Kona: A Hawaiian Paradise

 beaches, Destinations, Hawaii, Hilton Waikoloa Village, Kona, Vacationing  No Responses »
May 272023
 

Could there be a more idyllic place to spend a glorious vacation than luscious Hawaii? The smells of Hibiscus and Plumeria, the deep greens of its forests, the aquamarine waters and shimmering sands all make the Hawaiian Islands every bit the tropical paradise it promotes itself to be.

What’s great about the Aloha state is that there’s something for any type of vacationer. Long, lazy days of watching sunsets: Check. All day hikes through forests, seeing wildlife and exotic flowers: Check. A history buff or cultural enthusiast? Hawaii is the place for you! Want to drink and eat your up to another pant size? Absolutely no better place to do it.

 

 

The locals bring out their boats everyday. Hop on one for a fun day on the water.

 

For me, it’s not just the sheer beauty or rich history or even all its many facets that make Hawaii such escape. Kailua-Kona really does transport you to a different headspace. A calmness and sense of peace and an ability to really enjoy all of life is what I truly feel when I’m here. That’s the core of “Island Life” and it’s an ideal vacation mindset.

What to Know About Kona

  • Kailua-Kona is on the leeward side of the big island of Hawaii. It’s position lends itself to lots of sunny, dry weather.
  • Hawaii is the youngest of the Hawaiian Islands but at 4,038 square miles, it’s more than twice the size of all the other islands combined.
  • Eleven of the worlds thirteen climate zones are present on this one island! That’s freaking cool!
  • The island grows 42+acres every year due the constant activity of the Kilauea Volcano.
  • Fifteen miles off the southeast coast and 3,000ft below the surface there is an active volcano named Lo’ihi. It will be thousands of years before this volcano breaks the surface of the ocean, however, it has already risen 10,000ft from the ocean floor and has a crater measuring 3 miles across!

 

The black hardened lava rocks are all along the Western coast of Kona. Our resort’s coastline was very dramatic and we could see these rocks along most of the lookout points.

 

A very important thing to know is that Hawaii doesn’t offer a truly “all inclusive” package like Jamaica or the Bahamas. Some resorts have package deals but you won’t find one that includes all food and excursions, etc.  Also, a car is a necessity if you wish to explore Kona at all. As with any vacation spot that has a lot to offer for nature lovers-you’re at the mercy of Mother Nature! One of my top picks for Kona was to see Volcano National Park; which we did. And it was raining and foggy and misty and I couldn’t see a thing. Drove over an hour to see absolutely nothing but the gift shop. To be fair, it was a great gift shop, but not what I was going for.

Staying at Waikoloa Village

Picking a resort in Kona can be intimidating; they all seem wonderful! We picked Waikoloa Village, a 62 acre resort on Kona’s’ coast for a few reasons.

  1. Location: This property faces the protected lagoon which is ideal for swimming, renting boats, snorkeling equipment and watercrafts. The ocean feeds into the lagoon and draws in different fish and hoards of turtles! They swim right by you. Hint: They’re more active in the morning, so go early! Touching them is a huge no-no! The hotel has trolley service that takes you directly to both of the nearby markets that offers food, local grown and organic coffees, restaurants, grocery stores, a movie theater and a mini golf course.
  2. Activities: The resort has multiples pools spread around the property. The water activities at the Lagoon are the best and the Dolphin excursion is wonderful. You can attend a traditional Luau, take free Hula lessons and even participate in a Stargazing Event that showcases top of the line telescopes used by professional astronomers. The laser pointer they used really shoots into space and the constellations, planets, stars and space dust formations were unexpectedly one of the things I remember the most.
  3. The Canal and Waterfall/Cave Pool: Hands down my favorite was the canal that goes around the whole property. Gondolas stop at different spots. While we were there they were converting all of the boats to electric. The large pool at one end of the property features a whole wall of caves and waterfalls you can swim through and around. There’s a hot tub hidden in one of the cavern corners and there’s a little bridge and it has it’s own entrance.  On a hot day nothing beats swimming under a waterfall that enters into a cave that has a little bridge that leads to another cave and waterfall that hides a little hot tub to warm back up. Honestly, I could have lived there! It had a very secret Grotto feel and is one of the main reasons I would pick Waikoloa Village again.

