Jamaica: The Beautiful Coral Cove Villa

Morning coffee and conversation on the patio, the steady rake, rake, rake sound of the gardener going about his daily routine, the breeze gently rustling through the trees. Ocean waves roll into the channel, lapping at the white sand beach. A symphony of birds sings along in harmony with the gardener's rhythm. The more you listen, the more you hear.

Nestled along the edge of Jamaica's beautiful Discovery Bay, Coral Cove Villa is a beautiful, relaxing haven with plenty of space to spread out and make yourself at home. Indoor living spaces flow into outdoor spaces, blurring the line masterfully.

The fence line on either side of the property is a botanical garden featuring fruit, flower, leaf, and tree. If you are very still, you may see a land crab digging in the cool dirt or a cat walking along the garden wall. The morning air is cool, but hints at the heat of the day to come. It is the perfect place for nature exploration, and we each take turns on a journey of discovery with our five-year-old adventurer.

Coral Cove was the site of a sort of epic family trip - eleven family members from three generations coming from New Zealand, North Dakota and Montana - and we couldn't think of a more perfect spot for it. We all settled easily into lounging, the largest moves being from the patio to the pool to the hammock to the beach. No stress or alarm clocks here.

As the locals say, "No worries, mon."

The view from our upstairs suite was amazing, evoking feelings of absolute paradise.

But the real draw here, the thing that sets this place apart, is the staff. The delightful and attentive staff works a constant cycle to keep the villa looking pristine and to anticipate our every need, leaving us to just shut off and recharge. I don't know how we could possibly say enough about the staff, they are absolutely amazing.

Kevin, Norma, Penny, Louise, Devon, and Paul could not have made Jamaica more fantastic for us.

We wake each morning to the smell of bacon cooking. In the afternoon, icy cocktails are by the pool. Each evening during dinner, our beds are turned down, the shutters are closed tight, and the air conditioning and fans are turned on so we can retire to a cool place. Touches like a bottle of water on each night stand are welcoming and sweet.

The housekeepers kept up with laundry from 11 people as though it were nothing (including all of our laundry from the week of vacation leading up to our arrival at the villa), leaving it freshly folded outside our rooms each afternoon. 

And the food. Oh, the food! Miss Norma is clearly the matriarch of a large Jamaican family, with years of experience putting out food for a crowd. She worked wonders with all of our food requests (most importantly - feed us local food!), and stretched a dollar like any good grandmother would.

In addition to the absolutely mandatory relaxation, the villa was an amazing place to cultivate family relationships.

We also loved the pool and proximity to the beach. The children spend hours swimming and splashing, the older ones enjoying a paddle around the cove in a kayak when the winds are calm, or swimming out to the swim dock to dive to their heart's content.

An entire undersea world is also ready to explore - simply don a snorkel and mask and set off on an adventure. Caribbean rays, a variety of tropical fish, white and black urchin, and much more revealed themselves under the crystal blue waters.

Discovery Bay is on the north side of Jamaica, between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. The Coral Cove property actually offers two houses - we stayed in the larger of the two, a five bedroom, five bathroom home. The second house offers an additional three bedrooms and can be rented together or separately. Each house has a pool and private beach.

The villa was a great fit for all ages. They catered exceedingly well to the youngest member of our party, with her own special play table, and plastic plates and cups at her place each meal, but it was also an excellent fit for the teenagers and the grandparents. Not every place can say that!

There is much to explore outside the gates, too, so lazy mornings roll into exciting days, filled with waterfalls, shopping, deep sea fishing, and tours. We were careful not to fill too much of our time, instead reserving exploration of Jamaica to every other day to optimize our time at the villa.

The last night of our stay, we had an amazing steak and lobster dinner.

Then Devon treated us to a bonfire on the beach, complete with marshmallows to roast and Jamaican music over the sound system. It was the perfect way to celebrate our last night.

Watch the blog all this week for more about our once-in-a-lifetime visit to this beautiful Caribbean nation!

Read More

Alabama: A Visit to the Rosa Parks Museum

While visiting Montgomery, Alabama recently, we came upon the Rosa Parks Museum and Children's Wing and stopped to explore and learn about the Mother of the Freedom Movement in the U.S. (Read a brief biography of Mrs. Parks here.)

