Sandy Toes: Rose Island, Bahamas

I remember when I was a kid, I was jealous of the characters on Gilligan’s Island because they had this beautiful piece of paradise all to themselves.  I dreamed of being Maryanne (Ginger’s voice drove me nuts!)  Well, with Sandy Toes, on Rose Island you can live that dream as you spend the day on your own private island. 

 Your adventure begins when you are picked up at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal in their double decker catamaran. Since we decided to take a water taxi to cross under the bridge (huge mistake!!!) we ran to catch the ferry because it only leaves once…10:00…after that you’re out of luck.  We were thrilled that we made it and with our complimentary rum punch in our hands, we settled in for our ride.  Check out where my youngest got to sit.

  During your 25-minute boat ride, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the Bahamas coastline as the wind blows through your hair. Sit back and watch the crystal blue water soar under you as you head to Paradise. 

The biggest surprise of the day was that no one else except the people on our boat would be on the island.  We would have this paradise all to ourselves.

 The sand was a white powder and the water was transparent.  The beach was immaculately clean, which I had wondered about since I knew there were pigs that swam here.  We grabbed one of the many lounge chairs and settled in for a bit before we couldn’t resist the water anymore. 

The crystal-clear water was calling to us and we were so excited to spend our day basking in the sunshine and having more fun. 

After a quick dip, we decided to hang out in one of the beach hammocks. 

As I lounged, I stared at the rocky coastline and listened to the waves crashing onto the shore.

 It really was Heaven…see…

I could have spent hours there and was considering taking a nap when all of the sudden I saw these cutie pies come out for a swim.  I jumped up and ran over to give them a pat. We loved hanging out with these big guys!

And we fell in love with the 14-week-old piglets!  Seriously…how could you not!!! They were so well-behaved and knew more tricks than my puppy…sit, stay, come, heal.  It was very impressive. 

My girls got to swim with them

And give them some love.

We wanted to take them home with us!!  The staff loves them so much and you can see the care that they take in keeping them healthy.  I love that they never make the pigs do anything they don’t want to do.  These adorable pigs have been raised here since birth. They are vet checked and cared for on the regular, and only given the cleanest diet.  They are given plenty of love, sunshine, shade, and even sunscreen!

Since we had brought snorkel equipment to use at the condo, we decided to bring them.  We had so much fun swimming around the coral reef and felt comforted that a guide was with us. We saw huge fan coral, tons of tropical fish, and lots of brain coral.  We couldn’t get enough of it, and they didn’t rush us.   They have snorkel equipment for all ages and they also provide life jackets.  This is where we started our snorkeling adventure.

Lunch was served from 1:00-2:00. They had a buffet that served a variety of local cuisine such as barbecue chicken, peas and rice, vegetable pasta salad, hot dogs, garden salad, and fresh rolls.  There was a beautiful view from the dining area. There were also lounge chairs if you’re too full to go too far…lol.

The Beach Bar had sweeping views of the water!

I enjoyed a frozen margarita…ok ok…I enjoyed three!

And my girls loved their frozen virgin Pina coladas.

I can’t believe how inexpensive it is to spend the day here!

$119 for adults and

$75 for children ages 4-12.

Tips for a perfect day

The island offers restrooms, changing rooms, and shower facilities.

There is a gift shop on the island.

Kayaks are available to rent for $15.

Tubes are available to rent for $10

You can purchase a bus transfer from your hotel.

Boat leaves daily at 10:00 from the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal.

Boat leaves Rose Island at 3:30 to take you back.

Get there early so you don’t have to rush like we did!

Take a cab across the bridge…NOT the water taxi because they only run when they’re full.

Guests should bring:

Towels

Sunscreen

Money (Cash, Visa, or Mastercards)

Swimsuit

Camera (waterproof camera is even better)

Give them a follow!

Website: http://www.bahamasbluelagoon.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DolphinEncounters/?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlueLagnIslnd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluelagoonisland/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/BlueLagnIslnd/

  A warm THANK YOU to Sandy Toes for having us as your guest.  We had an incredible last day in the Bahamas and it was the perfect place to sit back, relax, and enjoy all the sun, sand, and water that is so unique to your lovely island.  I would recommend it to anyone visiting the Nassau area.  As always, all experiences and opinions are 100% that of MyTravelingKids.com.


Blue Lagoon Island

Who doesn’t daydream of spending the day on their own private tropical island? A trip to Blue Lagoon Island will let you live out this dream as you spend the day lounging on a pristine beach or having water adventures…whatever your heart desires. 

It all starts as soon as you are picked up in their high-speed, double-decker catamaran.  We enjoyed stunning views of Nassau Harbor and Paradise Island as crystal blue water soared under us.  When we pulled up to the island the sand was a white powder and the lounge chairs called to us as we walked down the dock. 

The clear turquoise waters looked like a scene from a movie and we couldn’t wait to jump in. 

As you lay in the hammocks, or sit in lounge chairs, you hear the chirping of tropical birds as the breeze flows through the coconut palm trees…but there was no time for sitting around because we had some adventures to do first!

