Over Winter? Me Too. Let’s Go to the Bahamas!

I think this winter will go down in history as the longest. winter. ever. Snow, sleet, icy roads, frigid temperatures, $400 heating bills — I’m over it. If you, too, are officially ready to tell this winter to suck it, I’ll let you in on a little secret that’s helping me get through to spring.

I’m talking about going to the Bahamas.

OK, maybe not right now. I mean, if you can swing it, go for it. But let’s assume you can’t just hop on a plane and leave endless winter behind for tropical paradise. Just go to the Bahamas in your mind.

I was fortunate enough to go for real in December, and we took a lot of photos during the trip so we could capture paradise and bring it back to Ohio with us. See how happy I was? I literally had this smile on my face for the entire trip. No kids. No work. No wifi (to speak of). No laundry, cooking or other housework bullshit. Just pure bliss.

The whole experience was like a dream. We left the kids at home with our amazing neighbors (possible candidates for sainthood?), and joined my parents, aunt and uncle, cousin and her husband, and my brother and sister-in-law for a week on Staniel Cay. Staniel Cay lies approximately 75 miles south of Nassau and 250 miles of southeast of Florida. The island itself is less than 2 square miles in area.

Each couple had our own bungalow on the water at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, an all-inclusive resort that’s small, authentic, low-key and impossibly gorgeous. Staniel Cay (pronounced “key”) is part of the Bahamian island chain called the Exuma Cays, so all you need is a boat (which came with our cottage) to explore the nearby islands, uninhabited beaches and snorkeling spots.

I’ve never snorkeled before. My first experience happened at Thunderball Grotto (featured in the 1965 James Bond film Thunderball), just a brief boat trip from our resort.

I was blown away. Once you put on that mask and breathing tube and start exploring what’s beneath the water’s surface, it really feels like you’ve entered a different world. Sounds corny, but I really felt like I was “just one of the fish” swimming around.

Swimming into the actual grotto (which is an underwater cave) was a bit of a challenge (the current can be strong) but totally worth it. There’s a whole coral reef ecosystem in there, and plus there’s the whole “I’M SWIMMING IN A FREAKIN’ CAVE” effect. We had to be careful not to touch any of the coral or sea life with our fins — it’s so fragile and we humans don’t need to screw things up with our clumsy ways.

How cute is this dog snorkeling with his person? What a trooper.

The rumors are true. Sunsets in the Bahamas are, indeed, breathtaking. (Sunrises, too, for that matter.)

Without light pollution to interfere, here’s a view of the night sky — more constellations than I knew existed!

My family cruised around in our respective boats seeking the next amazing beach. There were more to discover than we could possibly explore. Sand here feels like the silkiest, smoothest grains of sugar. And just about everywhere we went? No people. Just us. Totally eliminated my stereotyped view of the Bahamas as one big cruise-shippy tourist trap.

I much preferred checking out this enormous stingray from the comfort of our boat, rather than swimming with him. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t bother us, but just the same, the barbed stingers on that massive tail are nothing to mess with.

Underwater photos of the fish, coral and other sea creatures don’t do justice to the array of colors we saw while snorkeling. Something must happen to light when it goes through water, allowing human eyes to see a rainbow-like spectrum but limiting cameras to fewer colors.

Walking and cycling around the island, we noticed a lot of charming, rustic signs. They represent the people we met on Staniel Cay quite accurately — everyone was just as friendly, down-to-earth and welcoming as their signs.

I don’t know about you, but I never have enough time to read in regular life. During this vacation, I made up for lost time by tearing through two novels and a book of short stories my mom (retired English professor and avid reader) recommended. The club’s pool provided an ideal spot to recline and read to my heart’s content.

Hiking the rugged and beautiful north ridge of Staniel Cay, you can glimpse the strip of land between the rough Atlantic ocean waves and the more serene side blocked by the island.

My cousin Morgan (who just finished her first trimester of pregnancy when we arrived in the Bahamas) chowed down on one of the club’s most delicious dishes: Conch Fritter Po-Boy Sandwich. Good thing she was eating for two, ’cause those Po-Boys were huge!

The bar inside the Staniel Cay Yacht Club has so much rich history (established in 1956), as evidenced by the burgees hanging from the ceiling and all the historic photos and memorabilia displayed on the walls.

Brought by locals many years ago to Big Major’s Spot, Staniel Cay’s famous swimming pigs do greet you when you arrive in your skiff. We opted not to swim with these guys–cute as they were–because, well, you know what they’re probably doing in the water around you. Still, look at that snout! Awwww…

The clock hanging behind the yacht club’s bar pretty much summed up our vibe on this vacation. Looking at our photos makes me want to go back, like NOW! Until next time the magical alignment of the stars allows this trip to happen again, I’ll have to settle for going in my mind.