The museum sits on the spot where Parks was arrested on December 1, 1955. Destined to be a parking structure in the 1990s, Troy University recognized how many people were visiting the historical marker there and fundraised to build a museum instead. Parks and her family were a part of the opening on December 1, 2000 - 45 years after her arrest.

Logistics

The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

Park for free anywhere on the university campus. We parked on the street and fed $1 into the meter. Admission is $14 per adult and $10 per child for the combined museums - bring your AAA card for a discount.

Start Your Visit

Purchase tickets at the main museum, then head next door to the Children's Wing to start your tour with a ride on the Cleveland Avenue Time Machine. Mr. Rivets, the robot driver, takes passengers on a 22-minute adventure through time, examining topics like Jim Crow, the civil war, and slavery in an approachable way that opened the door for conversations without being overwhelming.

The journey ends with the day Rosa Parks boarded the Cleveland Avenue bus, then sends riders to the main museum to learn what happened, and how that day would start a cascade of events that changed history.

The Museum

The museum also contained multimedia exhibits which told the story of Ms. Parks and the day that changed history so much. You can see a virtual tour of the museum here, but it really doesn't do the little museum justice!

I appreciated that there were no assumptions made about what visitors might have already known about the fight for equal rights or the culture in the south in the 50s. Exposing our children to the stories of those who came before us is an important piece of the picture.

We had a guided tour, moving through the cascade of events that started with Mrs. Parks refusing to give up her seat and rolling into the bus boycott and the rise of Dr. Martin Luther King.

One of the parts both of our kids brought up later was how cool it was to have a guide who was really "part of" the movement. She spoke with passion and personal knowledge in a way you just don't get from a book or a movie.

There are really heavy themes, which can be a lot for kids to process all at once. We didn't force the issue, instead allowing our five-year-old to engage as she felt appropriate and unplug a little when she didn't feel as comfortable.

I wasn't sure how much of it she had absorbed until bed time when she called Daddy to tell him about her day. She told him the story of Rosa Parks and her arrest for not giving up her seat on the bus - but she also told him about why Mrs. Parks wasn't allowed to remain sitting, what she was supposed to have done, and why it was wrong.

"They shouldn't be able to make laws like that," she said. "Your body, your choices."

Children have an amazing ability to understand their world when given opportunity to see it and feel it. I highly recommend the museum as a stop on any Alabama itinerary. It was well worth the time, and has started some excellent, though-provoking discussions in our family.

What other great museums have you been to that tell the story of the Civil Rights movement? Tell us about them in the comments!

Read More

South Dakota: Porter Sculpture Park

This week we left sunny Florida behind and drove from Melbourne, Florida back home to Williston, North Dakota, with lots of stops in between.

We have lots of stops to share about in the coming weeks, including Graceland (we have a huge Elvis fan on our hands) and the Rosa Parks Museum. 

One of my favorite things about roadtrips is the beautiful surprises that present themselves if you are open and looking. A great example of that is South Dakota's Porter Sculpture Park.

The Porter Sculpture Park is on the edge of a field outside Montrose, South Dakota (population 471). You'll find yourself drawn in by the oddity of the a 60-foot bull head rising from the corn, but so much more is in store when you take the exit.

The park is open to visitors from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, rain or shine. Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for teenagers, and free for 12 and under, and includes the opportunity to meet and talk with Wayne Porter, the artist behind the work.

Many of the sculptures include signs with the sculptor's thoughts or information about what he sees in the art.

We loved so many of the sculptures, it was hard to choose favorites to feature.

Using carefully mowed prairie as a canvas, Porter's art is sure to leave you thinking...and smiling.

Bria loved the dragons and fish, but the beautiful story behind the Ballerina is my favorite.

Time Magazine named this park one of the Top 50 Roadside American Attractions - check it out the next time you are on the road!

Please pardon our mess this week - we are in the middle of some renovations!

We are very excited to be featured on the Monday Escapes link up as one of their favorite posts from last week. How fun is that?! There are a lot of great posts to check out at the link up, so please go give them some love.

Read More

Bahamas: Pirate of Nassau Museum

When Bria (five) heard the taxi driver utter the words "pirate museum" on the drive from the Nassau airport, she was sold. A block up from the Straw Market at King and George Streets in Nassau, the museum is a fun interactive stop for young and old.

