Imagine sitting on a lounge chair with your toes dangling in the powdery white sand. Envision yourself sipping on some rum-based cocktail that a fellow vacationer recommended from the beachfront bar while your kids are having the time of their lives jumping off the water trampoline, splashing in the gentle surf, or digging their way to China.  Warmed up by the West Indies sunshine?  Move over to one of the swimming pools and hang out by the infinity edge, pinching yourself as you take in the incredible ocean view. Tempted to get active and enjoy the Atlantic? Take the ten second stroll over to the rental stand and try your hand at jet skiing, banana boating, or paragliding. Ready for “The Grand Life” yet?

This hammock sits empty, waiting for you!

When many people think of the Bahamas, they think of the Disney-like environment common at the mega resorts near Nassau or see the islands simply as a port stop on a Caribbean Cruise. Recently, I discovered a slice of the Bahamas that fits with the laid back and kid-friendly vibe my family loves. Just a 45 minute hop from Miami, Grand Bahama Island is a great weekend getaway for South Easterners, Spring Break destination for families looking to avoid the Spring Break crowd, or a week long island getaway any time of year. Grand Lucayan Resort offers all the comforts, opportunities, and security of a large resort while keeping the causal island atmosphere that so many of us daydream about after a long week of running our kids to a dozen activities all over town.

Fun fact: It took just ask long to fly to Grand Bahama Island as it takes me to fly to Hawaii. Who knew West Coast residents could reach the West Indies so quick?

The Grand Life

From the moment guests step foot in the open air plantation-style lobby and are greeted by a smiling Bahamian happy to take their luggage, they are happy to embrace the “grand life” motto.  The resort assumed this new slogan after dropping its old name, Our Lucayan, for one that more fully reflected the island it calls home. Set on 7.5 acres of pristine beachfront, the resort is ideal for water-loving families who enjoy activities such as swimming (in the four pools or beautiful Atlantic Ocean), parasailing, banana boating, jet skiing, or bouncing on the water trampoline. It is equally perfect for parents that just want to sit on a lounge chair in the sand with a cocktail in hand and the sounds of a steel drum band as their soundtrack as they watch their kids jump the gentle waves.

Rooms are clean and Caribbean-inspired, ranging from standard 400 square foot island view rooms to expansive1600 square foot 2-bedroom suites (like the one Johnny Depp stayed in during the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean), but there is so much to do on-property that you won’t find yourself spending much time indoors. Parents looking for some time to enjoy the spa, play tennis, or have a quiet meal with their spouse will be thrilled to know that the resort does have an onsite kids club, Camp Lucaya, for children ages 3-12. At the club kids will swim (there is a wading pool and a pool with a slide), play games, and make crafts for only $10 a day!!! Families interested in enjoying onsite activities together will be thrilled to know that several complimentary organized activities are offered everyday such as yoga, hula hoop contests, bingo, poolside trivia, croquet, scavenger hunts, and volleyball pick-up games.

Location.  Location. Location

One of the best things about this resort is its location.  It sits on a long stretch of white sand in the heart of the little village of Lucaya. The Lucayan Marketplace is directly across the street and is the perfect place to go souvenir shopping (people keep asking me where I got my new bag. I beam when I get to tell them the Bahamas), pick up duty free items, and check out some eclectic little restaurants (who knew a Greek/Bahamian restaurant even existed?).

UNEXSO, a company specializing in reef dives, shark dives, and dolphin experiences, is also located just across the street. UNEXSO is a great place to have your first or fifth experience because they offer such a wide variety of dolphin encounter opportunities. Families with young  or timid children and those not keen on the idea of actually swimming in the water with dolphins will love the Dolphin Close Encounter where guests can step onto a submerged platform (holding their young children if need be) and pet, kiss, and splash with a dolphin. Those looking for a more immersive adventure will the Open Ocean Experience. It is the only program of its kind in the world and allows participants to swim with trained dolphins in an open ocean environment.  All experiences include a 15 minute boat ride and the opportunity to  let the sea spray hit your face as pinch yourself to remind you that this, in fact,is your reality.

