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How to Visit Key West with Kids

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If you think Key West is too hedonistic for families, think again. This compact city with its laid-back, barefoot attitude is the perfect place to bring the kids where they will be allowed to be, well, kids.

What to Do

Dry Tortugas National Park

Hit the beach. Keys beaches can feel a bit limited when compared to the Caribbean’s wide stretches of sand, but a pail and a shovel, or a boogie board, are enough to keep any kid happy for hours. For gear rentals and food trucks, head to Smather’s Beach. If you want to experience a bit of history and look at coral and other cool flotsam that has washed ashore, Fort Zachary Taylor is just the thing. It also has picnic tables and grills shaded by pine trees, food concessions and bathrooms, so plan to spend the day here and bring your hammock. Higgs Beach—Astro City Playground is a postage-stamp-size beach with a nearby playground. From the playground you’re also only three blocks away from the Southernmost Point for the obligatory Key West photo-op.

Visit a remote island. One of the U.S.’s most remote national parks, Dry Tortugas National Park hits all the marks when it comes to cool. First, to get to this park 70 miles off the coast of Key West, you have to take a ferry or, even better, a seaplane. Second, there is Fort Jefferson to explore, which includes cannons, a lighthouse, a moat, and 2,000 archways and five spiral staircases perfect for an epic game of hide-and-seek. Third, from the pristine beach you can snorkel among tropical fish that gather along pilings and the outside of the moat. Tip: If your family is prone to motion sickness, dole out the Dramamine for Kids half an hour before boarding the ferry.

Bike the Heritage Trail. The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail is a flat bike path that extends over 70 miles. In Key West, a short stretch of it hugs beautiful Smather’s Beach along A1A and beyond with gorgeous views of the Atlantic. Another kid-friendly spot is directly across A1A from the bike path: the Fort East Martello Museum, where tykes can climb to the top of the citadel tower, check out shipwreck exhibits, and look at “junk art” sculptures.

Watch the sunset at Mallory Square. Head down to Mallory Square for nightly street theater performances that begin at 5 pm and end when the sun sinks into the ocean. Where else can you see a slack rope walker juggle knives or a unicyclist ride around with lit torches? Some performances are more kid friendly than others, so just keep moving if you hear jokes geared to adults.

Rainy-Day Attractions

Key West Aquarium

Learn about the Keys’ Ecology. If a passing shower dampens the beach vibe at Fort Zachary Taylor, pop into the Eco Discovery Center, where everyone can learn about the unique Keys habitats. There are interactive exhibits and tropical fish in a 2,500-gallon tank.

Check out the aquarium. Touch tanks where you can see a live conch; shark and stingray feedings; and rehabilitated sea turtles up the typical aquarium ante at the Key West Aquarium.

Flit with the Butterflies. The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservancy is a great place to escape the heat or the rain as it’s totally glass enclosed, air conditioned, and beautifully landscaped. The whole family will need to be careful where they step and remain relatively quiet, but everyone will be filled with wonder while being surrounded by butterflies.

Have a fun history lesson. Between pirates, ghosts, shipwrecks, and hurricanes, history is anything but boring in Key West. Learn all about it at the Key West Museum of Art & History in the Custom House.

Parents Need a Vacation Too

Smather's Beach Sunset

Find your Zen. Parents can give each other a break from the kids and hit the lovely spas of Key West. If you only have an hour or two free, opt for an in-town spa like Ocean Wellness Spa & Salon. Or you and the family can make a day of heading to Sunset Key, just a 10-minute ferry ride away, to enjoy the sandy beach at the Sunset Key Cottages while you get a treatment at the Spa at Sunset Key. Beach passes are available at the concierge desk starting at 8 am (passes are limited). The $40 per person per day pass includes a towel, chair, umbrella, and the ferry ride to and from Key West. Children under 4 are free.

Yoga on the beach. For early-rising families, park the kids on the sand (supervised, of course), while you do Yoga on the Beach under the shade of pine trees at Fort Zachary Taylor. Classes are available every morning at 8:15 am.

