Family Time // Five Great Water Parks in the Caribbean

Going to the Caribbean is pretty much a water park in itself. The gorgeous blue water, tons of activities and gorgeous waterfalls and hiking trails!

When I used to take family vacations as a child, my sister and I would always beg to go to the local water parks. Some place called "Splash Adventure" or "WaterWorld". Such great memories were made those summers!

So when traveling as a family to the Caribbean, many people forget that some resorts actually have a water park affiliated with the resort. How awesome is that!

Kool Runnings

Jamaica's Kool Runnings in Negril is freestanding, which means it is not affliliated with a resort. The water park is easy to access with convenient parking, which isn't always the case for resort-based water parks.

The five-acre park has 10 water slides (the largest is 40-feet high), with colorful names like Duppy Conqueror and Kick Puppalick. There's also a play area for the tiny tots and a lazy river with waterfalls. Kool Runnings also has a juice bar, sports bar and three restaurants. Visitors to Kool Runnings can get a special price when they combine their ticket with the adjacent and affiliated Adventure Zone, where they can indulge in paintball battles, laser tag and go-kart races.

Pirate's Island

Over the last decade or so Beaches Turks & Caicos has been setting the bar for family vacations. Little kids stop in their tracks when they encounter life-size Sesame Street characters, while teens peel off to disappear in the resort's xBox lounge.

One place they all come together is the resort's 45,000-square-foot Pirate's Island water park. There are lots of exciting features that will keep kids on their toes, including ten water slides, water cannons, and spray features. Those looking for a gentler diversion can float down the park's 650-foot Lazy River and there's a zero-entry pool for the littlest ones just learning to walk, let alone swim. The "wow" factor attraction at Pirate's Island is the Surf-Simulator, which allows surfers of all experience levels a chance to hang ten on a variety of recreated wave conditions.

Beaches Turks & Caicos is an all-inclusive resort, which means all of the water park activities are included.

Aquaventure

Atlantis Paradise Island is a destination unto itself. The sprawling resort complex contains the 141-acre Aquaventure, a huge water park playground of 12 pools and nine waterslides. There are even water escalators for kids who want to save all their energy for the twists and turns of the water slides.

Additional features at the Mayan-themed water park include a snorkeling lagoon, a mile-long lazy river, and a kids-themed water fort. Friendly competition can be had on the Challenger Slide, where two people can race each other down the twin slides and then see who was fastest by comparing speeds on the slide's time clock.

Admission to Aquaventure is complimentary for guests staying at Atlantis; day passes are on sale for those not staying at the resort but availability is sometimes limited.

Sirenis Aquagames

The all-inclusive Sirenis Punta Cana Resort Casino in the beachfront destination of Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic, recently made a stay at their resort even more appealing. They now include free admission for resort guests to the adjacent Sirenis Aquagames. This is a nice perk, especially for families with more than one kid, since they'll also be able to eat for free at the water park.

Sirenis Aquagames has ten water slides, including the Aquaracer, a high speed, four lane slide; and the Stuka, where a sensation of free fall provides a real thrill. The littlest kids can cavort in the Babies' Animals Area, where they'll find a zero-entry shallow pool, animal slides and ultra-safe conditions

CocoLand

St. Lucia is one of the Caribbean's most scenic islands, lush and tropical. Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa is tucked away on the island's south coast. The resort is actually two resorts in one, with one side designated adults-only, while the other side, called "Splash" caters to families with kids. Splash is also the site of CocoLand, the island's largest water park. Here guests can cavort on a number of rides, including tubing along a lazy river featuring an occasional waterfall or racing through the Coconut Coaster slide, which hurtles riders along a twisting route before plunging them into a pool. The ride offering the biggest bang is the Coconut Cannon, the resort's high speed water slide.

St. Lucia // Five Coolest Things To Do

St. Lucia is known to be one of the most romantic destinations in the world. The crystal clear water, the sunny beaches and the chance to just have FUN!

