A Nine Day Family Vacation in the Bahamas

Want to see what your family is really made of?

Take a nine day trip together!

Perhaps you'll also experience...

the laughter

the tears

the joy

(and challenge)

of reliving old memories

while creating new ones

We found it enlightening, but with God's grace

we made it, and wouldn't change a thing!

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The Gardner Family

"The Family w/ Teens"

Los Angeles to Miami

Miami to Nassau

(approx. 182 miles)

Travel Tip:

Keep time zones in mind

when planning your trip

Our group's travel coordinator

planned everything out perfectly

we left at midnight...

slept on the plane...

and woke in time to see the sunrise

Good morning and

Welcome to the Bahamas!

The best part of "flying into a new day" is the opportunity
to begin enjoying adventures as soon as you arrive

Grand Hyatt Baha Mar

visit the website

But first...

(if it's important to you)

place your suitcases in the corner and
capture photos of the room before you unpack

East Tower Fountain View

The Current

Gallery and Art Center

take a stroll through the gallery while appreciating

Bahamian history and culture through art

"Black is Beautiful"

by Edrin Symonette

with a reminder that...

"Hope is a Weapon"

by Angelika Wallace-Whitfield

Travel Tip:

Check out the hashtags

Thanks to social media you can acquaint yourself with the facilities

(before you arrive) so that you'll already know what you want to do first!

Day 1- Hit the Pool

Look closely and you'll see our oldest didn't waste any time jumping into the pool...

"Let's Get It"

Bring your GoPro from home (or possibly borrow one from the resort?)

for the opportunity to record and capture your first and "last jump of the day"

"Let's Go"

Time to dry off, shower, and enjoy a meal together

"It's like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder..."

Posed photo vs. Real photo

Travel Tip:

If your aim is to document your family adventures

don't shy away from capturing "the real" family dynamic

because when... 

it's hot

you're away from home and

thrown off of your usual routine

it's easy to become quickly irritated with one another

Our saving grace?

My parents booked two double rooms so that one

of our teens could retreat with them each evening...

Day 2- Hit the Beach

(and the pool)

Keep cool and stay hydrated by drinking plenty
of water and ordering your favorite frozen drinks

we order our sans alcohol
(which the locals call "unleaded")

"Miami Vice"

Then you're ready to grab a
kayak and a rowing partner for

Kayaking

And after a long day in the hot sun
you're sure to have worked up an appetite

so hop on the local bus
($1.25/passenger)

and head to the Fish Fry

(a collection of authentic restaurants at Arawak Cay)

we tried...

jerk chicken
red snapper
peas and rice
conch
fried plantains

at
Curly's Fish Fry

Travel Tip:

Take bills in low denominations because
some vendors return your change in Bahamian $$

Once back at the resort
"ditch the kids"

and

snag a couch
(or the cozy table for two)

to enjoy a quiet moment with crepes and gelato at...

Café Madeline

Craving more?

Check out...

Part 2
Part 3

of our sweet adventures
from the Bahamas!

(find more Family Adventures here)