While Sarasota may be known for being a quiet town, there's plenty to do with the kids!  

First of all, the beaches are a big draw.… Siesta Key was rated the #1 Beach in the World last year by Dr. Beach.  With soft white sand, and calm waters, it’s a practically perfect beach for the kids (and adults!). Other beaches right in the Sarasota vicinity are also nice, such as Lido Beach and Longboat Key, and you'll find several family-friendly beachfront resorts there as well.

Venturing south from Siesta Key, be sure to take your kids to Venice Beach, known as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World! (There's even an annual Shark's Tooth Festival every April celebrating this!) But don’t worry: there aren’t thousands of sharks lurking off shore waiting to take a bite out of you - what you'll find in the sand are primarily prehistoric fossils that wash up over time.  Whether you stop at Venice Beach, Casparan Beach, or Manasota Beach, you’re bound to come home with some unique finds!

If you can tear the kids away from the beach, they'll be happy at G.WIZ, short for “Gulf Coast Wonder & Imagination Zone”.   With 33,000 square feet of interactive exhibits, there’s sure to be something your child will enjoy.  There are plenty of permanent and special exhibits for kids to explore, including a race track and a game called MindBall ("Compete against a friend to see who can move matter with their mind!").  For the younger set, there's even a "tot zone". Opening in 2012 is a Medical Simulation exhibit as well as a robotics lab. And for inventors of all ages, an all-access pass to a real fabrication laboratory (“fab lab”) is available so you can build your own invention from scratch!  Click here to find out what you can actually make in a Fab Lab!

The Mote Marine Laboratory is one of the country’s leading facilities for marine research.  Through their aquarium, and a variety of outreach programs, such as camps, school programs, lecture series, and more, Mote hopes to educate visitors on the importance of marine conservation and research.  At the Mote Aquarium, you’ll find touch tanks, interactive exhibits, and the opportunity to see a variety of marine wildlife up close, including sharks, dolphins, manatees, and sea turtles.  Through Mote’s Center for Shark Research, you can view several species of sharks, and see how researchers have learned to train sharks at a Narrated Training Session. At the Seahorse Conservation Laboratory, Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital, and Dolphin and Whale Hospital, the focus is on conservation and keeping animals healthy; you can even adopt an animal of your choosing.  If you visit before mid-April 2012, you’ll also get to see a special temporary exhibit, Penguin Island!

Nearby Mote, each Sunday at 2pm (except in summer), there’s a free water ski show right in the Sarasota Bay called Ski-A-Rees.  Professional water skiiers put on a stunt-filled performance that everyone is sure to enjoy.  And did I mention it’s free?!  Also on Sundays (and also free), about an hour before sunset, head over to public beach at Siesta Key for the Drum Circle...there are drummers (of course), belly dancers, and plenty of curious onlookers for this unique event. 

Just east of Sarasota you’ll find the Myakka River State Park.   It's one of Florida’s largest state parks, and is easily explored by hiking, biking, canoeing, or kayaking.  A main attraction is the Myakka Canopy Walkway, the first public treetop trail in North America.  Suspended 25 feet in the air, you'll literally walk through the trees to a 74-foot tall tower with even more spectacular views.  Be sure to get out on the water and explore the Myakka River by canoe or kayak.  If that's too strenuous, opt for an airboat tour on the Gator Gal, one of the world’s largest airboats! 

For closer animal encounters, visit Sarasota Jungle Gardens, one of the longest-operating attractions in Florida (it opened in 1940!). Kids will enjoy shows featuring birds of prey, exotic birds, and reptiles. You can even hand-feed a flamingo - definitely a one-of-a-kind experience! A new playground and 10 acres of tropical gardens are an added bonus.

And last, but certainly not least, consider a visit to the Ringling Museum.  John Ringling, of Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus fame, made Sarasota the winter home for his circus in the 1920s.  Today, you can visit the entire estate, which consists of the Ringling’s 36,000 square foot mansion, a museum housing their personal art collection, a circus museum, and more.  Even though a museum complex isn't a "typical" kid-attraction, families (and strollers) are welcome; the Ringling Museum even has some fabulous suggestions on enjoying your visit with children. On the second Saturday of each month from 12pm to 2pm, there is a special family-friendly event called Center Ring Saturdays at the Circus Museum: a circus performer takes visitors “behind the scenes” and shares their insights on what it’s like to be part of the circus.  

So when you visit Sarasota with your family, you'll have the opportunity to do more than just enjoy the best beach in the world.  Your kids can also search for fossils, create their own invention, see sharks up close, watch a water-skiing stunt show, experience a drum circle at sunset, take a walk in the treetops, go kayaking or canoeing, feed a flamingo, and learn what it's like to be a circus performer...  Contact Sunshine Travel to find the best Sarasota lodging (at the best price) for your family's needs!