We were greeted outside the museum by a playful pirate, and directed to the gift shop, where we began our journey.

Once we had paid the admission fee ($13 for adults, and for kids 4-17, $6.50), the pirate led us along a corridor to the entrance to the museum, setting the stage as he walked. The year is 1716. We step onto a moonlit dock, surrounded by the sounds of lapping water and pirates celebrating their successes in a tavern. Beside us is a replica of the ship "Revenge," the scene of our exploration of the lives of bloodthirsty Caribbean pirates.

The Pirates of Nassau Museum is small, but filled with interesting stories of how pirates lived and died, keeping all of us engaged from beginning to end. A couple of parts were a little bit scary, but we breezed over those without it causing any issues.

One of our favorite parts was the story of two woman pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read. These tough women have an incredibly interesting story, made even more mystical by the abrubt end to the story of Bonny, and the abundant theories on what may have happened to her after she escaped execution by turning up pregnant.

At the end of the tour, there is a small collection of artifacts, along with a few items from modern popular culture to browse before stepping out into the bar and gift shop. Snacks and drinks are available, and reasonably priced.

Read More

Bahamas: Visiting the Atlantis Resort

Thinking of heading to the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas? Check out this insider information before you pack your bags.

Getting There

Flights into Nassau are available from several airlines. We found great deals with Jet Blue. Connecting out of Fort Lauderdale or Miami will mean a 35-45 minute easy hop onto the island. The airport is small and easy to navigate, with plenty of transportation available outside.

As with so many places, taxi rates from the Nassau airport are set by the government. Be sure you know them before you get into a taxi. When we went, it was $33 for the first four people, and $4 per person after four, and took about about 30 minutes, depending on traffic. If you are traveling somewhere on the island without a posted rate, speak with the driver to agree upon a price before getting in the cab.

It isn’t a great option when you arrive and have bags in tow, but to go into Nassau from the resort, you can take a land or water taxi for about $4 per person plus tip. We took the water taxi one day and wrote about it here.

Getting Around

This place is massive, there are no two ways about it. You're sure to blow up those pedometers! Bring your walking shoes and band-aids for blisters. There is a shuttle that takes you between towers every thirty minutes, but we never found it worth the wait, and ended up just hiking everywhere we went. Strollers are available to rent through a third party, ask about them at Guest Services. We got one for the day we went into Nassau for the food tour (amazing, by the way, we highly recommend it), and paid $16, which included having it dropped off and picked up in our room. Easy peasy.

Check In

Check in time for the rooms is 3 p.m., but if your flight gets in early, you can head to the resort early and do a partial check in, which allows you access to the facilities before your room is ready. We arrived in Nassau at 9 a.m., left our bags with the bellman, and set off exploring.

One things we really wished someone had told us at the time was that Atlantis offers complimentary use of their In-Transit Hospitality Lounges, located in each of the towers. The lounges offer lockers, showers, restrooms, changing facilities, and bathing suit dryers. Be sure to ask about this feature if you check in early or won't be leaving at the 11 a.m. check out time.

The Towers

I read a review of the Royal Towers that said, “If you heed the warnings about the impending chaos that awaits you, Atlantis will not disappoint you.” I couldn’t have said it better! This place is loud and bustling and high-energy. But it is also classy and opulent and a sight to behold. We’ve been twice (on business), and stayed in the Royal Tower both times.

Atlantis is a busy resort - especially the Royal Towers end. There is lots happening, including the aquarium, waterpark, and casino, and people congregate here in large numbers. If you are looking for quiet rest and relaxation, you may be disappointed. But if the hustle and bustle of lots to do and see is your thing, you’ll feel right at home.

With that said, here is the view from our room...

...not much to find fault with there!

We have never stayed at the Beach or Coral towers, but every time we have visited them, they seemed quieter and less chaotic, despite the fact that most of the children’s activities (aside from the waterpark) are located on that end. Most of the promotions offered on the Atlantis website are for the Beach tower, so you can get a good deal by going with a slightly smaller and less fancy room.

There is also an adults-only tower called the Cove, but I’m not really sure I would choose a waterpark for a romantic getaway! The Reef Tower is a timeshare option.

