and decided to go on to the next location, which was in Poplar, Montana. Now that we had the guard rail trick figured out, it was no time before....Success!

What a great way to spend an afternoon hanging out as a family.

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New York: Riverview Estates by Brophy in the Catskills

I was blessed this week to host a retreat gathering a small group of women at Riverview Estates by Brophy. Jason (the manager) was an amazing host, even taking the ladies on a tour of the grounds and sharing all kinds of great tips about the area. He and his staff were always eager to jump to meet our needs -- it was clear they took great pride in their work.

The Riverview Estates is located near Hancock, New York, a little over two hours from New York City. The drive is  a beautiful trek through winding mountains, with trees, rivers, and so much more. Even though we were so close to the city, it felt like we were days away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

There are three houses on the estate, each offering its own special features that makes it stand out beautifully. Comfortable, quiet, and snuggled into the mountains, you couldn't find a better place to get away with your family or large group.

The main house features an opulent master suite, a hot tub (which the ladies took full advantage of), and beautiful views of the river. Just up the hill is the spectacular entertaining house, with a well-appointed professional kitchen, dining area, pool table, and lots of space to kick back and get to know each other. A third building - the guest house - offered space for the ladies to get away from the crowd and enjoy some time in comfortable quarters with crisp linens and cozy spaces.

And just a short walk down the road, the views only get better. The Delaware River is pretty majestic, I wish I had set aside extra time to just sit and enjoy it for hours. I don't fish, but I was a little jealous of the anglers I saw up and down the river!

 And the night sky? Clear and gorgeous. Breathtaking. Still. We gathered around a fire, enjoyed a glass of wine and a Tarot card reading (thanks Lauren!), and just drank it all in. Amazing.

Thank you ladies for a beautiful time! And huge thanks to the lovely and talented Beja B Photography for the pictures!

Catskill Vacations

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California: Inn at Playa Del Rey

The Inn at Playa Del Rey has 21 rooms, making it large for a bed and breakfast, but small for a hotel - and it embraces that space gracefully. The word that kept running through my head during our three night stay was RESPITE. It really was a great little getaway.

This pretty little inn was named to the Conde Nast Gold List in 2009, and you can see why - it truly is special. From the moment you put you step into the building (after being buzzed in by the front desk), you are pampered by a staff that takes care to go the extra mile.

Crisp white linens greet you in beautiful clean rooms - the moment I saw the bed I just wanted to dive in and stay there for the duration of the visit. They can bring my food there, right? Maybe turn me occasionally?

Of course, then I would have missed wine and cheese in the afternoon, walks along the beach, and the delicious breakfast. Breakfast was hot and tasty each morning, featuring delightful menus varying each day. The view from the breakfast room was lovely. It takes something special to be 10 minutes from LAX and still relaxing and secluded. Thanks to the Ballona Wetlands on two sides of the Inn, this little spot does just that.

A short walk down the street is a beautiful sandy beach, with lots of space to spread out and enjoy the sand and surf.

(Tip: They call themselves family-friendly, but I would definitely not feel comfortable there with children who were anything but perfectly behaved. We brought our three-year-old, and on several occasions, I felt a bit like the other guests were being protected from us...not a very relaxing feeling!)

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Minnesota: Minneapolis-St.Paul Airport Children's Area

Kudos to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport for being family friendly and offering the littlest travelers a place to run off some energy. The Children's Play Area is clean, simple, and fun for little ones. There are several options for playing, including slides, climbing toys, and vehicles to pretend to drive around! Our three-year-old loves it, and almost always finds a new friend when she plays there.

The little touches go one step farther, too, with a changing table on one wall, and a vending machine packed with diaper bag basics. Forgot the wipes? Lost the pacifier? No problem. While the prices might not be on par with the grocery store, they aren't insane, either, and anyone who has traveled with a child has had a "my kingdom for a ..." moment at some point. Phew, crisis averted.

There are two of these play areas located in the airport. We visited the one on Concourse C in the Lindbergh Terminal. There is also one in the Humphrey Terminal on Level 2.

MSP has other family-friendly features, as well. There is a family center on Concourse E, with a rocking chair, crib, and family restroom. It's a great spot to go with tiny little ones. There is also a nursing room on Concourse C. It is private space, so visit the Travelers' Information desk across from gate C12 for access if you are looking for a space to nurse your little one or pump.

