California: Sunday at Sea World

It's Sea World day, and Bria couldn't be more excited!!! (OK, OK, I think Mom and Dad are pretty excited, too.)

She earned the trip with her star chart, and has spent the entire week telling us about the things she'll be showing us. After her July 28 trip she is an expert, you know.

The park was open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today (check out their website ahead of time for hours), so we decided we would aim for arriving about an hour after opening to beat some of the early rush. It worked like a charm, because we parked super close, stood in line for only a few minutes at the gate, then found no line at all at the customer service counter inside the park when we went to pick up our wristbands for the all-day dining deal. (Find out more about that choice and our review here.)

TIP: Purchase your tickets online ahead of time to save on standing in line!

There is a LOT to see, and we have the luxury of living close now, so we were careful not to stress and try to fit everything in. With that in mind, we decided to save the amazing Sea World shows for another day.

TIP: If you plan to go more than once or twice this year, we highly recommend getting the annual pass for one person in your family. Parking is included with the pass, and at $15 a pop, it becomes quickly worth the little extra. We also took advantage of the monthly payment plan, so it was nice to spread the cost out a little bit. In addition, there are other discounts which are great incentives.

We got things started in one of our favorite areas of the park - Sesame Street Bay of Play. Bria loves the big, bright characters, and all of the rides in this area are perfect for her age group. She wanted to bring Daddy on all of them! (Lots of rides are available for the bigger lot, too, not to worry.)

There is lots to do in this area for small children, including equipment to play on, climbing activities, rides, food, photos with Sesame Street characters, and lots more. It's a lot to take in!

TIP: Be sure to bring along a change of clothes and a towel in case kiddos want to enjoy the splash pad! It is especially wonderful for toddlers and offers multiple options for interactive play.

It just wouldn't be Sea World without the amazing water life, so our next stop was the otters and the dolphins. The bat rays are super fun to touch and feed, too! (While Bria and Dad went to the touch the rays, Mom checked out the Manta roller coaster. Woo-hoo!)

Bria's favorite part - everyone's favorite part - was a visit to the orcas. She could spend hours sitting next to their pool, just watching Shamu swim. The orcas are a memory both Mom and Dad have from their childhood, and we love sharing this experience with a new generation. We read that the first Shamu was born at Sea World in 1985, and 20 killer whales have been born there since. Wow! That's a lot of whales!

The Bayside Sky Ride was a great way to wind down for a bit and enjoy some quiet time as a family. This ride goes out over the bay and back, offering opportunities to check out the area from a great vantage point.

The best part of our visit was just sitting back and watching as Bria engaged with creature after creature, offering her observations everywhere we went. Aquarium fish, turtles, sharks, penguins - it was all equally fascinating and gave her an opportunity to learn and interact.

We ended our day with a visit to Wild Arctic, enjoying the non-motion version of the helicopter ride and then checking out the belugas and the polar bears. We appreciated the educational aspects of this exhibit, with buttons to push and informational signs spread throughout.

Our day was filled with so many great highlights, it's hard to pick just a few. We can't wait to get back and play at Sea World again.

San Diego Vacations

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California: Hollywood Boulevard

It was Ella's last days in California, and she was wanting to see Hollywood, so we made a little jaunt over to Hollywood Boulevard to check everything out. Filthy and crowded, sure. But filled with fun things to see? Totally.

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California: Dana Point Farmers Market

Admittedly, we have lived in North Dakota for a long, long time, and this may not be as exciting to other coasters, but we had an amazing visit to the Dana Point Farmers Market today. This is a great place for kids, because you can set them out to choose something to purchase, and you know it will be healthy and local.

We found everything from eggs, chicken, and fish to fruits and vegetables to delicious homemade tamales and hummus. We also picked up bread and some honey sticks, which my daughter thinks are the best treat ever. The atmosphere is wonderful, with a very family-friendly feel. This will definitely be a regular visit!

The market is held each Saturday at La Plaza and Pacific Coast Highway from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring cash, most of the vendors are not credit card friendly.

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California: Dana Point Harbor

We made a brief stop at Dana Point Harbor today to check out The Spirit of Dana Point is a 108-foot replica of a privateer from the 1770s, like those used during the American Revolution. This ship (which Bria calls the pirate ship) has 5,000 feet of sail! The girls had a great time checking it out.

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Bahamas: Jokers Wild Comedy Club

The adults had a sneak away for a parents-only evening at the cozy little comedy club located between Beach and Coral towers inside the Atlantis resort, Jokers Wild Comedy Club.

We had a great time! It was nice to enjoy some grown-up time in the middle of such a heavily family-oriented trip. The evening was an intimate one — it was small to start with, and then was at least 3/4 empty — but fun. With a small crowd, everyone has to pull their weight in the feedback department. No room for Debbie Downer here! We all laughed and cheered and had a blast. (Oh, and a couple of cocktails, too.)

TIP: Make sure you bring your wallet along, this is one of very few places on the grounds that do not accept your room key as payment. Cash or credit cards only.

Mike Rivera, tagged as “America’s most hilarious teacher” (a name given when he won a contest on the TV show The View) did the warm-up act and played emcee.

Ron Feingold was the main act, showcasing his edgy mix of music and comedy he calls “Comedy A Capella.”