 

 

Kona resorts offer sweeping views and great points for watching the sun set or rise.

 

Some other big hits for this resort was of course the service, everyone was so great! There were  many great pieces of art throughout the whole property; everywhere I went I saw something interesting. Most of the art was Asian influence but there were pieces and artifacts that paid homage to the Natives of Hawaii. Despite its size, walking the property was easy, with pools and places to eat conveniently dotted throughout. And endless picture-worthy lookout points!  My favorite spot was just past the Buddha point overlooking the black rocks. If you are lucky you will find an empty hammock. Past the Lagoon there is a path that goes down to the rocky beach that is worth your time. Hint: Wear comfortable shoes if you walk down there, the path is rocky at parts.

The things I didn’t love about Waikoloa Village is it’s food choices. For such a large resort the food options were not great and mostly focused on one side of the resort. The grill was only open for half the day, poolside you only get drinks. For breakfast the only options were a giant, expensive buffet or the tiny coffee stands that offered a waffle. I would also bring your own snorkeling equipment or snorkel at a different area since the lagoon is so shallow you don’t need any gear to see the fish or turtles that swam through and you can’t really swim safely past the lagoon anyway.

 

 

We saw turtles every day. They swim from the ocean to the protected lagoon and congregate under a large waterfall. There’s a bridge nearby that gives a great vantage point. One day we saw at least 20 at one time.

 

The resort offers valet service that drops you at A Bay beach (Anaeho’omalu Bay Beach,) a crescent shaped stretch of soft sand that’s surrounded by cerulean waters, dotted with shacks offering excursions and home to the Lava Lava Beach Club restaurant. I can’t tell you how much we loved Lava Lava. The outdoor dining and farm to table and local fare really made us feel like we part of Hawaii and its  culture.

 

 

So much to see and do here. A train takes you from one side of the resort to the other, the Gondola boats travel along the canals. Walk through the property to see different statues, birds and art galleries.

 

Helpful Hints

  1. The airport is a smaller one made up of outside buildings, set up in a weird circular pattern  and only has one small café; which has delicious smoothies!  It’s not close to anything else either, so you need a cab or Uber and most of the hotels don’t have airport pick up. We ordered Lyft but you could check out airport transfers. https://www.airportshuttlehawaii.com/shuttles/hawaii/
  2. You need a car if you want to see much. Most resorts have a  concierge who can help you book excursions and tours but even those don’t all offer pickups and some need to be planned in advance, at least 3 days depending on the excursion. Several resorts have things to do on site but Kona tourism spots are spread out.
  3. Don’t take the rocks. Black volcano rocks are fascinating but don’t take them! Taking volcanic rocks from Hawaii’s volcanos rocks are illegal and according to Pele’s legend it’s inviting a curse upon your head. Be considerate of Hawai’ian  traditions and beliefs.
  4. Stop at the Hilo on Saturday for the Saturday Market. There’s lots of parking, there’s endless choices and it goes on for blocks. A real hub for anything local, but it’s hot and crowded! Bring water and wear sunscreen. While there you should eat at Pineapples Restaurant. Even the beverages are crafted from ingredients only found on the islands. The ambience matches the festive menu. https://www.pineappleshilo.net/

 

 

Enjoy the endless soft sand beaches. Go snorkeling or sailing. Swimming at many of these places can be dangerous so always check surf conditions.

 

One of the must-do activities for Kona is snorkeling. I met a very nice lady who turned me onto a great app for finding the best spots.  https://www.lovebigisland.com/ 

The site in not just great for snorkeling tips but for any trip planning to the Big Island.