When vacationing in St. Lucia you will discover that there are so many different things to do. 

Here is a list of five very cool activities that you can check off your bucket list!

 The Way of the Pitons

The Gros Piton (2,530 ft) and Petit Piton (2,438 ft) rise dramatically from the sea on the island's west coast. The peaks have become synonymous with Saint Lucia's very identity.  Both peaks can be climbed on hikes that range from strenuous (Gros Piton) to challenging (Petit Piton).  Both offer sweeping panoramic views of the island, the Atlantic, and the Caribbean. If you're lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of a humpback whale in the waters below.

 Escape to Paradise Ridge

Ladera Resort, perched on a volcanic ridge 1,000 feet above the sea, offers the most remarkable views in the Caribbean from the property's new ultra-luxe suites at Paradise Ridge. The suites, built from local hardwood and designed to make guests feel at home in the rainforest, feature 24-hour butler service, four-poster beds, tables and chairs crafted in the on-site workshop, extensive Saint Lucian tile work, and infinity pools that overlook the Piton peaks. Couples can take massages in blissful solitude, and unwind while hummingbirds and parrots flit through the gardens.

Sulfur Springs

Saint Lucia's Sulfur Springs, located in the famed drive-in volcano near the town of Soufrière, offer visitors a glimpse at the bubbling, boiling heart of the island, and a chance to unleash their inner 8-year-old by experiencing a full-body mud bath. Treatments begin with an alabaster silica application and culminate with a volcanic mud rubdown and a soak in a steaming sulfur pool. The mud is said to contain restorative and rejuvenating properties.

Cook Like a Local

Dasheene Restaurant is the playground of Chef Nigel Mitchel, the only locally-trained, Saint Lucian-born five-star chef on the island. On Saturday mornings Chef Nigel invites guests from Ladera Resort to explore the Morning Market, where his culinary team sources fruits, veggies, and fresh fish before joining him in Dasheene's kitchen to craft local favorites like green fig and saltfish, jerk fish rotis, and bouyon stew. Chef Nigel has helped Dasheene flip Caribbean cuisine on its ear by putting regional twists on Western classics; the menu features lobster burgers, mahi mahi fish and chips, and more. 

Explore the Reef

Saint Lucia's west coast is hugged by the warm, calm waters of the Caribbean, and fringed by pristine coral reefs that cling to the island's volcanic mantle. Zip through the rainforest to secluded Sugar Beach – a picturesque stretch of sand between the Pitons – and take a deep breath though a Snuba tube as you explore the sea floor at 5, 10, or 20 feet below the surface. Sea turtles, octopus, sharks, rays and hundreds of species of fish ply these waters.

Spring Break is Over // Summer Planning

Spring Break is over for most of us. The crazy crowds and the traffic driving down to the beach should subside. 

Summer is right around the corner, so let the planning begin. Traveling to somewhere warm is on the top of my list after this dreadful winter we experienced. 

The Caribbean would be a beautiful place to visit this summer. Specifically, the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic has glowing white sand and gorgeous blue water that is to die for. The beaches rank among the best in the world and I can certainly see why. Catch a tan, grab a margarita and a great book. Relax. I love water sports and snorkeling and the Dominican Republic is full of great places to jet ski, scuba dive, sunbathe and bar hop! And the food is AMAZING!

A place that I have dreamed of visiting is Tulum on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Full of nature, sun, waves and wonderful food. Soak in the sun on the sugar sand beaches or view the Mayan ruins. Perfect for EVERYONE! I have heard the Papaya Playa is a great place to stay. You have the choice to sleep in a hut perched above the ocean. Enjoy fresh coconut!

France is one of the many places I obsess over. The beaches there are beyond amazing. Beware, many of them are nude, so you have been warned. The beaches in Nice in the French Riviera in Provence, France is a popular and breathtaking beach. Some of the beaches are privately owned, but the public ones are just as great. And guess what? The beaches are pebble beaches, which will make for an even more unique experience!