Disclosure: The author attended a press trip to Grand Bahama Island. All opinions are her own.

Sharlene Earnshaw is the Editor in Chief of Trekaroo.

Does your child love gadgets and technology?  Have a budding inventor or scientist on your hands?  A visit to a fantastic science and technology museum can inspire great scientific and scholastic achievement in even the non-motivated student.  We poured through 1,150 reviews on our site and put together this handy guide to the top science & technology museums across the country, as voted by your trusted and experienced Trekaroo users.  Get your inner Einstein on!

10.  McWane Science Center*

Photo by: Flickr/Ralph and Jenny

Although not massive in size, McWane Science Center has an all-5 star rating here on Trekaroo.  Families rave that the museum offers plenty of hands on activities for kids of every age, from tiny tikes all the way to talkative teens.  The center boasts an aquarium (with a shark and ray touch tank), plenty of dinosaurs, and four levels of interactive science fun.

The Center’s overnight activities are a hit; check the calendar for details.

9. California Academy of Sciences

Photo by: Flickr/sarah_ackerman

Located in the beautiful Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, our #9 museum, the California Academy of Sciences, offers a ton of science for the whole family. A dome enclosed 4-story rainforest (the largest in the world!) seems to be the highlight for many, while a digital planetarium, aquarium and natural history museum within the museum round off the experience.  The building itself is of note: the structure is one of the greenest museums on the planet boasting a 2 ½ acre living roof, solar canopy, water reclamation system and unique insulation made of recycled blue jeans.

A spirit of sustainability is in the air: receive $3 off admission by walking/biking to the museum.

8.  Pacific Science Center*

Photo by: Trekaroo/3dorrs

The Pacific Science Center’s 50 years of discovery makes it the original Science & Tech museum in the US.  In addition to an ever-changing array of exhibits like Wellbody’s Academy of Health & Wellness which opens late 2012 and teaches kids (and adults) through hands on displays and experiments the correlation of rest, exercise, hygiene, and diet on the physical body, the museum also offers tons of permanent interactive experiments on energy, health, insects, animals and local Puget sound scientific research.

June 2012 will usher in Seattle’s first ever Science Festival marking the 50^th anniversary of the Seattle World’s Fair. 

7.  Maryland Science Center*

Photo by: Trekaroo/MaggieMyst

The dream child of a group of science lovers from the year 1797,  the Maryland Science Center is full of both past, present and future exhibits.  Dinosaur Mysteries displays 13-full-sized dinos and proudly calls itself a hands-on area, you can literally touch dinosaur eggs, pick up real fossils and more!  In Newton’s Alley, visitors learn through hands on experiments in mechanics, magnetism, light, and sound.  The Kids Room is the perfect spot for over 50 interactive activities designed just for kids under 8.

Math Midway opens May 2012: a three-ring circus themed math extravaganza!

6.  Center of Science & Industry (COSI)*

Photo by: Flickr/RJ Bailey

Live (and explosive) science shows, hands on workshops and a slew of activities places COSI on our list (Parents Magazine’s #1 slot!).  The museum has something for everyone with permanent exhibits that allow you to take apart and reassemble gadgets, simulate space capsule lands, and test out the change in technology from 1898 to present.  The museum is the only Science & Tech museum to host a working TV studio giving budding media kids the chance to direct their own show, use green screens and more!

On a budget?  Visit on Friday Family Night where its $9.95 for all ages 2 and up (last Friday of the month, 5:00pm to 9:00pm).

5.  Oregon Museum of Science & Industry*

Photo by: Trekaroo/bayareababyblog

The #5 museum, OMSI, is situated on the Willamette River in Portland, and is loved by Trekaroo users.  Five exhibition halls, eight science labs, a planetarium, OMNIMAX giant theater AND the USS Blueback submarine make this west coaster a great hit for the entire family.  Although it costs a bit on top of your general ticket, don’t miss the submarine tour: climb in the quarters, touch a torpedo, and imagine life under the sea.  Down Periscope!