One of the best experiences of vacationing is the food! Who doesn’t love to eat? Food at the resort was astronomical and, as I previously noted, limited in scope, so we ate out at times. One of my favorite places was the Lava Lava Beach Club at A Bay beach. Right on the beach with open air dining, fare of all tastes as well as farm to table options, Lava Lava Beach hits it out of the park on all counts. https://lavalavabeachclub.com/

A Bays Island Grill: This venue is very casual and offers some standard fare but there is nothing standard about the food. The best French toast and red potatoes I have ever had.  The grill has a local butter(mango, I think) that blew my mind. They also have a happy hour where I ordered heavenly crab cakes for only $8.00. The Grill is at Kings Market, where they have a beautiful lake, a mini golf place, a place to rent snorkel masks, a movie theater and another must try restaurant- Fosters Kitchen. http://www.kingsshops.com/directory

Queens Market is almost right next door and is a larger shopping area that has a Macaroni Grill and I know it’s a chain, but I highly recommend eating there! For more local flavors try the Daylight Mind coffee pub (I love the ambience), Ippy’s Hawaiian BBQ or Marble Slab Ice Creamery for some much needed cool sweetness. The store there offers plenty of salads, sandwiches, pastries and even deals on t-shirts and beach towels. https://www.queensmarketplace.net/en/index.php/

 

Great Activities to do in Kona (The Orchid Isle):

  • Visit a coffee farm. Hawaii is only 1 of 2 US states to grow coffee and Kona has the best plantations you can visit. The Love Big Island site I referenced earlier is a superb source for researching this activity.
  • Go to Koko Head Crater Botanical Garden. Yes, you can visit a botanical garden in the slopes of a crater. It is on the eastern side of the island so you will need a car. This 60 acre loop in the basin of a 200 acre crater is rich with rare and endangered dryland plants, such as African and Madagascar plants. The plumeria grove is always a favorite. Parking is free but there are no bathrooms and no place to get water.
  • Get your cowboy on! Hawaii is more than palm trees and dreamy beaches, it’s also home to working cattle ranches. Beef is a big industry in Hawaii and you can spend a day on a working farm. Many of these tours will couple with a coffee tour.
  • Go to a tropical rainforest. While the Kona(west side) is great for whale watching, manta ray night dives-a must do, sunny weather and world class golf  a trip to the east side for a visit to a rainforest. Visiting Waimea Valley  and Akaka Falls Loop will afford the best views of a lush paradise. https://roadtohana.com/hawaiian-rainforests.php
  • Enjoy local snacks. Probably the only island that grows vanilla beans, cacao beans and macadamia nuts! Yumm, people, enjoy some Hawaiian deliciousness!
  • Enjoy stargazing from Mauna Kea Summit. Guides will take you up to summit for a meal, a blow you mind kind of sunset and NASA worthy star gazing. It’s not uncommon for the summit to be covered in snow; which would be a great thing to see in Hawaii. https://maunakea.com/

 

 

Rainbow Falls is at the Northeast border of Hilo and has some easy hike paths.

 

There are many reasons to love the Orchid Isle. Great beaches, the mouth watering food, so many different terrains-which is one of the things I love about the Big Island, but there are many islands to visit in Hawaii that can fit your vacation personality. Travel+Leisure published a good article. https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/island-vacations/hawaii-islands-travel-guide?

As did a great blog site called https://www.smartertravel.com/best-island-in-hawaii-to-visit/

As with any vacation, it’s only as good as the people who go with me. There’s no better traveling companions that my family. My sister, who planned it. My most amazing partner-my husband, my Beloved Mom, my delightful niece and my brother-in-law, who is endlessly entertaining. Gratitude goes out to my bestie, Jackie, who helped me create all of this and to Adrian-@adys_edits. A great Photoshop teacher and who helped me with these pictures.

 

I would love to hear about your favorite things to do at the Orchid Isle, or what you are most interested to see.

 

 

If Hawaii calls to you feel free to reach out to me, as a travel agent I can help you plan a great getaway (commissions and/or fees will apply.)

Make a list of what’s important to you for your next vacation and chances are one of the Hawaiian Islands can meet most of your goals.

 

 

 

 

This was a captivating sight! This canopy of trees are just above Rainbow Falls. The hike up there is short but it’s rough terrain. Worth the climb! We saw these trees everywhere up there.