Eating

The food at Atlantis is expensive. And not in the “oh that’s kind of spendy” sense, but more in the “that was physically painful, can you check me for blood?” sense. Prepare yourself ahead of time and surrender to it, or you’re going to have a very depressing holiday.

We budgeted $120 per person, per day for food, and managed to stay under, but it wasn’t always easy. We did need to remind ourselves of the budget a few times, especially when we were signing $500 dinner bills!

The resort does offer a wide selection of restaurants, with everything from local fare to upscale sushi and Mediterranean. Bobby Flay even has a restaurant here, for the Food Network lovers.

The meal plans are an option, I suppose for those who like to have their pain upfront, but read the fine print. You will still pay a 15% gratuity on the menu price of anything you order, and lunch is not covered in the plan. A few more details - everyone on your reservation must eat together at every meal. They also aren’t available for a partial stay, so if you plan to eat off site at all (like we enjoy doing at least once), the plan may not make sense for you. Children 6 and under do eat free with an adult dining plan, so that’s a benefit.

There are three plans available (depending which tower you are staying in and which range of restaurants you prefer), and they must be purchased before arrival.

We have never used the dining plan, partly because the event we traveled with has some dinners included, because we like to venture off into town and eat with the locals, and because we enjoy the flexibility of doing our own thing. We have tossed it up, though, so I’m not discouraging travelers from it based on our situation.

Aquaventure

The big draw! Our crew loved the waterpark, Aquaventure. The attractions are included in your stay at the resort, and day passes can be purchased for those arriving by cruise ship or staying in other hotels.

Aquaventure offers a good selection of attractions for all ages, with everything from the splash pool for tiny littles to the Leap of Faith, which drops riders 60 feet from a Mayan temple into a shark tank. The flagship of the park, the Leap of Faith has been called the Scariest Water Slide in the World by Odd Stuff Magazine and one of the Top 10 Craziest Water Slides in the World by Travel + Leisure. It is definitely one for the thrill seekers to cross of their lists!

There are more than 18 slides in the 141 acre park. It isn’t all about bigger means better, though. One of our favorites is the Current, a one mile long river ride, complete with rolling rapids and surging waves. Our five-year-old had a great time riding along on this one, but for the less adventurous, there is also a lazy river ride near the Beach tower. There are 11 unique swimming pools, too!

One thing to note - most of the main slides require riders to be 48 inches tall. While there are many children's slides and pools, this did lead to some disappointment from one member of our group.

Beach

With all that water park, it is easy to forget that this is, of course, the Bahamas, and there are gorgeous beaches just steps away! The Atlantis property includes private and public beaches, with crystal clear water and absolutely amazing sand. Unless you are staying in the Beach tower, it may take a little effort to get to the beach (I have to admit, the first time we visited, we didn't make it to the on-property beaches at all), but it is well worth it!

Marine Habitat

Atlantis is home to more than 250 species of aquatic life, making it the largest such exhibit in the Caribbean and one of the largest in the world. Check out the Dig, the lost continent-themed aquarium beneath the Atlantis tower, and then venture out to the lagoons throughout the property to see the fish and animals up close and personal. It is a pretty amazing place for the budding marine biologist in the family.

Programs are available for all ages to interact with the sea life, as well. Bria participated in the Sea Squirts program and we definitely found it to be high value to her. Check at the Guest Services desk for information on programs available during your stay.

Night Life

Once the water slides are all closed for the evening, Atlantis really comes alive. We aren’t really casino people, but Atlantis does offer a large, popular one. It is flanked by two bars with very different atmospheres. The Moon Club offers designer cocktails in a relaxed, classy atmosphere, complete with a wall featuring a tank of live jellyfish. On the opposite side of the casino is Dragon’s Ultra Lounge, a nightclub with a dance floor and VIP seating for people watching. Weekend nights, those looking to dance the night away can head over to the Aura Nightclub, a 9,000-square-foot nightclub designed by Jeffrey Beers.

There is also live entertainment, including shows in the theater (check out the schedule before you come) and the Joker’s Wild Comedy Club, which we have enjoyed on both of our visits. For $25 (cash or credit card, no room charge), you’re sure to get a laugh and enjoy a few hours of adult time.

