Today’s tidbit: “We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” ― Jawaharal Nehru.
Look at the world around you. Take time to notice the beauty and charm in every new, and old, place you go. Stay open-minded and appreciate where you have been and what you have.

In 2008 and 2009 I was fortunate enough to go on cruises to the Caribbean. It is just amazing how naturally beautiful everything is. There is vivid color everywhere, from the pristine beaches and landscape to the bright buildings and unique wildlife. This cruise to the Bahamas, in May 2012, was a little different. The other cruises I went on were with family, where here I was able to go with my boyfriend and his family, for whom it was their first cruise. I loved being able to experience all of it together and go on new adventures. From nightlife and shopping, to pristine beaches and fabulous snorkeling, there was never a dull moment.

Sneak peek image: Cruisin’ to Miami + Nassau + Coco Cay + Key West

Be sure to click below to read more and check out the slideshow. Enjoy!

1. Flying into Miami a day early, we wandered around downtown soaking up the sun. Before we knew it, we were all settled on our Royal Caribbean ship and heading for Nassau. Having been here before, it was nice to recognize some familiar things and be able to play tour guide.

2. Nassau Excursion 1—snorkeling. We enjoyed a beautiful sunny afternoon on our catamaran heading out to an unbelievable area to do some snorkeling. I discovered snorkeling in 2008 on my first cruise and fell in love with it.
Here, my boyfriend John fell in love with it too. There’s something about being on top of the water yet able to see life below you and interact with it in a new way.

Nassau Excursion 2—sunset champagne cruise. After a wonderful day snorkeling with John’s family, the 2 of us were able to spend the evening together on our next excursion. We went back out on a catamaran and watched a breath-taking sunset over the blue water complete with champagne. What could top this day?

3. From there we sailed to Coco Cay. One of the previous cruises I went on before was supposed to have stopped here as well, but due to bad weather we weren’t able to that time. So, I was very excited to get to finally check it out and thrilled when I found out it was going to be beautiful weather. We spent the day exploring the sandy trails, swimming in the crystal clear water and lounging on hammocks. There are no words to describe it—it was perfect.

4. Next we headed back to Florida to Key West. I have been to Tampa, Orlando and Miami but hadn’t been here before. The next adventure was our Key West Excursion—parasailing. Every time I go somewhere tropical I want to try it but chicken out. This time, I was doing it! Knowing John would be by my side helped. We headed off to the dock to meet our boat where we got the run down and met the group we’d be going with. We ended up meeting a couple from DC, and the girl was more scared than I was of doing it. When we arrived it was getting cloudy and I was praying it wasn’t going to rain. As we sailed away from the dock the sun made an appearance, which I was very grateful for. When it was finally time to go, I took a deep breath and told the guy, “Let’s do this!” and off we went. I am scared of heights, but as we were going higher and higher all I could think about was the wind in my hair, the beautiful scenery below me… and of course grasping onto John’s arm for dear life. Once we got to the top and were just gliding along it was really like nothing I’ve experienced before. A nice surprise to end our turn was being dunked into the water. I am so glad I conquered one of my fears and now I would definitely go parasailing again! Plus, Key West was so charming and I loved the vibe there.

5. From here we headed back to Miami. Although our short but sweet cruise was over, our vacation wasn’t. We stayed in Miami for a few nights at the Eden Roc Hotel, enjoying some more sun and beautiful beaches. We were able to see a Marlins vs. Mets game and explore the Bayside Marketplace. Of course, our trip wouldn’t have been complete without experiencing the nightlife scene. One of my favorite places was Finnegan’s River, where people literally were pulling up on their boats to grab a drink. What a life.

After a wonderful trip we headed home—returning with wonderful memories, a beautiful tan and of course, lots of photos. As much as I love traveling and seeing new places, after it is all said and done, there really is nothing like home and appreciating what you have.