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Universal Orlando Resort: Where to Stay & Play for a Few Days

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My recent stay at Universal Orlando Resort was so much fun and I’m going to share and highlight my favorite moments with you. First and foremost, I stayed at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort on the property which allowed me early access (one hour) to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™. It was my first time experiencing Diagon Alley™. I took advantage of the complimentary shuttle service to Universal Studios Florida and was able to … [Read More...]

Life & Style

Navigating Disney World During a Pandemic

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I recently had an opportunity to visit Walt Disney World as part of my Goofy Getaways FAM Training. It was exciting and I was a bit anxious because even though some restrictions are being lifted, guidelines are more relaxed, and travel is starting to … [Read More...]

Strike a pose at Pose Selfie Studio

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I recently had an opportunity to visit the NEW Pose Selfie Studio in Raleigh, NC with my daughter and it was so much fun. The great thing about this studio is that you have all the tools you need to capture your perfect photos alone or you can go … [Read More...]

Taste the Flavors of St. Thomas USVI

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I am excited to be collaborating with my fellow foodie lover Hannah Victoria on this listing of places to eat in St. Thomas USVI whether you are visiting or local to the island. We are giving you our personal opinions based on our dining experiences … [Read More...]

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Navigating Disney World During a Pandemic

By

I recently had an opportunity to visit Walt Disney World as part of my Goofy Getaways FAM Training. It was exciting and I was a bit anxious because even though some restrictions are being lifted, guidelines are more relaxed, and travel is starting to … [Read More...]

Taste the Flavors of St. Thomas USVI

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I am excited to be collaborating with my fellow foodie lover Hannah Victoria on this listing of places to eat in St. Thomas USVI whether you are visiting or local to the island. We are giving you our personal opinions based on our dining experiences … [Read More...]

Food

Rosé All Day at Seasons 52

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I recently had the opportunity to experience the Seasons 52 Summer Menu paired perfectly with Rose cocktails. The menu changes with the season and I can really appreciate that. My reservation was for 7:00pm and it … [Read More...]

My Coki Beach Bag Essentials for a Full Day in St. Thomas

Coki Beach sits on the northeast coast of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, a small crescent of soft sand where the water shifts through every shade of turquoise. I arrived shortly after the dive shop opened, paid a few dollars for a snorkel set, and spent the next several hours drifting over coral heads dotted with parrotfish and sergeant majors. The beach is lively without being overwhelming, with local music drifting from a couple of food shacks and pelicans diving just past the swim line.

Packing for a full day there takes a little more thought than a quick dip at Bondi or a morning at Manly. The sun stays fierce well into the afternoon, the reef is rougher on certain days, and there is no shaded rental hut waiting with spare towels. After two trips to the island, I have refined my bag down to a reliable kit that keeps my family comfortable, protected, and entertained from the first swim to the last slice of coconut cake.

Sun protection that earns its place

Australian sun habits travel well. I treat reef-side mornings the way I would a long Saturday at Noosa, layering protection instead of relying on one tube of lotion. A reef-safe mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide goes on first, reapplied every ninety minutes once I am out of the water. I bring a small bottle for the bag and a backup tucked inside the car for the drive back to the villa, since running out mid-afternoon is the fastest way to turn a good day into a painful one.

A wide-brim hat, polarized sunglasses, and a long-sleeve UPF rashie round out the routine. The rashie is non-negotiable for the kids, especially during the first snorkel session when their backs face the sky for an hour. I also pack a lightweight cover-up for myself because tropical sun sneaks past even the best hat. Together these items replace what would otherwise be three or four thick sunscreen applications, and they keep everyone moving between the sand and the shade without a sticky sunscreen pause.

Hydration, snacks, and a little local flavour

The heat at Coki settles over you by mid-morning, so a proper hydration plan matters as much as sunscreen. I fill two insulated stainless bottles the night before and freeze one overnight so it still holds ice water by lunchtime. A flat of bottled water rides in a soft cooler alongside cold ginger beer and a few cans of coconut water, the kind you can buy from the cooler at the beach entrance or pick up at a corner store in Charlotte Amalie on the way over.

For snacks, I lean on things that survive the heat: dried mango, roasted cashews, trail mix, and a couple of protein bars stashed in ziplock bags. Fresh fruit works too, and I usually grab a pineapple from the roadside vendors on the drive back to the resort. Lunch happens at one of the shacks along the sand, where grilled lobster, johnnycakes, and fresh conch salad arrive without ceremony. Leaving a little room in the cooler for a cold drink from the bar means I never have to cut the afternoon short just because I forgot to eat.

Snorkeling gear and reef-ready extras

Coki is one of the easiest snorkel spots in the Virgin Islands, and bringing a few thoughtful extras makes the underwater part of the day far more enjoyable. The rental set from the dive shop is fine, but I always carry my own mask because a leaky rental mask is the quickest way to end a kid's snorkel session. A pair of neoprene socks protects feet from the broken coral near the entry point, and a small dry bag holds the phone, room key, and a slim waterproof camera.

I also pack a defogging solution made from baby shampoo and water in a travel bottle, which beats wiping a fogged lens with a sandy fingertip. A mesh laundry bag works perfectly for hauling wet gear back to the car and lets sand fall through instead of riding home in the suitcase. Anyone who has flown from Brisbane or Sydney with a suitcase full of damp towels will appreciate the simple trick of separating the wet stuff before the drive.

Comfort items that keep the day moving

Comfort items sound like extras until the third hour on the sand. I bring two oversized Turkish towels because they dry faster than terry cloth and shake the sand off with a single flick. A foldable beach blanket spreads out under the umbrella we rent from the local vendor, and a small inflatable pillow lets me actually nap between swims. A packable camp chair is worth its weight if anyone in the group has a sore back, which is common after long flights from Melbourne or Perth.

I also keep a small first-aid pouch with motion sickness tablets, adhesive bandages, and a few saline wipes. The walk back up from the sand is steep in places, so a sturdy pair of water shoes saves toes from the hot pavement. A pack of baby wipes handles sticky hands after conch fritters, and a roll of rubbish bags makes leaving the beach clean and easy. None of these items takes up much room, but together they turn a long beach day into something that feels relaxed rather than improvised.

Capturing the day without missing it

The reef, the pelicans, and the shifting water at Coki reward anyone who slows down enough to look. I keep a single camera strap short and pack a small lens cloth in a ziplock so spray and sand never ruin the shot. A portable phone charger lives in the cooler with the drinks, which keeps the battery alive for the long evening ahead. By the time the sun drops toward the hills behind us, the phone is full of short videos and the camera holds a few hundred stills I cannot wait to sort through back at the rental.

Whenever I am planning a beach day on St. Thomas, I usually pair it with a morning on a neighbouring island, and I always revisit a quiet walking list before the trip. If you want somewhere quieter with equally striking views, the guide to the most photogenic spots in St. John's National Park is a good place to start planning the next drive.

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