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Virginia: The Land Celebration near Gore

The Land Celebration near Gore, Virginia was once a nudist colony, and as you drive up the winding drive (past signs warning you not to enter unless invited), there seems to be some of that energy left in the air.

Rustic and unique, The Land Celebration was blanketed in snow when we arrived, but that didn't stop it feeling warm and inviting. I was reminded of the quote from their website: 

"Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing, there is a field...I'll meet you there." ~Rumi

Fitting.

Accommodations on the land vary, from private cabins and large houses to dorm-style spaces and spots to camp. Each brought its own uniqueness.

I loved the wailing wall (pictured here), as I am always interested in bringing together cultures I am not necessarily familiar with and tasting their traditions. It was really a great experience to sit with my thoughts and then add to the wall, and to stand by as the other ladies did the same. There was a real feel of beautiful energy in the air as the women approached the wall, took paper and pen, and covered their heads with the shawls. Lovely.

Something I really loved about this land was the way they went way beyond being inclusive - they are embracing. Following the walking trails, you might stumble across a sweat lodge in the ceremonial area near the pond, one of the three labyrinths, or a beautiful spot to meditate. It was just what I needed, just when I needed it. I very much enjoyed the quiet time soaking it all in, and know there are many places I didn't even get the opportunity to see.

Check out their website for details on gatherings at The Land Celebration.

Thank you to the beautiful and talented Victoria Karalun of Canary Lane Photography for the beautiful photography. She does fantastic work!

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Pennsylvania: Children's Museum of Pittsburgh

Bria and I had a wonderful day today at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh. There was so much to do, see, and explore!

Google told me it was three bus transfers to the museum and I didn't want her to arrive already worn out, so we went to the hotel front desk to ask about options. Sure enough, they had a hotel shuttle. (It never hurts to ask!) We took the 10 am shuttle and had to wait for a couple of other people to be dropped off, but that meant we got to see more of the city, which was a blast!

On the way to the museum, we learned that it was Fred Rogers' birthday, so it was Mr. Roger's Neighborhood Day at the museum. Admission was free, and some special treats were planned in his honor. We had just finished watching Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, so Bria and I had a chat on the shuttle about the new feature our adventure had taken on.

We arrived and decided to start out in the Art Studio, which had several fun stations set up to check out. Bria donned an apron and did stamping with vegetables (she chose the onion and the green pepper), then moved over to do some painting on the easels. The set up was fabulous, and the volunteers were sweet and attentive.

Next we moved over to the clay table, and had a great time cutting and rolling and sculpting with the other children gathered around the table.

The other tables in the studio were fun, too, with Bria getting a chance to practice her cutting with scissors, then trying out silk screen painting before heading off for a snack in the Big Red Room Cafe. The face burger was SO fun, Bria had to pose with hers! There was a good selection of healthy meals and snacks, including baked french fries instead of fried, and the option of fruit as a side. There was also hummus, cottage cheese, and other good-for-kids offerings.

After lunch (and another potty break - bathrooms are available on every floor of the museum), we moved upstairs to try out the climbing area! It was really fun - a big maze of places to climb loomed overhead, all the way up to the next floor. But what Bria loved about it was that, being small, she could participate, too! The bottom layer when straight through, so she climbed over and under and through while staying close to the ground, came out the other end, and ran around to do it again. This provided great entertainment.

Then it was on to lots of hands-on activities in the nursery, which was the perfect place to wind down for a while and have some quiet time. There was lots to do, including a gigantic Light Bright, light/sand tables (possibly her favorite thing in the entire building, she spent an hour there), a see saw, and so much more.

Next we moved downstairs to get a drink in the cafe and then went to check out the theater, where something REALLY special was about to happen! The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra had sent a string quartet to honor Mr. Rogers' day, and Bria was absolutely enthralled. She plopped herself down in the front row on the floor and took it all in very happily. Halfway through she moved to the open space in the back of the theater where she could dance, too. There is definitely a trip to the symphony in that girl's future!

This was a very full day! And we didn't even make it to the Garage or Attic, or the Backyard (which was closed for the season). Definitely worth the time, we would highly recommend for children of a wide variety of ages -- we saw kids through about 10 having a fantastic time with developmentally appropriate activities.

To learn more, check out the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh website. Hours are 10-5 daily, and admission  fees can be found on the site.

Pittsburgh Vacations

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