1. Belize

2. Panama

3. Nevis: Not Just Another Caribbean Island

4. Tampa Bay, Florida: Sunshine State of Mind

5. The Bahamas: Choose Your Own Tropical Adventure

The Bahamas are like a box of chocolates for beach lovers – you never know what you’re gonna get, but it’s all delightful. Cat Island is your go-to for quiet beaches where the waves gently kiss the shore. For those who prefer their beach days with a side of luxury, Nassau’s mega-resorts offer opulence and maybe a celebrity sighting or two. It’s a place where the hardest decision you’ll make is between the beach chair or the hammock.

• Cat Island Bahamas Travel Guide
• Baha Mar Resort a Perfect Bahamas Getaway
• The Cove at Atlantis Review
• Best Natural Spots in the Bahamas

6. Riviera Maya

7. Costa Rica

Costa Rica is where you go when you want adventure, wildlife, and beaches—all in one trip. Zip-line through the cloud forests of Monteverde, spot sloths and monkeys in Manuel Antonio National Park, or soak in the volcanic hot springs of Arenal. If surfing is on your bucket list, Tamarindo is one of the best places to learn. For something unique, take a night tour to see bioluminescent waters glow as you paddle through. And, of course, Costa Rica’s motto is “Pura Vida” (Pure Life), so expect to slow down, relax, and live in the moment.

Wrapping It Up

Whether you’re looking for adventure, history, relaxation, or a mix of all three, these destinations promise one thing: no winter blues in sight. So, grab your swimsuit, book that flight, and trade the snow for sun. After all, the only ice you should be dealing with is in your tropical cocktail.

Read Next:

• Warm Places To Visit In January in the United States
• Best Beaches To Visit In November In USA

Get Travel Insurance

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).

Book Flights

I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! Another option for finding deals is FlightHub.

Book a Place to Stay

I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.

If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO. If you are looking for a hostel, I use HostelWorld.

Choose Activities and Tours

To find great activities in any area I use Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass, PogoPass, and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.

When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I use Apple Vacations.

Rent a Car or Get a Lyft

More often than not, Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Hertz or Discover Cars.

Save Money on Gas

Upside a free app gets you cash back on gas! Use promo code RV2Q2 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus on your first purchase.

Get a Visa

I use iVisa to get all of my Visas.

Travel Printables

If you found this information helpful consider buying me a cup of coffee aka helping me pay to put kids through college! Just scan the QR code or click the link. As always, thank you for your support!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended but doesn’t cost you any extra. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

The post 7 Winter Getaways – Escape the Cold! appeared first on Mommy Travels.

Day 1: Arrival and Exploration

Morning: Check-in at Marriott Water Street

Our adventure began at the Marriott Water Street, a prime choice for families with teenagers. The sleek design and vibrant atmosphere of the hotel instantly captivated us. The highlight for the teens was undoubtedly the rooftop pool, a perfect hangout spot, complete with games and a stunning view of the city. It’s a little oasis where they could chill and socialize. Check current rates on Marriott and here’s a little video I made of the hotel.

Lunch: Sparkman Wharf

My kids were starving of course, because teens are always starving from what I can tell. For lunch, we headed to Sparkman Wharf. This bustling outdoor food hall offers a variety of cuisines that cater to all tastes, making it a hit with the teens.

When we happened to go it was raining badly and many eateries were closed, so we decided to eat inside at Splitsville. We feasted on everything from artisanal pizza, salads, to Asian fusion Afterwards we spent some time bowling. They offer regular bowling, feather bowling, ping pong, billiards, foosball, darts, and shuffleboard. It’s the perfect spot for rainy day activities!

After bowling, we decided to grab a treat at the Hampton Chocolate Factory where they make insanely good ice cream concoctions. They are huge, so two people could easily split one. Ask for a little tray that way when you do not eat it fast enough it’s not dripping all over and instead it’s dripping in a tray. How do I know this? Well, I won’t say who, but one of us made a huge mess! (cough, eden, cough)

Lucky for use, the weather cleared up and that meant we could puch forward doing some fun activities. 

Afternoon: Tampa Riverwalk and the Attraction Pass

Post-lunch, we went to check out a couple of attractions. The Riverwalk Attraction Pass is a must-have, granting access to multiple attractions. We visited the Florida Aquarium and the American Victory Ship & Museum, both offering engaging experiences that even my screen-obsessed teens found captivating. I had hoped to make it over to Tampa Bay History Center but we ran out of time.

After a few activities and despite eating a massive lunch and massive ice cream, once again they were starving. so off to dinner we went. 

Dinner: Anchor and Brine at the Marriott Water Street

Tonight go easy on yourself and enjoy dinner at Anchor and Brine inside your hotel. They’ve got an extensive seafood menu as well as some great non-seafood options too. I don’t eat seafood and I loved their steak option. The views are great and on a nice evening, it’s delightful to sit out on the large patio.

Day 2: Adrenaline and Leisure

Breakfast: Oxford Exchange

We started our day at Oxford Exchange. The trendy, book-lined café with its artisan coffee and wholesome breakfast options was a great hit. The teens loved the Instagram-worthy décor and atmosphere.

Daytime: Busch Gardens

The highlight of our trip was Busch Gardens, an African-themed amusement park known for its thrilling roller coasters, exotic animal encounters, and entertaining shows. The teens were ecstatic, diving into the adrenaline-pumping rides while I enjoyed the serene wildlife exhibits.