Sip a sundowner. Who says you can’t enjoy a drink with the rest of the adult revelers? The line between bar and restaurant in Key West is a bit blurry. Many are open-air, have live music, and serve food, like the Sunset Pier at the Ocean Key Resort & Spa. Key West is one of the few places where you don’t have to miss out on live music because the kids should be in bed by the time the party starts. So sip a sundowner while your kids have an early dinner and everyone enjoys the party atmosphere.

Insider Tips

Mallory Square

Fly directly in and out of Key West International Airport (EYW). There’s no gangway, so you’ll have the decidedly old-school experience of walking off the plane via stairs. What you might save in airfare flying into Miami or Ft. Lauderdale you will end up spending on a car rental that will be a burden once you reach Key West.  Not to mention you’ll save yourself the four-hour road trip from Miami, on one-lane U.S. 1, in traffic.

Rent bikes, not a car. Key West is chock-a-block with bike rental companies that will bring bikes to your hotel and pick them up at the end of your stay and include everything from kids’ seats to helmets. You are allowed to bike on the sidewalk everywhere in Key West except Duval Street, so kids can stay safe off the street.

Where to Eat

Conch Republic

Two food groups are ubiquitous in The Conch Republic and must be sampled: fried seafood (including conch fritters) and Key lime pie. Many restaurants in Key West are outdoor-only or have plentiful outdoor seating—meaning kids don’t have to sit still, they often have fun surroundings to explore, and the kids’ noise is drowned out by live music, raucous adults, and the crowing of resident roosters. Cats, too, are known to wander through outdoor eateries, even at cloth-napkin spots.

The wait for a table at Blue Heaven can be long at breakfast, lunch, or dinner, but there’s a ping-pong table and sometimes a live band to keep everyone entertained.

Take the awesome fish sandwiches and conch fritters with house-made cocktail sauce to go from B.O.’s Fishwagon, or eat at a picnic table at this quirky outdoor restaurant and bar. The ramshackle establishment with a broken-down truck out front has an only-in-Key West feel.

Essentially a food truck with tables and an indoor bar, Garbo’s Grill makes for a great lunch stop. It was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives, so the secret of their Umami burger and Korean BBQ tacos is definitely out, but head here early and you won’t have to wait too long for gourmet-meets-grunge.

Conch Republic has a marina-side location that can’t be beat, and there’s live music every day.

The perfect spot to hit after sunset at Mallory Square, El Meson de Pepe offers al fresco dining and live Cuban music. A Cuban tapas menu also helps feed picky eaters. Ask for a table near the band or in the pretty courtyard.

For dessert or really any time, Kermit’s Key West Lime Shoppe is a must for Key lime pie, or better yet, frozen Key lime pie dipped in chocolate.

Where to Stay

The rule of staying somewhere with a pool to keep the kids happy applies in Key West as anywhere. But don’t limit yourself to resorts, because many smaller properties have pools too.  If you are visiting in the winter, you’ll want to be sure the hotel pool is heated as winter days can still be cool this far south.

The Ambrosia Key West can accommodate larger family groups in cabanas and they have two small heated pools; the dip pool is perfect for toddlers. There’s also a hot tub for adults. This is a great option for families who prefer a more intimate feel.

For families on a budget, Authors Key West fits the bill. They have rooms that sleep three (in one queen bed and one twin bed) for only $220 in high season. While being conveniently located close to the action in Old Town, they are specifically not a property for spring breakers, and guests under 16 stay free—plus there’s a small pool.

The Casa Marina, A Waldorf-Astoria Resort is on the largest private beach in Key West with a dock to help you get past the rocks on the shore and to a sandy bottom. It also has a babysitting service.

Located on Sunset Key, a 10-minute ferry ride from Key West proper, the one- to four-bedroom cottages at the Sunset Key Cottages have kitchens, and there is a private beach and pool.

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4 Great Cruises from Baltimore in 2014

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There’s something special about living near a city like Baltimore: When you want to escape, you can head to the port right off I-95, put your car in long-term parking, and board a ship in search of new experiences near and far. Though you may not be aware of it, Baltimore is growing its reputation as a homeport city; if you haven’t thought about booking a cruise out of the “Crab Cake Capital of the World,” now may be the time. According to Maryland’s Department of Transportation, 250,000 travelers sailed out of the Port of Baltimore in 2012 and, in 2013, Royal Caribbean’s newly renovated Grandeur of the Seas joined the ranks of the ships that call the port home.

