PUERTO RICO:
When I was a child, my family spent three Christmases in Puerto Rico. I have fond childhood memories of it. After Frank and I married and had Hartly, We still loved traveling. We still loved the warm and getting away for pockets of time during long grey Winters in DC/MD/VA area. But Frank still had work and his Real Estate Company, Frankly Real Estate, to run. At the time he didn’t have many clients but he did have a couple. He also had many agents and he was constantly brainstorming ways to market his company and improve his website, as well as constantly creating new websites. Going out of the country was too difficult (more than once a year). The distance, time change and crazy cell phone/internet rates and lack of access made it impossible for him to get anything done. We tried Florida a few times (and still love and go there often) but in the middle of Winter, it was too cold for shorts and swimming in the ocean. With California we ran into the long travel time (with a baby) and time change that made it hard for Frank to work. We were not looking for a vacation spot. We were looking for a relocation spot. We needed to find a place that was:
WARM
IN USA
CLOSE BY
Puerto Rico fulfills all those requirements plus so much more.
WEATHER: The average temperature during the day in the dead of Winter in Puerto Rico is 83 degrees fahrenheit. It rarely goes below 80 or above 86. Perfection!
US TERRITORY: While Puerto Rico is not a state it does fall under the term of US territory and, as such no passport is needed to go there. It has many advantages of being in the US (almost everybody speaks some english, internet and cell phone is the same, currency is the same) with a lot of the benefits of visiting another country (Puerto Rico has its own culture, and sounds, sights, smells and language that is wonderful to experience).
CLOSE BY: For us, direct flight to Puerto Rico is only 3 hours and 30 minutes (give or take depending which airport you leave from and wind that day). And there is only one hour time difference (it is an hour earlier in Puerto Rico than DC)
The first year Frank and I went, Hartly was just 1 ½. We checked out a lot of the island that year when we realized we would be returning. We kept extending our ticket home and ended up staying almost 8 weeks.
In the 8 years we have been going (9 times because one year I took the boys who were in their babysitters wedding and she is Puerto Rican), we have checked out lots of the island. Our main place we stay for the bulk of our visit is DORADO.
DORADO:
Dorado is in the North Central part of the island. It is about a 30 minute drive West of San Juan (main city and where main airport is).
When we travel, we, as I mentioned, are not vacationing. Frank works a lot of the time and in order to go for 2-3 weeks at a time, we are not looking for fancy but for convenience and liveability.
PLACES WE STAY IN DORADO:
We stay at Aquarius (also named Golden Sands) because it has washer/dryer and a kitchen. We love the ground level room 2188. We eat a lot of our meals at our kitchen when we travel. We also love Aquarius because it is attached to another hotel so we get to use the hotels pool and my children love socializing with the guests that come and go. It is also right on the beach. For us, it is ideal. I believe Embassy Suites has deals with food and drinks and packages for those who are into or make use of those types of things. Parking and the beach is also much further with Embassy. It is not for our family.
This is probably a good time for a bit of a reality check or REMINDER. Puerto Rico has been in a recession for over a decade now. Close to 50% of the people there live below the poverty line. It was already in crisis when Hurricane Maria hit the island a year and a half ago (September 16th, 2017-October 2nd, 2017). It is a VERY poor island. It NEEDS tourists now more than ever. But it is not fancy-schmancy. The people (from our experience) are all very nice and lovely. It is clean and beautiful. And there are many abandoned and run down buildings and just poverty all around. Keep your expectations in line with this information and knowledge.
And now a ton of photos from our time over the years at Aquarius!
PLACES TO VISIT IN DORADO:
- We mostly stay at our hotel and play at the beach and pool all day, and take long walks on the grounds
FOOD PLACES WE LOVE in DORADO:
- We really enjoy this place! It has great ambiance and friendly wait staff. They have a few “kid” tables which my boys LOVE to sit at solo (and have even written and performed a song about). In general, for us being vegan, most places we eat: rice, beans, tostones… And this meal (plus meat) is the staple of most food places in Puerto Rico.
[INSERT VIDEO SINGING SONG]
- We love eating outside at this restaurant (we have never eaten inside here - side note: bug spray in evenings in Puerto Rico is highly advised). The kids can run around a little before the food comes and Frank and I like to spend as much time outside as we can when we travel. The servers have always been helpful and nice. Same type of food - cuban/latin. We love and think it is delicious. Bring bug spray.
- In addition, this shopping center is one we go to often. There is a drive-thru Starbucks as well as a cute surf shop with cute bikinis and board shorts. There is also a little pharmacy (where you can get bug spray if get there for dinner early enough and have forgotten the bug spray).
- So this is not our favorite restaurant because not a ton of vegan options but I want to put it here because I think non vegans would love it. It is super cute and fun and near the “town center” of Dorado. Again, we sit outside and it is fun to watch people and cars going by. Puerto Rico has cars that go by blaring music and its fun. And they have high top tables and high stools and kids and I really like it.
- There is no website I could find for this place but it's behind Church’s Chicken in Dorado (few blocks before drive thru starbucks… dorado small). It's a pharmacy that has a juice/acai bar at front and its super yummy. Very fresh and not like so many other places that have added tons of preservatives and sugar. They cut fruit fresh daily and make their own granola. I highly recommend for a delicious treat.
- Orient House (across from Embassy suites)
- Hartly especially loves this place and we have had date nights there over the years
ARECIBO:
PLACES TO VISIT IN ARECIBO:
- ARECIBO OBSERVATORY - Nothing here except the observatory. It's a long drive from Dorado and in the middle of country with bad cell service… But our oldest loves it. It was home to the largest radio telescope until a few years ago (2016) when China finished theirs. It is now 2nd largest radio telescope in the world and its impressive. There is a small museum, a short film about the telescope and what the scientist do there and a cute gift shop. I enjoyed it the first year. The 2nd and 3rd year… not so much. Hartly likes to go every year. The rest of us are over it lol But if you have a long stay and want a fun few hour adventure, it is neat. Know your audience.
