On the third day of our trip, we flew from La Ceiba to the Bay Island of Roatan, off the coast of Honduras. 
You can also take an hour and a half ferry across, depending on your budget and schedule. This has become a popular cruise ship destination for it’s beauty and magnificent snorkeling and scuba diving. 
The island is surrounded by the world’s second largest barrier reef. I dove with Anthony’s Key Resort, which is a great place to stay if you plan on spending your trip scuba diving. They offer various all-inclusive packages which cover your food and shore and boat dives. While we stayed at the beautiful condo property, Infinity Bay Spa and Beach Resort, I spent most of my two days in Roatan at Anthony’s Key Resort, did two boat dives with them and had a great divemaster, Jeremy, who pointed out so much to us underwater. 
In addition to the beautiful fish and coral, I saw a lobster, huge king crab, flamingo tongues, tiny boxfish and huge grouper. They were also really big on safety, making sure everyone did a check out dive at the beginning.
Anthony’s Key Resort is also one of the best places to interact with dolphins. Not only do you get the dolphin experience, which includes taking pictures and playing with the dolphins with an instructor, but 
also a 30 minute session to snorkel and interact with them on your own. Underwater, you can hear them communicating through their high pitched sounds and most likely they’ll be swimming past you quite often and looking to play. If you are a certified diver, you can do a dive with the dolphins down to 60 feet. Antony’s Key also offers Dolphin Scuba camp and a your chance to be a trainer for a day through the Roatan Institute of Marine Sciences, situated on property.
While I spent most of my time in Roatan scuba diving, there are some great ziplining opportunities, one in Gumbalimba Park, which is home to many monkeys and macaws. We had the opportunity to play with one really cute monkey. I wasn’t there, but the others in my group were greeted unexpectedly by a group of monkeys while 
exploring, which made for some great photo ops and a lot of fun.
While the Infinity Bay Spa and Resort was a very comfortable place to stay, with each condo featuring a kitchen, living room, washer, dryer and terrace in addition to the spacious bedroom and bathroom, 
there are many hotels and hostels in the West End area of the island for every budget. There are also some great restaurants, bar and shops in West End. The restaurants also vary by budget, and even the really inexpensive Cannibal Cafe was outstanding. Their guacamole was perfect, and I judge all Mexican restaurants by their salsa and guacamole!
I would highly recommend Roatan as both a cruise destination and a definite stop if you’re traveling to Honduras. The diversity of the country is amazing. One moment you can be one with nature, the next checking out a coffee plantation and the Mayan Ruins and another day, scuba diving and playing with the dolphins.
It’s been two days since we’ve been back from the NJ 101.5 cruise to Bermuda and I’m missing the beautiful pink beaches and the outstanding entertainment aboard the Norwegian Dawn. But most of all, I miss the new friends we made in the week on board! We sailed out of New York and said goodbye to the city skyline and cold rainy weather. 
In just a few days, we were in warmer temperatures and calm waters and awoke to a beautiful sunrise. 
While on board the Norwegian Dawn, we had the choice of several restaurants, some included in the cost of the cruise, and plenty of specialty restaurants, such as a steakhouse, French, Italian, Mexican, Indian, Chinese, Sushi and a Hibachi for an additional fee. Plus since it’s freestyle cruising, you can eat when and where you’d like. I would say Le Bistro, the French restaurant, had the best food and was worth the extra money. 
The Hibachi was also entertaining and very good, but for $25 per person, it’s really no cheaper than if you went to one in your hometown. We also enjoyed the buffet for breakfast and anytime we wanted to grab a quick bite. The good thing about sailing to Bermuda is that it saves you the cost of your meals. The restaurants in Bermuda tend to be extremely expensive, and the food not always so good, as was the case with “The Lobster Pot” in Hamilton, which claimed to have the best seafood on the island for the past 25 years. They must have been off the night we were there, and we weren’t the only ones in the restaurant who thought the fish was overcooked and the veggies just defrosted. The couple next to us definitely made their opinions known to the staff. Maybe it’s the fact that we are from the NY area and are spoiled with our food, but if you’re going to be overpriced, at least make us feel like we are paying for something!
Every night there was plenty of music, musicals and acrobatic shows, a comedian, Chicago’s Second City comedy troupe, a magician, karaoke and tons of dancing. For anyone who wanted a little pampering, the spa provided many services to fill your needs. However, they definitely were heavy on the sales pitch, so hopefully no one was suckered into buying hundreds of dollars worth of facial creams. If you take the cruise in the future, be aware of their spa specials. There were a few treatments that they said were two hours long, but in actuality, it was only a 75 minute treatment and then they told you to go sit in the sauna and steam room. With any spa I’ve ever been to, that comes included free of charge. Out by the pool and hot tubs, there were bbqs and festive music throughout the day along with a jogging and walking track to burn off all of the good food! In the gym, you could ride the ellipticals while looking out into the ocean, which was motivational.