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Atlantis Aquaventure Day Pass

When you think of Nassau, it’s hard not to picture the picturesque towers of Atlantis Resort.  This 141-acre water scape can be your playground for the day when you buy an Aquaventure Day Pass

So, what is included in your Atlantis Aquaventure Day Pass?

Water Slides – 18 thrilling water slides

River Rides – The Current & The Rapids

Pools – 11 distinctly different pools

Beach – Miles of white sand & crystal water

The Dig Aquarium

Lounge Chairs & Towels

My girls were at Atlantis for one reason…the water park! With 18 different water slides, it was hard to decide which to go on first.  Here were some of our favorites:

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Postcard Friday…Sao Miguel, Azores

Need some help planning your trip to Sao Miguel, Azores? Check out these blogs:

What to See in Sao Miguel

If you have any questions on Sao Miguel, Azores, drop me an email at MyTravelingKids@gmail.com and I’d be happy to chat! 

Happy Planning!


10 Ways to Survive a Layover with Kids

The days of long layovers where you sit back, enjoy a latte, and lose yourself in a good book seem to disappear after you have kids.  Layovers are a lot more work when you now have to entertain little ones.  In fact, after having kids I try to avoid layovers as much as possible, but sometimes they can’t be avoided.  Here are 10 tips for how I survive a layover:

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Postcard Friday…St. Lucia

Need some help planning your trip to St. Lucia? Check out these blogs:

What to See for a Perfect Week in St. Lucia

Top 10 Tips When Traveling to St. Lucia

WHERE SHOULD YOU STAY? Here is where we stayed at during out trip.

 Click on them for our full review:

Royal by Rex Resort (I believe this resort was sold and is now operating as a new resort)

St. James Club

If you have any questions on St. Lucia, drop me an email at MyTravelingKids@gmail.com and I’d be happy to chat! 

Happy Planning!


Smartass and Sass…March Box

Once again…if you are not a fan of cursing, you may want to skip this piece because the items in this box have been known to drop some f-bombs…lol!  This is my new favorite subscription because it reminds me of my friends and I when we get together without kids!  It is a perfect balance of snark and charm, with a dash of profanity!  That’s SO US!!! Smartass and Sass is an amazing way to treat yourself every month!

What comes in each box?

Each box has 5-8 handmade, hilarious items. The items have a and all of the items will relate to it. It includes things like mugs, notebooks, tote bags, water bottles, pens & pencils, magnets, candles, etc.  It has items you probably would never buy yourself but secretly wish someone would buy for you.  It reminds me of getting a care package from your best friend.

We couldn’t wait to peek inside!

So, what was in the box this month? SO MUCH!!!

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Postcard Friday…Santorini, Greece

Need some help planning your trip to Santorini? Check out these blogs:

A 1 Week Itinerary for a Perfect Week in Santorini

WHERE SHOULD YOU STAY? Here is where we stayed at during out trip.

 Click on them for our full review:

We rented this Pink Cave House

We also did an overnight to Ios, (a short ferry ride away) and stayed at the Liostasi Hotel & Spa

If you have any questions on Santorini, drop me an email at MyTravelingKids@gmail.com and I’d be happy to chat! 

Happy Planning!


10 Tips for Keeping Your Home Safe While Traveling

house

Since it’s Spring break for New Englanders, I thought I would repost one of my articles on how to keep your home safe while you’re traveling.  Hope it’s helpful! Safe travels!

Vacation is a time for relaxation and tranquility, but it’s human nature to worry about the house you left behind.  A home is a huge responsibility and you want to keep it safe even when you are away.  The following are 10 tips for keeping your home safe while traveling:

1.     ASK SOMEONE TO WATCH YOUR HOUSE.  Personally, I don’t feel the need to hire a house sitter for a short trip.  My house is able to take care of itself.  However, I do let my neighbors know that I’ll be away so they can keep an eye on anything suspicious.  It’s nice to get a quick text saying our house is still standing.

2.    PUT YOUR MAIL ON HOLD.  It takes ten minutes to get online and put your mail on hold.  Nothing screams, “No one’s home!” like mail bulging out of a street mailbox.  I have delivery start the day we return so it’s there when we get home.   

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Tips for Relieving Jet Lag

Jet lag can make or break your vacation because it is this foggy cloud that settles over you.  My husband travels to California for work and I have no clue how his body acclimates to the time difference so well.  I started to do some research and realized there are things you could do to adjust your body to jet lag, so I thought I’d share some of the tips I’ve found:

SO, WHAT THE HECK IS JET LAG?

The medical term for jet lag is desynchronosis.  It is a physiological condition that is caused when the body’s circadian rhythms (internal time clock) is warped due to rapid long-distance (east–west or west–east) travel.

WHAT SYMPTOMS CAN JET LAG CAUSE?

Everyone can experience different symptoms of jet lag.  Personally, I feel like I have a cloud of smog surrounding my head.  People complain of having memory problems, a hard time concentrating, irritation, difficulty making decisions, loss of appetite, tired muscles, and bathroom issues. 

So, what can you do to prevent some of these symptoms?

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