GUAYNABO:
ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PLACES TO VISIT GUAYNABO:
LA MARQUESA (currently closed for unforeseeable amount of time due to Hurricane Maria damage)
SAN JUAN:
PLACES TO VISIT IN SAN JUAN: - We like going once a year for 1/2 a day or so to explore Old San Juan and San Juan. We like going to the Fort/Castle and walking the grounds and seeing the movie on the history of it and standing in the old towers that the guards used as look outs so long ago. The boys love running down the huge hills and climbing the castle walls. The city has a few favorite places we like to pop into and vendor drinks and foods as we explore. There are a couple of restaurants that have vegan options and it is fun to take the ferry over and back. If you are visiting for more than 4 or 5 days, I recommend you do a day trip there.
- Butterfly People
- Ferry to San Juan from Catano (20 min from Aquarius)
PLACES TO EAT IN SAN JUAN:
- Cafe Berlin (Old San Juan)
- St Germain Bistro & Cafe (Old San Juan)
- Peace N Loaf (outer San Juan)
FAJARDO:
PLACES TO STAY IN FAJARDO:
- Fajardo Inn was NOT great and pricey.
- El Conquistador (closed in 2019... check back because amazing!)
- Wyndham Resort - has small waterslide. Parking $20. Beach close, but not amazing. Oftentimes Priceline Name Your Price will pick this resort.
- AirBHB near Wyndham. Ask if you can use the Wyndham pool. Otherwise you can use the pool of the AirBNB community, but it will have no people and not near the beach. Some come with a golf cart.
PLACES TO VISIT IN FAJARDO:
- El Yunque Rainforest (waterfall, bring suit) There are a lot of options when it comes to this Rainforest. Drive up and stop at lookout spots only. You can also do a hike in to a (freezing) waterfall. Its pretty (though can be chilly bc all shaded) and we highly recommend it as a fun activity.
- Yunque Ziplining (min age 7 or 8) Hartly absolutely loved it!
- Biobay at night. Electric boat or kayak (minimum ages for the Kayak)
FOOD PLACES IN FAJARDO:
- Degrees 18 Juice Bar - Can't rave about this awesome place enough. The people are super friendly and authentic and the vibe is so chill and relaxing and loving. There are a ton of delicious options and all 5 of us love it! Plus, the people working there always are full of information if you have any questions about activities or places. This is the real deal. We have now made a tradition of even going on our way to the airport out of town to get one more bite!
- Luquillo Kioscos - about 4 miles away, 20 restaurants side by side. I need more photos. Check out the website link. It is a pretty cool place. Looks like open aired on both sides places side by side by side. Tons of food and cute shopping options. Tayo and Tatiana and I hung out at the beach behind the stores (after getting Tayo a crazy pineapple drink because he was sad he was too young to zip line) while we waited for Frank and Hartly to finish their ziplining activity. Great and fun place.
- Lolitas (on way back to San Juan)
RINCON:I need more photos from here. This is where I spent my childhood visiting. Its very popular among the surfers. We have fun when we've gone but it is many hours drive.
PLACES TO STAY IN RINCON:
PLACES TO VISIT IN RINCON:
- Watch surfers
PLACES TO EAT IN RINCON:
There is a sushi bar with an outdoor movie screen.
VIEQUES:
PLACES TO STAY IN VIEQUES:
Hacienda Tamarindo This is at the edge of the only downtown area, can be loud on weekends with cars with loud music doing drivebys. Esperanza is the area name I believe.
PLACES TO VISIT IN VIEQUES:
- Biobay here is better than Fajardo by far. Look for glass bottom Kayaks if possible.
- No need to rent a car, there are shuttle van taxis that charge a couple bucks a person.
PLACES TO EAT IN VIEQUES:
PLACES TO STAY IN CULEBRA:
- Culebra Beach Villas - right on the Flamenco beach. It has 20 rooms, we prefer the single ground level villas. There is also a Villa Flamenco next door, that is much smaller, 4 units. Very limited food, some kiosks down the beach that close at 4 or 5pm.
PLACES TO VISIT IN CULEBRA:
$5 per person to take taxis/vans from the port or restaurants to the hotel.
- Rent a Golf Cart (no kids under a certain age). Carlos Jeep Rental for about $40 a day for the golf cart. Actual Jeeps were like $90 a day. They will have pick up signs at the port. Call if nobody is there. Or you can walk 1 mile to the location.
PLACES TO EAT IN CULEBRA: - Zaco's Tacos This place is in "town". It was fun to leave our little isolated area and get out for one night. There were a lot of "locals" (transplants now living there) and the vibe was fun. There was 80s music playing the whole time we were there and the food was good.
And that's about it. I have way more photos and probably a lot more information too but this will have to do for now...
BIG THANKS TO THIS GUY WHO WORKS HIS BUTT OFF ALL YEAR, ALL THE TIME IN ORDER TO ALLOW ME TO HOMESCHOOL AND US TO TRAVEL!!!
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| Frank works really hard in order for us to travel! Never a day off! (note this photo is old, there is now a tall white fence) |
FAMILY PHOTOS I LOVE FROM OVER THE YEARS JUST BECAUSE: (I am super lucky that my sister has been able to come a bunch of times and spend a few days with us!!)
IN CONCLUSION - YOU SHOULD COME TO PUERTO RICO!!!
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