It was nice not to have to hop on and off the ship every day at a certain time. We had almost three full days to explore, and we really got to see so much. When we arrived on Wednesday, we took a four hour cab ride around the island to get a lay of the land. He showed us some really pretty beaches, gardens, and the popular aquarium in Hamilton. There are many cab drivers who are like tour guides and know the island backwards and forwards. They charge $40 an hour for a minimum of three hours for up to 4 people, so it is definitely worth it. Our guide, Lenny Holder, was terrific! We had asked him what foods are local to the area and when he mentioned there were avocado trees, of course, I had to ask if we’d be passing any since I LOVE avocados. At the end of our tour, we passed by his house, and he had arranged for his wife to put one in his mailbox with some seasoning for us. Talk about Bermudian hospitality!
As most of you know, I was recently scuba certified, and I couldn’t wait to dive in Bermuda. However, half the fun of diving is sharing it with others, so I scooped up a few people from our group and we went for a scuba lesson with 
I would highly recommend Fantasea Bermuda. Not only do they run diving lessons and boat dives, but they also offer kayak and glass bottom boat sightseeing tours, whale watching, catamaran cruises, jet ski and other recreational rentals. The staff is so friendly and really knows their stuff. Melissa was our divemaster and led us around the wreck and reef we explored. She made sure to stay with the uncertified divers and really made them feel comfortable.
I had heard so much about Horseshoe Bay Beach, and Lenny had told us that not only is it considered the nicest beach in Bermuda, but had been ranked by Conde Nast as the second nicest beach in the world. Between the combination of the pink speckled sand, the beautiful rock formations, coves, great snorkeling and gorgeous sunset, I could definitely see why.
We also managed to squeeze in a few rum cake samples from one of the shops! The ferry ride itself from the Royal Navy Dockyard is very pretty and scenic. At the Royal Naval Dockyard, where the ship was docked, you’ll find the Bermuda Maritime Museum, a small shopping mall, a craft market, the Dockyard Glassworks, where you can watch the workers blowing glass, and the Bermuda Rum Cake Bakery, with lots of free samples of rum cake made with 80% proof alcohol. Snorkel Park, a small beach with great reefs for snorkeling and a fun bar called Hammerheads, is located right in the dockyard, along with the popular Frog and Onion Pub, serving local Bermudian beer. We hear that the few of us who chose to try the beer were also the last ones to get back on the boat..oops! As much fun as we had on the ship, if they had left us in Bermuda, I don’t think we would have been too upset!
I know I’ve said it before, but it was a true pleasure meeting everyone who came with me on this trip and I look forward to seeing all of you again on the next one. Here’s to new friends and to the ones I will meet next time! Cheers!
I’m sitting on the plane back from Bonaire and I still cannot get over the incredible week I just had. I love to travel, as I believe with each trip, you learn something new, whether it’s a new culture, language, or way of life. For me, this trip was truly life changing as I discovered a new world…the one underwater. I have snorkeled and done some introductory dives in the past, but I finally decided to get scuba certified, and I couldn’t have asked for a more enriching and spectacular playground than that of 
The casual and open setting facilitates easily formed bonds between people of all ages and diving levels. One of my biggest fears before arriving was the fact that I would be a new diver and everyone else would have much more experience. However, my fears quickly dissipated as experienced divers and divemasters offered to be my dive buddy. They were quick to help me double check that all of my equipment was hooked up correctly or pull me back down if I was ascending too quickly as I started to do on my first dive (you have to do a safety stop at 15-20 feet for 3 minutes so you can slowly let the nitrogen out of your body).
The night dive was an experience unlike any other. When I first jumped in off of Captain Don’s pier, I couldn’t believe how dark it was, but with our dive lights we were able to see around us. Again, I had such a wonderful dive buddy, who held my hand for the whole hour. There were four of us that went out and we wanted to make sure we all stayed together. As we ventured through the waters, we had a big tarpon following us, probably using our light to hunt for his dinner. Its skin was shiny and glistened off of our light. 
One of the guys the night before had seen an octopus and I was really hoping we would as well. Turns out just as we were heading back, this huge octopus was beside us morphing into different forms and colors. The color changes were amazing, a new one every few seconds. It’s probably the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!