Alaska Glacier Viewing: What You Need to Know

 Cruising, Destinations, Vacationing  No Responses »
May 142018
 

Alaska in one of the best cruise destinations for a good reason. Amazing  scenery; more specifically, extraordinary glaciers!  Alaska has many stunning glaciers and most of them can only be seen from a ship. Other reasons go to Alaska are wildlife and vast mountain peaks. Good news, you can see all of that in one area! But, there are some differences between the glaciers themselves, so it’s important to know what to expect before you drop the huge expense of an Alaskan vacation.

 

Alaska cruises are available seasonally. Some start as early as April and end as late as September, but high season is late June through August.  Alaska is considered exotic because of the unique glaciers, fjords, mountains and a great mix of wildlife, but it is part of the U.S. and that gives people a sense of safety. Which is in important when you travel.  And, yes, the glaciers are melting, or retreating as it is also called.  Scientist estimate that collectively the states glaciers lose 75 billion tons of ice annually.

Many years ago I lived in Alaska, but it wasn’t until I took my family on an Alaskan cruise that I truly appreciated what all Alaska has to offer. The big thing was indeed glacier viewing. Memories of sailing into a tight fjord coming close to giant ice bergs, dozens of waterfalls, majestic mountains, harbor seals lounging around and bluer than blue ice silt will never leave me.

There are some things that you need to keep in mind when picking which glacier you want to visit. Most people will only go to Alaska once; I plan on going again! For a lot of travelers Alaska is a bucket list item. So, this post will break down the main glaciers a cruiser can expect to see. Most cruise lines will only go to one of these places, especially the main line ones.  So below is a quick guide of the main features of the most visited glaciers.

Glacier Bay: Not only is this spot the most popular glacier destination it is also a national park and a biosphere reserve, it is also a World Heritage Site. What makes Glacier Bay great is that you spend the day transiting the national park through inlets that have been carved by the glaciers themselves.  The ship draws impressively close to these giant walls of sheer ice. These are tidewater glaciers that calve often, which is one of the biggest draws. Glacier Bay is also a great place to see wildlife. Humpback whales spend their summers here. Brown bears, harbor seals, mountain goats and sometimes even puffins are spotted here. Keep in mind, you will need binoculars to really see most of the wildlife-especially on land as the area is so big.  Glacier Bay tends to be colder and rainier than other areas. Ships are required to have a Ranger on board; which is good if you have questions or just want to know all you can about the history and the area. What  you won’t see are  the tight fjords here like you will in other areas of Alaska. For those of you who aren’t sure what fjords are: A long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs created by a glacier.

Hubbard Glacier: This is the largest tidewater glacier in North America, 76 miles wide and 1,200 feet deep. The face is up to 400 ft. tall. A truly impressive thing to behold! It is another great spot to see some spectacular calving and great for wildlife, even bald eagles and orcas! Hubbard is in Disenchantment Bay and offers great vistas and views of Mt. Elias (18,008 ft! Wow!) However, it is one glacier, no travelling up a fjord and ice debris and fog can keep your ship from getting close at all; which is the whole point.

Tracy Arm Fjord: Cruising up the 27mile narrow inlet to the twin Sawyer Glaciers  in almost magical in its sheer beauty.  Cliffs rise up to 3,000 ft on both sides, chunks of ice float upon the water that are so blue they look like glass, and I couldn’t count all the waterfalls that were everywhere. Sawyer Glacier is an active tidewater glacier that is also prone to calving. While we were there the calving was active underwater so we didn’t see any breaking but you can hear it; like thunder reverberating all around. There some wildlife here; arctic birds as well as mountain goats. If your ship sails into Stephens Pass or Holkham Bay you can spot whales, bears and eagles.  Tracy Arm lacks the multiple glaciers that you see on videos and doesn’t have the same sheer massive face of Hubbard but it’s surreal; and cold, bring a jacket!  One of the best thing about Tracy Arm is that smaller skiffs and boats can take you closer to the face of the glacier.  You can not do that in Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier.