If you’ve been following this blog, you know that I recently sailed on the Allure of the Seas and Disney Dream within about a month of each other.  These are two of the newest ships at sea, and both are heavily marketed towards families.  Since I traveled with 4 kids, ranging in age from 2 to 10, I was able to really put all of the childrens programs to the test.  Read on to see how the ships stack up!  This post is all about childcare for babies under 3 on both ships.

About the Nursery: While a nursery for babies has been a part of Disney Cruise Line since their inception, Royal Caribbean recently launched the Royal Babies & Tots Nursery on the Oasis and Allure of the Seas (and seeing the popularity, added the Nursery to several other ships in the fleet).  If you’re going to cruise to the Caribbean or Bahamas, these are the only ships available that offer guaranteed childcare throughout the day and night for babies and toddlers.

Both cruise lines ask that you provide a change of clothes, diapers/wipes, and any other necessity your child requires (we packed a favorite stuffed animal).  Royal Caribbean provides a cute reusable bag that they label with your child’s name, and you can take it home with you after the cruise.

Rates & Availability: For both cruises, I didn’t have any trouble securing the times I wanted.  While I could pre-book some hours for the Dream online prior to the cruise, I could only make the Allure’s reservations in the Nursery once I was on the ship.  Both nurseries only allow a certain number of hours (I believe it was 10 hours on the 3-night Disney cruise, 20 hours on the 7 night Royal Caribbean), but you can add more hours later in the cruise if available.  And if you don’t think you want to use all the hours you reserved, both lines were very accommodating to cancellations, as long as you give them a little bit of notice. 

Disney’s rate is currently $6 per hour, and Royal Caribbean’s is $8 per hour.  Both require a 1 hour minimum.

Contact: On the Disney Dream, all staterooms are equipped with 2 “Wave Phones” that can be used to call or text any other wave phone or stateroom.  While this is a great way to keep in touch with those you’re traveling with, I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of toting around a phone to text or make calls…I’m on vacation!  That being said, we did keep it nearby when our son was in the nursery…just in case!

On the Allure of the Seas, you are given a “DECT phone” only if you register at the nursery.   Whenever you drop your child off there, be sure to keep the phone nearby in case you are needed.

The Play Space: On the Allure of the Seas, the Nursery is located in the same area as the older children’s activity rooms.  There is a glass wall and door with a full view of the room, so you can always peek in on your child (though they may see you!).  The reception area is very small, only really big enough for one family to enter and check-in at a time (it also makes the drop-off process feel more personalized and a little bit calmer).  The play area is large and wide-open, and the toys in the room are changed daily.  Being a partner with Fisher Price and Crayola, there is no shortage of kid-appropriate toys in the room!  There is also separate area with cribs for when the little ones get tired and want to sleep.  

On the Disney Dream, the setup of the play space is a little bit different.  There is a large reception area, where many families can be checking in at one time, and a small play area for kids and siblings while they wait.  There is one doorway where the babies enter into a corridor filled with a variety of toys.  Beyond that, the room opens up into an area off to the side that you cannot see from the reception area, as well as another room in the back with cribs. 

Interaction: Every time my son was dropped off on the Allure of the Seas, there were 3 counselors and no more than 4 children or so at any given time (maybe it was a quiet week?), so I know he was given extra-special attention.  Although he cried every time we dropped him off (he isn’t used to daycare or babysitters), the staff was caring and patient, and he always stopped crying within a few minutes.  By the end of the week, the counselors really got to know him, figured out his language, and even did a special finger-painting with him.  One night (with our permission), they brought the babies (in their strollers) to the parade in the Royal Promenade.  I know he really enjoyed that little “field trip”!  Every time we picked him up, the staff gave us a written report and explained to us what our son had done, how many times his diaper had been changed (and why), and on the night he ate dinner there, what he ate.

On the Dream, we were only onboard for 3 nights, and ended up using the nursery only once so we could have dinner at Palo (adults-only specialty restaurant).  Again, he cried when we dropped him off, but he quieted quickly, as we checked on him just before we set off to dinner.  When we arrived to pick him up, he was within view of the reception area, so we were able to watch him briefly before he noticed us.  He and another boy were having fun making noise by banging puzzle pieces on the table.  One counselor was sitting nearby with a little one on her lap.  There were quite a few children in the room, but I couldn’t see any other counselors (they were around the corner, I’m sure!).