OMSI also hosts a fantastically interactive online science exploration site.  Check it out!

4.  Montshire

Photo by: Montshire Museum

With both an indoor museum and amazingly sprawling 100-acre outdoor grounds (bigger than Disneyland!), Montshire Museum is the perfect place to mix science and outdoor enthusiasm. The outdoor Science Park uses the outdoors as a “living laboratory” ripe for experiments.  The Planet Walk takes visitors on a 2-mile scale model journey from the Sun to Pluto (which happens to be a dwarf planet now!)  Indoors, maneuver weather simulators, and test the qualities of light.

Montshire Museum may sound familiar to loyal Trekaroo users; it was just named part of the Top 10 Vermont.

3.  Museum of Science and Industry*

Photo by: Flickr/mhowry

Chicagoland’s Museum of Science and Industry, the largest science center in the entire western hemisphere, is full of more than 35,000 artifacts including the U-505 Submarine, the only German U-boat captured during WWII.  Popular exhibits include the Coal Mine, a working replica of one of Illinois’ many mines; ToyMaker 3000, an interactive, robot-powered toy factory; and Science Storm, where guests can control a 40-foot tornado!  Live science experiences put your kids in the action giving them the chance to dissect a cow’s eye, diagnose and treat patients as a doctor, and develop and manufacture real products in the Fab Lab.

Based on the popular TV series, Mythbusters: The Explosive Exhibit runs through September 3, 2012.

2.  Franklin Institute*

Photo by: Flickr/bardagabbard

Everyone on Trekaroo loves the Franklin Institute!  The museum’s giant heart exhibit, renovated in 2004, 50 years after its installment, features a crawl through heart and arteries, massive EKG machine, simulated open-heart surgery and more.  An interactive Space Command exhibit teaches space exploration history and gives visitors the perspective of an astronaut at the space station.  Older visitors can ride the sky bike, pedaling a weighted bicycle across a tiny wire hung 28’ feet in the air—talk about trusting the laws of gravity and physics!

From May 12th- October 14^th, pay a visit to ancient faith and traditions while observing the Dead Sea Scrolls.

1.  TECHNOLOGY: The Tech Museum of Innovation*

The top Technology museum on Trekaroo is The Tech, where their mission is to inspire the innovator in everyone.  Appropriately located in the technology drenched Silicon Valley, the museum offers tons of hands on exhibits in almost every area of current technology.

1. NATURAL HISTORY: American Museum of Natural History

Made famous on the big screen by the film The Night at the Museum, the American Museum of Natural History is amazing!  Trekaroo families note that seeing everything in the museum could take days!  From the iconic T-Rex skeleton and fossil friends to the hall of human origins and the detailed dioramas, this museum has it all.

1. PLANETARIUM:  Griffith Park Observatory

 Los Angeles, CA

The number one stand-alone planetarium in the US sits amid the beautiful Griffith Park at the top of Mt. Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA.  Touch a meteorite, view the solar telescope, attend a planetarium show, compare planets and even look for some of Hollywood’s very own stars (or at least the nearby Hollywood sign!)

1. OVERALL:  Exploratorium*

Photo by: Flickr/davitydave

Trekaroo user PacMaMa says it well, “The Exploratorium brings out the curious child in everyone.”  Recognized by many as the original hands-on science exploratory center, the Exploratorium continues to offer an amazing and vast array of interactive experiences in almost every field of science and art. In fact, more than 400 completely interactive exhibits on seeing, the mind, traits of life, matter, and sound fill the space. Visitors over seven can experience the tactile dome, a pitch black investigation relying completely on a heightened sense of touch for guidance.   A variety of self-guided tours are offered to ensure your budding scientist hits the most appropriate and appealing exhibits.