For the younger set, there are teen and pre-teen night clubs available, too. Crush is a parent-free space by night, with family tours available each afternoon for the curious. More than 14,000 square feet, the club includes an internet lounge, gaming room, and of course a dance floor with a live DJ. The concession stand and bar serve up non-alcoholic drinks and snacks.

Our teenagers had mixed reviews of the club, but that is largely because they are on the older end of the target market. I imagine younger teens would be more interested in what Crush has to offer.

Other Things to Do

There is definitely no shortage of things to do at the resort. There is rock climbing, tennis courts, a fitness center, the spa, shopping, pottery studio, and a Build-A-Bear workshop. Atlantis Theater, located in the convention center, offers complimentary movies several times a day. If you need some quiet time, the library offers books, computers, and a children’s corner.

Just outside the Dig, there is a Cartoon Network obstacle course set up in the water. The course is free of charge, but slots fill early, so check out our blog post about the fun, then head down to Guest Services to book your go.

Grab the daily newsletter, the Atlantean, near the elevators each day for a complete schedule of activities on the property.

Read More

Bahamas: Water Taxi from Paradise Island to Nassau

A short distance from Atlantis, underneath the new bridge, there is a water taxi that takes riders from Paradise Island to Nassau and back.

I read a lot of mixed reviews, but we decided to try it out in the name of adventure. We walked about ten minutes from the Royal Tower down to the ferry dock and purchased one-way tickets (so we still had an out if it was an awful experience). There was a man on the opposite corner that directed us to the signs for the ferry dock, but if no one is on the street, look for signs that say Paradise Island Ferry Dock.

The water taxi is $4 per person each way, which is the same price for a regular taxi for the same route. Fares are usually taken at the booth nearby, but sometimes there is a person on board taking the cash. Just go with the flow, the people around will direct traffic where it needs to go.

Water taxis run from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day, and according to our guide, the last ferry of the day is the only one that runs on time!

It takes about 15 minutes to cross to Nassau, but leave early if you have an appointment. They operate on island time, and also try to fill the boat as much as possible, a combination that could lead to long waits. We were fairly lucky and left within half an hour of the appointed time both ways. 

The boats were of varying ages and conditions, but we felt safe and had no difficulties boarding with children. We brought a stroller along, which the crew left for last and loaded for us.

There was a running commentary with interesting bits and pieces about the island and the area from an amateur guide that works on tips - we enjoyed it, clearly noting that some are better at it than others! It was also a good distraction for anyone who might be uncomfortable about the ferry ride itself. Some guides pass a hat around, while some approach riders for a gratuity. We didn't mind throwing a couple of dollars in the hat, but it is optional.

Overall, we would recommend the water taxi as a viable travel alternative. As with most things on the island, if you are flexible and have a positive attitude, you will have a pleasant time. 

Read More

Bahamas: Sea Squirts at Atlantis

Atlantis offers a program for kids 3-6 called Sea Squirts, which offers young ones the opportunity to get up close and personal and learn more about the sea animals that live at the resort.

Sea Squirts participants get to pet and feed several varieties of baby sea life, like this shark. They receive careful instruction and one-on-one oversight.

They also check out the turtles! In the basement, she saw and held Atlantic Green Sea Turtles.

She also loved the young zebra shark, and came back explaining to me why it is called a zebra shark, even though the adult version has spots.

The zebra shark definitely knew it was feeding time! She came right up to the platform where she knew children would soon be offering her fish to eat.

Bria wasn't so sure about holding fish in her hands, so the guide picked one out for her that she could hold by the tail...

...then she dumped the rest of the bucket out for them to eat on their own.

Next was the tank of rays. The children learned that it is important to shuffle your feet, to avoid stepping on them.

Then they learned how to feed the krill to the rays from their bucket by shaking it in their hands to break it up.

Bria wasn't about to do that, either, so he taught her how to swirl the krill with some water in the bucket to break it up, then toss it out to feed the rays.

Sea Squirts is a one hour program, with about 20 minutes of marine activities and 30-40 minutes of feeding time. The program is about $40 and includes a keepsake swim shirt. One adult is asked to accompany each squirt.

Reservations can be made at Atlantis Guest Services. We recommend making a booking near the beginning of your stay, because they can be booked up a few days out.

Read More