College Fjord: This other worldly spot is home to 5 tidewater glaciers and 5 valley glaciers. The waters are calm, the fjords are majestic, snow capped mountains and lush green forests battle for attention, but what is really breathtaking besides the overwhelming presence of the glaciers themselves is the large swaths of ice/glacier  waterfalls that cut between the mountains. Expects to see several chunks of broken ice floating all around. but don’t expect to see as much wildlife as you find in Glacier Bay or Tracy Arm Fjord, although several people write about being able to spot whales off in the distance. The other drawback is that not as many ships will traverse here. If you can find a small ship to take you there it’s a great choice because you can get really close! Similar to Glacier Bay, it allows for viewing multiple glaciers at once, similar to Tracy Arm it has tight fjords and many mountains. The cruises that sail here are one way Gulf of Alaska trips between Alaska and Seattle or Vancouver; meaning the port you start in will not be the same one you return to.  These tend to go further up the coast such as to Prince William Sound which is where this magnificence of  nature can be enjoyed. 

Mendenhall Glacier: This 13 mile glacier is not a scenic viewing from the ship, it is in the capital city of Juneau and ends at Mendenhall lake. The Forest Service Center affords spectacular views of the glacier and icebergs in the lake.  There are walkable trails, don’t miss Nugget Falls near the glacier. Wildlife here is abundant and in spawning season you can salmon-which brings out the bears. Speaking of bears, take this rule VERY seriously :no food or drink other than water from May to September due to the bear activity. Even though you can see the glacier and it seems close you can not access the glacier directly through the visitor center. You have to book an excursion. From what I know you have to book a helicopter tour, which are fiercely expensive! If you do grab a spot for exploring the glacier be aware of loose debris. It’s easy to turn an ankle. Have the right boots on and have a guide.

 

Glacier viewing is an amazing journey that cannot be compared to other vacations, but not all glaciers, as you now know, will give you the same experience. No matter what you choose, it will be great! Don’t forget a really good camera. Bring jacket, NOT a parka! So many people pack for -40 degrees! Not going to happen! Unless you actually do book an activity on a glacier you will not need snow goggles, arctic parkas and heavy gloves. When we went it was 80 degrees at the ports;not so in the glacial areas, just throw on a coat or heavy sweatshirt you’re good to go.

Seeing orcas or huge chunks of ice falling into the ocean are not guaranteed; it’s nature, not an amusement park  but the sites and sheer overwhelming expanse will delight you.

If you want to know some cruise options here is a link to my booking website:https://www.cruiseshipcenters.com/en-US/RhondaWeaver/

 

 

 

Another Alaska must see sled dog puppies. Absolutely adorable.

Adventurous Cancun:Pirates, Snuba, Turtles and Hammocks!

 beaches, Destinations, Safe Travel, Turtle Rescue, Vacationing  1 Response »
Nov 252017
 

I am blessed with a wonderful Mother, who one year for her birthday, took my sister and I on a trip to Cancun Mexico! It was incredibly fun and beautiful!

Now, I know there is a lot of fear out there about Mexico. Even in the resort areas, bad things have happened.  So, of course, one must always exercise caution.  Stay in a group, in a public area, watch how much you drink-hard to do in Mexico, but I strongly recommend it. If you do drink stay with your friends and stay in your hotel or a popular chain bar like Senor Frogs.

Cancun is very beautiful and has so much to offer! Stunning beaches, amazing food, spectacular scenery, wonderful people and stellar all inclusive resorts, of which I am a HUGE fan! I felt like I got tremendous value and felt very pampered.

 

We stayed at an all-inclusive resort which I highly recommend.  When food, drinks, entertainment and activities are included it really adds to the value. Value is everything! The Hotel Zone in Cancun offers many all inclusive and is relatively safe. Many have more than one property so you can eat and play at the other properties, which are usually very close.