The museum has announced a relocation set for spring 2013, more than tripling its current size. The current location will close January 2013, so be sure to check the website for project updates.

We couldn’t let these awesome museums go unnoticed; they are some of the best in the country and missed the Top 10 cut by the narrowest of margins.  Here are Trekaroo’s honorable mention science & tech museums:

Museum of Life and Science,* Durham, NC

 Museum of Science,* Cambridge, MA

California Science Center,* Los Angeles, CA

 SciPort: Louisiana Science Center,* Shreveport, LA

Discovery Science Center,* Santa Ana, CA

 Carnegie Science Center,* Pittsburgh, PA

Discovery Place,*Charlotte, NC

Visiting Washington, D.C.?  The 2nd annual USA Science & Engineering Festival is being held right now!  The grand finale takes place April 28th-29th at Walter E. Washington Convention Center.  It’s FREE and sure to inspire the scientist in every kid!

*The museums with an asterisk currently participate in the ASTC Passport Program; your local membership also gives you access to these and more than 300 museums across the US. 

Related:

Places for Kids to Have Fun with Science and Technology in:

San Francisco Bay Area California |  Connecticut | New Hampshire | New York | Maine | Massachusetts | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | Vermont | Utah

Katie Bodell is Trekaroo’s Assistant Editor, a wife, & a mom to three sweet California girls.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC| FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR| PA| TN | TX | UT | VA | WA

I’ve lived in Las Vegas for over 15 years.  A year ago, my husband and I were totally amazed by the arrival of our first baby girl, Matilda Grace. The minute she came into the world, we gazed at her for hours thinking what a miracle she was. The next thought was, “Our lives have changed forever!” These days instead of big production shows and life on the Vegas Strip, we frequent our local library for story time, visit the parks, or hang out with Matilda’s play group.  When most people think of Las Vegas, family fun is not the first thought on their minds.  As a local Las Vegas mom, I really wanted to share a couple cool places that you can visit with your kids far from adult focus of the strip.
Our first stop is exactly what you would expect to find in the middle of a desert out west, Bonnie Springs Ranch. It is a replica of an authentic 1880’s mining town they named Old Nevada. (It’s also the place where my husband and I had one of our first dates and smooched in the replica of a broken down mine. Ahh memories!) I love it there because you can hang out by the pond feeding the ducks and swans, watch the turtles, and then visit the petting zoo just a few feet away. They also have horseback rides and western shows where you can watch a good old fashioned wild west showdown between the good guys and the bad guys. (The good guys win in case you’re wondering.)

The petting zoo is very cool and full of some interesting animals: wolves, llamas, goats, pigs, donkeys & more. It’s small which is perfect when you have to corral small children.  At the end of the day when your Fun-O-Meter is maxed out, take the family and head on over to the property’s restaurant for some good ole west cooking–or good ole west chicken fingers– like I eat. I’m not so sure that they are ole west food, but I like them just the same.

Another kid-friendly attraction is at the Silverton Hotel and Casino. They have a massive aquarium filled with gorgeous fish, sting rays, sharks and a Mermaid! That’s right I said a Mermaid. The best part of this attraction is it’s completely free. Daily fish feeding from 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The mermaid show runs every half hour during the following times: Thursday, 2:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 2:15 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon – 7 p.m. Schedule is subject to change, so please call for updated times.

You can see from these pictures that Matilda is a big fan of the animals. We always have a great time here.

When you come to Las Vegas, make sure you get away from the machines long enough to enjoy some a Mermaid and  some Wild West hospitality.

Check out these other Las Vegas Resources:

On the Strip Itinerary- South | On the Strip Itinerary- North

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC| FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR| PA| TN | TX | UT | VA | WA

Despite traveling regularly, I’d never considered a large-ship cruise for a family vacation. I was sure my kids (ages, 12, 10, and 7) were just too active to enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of a typical cruise, that I would be bored without sites to explore and culture to soak in, and that all of us would feel restricted by the confines of a ship.