When I picked him up, I asked the counselor what he ate for dinner (he was there from 5:30pm to 8pm).  No one seemed to remember, but after consulting a list, it turned out he didn’t eat anything (this was probably because that night’s dinner was corn-dogs - NOT a favorite for him!).  I have no idea what he actually did in the time he was there, but he was happy and healthy, and we enjoyed our one quiet dinner.  After our experience on the Allure of the Seas, I think I would have liked some feedback on what he did while he was there, especially a note that he hadn’t eaten any dinner.

The Winner:  While I think both nurseries provided overall good care for my son, and I wouldn’t hesitate to use either one again in the future, I think Royal Caribbean’s Royal Babies & Tots Nursery wins.  I think my son did receive more personal care and attention there, but that could be attributed to the fact that there were less babies on the cruise, and we were onboard for a week (more time for the counselors to get to know him).  The nicest touch was the personalized feedback they provided at the end of each session letting you know what your child did while they were in the nursery.   

When my first child was born, I insisted that I wasn’t going to let a baby take over my life.  Unhappy about images of a house taken over by toys and baby-proofed with all sorts of locks and padded corners, I naively set out to keep all of this in check.   I kept driving my convertible, with her car seat safely secured in the back.  And of course, we continued to travel. 

By the time she took her first cruise (at age 4 months), she had already been to Disney World and a plane trip to Vermont and Montreal to see fall foliage.  She obviously doesn’t remember any of it, and it was clearly more for us than for her, but it’s just a note to all parents that just because you have a baby doesn’t mean you have to stay home!  With some advance planning and knowledge of what to expect, it’s entirely possible to have a very nice family vacation with a baby.

Here are what I consider to be the top 5 points to consider before you cruise with a baby:

How important is babysitting?

If getting some mom-and-dad alone time is important to you, you’ll need to know if your cruise will offer any kind of babysitting for little ones and what the extent of it might be. Only a handful of cruises offer an actual nursery where you can leave your baby in good hands while you have a quiet meal or take part in other shipboard activities (this is a separate charge from your cruise fare, and space may be limited) .  While some ships offer in-room private babysitting, they generally require children to be at least 1 year old.

If you don’t need a babysitter, keep in mind that most ships will allow you to accompany your baby into the children’s facilities to play or borrow toys (although they may not always be suitable for infants); you just can’t leave your little one there while you head out for a spa treatment.  Also, some cruise lines offer parent/child playgroups for babies and organized morning stroller walks, which is a nice way to socialize with other parents onboard.

Where do you want to go on your cruise? 

If you just want to sail to the Caribbean or the Bahamas, then there shouldn’t be any problems, as long as everyone in the family has proper travel documents (such as a passport).  Some lines allow babies as young as 12 weeks to sail.  But if you want to go somewhere more far-flung, like Hawaii, South America, or a Transatlantic crossing, babies will generally need to be at least 12 months old.

Does your baby like to swim?

Keep in mind that public health regulations prohibit babies in diapers (any kind, including swim diapers and pullups) from using the pools onboard.  However, there are some ships that have specially-designated water play areas just for babies.  If your baby loves the water, you may want to consider one of the ships that will accommodate your little one.  And please, whatever you do, do not think that is ok for your baby to swim in the regular pools just by removing their diaper!

What is your budget?

Your budget for the trip will determine what kind of room you will reserve. Most cabins can accommodate a baby as a 3rd guest in a room, and cribs or pack-n-plays are generally available.  It is important to note that you will have the pay the going rate for a 3rd guest in a room, even though your tiny traveling companion won’t be eating or taking up much space in your room.  

Many families that travel with a baby prefer to choose a room with a balcony.  This way, when the baby naps or goes to bed early at night, mom and dad can relax on the balcony without having to whisper in the dark.  Sometimes, it can even be beneficial to opt for a mini-suite or a suite: not only do they come with extra pampering perks for mom and dad, but also the rooms are larger and they generally have a bathtub (instead of a small shower that is standard in most cruise cabins).

Do you think your baby will be happy?

An old adage in the life of a parent goes something like, “Happy Baby, Happy Parents”.  Obviously, your baby isn’t going to have any idea that they are on vacation on this fabulous cruise ship.  But around the age of 4-6 months, babies tend to fall into a regular routine, and with some luck, they might even be sleeping through the night.  If you think you’ll be able to stick (somewhat) to your baby’s regular naptimes and feeding times, there’s no reason why you can’t take a cruise.  Your baby will be coddled by all the staff on board, and will love getting rocked to sleep by the ocean waves.  And best of all, you’ll be able to spend family time together, without the intrusion of having to do laundry, cook meals, and other household chores!

There are several factors involved with planning a cruise with a baby – these are just a few.  Contact Sunshine Travel today so we can help you get started!