CRUISE TO THE BAHAMAS

If you’re sick of cold, gray skies, a trip to the sunny Bahamas may be just what you need to get through the rest of this ugly winter. Carnival Pride, a Spirit-class ship, homeports out of Baltimore part of the year (and Tampa for the balance). While this is an older ship—she made her debut in 2002—it’s a favorite because of its size. In today’s world of mega cruise ships, Carnival Pride is a “mid-size” ship that welcomes 2,124 travelers per cruise. The ship still has everything you may need at sea—from nearly a dozens bars to an array of restaurants and in-room dining to Broadway-style shows and a terrific kids program. This itinerary to the Bahamas includes three days at sea so go ahead and treat yourself and book a few spa treatments and spend at least one full day by the pool. The ship stops at Port Canaveral near Orlando, where shore excursions include day trips to Walt Disney World, Universal, and Sea World as well as activities like canoeing and kayaking. This cruise also calls on Nassau and Freeport in the Bahamas. A lot of people spend the day in Nassau at Atlantis, but the line also offers options like a beach day at Balmoral Island or a catamaran sail and snorkel trip. More snorkeling adventures can be found in Freeport and there’s also a fun dolphin encounter.

Dates: Jan. 19, 26; Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23; March 2, 16, 23; Apr. 6; May 11, 25; June 8, 22; Jul. 6

Cruise Fares: As low as $429 per person for 7 nights.

CRUISE TO BERMUDA

Not everyone will be able to snag vacation time for a cruise this winter but there are also excellent options out of Baltimore form April through October. Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas offers six- and seven-night itineraries to Bermuda. Both options include three nights docked at Kings Wharf plus two or three sea days. Beaches of pink sand, dramatic cliffs, quaint villages evoking the country’s British roots, and green-as-can-be golf courses are just part of what makes Bermuda so intoxicating. Most shore excursions are active, like scuba, snorkeling, fishing, and kayaking, but you can also opt to be more of an observer with Royal Caribbean’s island exploration tours and glass-bottom boat excursions. While the 1,950-passenger Grandeur of the Seas is one of the line’s oldest ships, launched in 1996, she underwent a $48-million upgrade in 2012 and now has many of the same features as Oasis-class ships. The cabins were upgraded and new dining options were added, making this ship is an excellent choice for a weeklong getaway.

Dates: Apr. 26; May 9, 23; June 6, 20; July 4, 18; Aug. 1, 15, 29; Sept. 12, 26; Oct. 10

Cruise Fares: As low as $469 per person for the six-night itinerary and as low as $649 per person for seven nights.

CRUISE TO THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN

Grandeur of the Seas also offers a 10-night Western Caribbean itinerary out of Baltimore with two sea days followed by stops at Labadee, Haiti; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten before spending three more days at sea and returning to port in Maryland. The longer length of this cruise makes it popular with people—like retirees and those with young children who aren’t yet in school—who can take off more than a week at a time.

Dates: Jan. 21; Feb. 8, 18; Mar. 8, 18; Nov. 1, 11, 29; Dec. 9, 27

Cruise Fares: As low as $619 per passenger for 10 nights.

CRUISE CHESAPEAKE BAY

For people who think they’ve already sailed every itinerary there is, we suggest American Cruise Lines’ glorious seven-night Chesapeake Bay voyage that blends just the right amount of history, culture, and the great outdoors. The cruise takes guests to Yorktown and Williamsburg, Virginia, to view Civil War battlefields and colonial homes. The ship also calls on Tangier Island in Virginia along with Crisfield, Cambridge, Oxford, St. Michaels, and Annapolis in Maryland. From aquariums to National Historic Landmarks and the U.S. Naval Academy to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, you’re guaranteed to visit places you’ve never been before. Three ships—American Glory, Independence, and American Star—sail this unique itinerary in May, June, and November.

