Swimming with Dolphins, Dolphin Cove Jamaica Swimming with Dolphins in Jamaica Swimming with dolphins has always been a dream of mine. I was very fortunate to do it twice. The best time was at Dolphin Cove in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, when my family and I were guests of the Jamaican Tourist Board. Swimming with dolphins may not necessarily be an activity that comes across as baby friendly, but Dolphin Cove is definitely a place you can relax and enjoy with baby, while other members of your family are enjoying the more active pursuits that Dolphin Cove has to offer. Admission is Free for Under 6s If ..read more

I LOVE LOVE this guest post from Laura Siciliano-Rosen. I’ve been to Jamaica a few times and have always gone the resort route. Laura’s trip off the beaten path for a remote Jamaica vacation with a toddler sounds like a wonderful adventure. A few bumps here and there, but those happen even when you’re headed straight to a resort! I’m delighted she’s sharing her trip to Port Antonio with us. Remote Jamaica Vacation with a Toddler Some trips with a toddler are easier than others. After several successful jaunts—Denmark, Sweden, Mexico, Louisville, Charleston—with our little guy, my husband, Sco ..read more

Work harder, Mama! Horseback Riding in Jamaica When you think of Jamaica with little kids, you envision a beach right? Jamaica’s star attractions are definitely the beautiful beaches. But also? How much Jamaican culture embraces families. Once upon a time, thanks to the Jamaican Tourist Board, my daughter and I had a wonderful experience at the Half Moon Equestrian Centre that has really stuck with both of us. So if you’re heading down to Jamaica with your kids, if you’re near to Montego Bay this is something a little different, not too expensive, and A LOT of fun. Half Moon Equestrian Centre ..read more

She remembers the scent of the cool and damp Scottish air as she exited the airport every August. It felt so different from the hot and muggy month she left at home. She remembers straining to decipher the accent at first, and by the end of the trip she had one too. She remembers family, and comfort food, and road trips across green hills, or train trips to busy busy cities with tons of pigeons and giant lions to climb. She remembers always looking the wrong way before crossing the street. What He Remembers… He remembers eating sweet cereal as a treat, and the family treks to the grocery store ..read more

At first glance? Yep, me too! Swimming at Clearwater Beach He was out jumping waves about 20 feet from shore when I saw the grey fin emerge from the water. The fin popped up and I froze for what felt like an eternity but in reality was probably only half a second. I tried to scream but only a squeak came out. I was just about to try again when the creature the fin belonged emptied its blowhole into the air. I too exhaled, with more relief than I thought possible. It wasn’t a shark. It was a dolphin. Now I was envious! This was my introduction to Clearwater Beach, Florida. Clearwater ..read more

Andy’s Room, Oceaneer Club Disney Cruise Kids Clubs It took a long time for me to warm up to the idea of kids clubs. The whole point of a family vacation is to spend time together, right? Perhaps I was scarred from seeing two miserable kids half-heartedly make sandcastles with a bored Mexican teenager while on my honeymoon. I was certain I’d never dump MY kids off while on vacation. Once my daughter started nursery school (and would pretend not to see me when I’d come to pick her up) I knew that kids clubs would be a part of our lives. That’s usually the first place she asks to go to when we g ..read more

May the Odds Be Ever in North Carolina’s Favour It’s fitting that I’m writing this while watching The Hunger Games. Most of the first movie was filmed in and around Western North Carolina. I love seeing those lush forests and rolling hills. We capped off our road trip across North Carolina with two days at Earthshine Lodge, and no one is more surprised than me by how much we adored this area. I definitely consider myself a city girl, but I really miss the Appalachian landscape. From Charlotte to Brevard The drive from Charlotte to Brevard was around 2.5 hours. There weren’t that many tow ..read more

“Bubedict Arnold” with Nanny Loraine Once upon a time I finally (finally!) visited the famed Franklyn D Resort & Spa. Surely you’ve heard of it… it’s the resort in Jamaica with vacation nannies in Runaway Bay. It’s Jamaican-owned (by Franklyn D. Rance, not Franklin Delano Roosevelt!) and offers the unique vacation nanny program where each family is assigned their own nanny for the duration of their stay. Two Nannies = Double the Fun I had Bub with me, plus my daughter, plus my mother-in-law, so they assigned us a second nanny as well. This now costs an extra $50 US per day. That, my f ..read more

Gah. One more thing to worry about… Travel Vaccinations for Babies & Toddlers Once I got a notice that my son’s vaccination records needed updating before he could enter Grade 2. Yes, that adorably chubby baby who took his first trip at a mere 10 weeks (Quebec City, if you’re curious) was 7-years-old! Fortunately, I knew he was up-to-date on his vaccinations. It was a matter of phoning the Public Health office and updating their records. Easy peasy. Mosquito-Borne Illnesses But that reminder brought me back to when we were planning our first family vacation with our daughter before she wa ..read more

Visiting Disney World with Toddlers Once upon a time, way back when our daughter was almost three, she was (and still is!) an absolute Cinderella nut. This is why we decided to make the effort to include Walt Disney World during our trip to Florida. We all had a great time, in no short part due to the fact that I had an ace up my sleeve: my friend Sandra. Sandra and her family have visited Walt Disney World and other Disney vacation properties countless times. She shared with me some invaluable tips for Disney World with toddlers. Click the Mouse! Had we not had Sandra’s guidance, I don’t thi ..read more