How’s your 2019 going, friends?
We just got back from the beach (Pensacola) and had another great visit with my mom and nephew.
The forecast was sunny and 70-ish all weekend and the Holiday Inn Resort was advertising a great rate ($102/night), so we thought we’d take advantage of it before Steevenson has to head back to school on Tuesday.
I posted this next photo on Instagram last week and shared a few stories about how, one night last week, Steevenson suddenly pointed at the island in the picture and said “Mama! We need to go there!”
It’s a page from one of his all-time favorite books, Bedtime with Blippi. We’ve read it no less than a hundred times in the past two years, so it was super fun to hear him discover something “new”. He then asked me where that island was and, after a quick Google search, we decided that it sure looked a lot like Aruba.
He’s been on fire to visit Aruba ever since! And although we can’t pick up and jet over there right now, I was curious to know more about it from people who have already been there, so I posted this photo to my Instagram feed…
…and asked folks to share comments about their favorite kid-friendly Caribbean islands. Today, I counted up the answers in the responses and put the info in a poll so we could see which islands received the most votes:
Other Caribbean islands mentioned, that had fewer votes than any on that graphic: Cayman Islands, Anguilla, St. Lucia and St. John. Of course, some folks also mentioned cruises and other vacation destinations not located in the Caribbean, but I didn’t include those in the poll because I really wanted to gather information specifically about staying on islands in the Caribbean.
Anywho, how cool to read through all the comments about Aruba!! Steevenson would be so happy to hear so many people enjoyed their time there too. 😉 And I hadn’t ever really heard/thought much about Turks & Caicos, so it was SUPER fun to see so many comments about that one! Several people mentioned how much they loved the Beaches resort there.
Sure does look an awful lot like that picture in the Blippi book too, huh? 😉
Anywho- I loooooooove researching travel destinations and putting together posts after I gather all kinds of info, so I’ll be back soon with a detailed post about Aruba and then a separate post about Turks & Caicos. And in the meantime, please leave me a comment if you have helpful information about either of those two locations. I’d love to include it in my posts!
Layla
PS- As you can see, the Bahamas came in a close 3rd, so I just thought I’d also share that most folks mentioned that they loved staying at Atlantis there!
I am from Pensacola! It is a great place to live. Glad you and your family could visit!
My husband and I went to Aruba two years ago. We have talked several times about taking our two children back there, and we hope to do just that in the next couple of years. Aruba has great, right-off-the-beach snorkeling that would be easy for kids to do. It also has a beautiful National Park for the whole family to explore, with caves, pretty coastline, and interesting birds and animals to find. It is easy to get around the island, and it has good stores with everything you would need to buy for food or an emergency. We stayed in a VRBO, and I’d like to do that with the kids as well. We don’t like to eat every meal out, so having breakfast and lunch in our own kitchen appeals to us. There are plenty of kid-friendly restaurants for dinners out. The water is safe to drink, which is a big plus. Can’t recommend Aruba enough!
Well make that 30 votes for Aruba then! 😀
Another fun way for a family to visit the Caribbean is to take a cruise with multiple stops. We loved the Disney cruise of the Western Caribbean…lots of great activities on the boat, and the port excursions visit places that look just like this illustration.
Yeah, I mentioned that some people left comments about cruises, but I’m leery about taking one because I have equilibrium issues. I’m on the hunt for a place that doesn’t move under my feet- LOL! 🙂
It’s been 12 years, but we stayed at the Beaches resort in Turks with 3 young kids and we loved it. All these years later the kids can still remember everything they did and what they ate. 🙂
I’m originally from the Bahamas and think your little family would love it there! BahaMar is a brand new resort that is to die for. It has a gorgeous strip of beach that Steevenson would love. And I think the food trucks by the pools are the coolest thing.
I’m also a travel agent so if you’d like some professional help, please let me know. I’d love to work with you! Just send me an email: [email protected]
We first started going to Aruba in 1985. It was glorious then and now. It is such an easy island with lots to see for all.
When we stayed in Turks. We were all inclusive at Beaches. That was just so amazing for kids. I would highly recommend it for littles.
Either choice will be correct.
Smiles, alice
I’ve been to Aruba, 3 years ago, and was really disappointed. It’s so overrated, full of tourists and hotels. The beach was OK, so is the water, but apart from that there is not much you can do on the island. We rented a 4×4 Jeeps to wander around and visited their nature park – Arikok, but it wasn’t worth it.Aruba seems like a destination where you can stay in the hotel or at the beach, nothing more.
Interesting! So opposite of what the majority said in their comments! We may have to give a whirl simply to see for ourselves! 😀
Just FYI, the island pictured with the flamingos – really, any of Renaissance Island – is only accessible if you’re staying at the Renaissance hotel. And the flamingos are on the adults-only part of Renaissance Island. 🙂
Yes! I read that along the way too. Such a bummer because Steevenson *really* wants to bring one back for his Grandmee- LOL!