On this dive, I saw two turtles, one that was swimming and one sleeping, which I was really excited about, and a flounder making his way along the bottom of the ocean. He was the same color as the sand, but you could see his eyes open and close as he scurried along. In addition, we saw beautiful butterfly, cowfish and trunkfish. It was a remarkable experience and Hendrik makes you feel completely at ease so you can explore while he takes care of the rest. He has a way of getting the fish to come to him, as he captures their true essence. Even if you are an experienced diver, you should bring him along on one of your dives or if you are in a group, he will film you all jumping in and interacting with the fish. I know I haven’t been to many other dive spots yet, but I can’t imagine one more beautiful. It is ranked as one of the best spots in the world for its sustainability. 
Hendrik also just released a DVD entitled Bonaire Ta Dushi which talks all about Bonaire’s past and present, the Bonairean people and their history and highlights all of the things you must see and do in Bonaire. A naturalist teaches you about their birds and beautiful flamingos, while marine park gurus explain why Bonaire still has such pristine reefs.
Dr. Earle is an extremely interesting and accomplished individual who has worked practically her whole life studying marine life and trying to teach so many what is going to happen if we don’t work on conserving our lifeline. Dr. Earle has led more than 60 expeditions worldwide involving over 7000 hours underwater in connection with her research and is known as the ambassador to world’s oceans.
Program.
I’m so excited….just finished my fourth open water dive and now I am officially certified!! Woo hoo! Now I have the rest of the week to dive, except for the day before I leave. I know I’ll be doing a boat and shore dive on Thursday, so that should be a ton of fun. I saw such cool multicolored fish today and a pretty big jelly fish and stingray.
Hmm…yum! It actually wasn’t that bad. The only thing I wasn’t crazy about was the cactus soup. Tonight is BBQ night at Captain Don’s! Ok, enough with this computer…I must go back in the water!
We arrived in Bonaire yesterday after we island hopped from Aruba to Curacao to Bonaire. The flight from Aruba to Curacao was 25 minutes and from Curacao to Bonaire, 12 minutes. Located in the Netherland Antilles, Bonaire is part of the Southern Caribbean and is known for it’s incredible scuba diving, windsurfing, and kitesurfing.
Today, I started the part of my confined water certification, which includes four dives in the ocean. Roger Haug is my instructor and he does a great job teaching the scuba skills and making you feel comfortable and confident from the start. Bonaire is a great place to learn how to dive because you can go from shallow to as deep as you want in increments right off the shore.
Sherwood supplied me with my mask, snorkel and fins, as they are a sponsor of DEMA’s “Be a Diver Program.” The kinesis fins cut the water really well and the frameless mask folds up easily, so it makes for a great second mask. I can’t believe the variety of fish in size and color, some that can be seen close to the surface.
Captain Don’s Habitat has a real homey feel with people from all over the world becoming friends as they dive together. In my certification group there is a mother and daughter from Washington D.C. getting certified together and a 12 year old boy whose parents have been diving for years here in Bonaire.
After a four hour plane ride from JFK, I was just a 10 minute car ride from paradise. I couldn’t believe my eyes when we pulled up to the Divi and Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusives. I’ve been to a few Caribbean destinations before, but the deep crystal blue water and beautiful beach was a spectacular site to see. 
Divi has a few properties in Aruba…the two all-inclusives, Divi Aruba and Tamarijn Aruba, and a la carte properties which also offer timeshares at the Divi Phoenix, where rooms include your own kitchen equipped with everything including a blender for frozen drinks to bring to the beach, the Divi Links which sits on the beautiful 9-hole gold course, and the Divi Dutch Village . We’re staying at the Divi Aruba and I love the fact that it’s a little more laid back than Tamarijn Aruba, but you have access to all of the restaurants and activities at the Tamarijn Aruba including a children’s camp. And, get this, if you are traveling with children or teens, they stay and eat free up to 18 years old when traveling with two paying adults! The properties have a total of 11 restaurants and almost as many bars between them and the food is top notch. When we first arrived, we were really hungry, so we sat down at the Coco Grill and had some cooked to order thin crusted pizza made in front of you. 
Last night, we had a progressive dinner…an appetizer of sushi, spring rolls, and tempura at Ginger, the Asian restaurant, an appetizer (I had the salad nicoise) at the Red Parrot, the main course at Paparrazi, a delicious Italian restaurant, which serves great fish and pasta dishes, and desert was at the bar/restaurant, Mulligans over at the Links, which is a fun hangout for tourists and locals. Last night was karaoke night and while it’s been awhile, I did get up and belt one out the best I could! I love the open air atmosphere at Mulligans. While it’s inside, it is open around the perimeter and offers an incredible view of the impressive golf course. Today we had lunch at Purebeach on property at the Divi Phoneix. The bar/ restaurant is really chic with a lounge type feel of Miami Beach or Ibiza, Spain, with a mix of European and Caribbean music playing in the background. 