We stayed at Riu Palace Las Americas; a very Grecian, stunning property! The people were so nice, the service and food were great. The shows were okay, but not much variety. The water sports are supposedly included, but you have to have previous experience and the resources are limited. Even laundry service was included, but the dryers don’t always work so we had to hang dry them. Which was tricky, since it was January and rainy and cool most of the time. Not a lot of beach days, but at least there were hardly ever any crowds.  https://www.riu.com/en/hotel/mexico/cancun/hotel-riu-palace-las-americas/index.jsp

Here’s a hint about room service. If you order 1 thing on the menu, they bring it for everybody! So expect triple portions of everything you order.  Make reservations early for the on-site restaurants, they are small venues and fill up quickly. They have a concierge desk to help you plan all your excursions. Use them; they are a valuable resource. I can not stress that enough. It saved me so much time! The hotel vets the vendors for each tour so it gave me piece of mind. And everybody needs that.  My favorite spot was the infinity pool. So amazing! I never wanted to leave it. This property had 2 sister properties so we could visit any and the food and entertainment was included. Most of these hotels will be off major roads that are close to shopping and nightlife.

Cancun is definitely a place for partying, eating, adventure and enjoying a rich night life, however, with very little effort, one can find rest, relaxation and quiet. Check out this post for some great less touristy beaches:

https://thecancunsun.com/7-stunning-beaches-near-cancun-with-less-tourists/

 

Having Fun in Cancun

If I could pick 4 things that are a must do I would choose: 1)The night time Pirate Adventure! Old fashioned Pirate ships, all-inclusive food and drink. Terrific actors that put on a really great show. The “Captain” shares tall tales and then another Pirate ship comes along boards your ship and there is a lot sword fighting and climbing the ropes and they really go for it. After your Pirates win the battle there is dancing and fun games. Be aware that they will constantly ask for tips. It’s not a big deal but they will push it.

2)Xcaret Park in Playa del Carmen. http://bit.ly/2znD6Jg The cab ride is expensive, at least $80.00 each way. You can go as part of a tour group, but it limits your time there and the park is open late. So, give yourself the whole day and go on your own with some friends.

I tried Snuba for the first time. We got to touch the Stingrays. Snuba is easy and fun, no swimming required.  The water wasn’t super clear but the experience was great. We loved the super big hammocks! They kind of wrap you up like a cocoon.  There was a place to grab an inner tube and float down the river. These things were not super easy to maneuver at first but you can get the hang of it. The park is big and beautiful and filled with things to do. There was no way to do everything in one day.

3) Isla Mujeres a quick ferry trip from Puerto Juarez.  There is a ferry dock (The Gran Puerto Cancun-Ultra Mar) that is close to downtown Cancun. It is a quick ride, 15 minutes and has a great upper open-air deck.  It was cloudy that day so it wasn’t crowded. The island itself is not big, and they discourage cars. Rent a golf cart or moped to get around. The island has a great beach and tons of local vendors, a small intimate and laid back vibe that makes one feel truly away from everything.  Isla Mujeres may be small but it’s loaded with charm and personality. Take the day to walk around and enjoy the sculpture park, the outdoor art and the Rainbow Stairs.

 

 

4) Visit the Ruins.  There are MANY choices of ruins in the Cancun area. The most popular option is to book a tour, while useful as it saves on getting a rental car and driving in Mexico, being part of a group can feel confining. It takes longer too, but you can learn a lot. TIP: These places require walking-usually 90 minutes or more and the terrain is pretty uneven. 

Turtle Conservation

Cancun has many hotels that work to help protect the habitat of turtles, have programs that help turtles thrive in the wild and support various conversation efforts in the area. Some hotels include The Palace Resorts, The Royal Resorts, JW Marriott and La Blanc Spa and Resort, among others. Supporting these efforts is a great way to impact a worthy local cause and be part of something bigger than yourself. 

 

 

I would encourage you to study up on how to stay safe while in Mexico. Some things are common sense. Watch what you drink, beware of “drivers” offering to take you somewhere-even out of the airport. The hotel should have its own driver to pick you up. If you have the salad or fresh washed veggies only eat them at 4 or 5-star restaurant. Even beware of the place you stay. I am talking about balconies. The safety regulations are not the same as in the U.S. Balconies tend to be low and there have been reports of people falling off when leaning over.  Some good sites for safe travel for Cancun are Trip Savvy and Vacayholics. Cancun is a beautiful place where you meet wonderful people, enjoy fantastic food and explore picturesque beaches; all at a great value!

 

If you would like more information on stays or activities in Cancun please don’t hesitate to reach out! 

