Tag: travel guide

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Fun Things to Do with Kids in San Juan, Puerto Rico (that is not the beach)

It has been almost exactly 4 years since my last post, but not because I’ve been being lazy! Atticus turns 4 this week and my daughter, Isla, is two-and-a-half (and we’re starting potty training)! Having 2 kids and going back and forth between Arkansas and Puerto Rico while maintaining full-time jobs leaves little time for blogging- yet here I am, attempting to get it going again. 🙂 

Our little family of 4

Lately, my world has revolved around the question “what can we do with our kids this weekend” and it’s been thrilling to discover so many new secrets la Isla del Encanto offers us! Having lived in Puerto Rico the past 8 years, I don’t think there’s a beach on this island we haven’t explored, and thankfully my kids are really starting to love the ocean and sand. However, it’s always such a chore to load up the chairs, ice chests, snacks, toys, floaties, towels, sunscreen, etc and by the time we get to the perfect destination, it’s almost naptime! I will eventually do a post about my favorite kid-friendly beaches on the island, but this post is dedicated to all the amazing places we’ve found that are NOT a beach- and they’re honestly just as fun and way less work. 

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Playa “La Selva” – Luquillo, Puerto Rico

One of my all time favorite beaches in Puerto Rico is Playa “La Selva”, a hidden paradise far away from traffic, trash & almost every other person on the island. You can only get there by walking approximately 40 minutes east from Playa “La Pared” or having a 4×4 SUV that you don’t mind getting dirty and possibly damaged. There drive to the beach is treacherous- with giant rocks, branches and occasionally flooded creeks blocking the trail. My husband swears his late model Land Cruiser can travel through anything though, and so far we haven’t had a problem.

La Selva is located in the middle of a nature reserve (the Northeast Ecological Corridor) and is the most important turtle nesting site in the Caribbean! Although we’ve never actually seen any, we often come across areas of sand marked with flags that are known to have turtle eggs buried beneath. (Maybe one day we’ll get lucky!)

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Vacation Plans in Puerto Rico – East Side- Part 2

Now that decisions have been made to visit the east side of Puerto Rico and the Island of Vieques, specific details can be planned on where to stay, eat and do.

My cousins will land Saturday and take a taxi to (our) condo in Condado. Saturday night it will be fun to visit Lote 23 in Santurce- the perfect place for a group of all ages and with different culinary tastes. Lote is an outdoor food park with a vibe like no other. Your options range from delicious tacos to noodle bowls to southern fried chicken, a rare find in Puerto Rico, but the creativity behind this festive experience is makes it a must visit for all.

Sunday (funday) should be always be spent at the beach! Breakfast at Sobao is easiest from our location, but Ocean Park Cafe is also really good. Beach day essentials include: a cooler full of beer & water, beach chairs/towels, sunscreen, and a really good book. (This is pretty much how I spend every single weekend). You can also rent jet skis, take surfing lessons or hop aboard a mini-catamaran from Jimbo’s boats which is free with a good tip 🙂 Continue reading “Vacation Plans in Puerto Rico – East Side- Part 2”

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Vacationing in Puerto Rico in July 2018

There’s nothing I love more than helping friends and family discover the best things to do when visiting Puerto Rico! And just this week I learned my cousin Jordan and his family are making the trip (over dangerous Cancun- thank God) this July (21-28). Jordan’s wife Barbara asked for some recommendations so instead of sending her a six page itinerary I thought it might be easier to see everything from a birds-eye-view on this interactive map.

However, the first thing to decide when visiting Puerto Rico is what part of the island you want to see. The west coast (Isabela, Rincon, Aguadilla and even as far south as Cabo Rojo) are AMAZINGLY beautiful and a totally different vibe than the east. If you surf, fish or a set on some really great snorkeling I would say the 3 hour drive is worth it. Or if you’ve been to Puerto Rico before and are looking for a taste of something different and new. Continue reading “Vacationing in Puerto Rico in July 2018”

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Landing in Puerto Rico- What now?

One of the absolute best things about living in Puerto Rico is that every weekend is a new vacation. Broc and I made a deal when we moved here– I won’t complain about his work schedule (I just created my own that’s just as gruelling) but on weekends, we travel. We’ve so far been to at least the top 20 places on the island as well as a few hidden jewels that not many tourists even know about. I’ve been a decent reviewer on Yelp and Airbnb but that seems like a lot of work for people to hunt down. So I decided to use this blog as a Puerto Rico travel guide for when friends and family come visit.

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Cabo Rojo & Boqueron

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Last weekend we enjoyed our trip to the southwestern most tip of the island, Cabo Rojo Boqueron, more than [my] words can articulate. However I narrowed down my top favorite things about the tiny bohemian beach town in the slideshow above, and have elaborated a bit more below.

The Villa Vistas

The place we stayed in was truly from another world. It’s this indoor/outdoor hand-built casita with so much detail you could marvel for hours. There were lights everywhere, which made it amazing in the evening, and so relaxing in a “i don’t live like this, but wish I could” kind of magical way. The pictures don’t do it justice- I think it’s the feeling of being so a part-of the natural beauty of the landscape around you. I’ve never felt one-with-nature, and this place was definitely that.

Stay Here!

The Natural Habitat Continue reading “Cabo Rojo & Boqueron”