Aruba:
A Tropical Family
Adventure TEXT Britni Petersen
W hen I first thought
of Aruba, the words
“honeymoon,” and
“romantic getaway”
came to mind. I imagined an island
full of relaxed, vacationing couples,
sipping on tropical drinks along clear
water beaches – enjoying some quality
time alone. However, after spending a
few days on a press trip to the exquisite
Aruba Marriott Resort & Casino with
my fellow FAMILY coworker, we
quickly learned that Aruba is much
more than a quiet, exotic haven for
couples. We discovered an adventurous
and playful vacation spot ideal for the
whole family!
FOOD Our first night, we were escorted to one
of the hotel’s main restaurants, Simply
Fish. The restaurant is located directly
on the beach, so you can sit, wiggle your
toes in the sand and feel the ocean breeze
while savoring your food. And since we
all know it’s hard to enjoy a fine meal
with a bunch of antsy and energized
kiddos, this restaurant location is ideal.

Kids can play in the sand while parents
relax and take in the view – a win-win!
The hotel offers so many dining options,
16 January 2016 washingtonFAMILY.com
from casual, light eating at the Hotel’s
Resort Café, to buffet, family-style dining
at La Vista. If you want privacy, you can
order room service and have your meal
set up on your patio, so you can still take
in the gorgeous beach view while you
eat. Just outside the resort, there’s a plethora
of Aruban food worth discovering. We
ventured to the famous Linda’s Dutch
Pancakes to indulge in massive, “pizza-
sized” pancakes with a selection of more
than 60 savory and sweet toppings. Since
Aruba is part of the Dutch territory, this
is considered a cultural food staple.

We also discovered another cuisine hot
spot, The West Deck, located in Aruba’s
newest Linear Park. This beach deck
restaurant overlooks the water and is a
seafood-lover’s dream. You can truly feel
the spirit of the island as you feast on
tapas-style dishes among the locals while
gazing at the breathtaking sunset.

While it’s one thing to taste the delicious
Aruban cuisine, getting to cook your own
island specialty is another experience in
itself. The hotel offers cooking lessons
with the head chef, so we signed up for
a lesson on how to make Keshi Yena,
another signature Dutch dish consisting
of sliced gouda, chicken, peppers and a
spicy tomato-based sauce that eventually
gets melted to perfection.

This cooking lesson was an ideal activity
for kids as well as adults. The kids get a
special chef hat and apron, and the chef
guides them through the recipe with
individualized attention. As with most
activities at the resort, events are planned
with families in mind, and the hotel truly
provides a kid-friendly atmosphere.

BEACH LIFE
We could have spent every day simply
walking outside the hotel doors and
onto the gorgeous beach, and that would
have been satisfying enough. But, there
are so many other family-friendly island
outings and activities worth checking out
that are only a short ride away.

The hotel recommended we check out
the iconic Baby Beach, and I am still
in awe. Imagine the most crystal blue,
pristine, tropical island beach, and that’s
Baby Beach. As an added bonus, the
water is extremely shallow, calm and
clear, so parents don’t have to worry



about a strong current or unforeseen
deep water levels. It’s absolutely perfect
for families!
donkeys (a major plus for the kids)
and they even indulge you in “donkey
selfies!” For a fun afternoon activity, we took a
Beach Tennis (the official sport of Aruba)
lesson with a wonderful professional
instructor who taught the coordinated
(and not so coordinated!) of us the basics
of the sport. It was a fun, entertaining
way to get some exercise after a lazy
morning on the beach. Other local
activities include surfing, sailing, yoga
paddle boarding, pool aerobics, wind
surfing and more! And you can rent all
sorts of rafts and other floating gear –
anything beach-related you can think of,
they have it.

The next stop on our tour was The
Natural Pool, a small pool-sized oasis
near a stretch of the coastline perfect for
snorkeling — full of the most beautiful,
tropical and extremely colorful fish. And
for the truly adventurous, adrenaline-
seeking adults, it’s a perfect spot for cliff
diving. The Jeep excursion alone, without the
pit stops, is an adventure in itself. When
they say “off-roading,” they really mean
it. The tour takes you along uninhabited
island areas, from extremely bumpy and
rocky terrain, to deserted landscapes
and crystal shorelines. The experience is
truly unforgettable.

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Return Proof by di Fax
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or Email to Production@theFAMILYmagazine.com
ADVENTURE While typical beach relaxing and
water activities are what you expect
to do on a tropical vacation, we also
experienced another side of Aruba life
– the adventurous one. The hotel set us
up with De Palm Tours for a wild, off-
Check One:
roading experience. Our group piled
into a Jeep and spent the next four hours
Okay As checking
Is roaming across ❏ Aruba
out Approved and by: “adventure”
various scenic locations
spots. _________________
Our first stop ❏ along
the Changes
rocky terrain was
Needs Donkey Sanctuary, (Mark
a non-profit
changes on donkey
ad) farm. You can pet and feed the friendly
So if you’re looking to take a step
away from your usual OBX, Florida
or California family spring break or
summer beach vacation and take a
chance on something new, a trip to
Aruba’s Marriot Resort & Casino will
not disappoint. It has the best of both
worlds – the simplicity and serenity of
beach life like you’ve never experienced,
mixed with fun, exotic, once-in-a-lifetime
adventures. And now, when I think of Aruba, my
first thought is, when can I go back?
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