Situated right on the beach, you’ll want to kick back with a drink or enjoy their lunch or dinner menu. I had a salad nicoise with fresh seared tuna which was wonderful in taste and presentation. For dinner, we ate at the romantic, high end restaurant, Windows on Aruba, which is upstairs from Mulligans and offers an even better view of the golf course, which they light up at night in different color lights, making it a gorgeous setting. The food was phenomenal. I got the sea bass upon recommendation 
and an appetizer of scallops with seaweed salad mangoes. The vintage wine selection is also expansive with many top of the line wines from which to select. To set the mood, there is usually a sax or flute player. The best part about this restaurant, is that for just $30, you can enjoy anything you’d like off the menu if you are staying at one of the all-inclusive properties. 
Tunes of Louis Armstrong are playing in the background. I couldn’t ask for anything more peaceful than this. Earlier today, I had a swedish massage at the Indulgence by the Sea Spa, which was amazing. It usually takes me awhile to unwind, but the therapist was great and I was in total relaxation mode in just a few minutes.
And ladies, if you want your man to actually spend some time with you on the trip, you’ll be happy to know it is just a 9 hole course! There is a casino within just a few minutes next door to the Divi Aruba which is always a must stop to see if the slots will be good to me. Sorry to say they were not tonight, but the casino had a fun vibe.
I’m always looking for great places to visit within driving distance, especially during the summer when there is so much to do in the Northeast. This past weekend I took a trip to Montauk, which took us two and a half hours from NYC, leaving on Friday around 9pm and coming back Sunday around the same time. We really lucked out and did not hit any traffic, so if you hate sitting in a parking lot, you may want to leave at those times.
They also offer larger suites for families or friends who want to getaway together. We overlooked the pool which was a nice size for swimming laps or just hanging out and not feeling overcrowded. The resort has two tennis courts, but probably the most appealing feature is its 400 foot private beach. The waves were really high and there was a rip current, but we still enjoyed throwing the frisbee around and swimming for a little while. 
The food at St. Peter’s was delicious and they have a great lobster lunch special for $15.99. Another great restaurant was the Fishbar, but the wait can be really long, so if you have a lot of time, you’ll appreciate the good food, but if you are not in the mood to wait for over an hour, there are other good restaurants as well. Gosmans Dock is a popular one on the harbor, but we didn’t eat there. In town, Shagwong has been a staple with locals and tourists for over 40 years and John’s Drive-In has great homemade ice cream! Fudge n’ Stuff has 30 flavors of homemade fudge and fresh chocolates made daily on the premises, so of course, I had to sample some of their specialties as well.
If you’re looking for a fun, romantic, or family weekend getaway, Montauk is the perfect beach town with a mixture of great restaurants, excellent homemade fudge and ice cream! After all, what else do you really need? You may want to visit in the fall, as it’s still beautiful and the resort rates drop, so you can find yourself an excellent deal.
So many of us are looking for that perfect getaway, but can’t afford the time or airfare to go anywhere far away and if it’s going to be just for a weekend, we don’t want to spend several hours on the road. Well, I found the perfect family getaway just over two hours from NYC, Philly, and NJ, maybe less, depending on where you live in New Jersey. The 
There are over 30 miles of hiking trails and three waterfalls around the lake and throughout the resort, and they offer guided hikes as well as mountain bike rentals and tours. There is also a shooting center, indoor and outdoor pool, archery, fitness center, various fitness classes, guided yoga walks, tennis courts, a meditation garden, and an adventure center featuring paintball, rock climbing, geo caching, mountain bike courses, and wilderness survival classes. Most of the activities are included in the price, but some carry a minimal additional fee. Be sure you pick up your skylights sheet at the front desk which lists all of the day’s organized activities.
The next day, my cousin and his son joined me at Skytop. My cousin’s son is 8 and he had a blast paddleboating, shooting paintball targets, and building a turtle sand castle by the lake. The resort also offers Camp in the Clouds for kids ages 3-12 with plenty of activities such as hayrides, scavenger hunts, and water and land sports, for those parents who would like to have some alone time. 
the lodge. There is a game room downstairs with three ping pong tables, two pool tables, air hockey, mini golf, and video games. Also on that level is a tea shop which serves tea, coffee, and desserts, and a tap room for causal food and drinks.