Here are ten electrifying highlights that are sure to make any teen’s visit unforgettable:

1. SheiKra: Dive into excitement on SheiKra, North America’s first dive coaster, offering a 200-foot drop straight down at a 90-degree angle. It’s a heart-pounding experience that provides an adrenaline rush like no other.
2. Cheetah Hunt: Feel the speed on Cheetah Hunt, a triple-launch coaster that mimics the agile predator’s high-speed chases. It’s a fast-paced thrill ride that zips and zooms through the park, making it a must-ride for speed demons. No joke, this thing is so fast. You’ve been warned!
3. Falcon’s Fury: Experience the thrill of free fall on Falcon’s Fury, North America’s tallest freestanding drop tower. Brace yourself for a 335-foot plunge that will have your heart racing and your spirit soaring. (I refused to ride this.)
4. Serengeti Safari: Take a break from the thrills and embark on a Serengeti Safari. This open-air touring vehicle takes you up close to African wildlife, where you can hand-feed giraffes and observe fascinating animals in their naturalistic habitats. (This particular experience does cost extra. I felt like it was 100% worth it.)
5. Montu: Test your courage on Montu, one of the tallest and longest inverted roller coasters in the world. With seven inversions, high speeds, and intense G-forces, it’s a whirlwind adventure that thrill-seekers won’t want to miss.
6. Kumba: Hear the roar of Kumba, a coaster that features one of the world’s largest vertical loops. The ride’s intense spirals, drops, and turns will leave you breathless and exhilarated.
7. Tigris: Brace yourself for Tigris, Florida’s tallest launch coaster, offering a thrilling experience with forward and backward launches, dramatic twists, and an inverted heartline roll at over 60 miles per hour.
8. Cobra’s Curse: Take on Cobra’s Curse, a unique spin coaster that puts you face-to-fang with an 80-foot snake icon, then sends you spinning through twists and turns. It’s an innovative ride that combines storytelling with thrilling action.

Lunch: Inside Busch Gardens

For lunch, we took advantage of the various eateries inside Busch Gardens. With options ranging from quick snacks to sit-down meals, there was something to satisfy everyone’s appetite amidst the excitement of the park. If you are still not done in the park by dinner time, just have dinner there.

Dinner: Columbia Restaurant

In the evening, we ventured to the historic Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. The Spanish and Cuban cuisines, along with the flamenco dance performance, offered a culturally rich dining experience. The teens were captivated by the vibrant history and lively atmosphere.

Day3: Become a Chocolatier & Dance the Night Away

Breakfast: The Brunchery

The Brunchery is a local favorite known for its cozy ambiance and classic breakfast offerings. Their pancakes, in particular, were a hit with the teenagers.

Mid-morning: Chocolate Making!

My kids LOVED making their own chocolate and so did I. Not only did we learn a ton but we all went home with our own giant candy bar creations. I highly recommend this as an activity for tweens or teens. The owner is super nice too! Oh, and the have ice cream. 

Lunch: Bavaro’s Pizza

I’ve thought a lot about what I am about to type. And after thinking about this for months I am ready to say that Bavaro’s Pizza is the best pizza I have ever had. Considering the ages of my kids you can only imagine how much pizza we have eaten in the last 17 – 23 years! I had the pizza with buratta and it slapped as did that meatball appetizer. Jonah and his friend got a more basic pizza which they anihilated so I am assuming it was quite good as well. 

Dinner: Yacht Starship Dinner Cruise

Cruise around Tampa Bay on the. they serve a nice dinner and when you are done you can head up top for some dancing. There’s a DJ up there spinning some great tunes. 

Day 4: Relaxation and Departure

Breakfast: Café Waterside

Our final day began with breakfast at the hotel at Cafe Waterside. You can order a la carte or they have a breakfast buffet. I got the Cuban benedict as seen above. 

Morning: Marriott Water Street

After breakfast, we spent the morning relaxing at the Marriott’s rooftop pool. This provided the teens with a final chance to enjoy the games and the Florida sun before our departure. The rooftop area is so great that you definitely want to make time to spend up here. I wish we could have had a bit more pool time but we got busy doing so much other stuff.

Lunch: Armature Works

We grabbed lunch at Armature Works. This modern food hall offered a diverse range of culinary options, from gourmet sandwiches to Asian delicacies, perfectly adding to our culinary adventures in Tampa. Everyone can order what they want and then meet back up. The outside area is nice too, so it would be a good place to sit if it’s not too hot. Plus, it’s a super cool-looking place. 

Afternoon: Shopping and Ice Cream

Head over to the super cute shopping area called Hye Park Village. They’ve got lots of adorable shops here including the largest Francescas I’ve ever been in. Some of the shops were $$$$. We went to the restrooms here and we discovered that red telephone booth which is a book swap. 

There is a tasty ice cream shop here, Oddfellows. They have some interesting flavors like wasabi infused ice cream with chocolate chunks or sweet cream ices cream with swirls of coffee caramel and chocolate cookie dirt. 

Ulele

If you have time for dinner before you fly out head to Ulele, a native-inspired restaurant and brewery. The unique menu, featuring items like alligator hush puppies, was adventurous yet appealing to the teens. The rustic, yet chic ambiance added to the experience.

Conclusion

Our weekend in Tampa Bay, with its perfect mix of thrills, culture, and relaxation, was a hit with the teenagers. From the exhilarating rides at Busch Gardens to the diverse culinary delights, every moment was filled with something new and exciting. As we boarded our flight home, discussions of our next adventure were already in the air, a testament to the unforgettable experiences we shared in Tampa Bay.

Read Next:

Florida’s Natural Wonders: Ginnie Springs, Everglades, and Crystal River

6 Best Things to Do in Sarasota

The post 4-Day Weekend Getaway to Tampa Bay appeared first on Mommy Travels.