It was a fun little night out, and we would definitely recommend parents take advantage of the onsite childcare and pop in for an entertaining evening while staying at Atlantis.

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Bahamas: The Caves at Cable Beach

The Caves at Nassau are located west of Cable Beach. Not a lot to see here, mostly just a quick stop to snap a photo or two.

Got five minutes? Come check out this little spot along the side of the road.Although not historically proven, local lore says the Lucayan Indians were the original inhabitants of the islands and resided in these caves, carved by the ocean many years ago.

In more recent years, they say Pirates and their bounty found refuge from the law by hiding in these caves. Kids love a good pirate story, right? The current inhabitants are a little more natural - the 'Buffy Flower Bat' (Brophylia Sezekomi) commonly known as the fruit bat, and indigenous to the Bahama Islands, calls these caves home.

Stepping inside the lower of this pair of caves, we saw dozens of these creatures sleeping in the heat of the day.

This is not a stellar place for children. Broken glass littered the floor and the girls weren't exactly excited abut the bats, either. But it's kind of cool to check it off the list and say "been there, done that."

Nassau Vacations

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Bahamas: Atlantis Marina and Bimini Road

We had heard that Johnny Rockets was THE place to go with kids, but when we wandered to the end of the boardwalk and found it was a burger place, we decided to go back to Bimini Road, a bright and airy spot with local fare.

It was dusk, and there were buskers playing drums and singing on several spots along the marina boardwalk. Bria stopped to dance with some of them, and had a fabulous time - they even had little handmade instruments so the children could join in. She is a big fan of the beats of this island music.

Bimini Road was brightly colored and bustling. We joined the queue and the hostess added our names to a list, giving us a pager and telling us it would be 60-80 minutes. We took the pager outside and enjoyed the live music - but were pleasantly surprised when the pager went off after only about 10 minutes.

The service was fast and friendly, with a parade of smiles greeting us at our table. It had been a long day of travel, so none of us was especially hungry, so we ordered a variety of sides and enjoyed them as a family. The conch fritters and fried plantains went over especially well.

The drinks were a bit spendy, but that was to be expected, and overall we were very happy with this simple first night meal.

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Bahamas: Tips for Atlantis with Kids

Here is the latest in our continuing series on visiting the Bahamas! Enjoy these travel tips for hitting the island with your children.

Taxi and Shuttle Drivers

We found that getting a taxi was cheaper than a shuttle to Atlantis. You may want to check into this for yourself, it will depend on where you are staying and how many are in your party. Either way, use that driver as a resource! They are more than happy to talk your ear off about the island, pointing out the hot spots and offering travel tips. On the way in, our driver offered to stop at the grocery store so we could pick up snacks for the kids. We definitely should have taken him up on it! See second tip below.

Grocery Store

After paying some seriously inflated prices for kid food and drinks the first day, we took a taxi to a grocery store and picked up a few essentials. We paid $1 for one liter bottles of water that were $10 poolside, and less than $10 for cereal (the kind that comes in its own disposable bowl) and a container of shelf-stable milk. We also grabbed a few snack foods for the children and some juice boxes for those in-between times.

Food Plan

If you plan to eat at the resort, the food plans really are a good idea. You’re on vacation, you don’t want to be stressing about prices! (And the prices are something else…) Food plans allow you to take care of the expense in advance. Word of caution, though -- the plans do not include drinks or gratuity.

Stay On Resort

Honestly, there’s not much to see in Nassau -– if you want to do a quick tour, do it on the way to or from the airport. A few hours to check out the sights will be plenty. Plus we found that we didn't really save much (if any) money by going off-site to eat. You're better off purchasing the food plan and enjoying all the resort has to offer, instead.

Sun Screen

Don't forget to apply and re-apply. And don't just concentrate on the kids -- mom and dad need protection in those intense rays, too!

Island Time

Be sure to check the hours on activities you want to check out. Things (like the water park) close earlier than you may think. It seemed a bit counter-intuitive to us to not really be able to avoid the heat of the day by going in the evening, but most outdoor activities were closed by 7.

Plan Down Time

The Atlantis resort has a LOT to offer for family members of all ages, and it is easy to get carried away and want to be everywhere, doing everything. Be sure to schedule down time into your day, especially if you are traveling with small children.

Adult Time

While you're at it, consider taking advantage of that awesome childcare and having some grownup time on the island! There's a casino, night club, and lots of other adults only spots to check out.

Pack Light

The resort provides life jackets for the little ones and towels at the pool - no need to tote them along!

Sun Screen

Did I mention to reapply that sun screen? Seriously, I meant it!

More on Taxi Drivers

Nassau is a small place with an extremely high unemployment rate, and people are definitely working to take care of each other. You can't really blame them, right? But be aware -- you are likely to pay a little more if you see the island with a driver rather than on your own. We were happy to do it that way, but it's nice to be aware in advance! (Example -- seeing Fort Charlotte is free, but our taxi driver walked us up to the gates and set us up with a tour, which cost us $5 an adult. He also brought us to specific restaurants and street vendors.)

What are your best tips for traveling to Atlantis with children? We'd love to hear. Please share them in the comments.

Family Vacation
Paradise Island

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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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