Then we embarked on the Disney Fantasy last month, and all those misconceptions sailed (sorry about the pun) out the window. We hit the ground running every day for three days, traversing the ship from sunup to sundown, and yet even we couldn’t get to everything offered onboard (let alone in port). Of what we did have time to sample, the following are my kids’ picks for fun on the Fantasy:

The Pool Deck

Comprised of two pools (Mickey and Donald), a water slide, a generously-sized hot tub, two water play areas, and the much-talked-about AquaDuck, the pool deck (Deck 11) was my kids’ favorite place to hang. It was mine too, because from one central location (preferably a lounge chair), I could see all the action, and let my school-aged kids run amuck. In addition to all the water fun, Deck 11 is home to all the Cars’ themed counter service food options (where something is always open), the drink refill station, and…best of all if you ask my boys: the EyeScream self-serve ice cream station. If kids had their own heaven, it would look like Deck 11.

Tip: Stand in the hot tub and look down. You’ll see a clear pane of glass underfoot, with a view directly down to the lifeboats seven decks below!

The Sports Deck

Coming in a close second to the pool deck, Goofy’s Sports Deck is located a quick flight of exterior stairs from Deck 11, and houses a miniature golf course, large basketball court (netted to keep balls from flying into the Caribbean, of course) and a set of sports simulators. You’ll need to make an appointment for the latter, but for $12 per half hour, your whole party can take turns facing off against a virtual Goofy in hockey, basketball, soccer, football, and more. You might just see the real Goofy hanging around, too.

The Kids’ Clubs

My kids don’t typically enjoy resort kids’ clubs, so I was fearful that the clubs on the Fantasy would be a no-go. Though it took all three of my boys the first evening to get used to it, by our second day on the ship, I couldn’t keep them from their clubs, especially after dinner when the action picked up. The Fantasy has five clubs for four different age groups, and we checked out two of them: the Oceaneer’s Club and Oceaneer’s Lab for kids ages 3-10, and Edge, for kids ages 11-13. (Also available are the It’s a Small World Nursery for ages 3 months-3 years and Vibe, for kids 14-18.)

A few tips:

1. While kids ages 3-10 can go between the Oceaneer’s Club and the Lab at will (the two spaces are connected at the back by a large art project room), we found that the planned programming and activities in the Lab were geared for the older end of the age group. Both my seven-year-old and 10-year-old quickly realized this is where they wanted to be.

2. The age guidelines are just that: guidelines. When our 10-year-old saw all the fun being had in Edge, he wanted to join his older brother there. Switching him was no problem at all: I just had to sign a waiver since he was under age 11, and officially opt him out of the Oceaneer’s Lab. We were all set in under 10 minutes!

3. All the clubs we experienced were generously appointed with various video games. So much so in fact, that they outshone the arcade (Arrr-cade, located on Deck 11). After our boys (who generally love arcades) visited both, they opted not to spend more than $5 in the arcade. Save your money: the games and computer stations in the clubs are free.

The Shuffleboard ‘courts’

From what I gathered while onboard, many people don’t even realize these exist on the Fantasy. A throwback to cruises of yesterday, the shuffleboard spaces are located on Deck 4, next to the jogging track. It was fun to play, but even more fun to take in the view of the huge yellow lifeboats overhead and the ocean breeze. It really did feel like an old-fashioned cruise on Deck 4!

The Deck Parties

While we were sailing on the Fantasy, we experienced the Sail Away Party and the Pirate Night Party, and both got two thumbs up from the kids. It didn’t hurt that I let them stay up way past their bedtime on Pirate Night! If you’d rather avoid the crowds, just leave Deck 11….the rest of the ship is nearly empty!

Tip: If your kids enjoy the characters, make sure to save time to greet them after dinner on Pirate Night. They’ll be dressed in their pirate garb, as will your kids (they’ll get a bandana at dinner). The photo ops are priceless!

