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Girl Gone Travel

Caribbean, Travel
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September 3, 2015

Favorites for a Family Vacation in Aruba

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The school year has started for a lot of families and we’re all getting into the routine of things. But before you put away those bathing suits, don’t forget about the long list of holidays to come before the year comes to an end, which makes for a great excuse to plan at least one last family vacation.

If you are like me and prefer to escape the cold then run head-on into it, then Aruba is the perfect family escape.

It’s a short and direct 4.5 hour plane ride from the main NYC/NJ airports and what I love the most about it is how easy it is to explore the island. You definitely want to rent a car to get around to the awesome spots I will highlight below. It’s also important to keep in mind that the roads can be a bit rugged in some parts of the island and slippery when wet, so your best bet is to rent a jeep or 4-wheel drive vehicle for better navigation.

Favorite beach

Baby Beach is as family friendly as it sounds. A little off the beaten path and away from the large hotel and touristy attractions, Baby Beach’s half-moon cove is nestled within the walls of a coral reef. Its shallow waters make for a carefree play area for little ones.

family friendly_aruba

 

Favorite festival

There is always something going on in Aruba, whether they are celebrating the music, sports, or people. But one way to immerse yourself in the culture no matter what time of year you go, is by taking part in the Carubbian Festival which takes place every Thursday evening. Here local artisans display their costumes while parading down the street in a musical parade filled with laughter, color, and dance. Everyone is welcomed to join in, as well as shop, drink, and eat.

Favorite tour

Don’t be fooled by Aruba’s size. This small island packs in a lot of fun. One of the best ways to see it all with your crew in tow is on an ATV tour. It’s the best way to get access to secluded areas such as Conchi, a natural pool surrounded by volcanic stones and rocks separating it from the powerful sea waves right next to it. It’s also the easiest way to get to the caves in Arikok National Park.

family friendly_aruba

Favorite eatery

This is a tough one, because there is so much good food in Aruba but a good place to start is at Queens Restaurant for a serving of true Caribbean flavors. This is the place to be if you want to try things like chicken keshi yena, goat stew, pan bati, and funchi!

Food-lovers will also not want to miss Aruba’s Restaurant Week which takes place end of September and beginning of October. Here you will have a chance to discover eateries and the flavors of the island, all for a very reasonable price.

Favorite hotel

There are several hotels to choose from, but one of my favorites is the Aruba Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino. It’s adjacent beach, called Palm Beach is delightful with its serene, turquoise-blue waters. There are several water activities to choose from and when the parents need a date night, the hotel can help to arrange babysitting services, so that the adults can go play or take advantage of the in-house spa or casino.

Whether you go for a long weekend, or a longer week, a visit to the Happy Island of Aruba is sure to give your family that extra pep in your step to get through the year and cold weather with a smile.

 

 

In partnership with Alamo Car Rental.

 

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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3 Comments
  • Cat Kock
    September 3, 2015

    Hi Carol. I´m glad you liked Aruba!
    I´ve lived here since I was a few months old, thank you for this lovely article!

    Cat Kock| catheartbudget.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Cat Kock
      September 3, 2015

      Thank you for your comment, Cat! And you are so lucky to have such a lovely place to call home : )

      Reply
      • Cat Kock
        caincarol
        September 3, 2015

        You´re Welcome! YES I´m very lucky! xo

        Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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A message about yesterday’s event: Happy Monday A message about yesterday’s event:

Happy Monday, y’all. Woke up in time to enjoy the soft glow of sunlight that shines its way around our house in the morning, and sipped on a cafecito without being rushed for anything. So already today is a win. 

Yesterday we worked our longest day yet for our little coffee cart that could (7 hours!!!) at the Heritage Fiesta in Ithaca, NY. 

Though we were ready for a crowd, the reception was also unexpected because there was a popular coffee shop just steps away. 

But we had Cómodo Fam stop by, family (who also fed us 🙏🏾), and soooo many members of the Latinx and BIPOC community who were just excited to see a small business like ours representing. 

I want to share that we were ALL worried about potential harassment and assault by 🧊and fliers were handed out to prepare us. And you would think that it would’ve intimidated the community enough to not come out…BUT WE DID. In numbers. 

And for hours that little parking lot next to Press Bay Alley was packed with all sorts of Latinx and non-Latinx community members, eating, laughing, dancing, singing, and drinking all the cafecitos and refreshers we had to offer. Literally. We went home cleaned out!

All this to say that we are all aware of the threats but we also understand the power and importance of coming together as a community and a people. By no means are we all the same, and Lord knows a lot of Latinos have a lot of self-reflecting to do based on the choices they made, but yesterday was a testament to the best of us, and I thank @yenospina and @lcatompkins for putting together such a wonderful event, for inviting @cafecomodony to be a part of it, and to all the friends, old and new, who came out to support us and la cultura. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #cafecomodo #coffeelover
Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite lazy day pastimes of the season: market shopping for fall goodies - which in the Finger Lakes is especially bountiful. 

📍Joseph’s Wayside Markey, Naples, NY

#fingerlakes #newyork #octobermood #fallday
Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The proce Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The process is busy and noisy but also exciting and fun to watch. 

This cloudy morning seems to have calmed things down a bit, but not for long I am sure. These families work hard!

Bonus: they set up roadside stands so we can purchase and taste them 🍇 I highly recommend picking some up if you see some in your drive. 

#fingerlakes #lifeinthecountry #newyork
The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️ The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️
I want to take moment to send out love to my fello I want to take moment to send out love to my fellow Latinx and immigrant community. 

To send strength to my community of glorious misfits who are out in the world making good trouble and emboldening us to not give up hope on our dreams, our livelihoods, our future, our country, our people. 

The country our parents worked so hard to get to so that we could fly. A country they helped build and bring to prosper. A country our communities help to feed and house and care for. 

I am my immigrant parents dream come true, and my children are a continuation of that dream. 

I just want to remind all of us who represent the targeted, of our worth. Of the value of our contributions. In our languages, our culture, our insights, our work ethic and skills and knowledge. Of the things we bring to the table.

I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, or to us. But, as someone whose family lived through a dictatorship, I have an idea of how this story will end. And all I can advise is that we remain on the right side of it, our convictions unaltered, our core values untethered. Our spirits unbroken. In these stories, the monsters might scare us, and even harm some of us, but they never, ever win in the end. 

I am living proof of that. ❤️ And every time you succeed and feel joy, you are too. Pa’lante, mi gente.
Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes. Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes.

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