#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Visit: Atlantis Aquarium {Nassau, Bahamas}

April 19, 2013 · Narrative

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When it comes to traveling, whether we are half an hour from home or thousands of miles away, I can guarantee one thing.

If there is a zoo or an aquarium or pretty much any place we can visit that has animals, we will be there.

Because my kids? Are crazy for animals. Nick actually just started volunteering with a local animal rescue group and will be also shadowing a vet soon. Stoked for him, but I need to contend with a five-year-old who doesn’t understand why she can’t do the same. Yet.

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So anyway. When one of our stops during Spring Break landed us in Nassau, Bahamas, I knew exactly what we would do with our afternoon there. Visit the aquarium at the Atlantis Resort. Because as much as I’ve heard stories of how beautiful the resort is, and how expensive that bridge suite is, I’ve also heard wonderful things about their aquarium.

And you know, my kids.

It was a given.

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We bought our tickets as an excursion, which meant it included a one hour guided tour of the aquarium and then we were free to roam about on our own afterwards. If *you* happen to go, the one hour guided tour felt really rushed. Because the property is huge, the aquarium is all over and not just one contained area, and there was a LOT to cram into that one hour.

The property is gorgeous. And spotless. It reminds me a bit of Disneyworld in that there are thousands upon thousands of people there and yet you don’t see a speck of garbage anywhere. And you don’t see people cleaning really either. So I don’t know how they do it, but they do an awesome job of it.

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Our tour guide was very well-versed in all the different species of fish she introduced us to, and there were quite a few that we haven’t see at other aquariums before (hello Caribbean!). A huge clownfish that changes sex from male to female (which is behind Nick in that picture above). A unusual but gorgeous jellyfish that I forgot the name of, but what I *do* remember is that it can squeeze you to death (pictured below). And the creepiest looking eel that I have ever seen. They didn’t move. Like ever (also pictured below). The biggest manta rays we’ve seen anywhere. And conch! We had the opportunity to touch one as it oozed out of its shell. I touched it (YOLO!), but the kids opted out. Little chickens.

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Of course at the conclusion of our tour, we conveniently ended up in the gift shop. Surprisingly, it was quite reasonably priced. Nick ended up with a snow globe (he collects them), they both ended up with rubber bracelets to support some cause, and Madeline went with a t-shirt. After her Mom explained that she had already bought two stuffed animals on vacation, and maybe that was enough?

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In a completely separate area of the resort, there is Dolphin Cay, which allows interaction with dolphins. If you know Madeline in real life (and even perhaps just from here), you know how obsessed she is with dolphins. Although the excursion to interact with them was sold out when I finally decided to go ahead with it, we managed to, um, find a way to sneak into that area. It’s the closest she has ever been to dolphins, and she was transfixed. I’m hoping, with fingers tightly crossed, that we have a dolphin interaction on tap for next month. But shhh…

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If you happen to find yourself in Nassau, I think the aquarium is definitely worth seeing. It’s expansive, you’ll see fish you won’t see stateside, and it’s positively gorgeous. And if you’re not staying at the resort or there on an excursion, go after 6 pm, and it’s f-r-e-e.

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Hungry for more aquariums?
You can check out our review on Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey right here, the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, Connecticut right here, and Jenkinson’s Aquarium here (just an fyi, Jenkinson’s was closed for quite some time during Hurricane Sandy, along with that whole area, so visiting them this summer would be a great way to support them).

Happy weekend!

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: aquarium, Atlantis, Bahamas, Caribbean, dolphins, Nassau, resort

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    April 20, 2013 at 6:24 am

    Wow that is a cool aquarium! Some of the excursions on cruises are total duds but this one sounds absolutely worth it!
    Joanne recently posted..Recipe: Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies ("the nora ephron")

    Reply
  2. Paula Ann says

    April 21, 2013 at 12:07 pm

    Atlantis has been on my bucket list for awhile. Too bad it’s so darned expensive. Oh well, maybe one day when we fall into a pile of cash… I had to opportunity to swim with dolphins in Puera Vallarta about ten years ago. It was wonderful! I can understand Madeline’s love for them. They are such gentle, beautiful creatures! I hope your surprise works out next month!!

    Reply
    • Cate O'Malley says

      April 21, 2013 at 8:20 pm

      You know, after visiting the place for an afternoon, I can’t say I’d feel compelled to go back and stay at the resort. Too expensive and, honestly, way too spread out. You need to take a shuttle bus to get to the various spots, and that just doesn’t seem very relaxing to me.
      Cate O’Malley recently posted..Visit: Atlantis Aquarium {Nassau, Bahamas}

      Reply
  3. Paula Ann says

    April 22, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    I appreciate your opinion, Cate! Maybe we’ll just scratch that one off… :)

    Reply
  4. patsy says

    April 24, 2013 at 8:53 am

    Cate – I agree with you on this resort! We went there as a 1 day excursion on a cruise we took. While it was nice enough, I don’t think it’s worth the expense to stay there. A friend did tell me that you can stay at the hotel across the street and still have access to the water park area at Atlantis… which works out a bit better for the vacation budget. :)
    patsy recently posted..Soyfoods Month!

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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