*Picture one via Tom Anderson. Remaining pictures via Amy Whitley.

Amy Whitley is the founding editor of Pit Stops for Kids, a family travel resource covering kid-friendly resorts, attractions, outdoor adventures, and all the pit stops you’ll need along the way. She also writes for a number of print and online travel publications, including Go Green Travel Green and Practical Travel Gear. Trekaroo is also proud to have Amy as one of our Superoos. She lives in Oregon with her husband and three sons, where they enjoy backyard adventures when they’re not traveling. Amy and her family experienced the Disney Fantasy as guests of Disney and Expedia.com.

Lake George, located in New York’s Adirondacks, combines family friendly fun and natural beauty to create an ideal getaway. This past summer my husband and I had the pleasure of traveling with our four-year old daughter to this scenic locale and we all had a fantastic time experiencing what Lake George has to offer. Here are the top five activities that made our family outing memorable for all.

5. The Fun Spot

The Fun Spot offers go-karts, laser tag, miniature golf, roller skating, and an indoor playground, making it a great to visit with children of varied ages. My daughter enjoyed the indoor playground immensely, and my husband took great pleasure in racing the go-karts (several times!). While the go-karts and mini-golf are situated outdoors, the rest of the attractions are inside with the central air blasting, which gave my family a welcome reprieve from the hot sun. The Fun Spot features a snack bar as well as plenty of seating for family members that might want to simply observe the activities. If you plan to stay a while and try all the attractions, consider purchasing a package to save money instead of buying experiences a la carte.

4. Lumberjack Pass Mini Golf

Featuring 18 holes of mini-golf with water traps and real sand hazards, Lumberjack Pass Mini Golf is a great place to take your family. The course is quite challenging but my husband and I had a great time laughing about how awful we were playing. Our four-year-old kept herself occupied with the various water misters placed throughout the course which were perfect for cooling down under in the hot summer months, and we all used the “ball-washers” quite often (designed to clean your ball if you happen to hit it into a sand trap). The ice cream at their snack bar is delicious and a perfect ending to some hole-in-one family fun.

3. The Moose Tooth Grill

The Moose Tooth Grill is a great place to dine with your family while on your Lake George Adventure. With an all-appealing, family-friendly menu as well as interactive animals and even a short thunder and lightning storm complete with a rainbow, everyone in your group will enjoy their dining experience. Try their homemade root beer, aptly named “Moose Wizz”, or sample one of their many local draft beers. As the grand finale, order the S’mores for dessert, complete with your own campfire. My daughter is still talking about how she got to roast marshmallows at a fire indoors!

2. LG Steamboat Company – Dinner Cruise, Lac du St Sacrement

For a great meal, live music and a fabulous tour of Lake George, we recommend taking a cruise with the Lake George Steamboat Company. They offer many different cruise options, including with or without meals for lunch or dinner, as well as moonlight cruises, fireworks cruises, and even specialty cruises. Live music played throughout our meal and during the cruise, and the boat offers many different areas to enjoy the views of Lake George’s various islands and shorelines. Whether you choose a cruise with or without a meal, this is a must-do if you’ve never been out on Lake George.

 1. Saddle Up Stables

If you have children ages six and up, you cannot go wrong with a trail ride at Saddle Up Stables. Boasting attentive staff and stunning views of Lake George, your entire family will love this activity. Trail rides last about an hour and are available from 9 to 5 daily- no reservations required. Be sure to ask the trail guide to take your family’s photo during your ride. the staff has no problem with this request and it makes for a great family portrait. If you have kids that are under six and still want some time in the saddle, Saddle Up Stables offers pony rides that are very generous in length and sure to put a smile on their faces.

More Great Trekaroo Resources

Top Picks for Kid-friendly North Country/Adirondacks

Kid-friendly Activities in North Country/Adirondacks

Kid-friendly Hotels in North Country/Adirondacks

Sara Fredericks is a Trekaroo Superoo.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | UT | VA | WA