If you can afford it, travel to Bali this summer. I have never been but like most people, after watching Eat Pray Love, the desire to travel to Bali increased. Bali is a surfing paradise with a huge variety of beaches. The beached range from white and crowded to black sand and deserted. 

I have talked about Santorini, Greece in so many of my blogs. This is because I am pretty obsessed. My  aunt and uncle went last year and I drooled over their gorgeous beach pictures. This is a must on my bucket list. A great place for a summer getaway. The water is clear, the wine flows abundantly and the food is delicious!

These are my top places to visit this summer, but if you are looking for more, visit TripAdvisor or call your local Travel Consultant! 

The Caribbean's Best Kept Secret

When I think of the Caribbean the first places that come to mind are Saint Thomas, Antigua and the Grand Cayman just to name a few. Most people can name most of the islands, but it seems as though the twin island country of Trinidad and Tobago remain the best kept secret of the Caribbean. 

Located on the northern edge of South America, the islands are in fact among the wealthiest and most developed nations in the Caribbean. The key to keeping Trinidad and Tobago such a secret is the fact that tourism is not a major industry, leaving the islands abundant with unspoiled beauty not found in many of the Caribbean islands. 

With the average temperature being 70 degrees, both islands are a dream location. Trinidad is divided by three distinct mountain ranges with an abundance of rivers and streams. Thus making the landscapes gorgeous to view while enjoying a hike or laying on the beach. Tobago is mountainous but dominated by just one main mountain ridge. The ocean views are gorgeous surrounding the islands. Both Trinidad and Tobago are popular locations among yacht owners. Cruise ships also dock at the bays. 

Arriving to the island can be achieved by a direct air service from Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Houston, Orlando, New York, and Newark. For outside the US, London and Georgetown offer direct air services as well. The flights from the US are usually 4-5 hours depending where you are traveling from. 

Popular beaches in Trinidad are Maracas, Tyrico, Las Cuevas, Toco, Mayaro, Chagville, Los Iros and Quinam. Most of the beaches on the North coast are beautiful, with powdery sand and clear blue water. 

Popular beaches in Tobago include Pigeon Point, Store Bay, MT Irvine, Bucco, Grange, Englishman's Bay, Canoe Bay. Tobago's beaches are extremely beautiful.

When I travel to Trinidad and Tobago in the hopeful feature, I have a feeling I would never leave the beach. The water is absolutely gorgeous. There is also a natural coral reef, the Buccoo Reef, so snorkeling is a must when in Tobago!

If you are anything like me, seeing the local wildlife is a must. Both Trinidad and Tobago are full of rare birds, leatherback turtles and home to a wonderful zoo near the Port of Spain.

When I go out of the country, I sometimes worry about language barriers. I usually try to learn the language enough to get by, but sometimes that can be very difficult depending where you travel. Luckily for those who have trouble with learning new languages, Trinidad and Tobago's official language is English. However Hindi, French, Spanish and Chinese are often heard there too, so if you enjoy learning you might enjoy grabbing some Rosetta Stone!

One of my favorite things to do is eat when I travel. Trinidad and Tobago have excellent and varied food options. A popular cuisine is Indian. The food tends to be spicy and full a flavor! Another big thing is deep fried shark. Very controversial, but they still serve it because it is so widely popular. Not my cup of tea, but the locals love it.

If you are into something more light and healthy, they are known for their wonderful kale soup. Now that is something I would be on board for. 

Enjoy a great local alcoholic drink if that is your thing. They are sugar cane colonies, so rum runs freely at the bars on the islands. Moonshine is also popular on the islands!

Remember, always call your local travel agent for more information. They are knowledgeable and can tell you facts that you may not be able to find online. Travel Planners, Inc. in Mountain Brook knows all the details on remote locations and can answer any questions you may have!