Cruising the Western Caribbean on the Norwegian Getaway

 Cruising, Destinations  1 Response »
Sep 162017
 

 I love cruising! I love everything about it, the entertainment, the food, the ease of getting from one place to another, the variety of activities, most of all I love being out to sea! For our anniversary David and I took a week-long cruise to the Western Caribbean on the Norwegian Getaway. We had a great time and would do it again.

The Getaway is a HUGE ship! Eighteen decks high and 4000 people! The ship itself is beautiful, we really enjoyed the Waterfront which spans deck 6,7 and 8. Deck 7 has the promenade deck and was surprisingly quiet at night. We walked it every night after dinner and rarely saw anyone else. The other great thing about the Waterfront was the outdoor seating. Most ships have benches and sun lounger chairs but in keeping with the Miami vibe of the Getaway (The Miami Dolphin Cheerleaders are the Godmothers of this ship), there are outdoor couches and chairs at the bars and restaurants.  There’s nothing quite like having a mojito or gelato outside on a comfy couch watching the world go by. The entertainment was very good. If you only see one show see Burn the Floor! Wow! Is all I can say. Just amazing performance by the dance group. The food was okay, not the best. I really liked O’Sheehans Bar and Grill though. It is one of the better 24/7 venues on a ship.  Norwegian does nickel and dime you to death. There is a $7.95 delivery charge for room service and they push spa treatments a lot. If you go to the spa go on a port day, it’s a much better deal. Norwegian has a really nice spa too. I wish I would have booked on the last day,  though.  Just because between all the walking at the ports and transversing up and down the ship I was so tired at the end of the trip.

We went to Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize and Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico.

I have to say my favorite was Roatan hands down. I loved their coffee. The port itself is a gated area, that is small yet charming. Before we got off a group of men came out in full costume and greeted the ship with a dance/ritual. It was cool.  We booked our own excursion on Little French Key. https://www.littlefrenchkey.com/ 

Little French Key is a stunning island with the friendliest people and good food and drinks which were included. They have a whole menu of experiences you can choose from to really tailor your excursion. The island has 3 distinct beaches so you can choose a family friendly, a quiet one or the party area with a cool swim up bar.  Little French Key is a place I would to over and over. It was luxurious and fun at the same time. Everybody is incredible nice!  Make sure you find your guides by name once you leave the port area and look for their uniforms so you don’t taken by a unsavory character. They use to offer a discount if you paid with cash, I don’t know if that is still true.

Belize was our second stop. You have to tender in, and I have to say if you go to Belize you should plan an excursion. There is not much to the port itself. We shopped for people, drank out of a coconut and not much else. Belize is great for excursions, like cave tubing or the Zoo or the Jaguar Sanctuary. It not as much fun to just hang out in. Unlike Costa Maya, which was our third port. Costa Maya is a protected area too. It has a large pool with a swim-up bar and little waterfall at the end-beware it’s salt water when you swim into the waterfall section.

They have a Dolphin Swim excursion, massages on the beach, expensive restaurants, the locals performed a really impressive cultural ritual dance, lot’s of shopping and plenty of great photo opportunities. The beach itself is very rocky but the weather was nice and there were plenty of sun chairs and covered areas too. It’s a great place to enjoy yourself and not have to go anywhere or book an excursion.

The last port was Cozumel. One my all times dreams was to swim with the dolphins, so we booked Chankanaab National Park. http://www.cozumelparks.com/ I chose them because I have a co-worker who used to live there and said that they treat their animals well. We got there early and made good use of the pool-it was large with different depths inlaid with a pretty mosaic. The beaches felt secluded, the park itself is large, ruins, zip lining, snorkeling. A person could spend all day there.  It’s beautifully maintained and well laid out.  But, of course, I came for the dolphins. It was every bit as amazing as I thought it would be! We had to stand out in the hot sun for longer than I would have liked waiting for them to call our group, and go over instructions and safety. The area for each group is very large and clean, the dolphins are very well trained. We did the kiss, the shake, and 2 rides. One was a belly ride and the other was with a boogie board and they push your foot. Absolutely amazing! At the end they let us go down in the manatee pool and pet them. The big push is to buy the pictures. You can’t take your own and they charge a lot, so we opted out. They fed us a buffet as part of the package, overall it was a great value and I would recommend Chankanaab to anyone.

My overall takeaway is that the Norwegian Getaway is super lively ship with loads of fun. Every night was a deck party, and I loved the interactive maps all over the ship-you can make reservations, get directions, it was very useful. The Caribbean was full of beautiful beaches and great people. I appreciated the exposure to the cultures even if they were only snapshots of each area and not immersive. The Western Caribbean is most cost effective than the Southern or Eastern and was great because we could decide to hang out and do nothing or spend the whole day on an adventure.  That’s what vacation is supposed to be about, and not having housework.

 

Miami is a fun filled city and I would recommend staying a day or two before or after the cruise.

If you are interested in Norwegian cruise, either on the Getaway or a newer ship please see my link https://www.cruiseshipcenters.com/en-US/RhondaWeaver

Or you can email me at roamingredfeather.com for other travel option. FYI, I am licensed travel agent and receive commission for travel booked through Expedia. 

The casual charm of Bainbridge Island, WA

 Destinations, Seattle, Washington State  1 Response »
Jul 252017
 

 

My husband and I have been going to Bainbridge Island  for  about six years.  It is a quick ferry ride from the Seattle Waterfront.  Pier 52, the Coleman dock; 801 Alaskan Way, 98121. The ferry runs every hour or half hour and runs all day and most of the night. The ride over to Bainbridge is about 30 minutes. Link to the ferry schedule  http://bit.ly/2eLo7DM

The view leaving Seattle is pretty great. The Puget Sound is beautiful. You can see the cruise ships, the space needle and the mountains.  No matter how hot it is out on the water is always cool.  The Seattle Ferries are large with different decks, many viewing areas. Some are sheltered too for windy days. They do have a snack/lunch counter.

We always walk on, it’s really convenient and easy.  Once you get off the ferry you can walk into town in about 10-15 minutes. Just like Seattle, Bainbridge is a slope. So walking there is easy, going back is all uphill. And  Winslow Way is a long street, so getting from A to B  is a trek if you have mobility issues. The other main street is Madison-it runs down to the waterfront.  Right off the ferry there is the Waterfront Park and Trail. It’s not terribly uneven or a hard walk.  There is a bike rental close to where the ferry docks.  http://www.bikebarnrentals.com/

People who would enjoy the picturesque town of Bainbridge:

  1. Photographers-especially if you like flowers. Bainbridge has many different types and floral and fauna everywhere you look. Many of which are not local but varied and charming. In fact right before town following Winslow Way they have a nature/sculpture area that fits in nicely with the vibe of the island.
  2. You want to feel like you’re away without having to go far away and don’t have a lot of time. Bainbridge feels far away and secluded and laid back but it is easy to get too. It’s perfect when I just want to go somewhere quiet and pretty and don’t have vacation time.
  3. You like dessert. Bainbridge does not have a whole row of restaurants close together and very little seafood places. Which is surprising considering the Marina is right there, but that’s okay because they have plenty of places for anyone with a sweet tooth. And I certainly do! Mora Ice Creamery is probably my favorite. They have so many great flavors. Mexican chocolate, mint shaved chocolate, Irish coffee, even marsala wine custard. The place is always clean; seating is limited. There are at least 3 bakeries, we usually go to Blackbird. Another must visit is Bon Bon confections. It’s a candy and fudge shop but the real treat is that there is an entire wall of different chocolate bars from around the world. All types and flavors from Argentina, Brazil,  the Congo, you name it. Many local chocolates too like Theo and Seattle’s Best Chocolate.
  4. You’re mindful of your budget. I can spend the day in Bainbridge get great photos of beautiful flowers, walk around the Marina, go to the Museum of Art which has free admission, get some ice cream and go home. If you want some great gifts the island boasts a pretty cool lavender store Pelindaba Lavender http://bit.ly/2uydx6R 

So, if you have a day in Seattle and don’t want to do all the ultra-touristy things and/or you are in town for a cruise and have spent a ton of money already Bainbridge will fit your needs.