Dates: May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; June 7; Nov. 2, 8

Cruise Fares: As low as $3,245 per person for six nights. Seven-night cruises as low as $3,750.

Andrea M. Rotondo is a freelance writer based in New York City. She covers cruise news and luxury travel trends for Fodors.com and writes for a variety of outlets, including her website Luxury Travel Mavens. Follow her on Twitter: @luxtravelmavens.

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9 New Things to Do in Oranjestad, Aruba

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PHOTO: Aruba Tourism Authority

If you haven’t been to Aruba lately you might not recognize Oranjestad. The small city has been refreshed and rejuvenated with both locals and visitors in mind, and there are more innovative improvements to come.—Susan Campbell

PHOTO: Aruba Tourism Authority

Linear Park

Aruba is creating the longest linear park in the Caribbean to provide a smooth paved trail ideal for walking, jogging, biking, and sightseeing. The trail begins at the airport and stretches along the sea to downtown Oranjestad with plenty of resting spots, refreshment stands, and dining options along the way. Catch a stellar sunset at Surfside Beach and try out the new public workout equipment or take a dip in the sea along the trail. The main park plaza has also become a popular outdoor venue for events like marathons, yoga, and cultural festivals.

PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide

PHOTO: Donaldford | Dreamstime.com

Market

Located beside the downtown bus terminal, the new local market has grown to become a visitor favorite. With 40 buzzing stalls—all with permanent coverings to shield them from the elements—it’s an ideal spot to find locally made items and affordable Aruban souvenirs. The owners entice local creators to showcase their wares there, so you’ll find unique items like sand art, wood carvings, oil paintings, seashell jewelry, and all manner of cool handmade keepsakes. You’ll also find excellent local fare on site, including BBQ and fresh fruit shakes, and there’s free parking as well.

PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide

PHOTO: Aruba Tourism Authority

Bon Bini Festival

Beyond the Bon Bini Festival held every Tuesday showcasing local food, music, and dance at Fort Zoutman, Oranjestad is seeing all kinds of new events popping up throughout the year. There are many spinoffs, from the annual music festivals to arts and crafts fairs, and Queen Wilhelmina Park on the marina often has free entertainment like the new “Crazy Wednesdays,” where the Renaissance sponsors a new show every week. There are often live bands at the many dining spots and new events like “Eat Local Restaurant Week” and street food festivals are also bringing more life to downtown.

PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide

PHOTO: Aruba Tourism Authority

Plaza Daniel Leo

The downtown grid is also punctuated with many new outdoor plazas. These were designed to be the lungs of the little city and ideal spots for resting, replete with fountains and benches. Enjoy people watching in busy Plaza Daniel Leo or enjoy Plaza Torismo’s wide-open spaces at Linear Park. There’s also a new Plaza at Parden Baai where the trolley begins, and at Plaza Nicky you can sample Aruba’s only locally roasted java at Coffee Break Aruba.

PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide

PHOTO: Aruba Tourism Authority

Arts

Aruba has a vibrant art scene, and now at Cas di Cultura you’ll find the island’s first permanent display of Aruban art sponsored by UNOCA. The new downtown Cosecha building is another permanent home where Aruban artists and crafters can display and sell their work. There are also many cool new outdoor sculptures scattered about downtown, including the “Blue Horse” series, a tribute to the island’s past importance as a horse-trading port. And visit Korteweg’s Facebook page to see when their outdoor pop-up art exhibits will magically transform an entire street into a cultural happening.

PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide

PHOTO: Aruba Tourism Authority

Trolley

Now there’s a fun new way to explore the newly refreshed streets and attractions of Oranjestad, and better yet—it’s free. Aruba’s eco-friendly battery-powered trolleys loop the downtown region and offer hop-on/hop-off access from nine stops beginning at the cruise terminal. Two cars are double-decker for great views, and both have shaded seating options. The trolleys move slowly on dedicated tracks and all cars are wheelchair accessible. Aruba is the only island in the Caribbean with this cool mode of transportation.

PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide

PHOTO: Aruba Tourism Authority

Dining

Aruba has more than 200 fine-dining spots covering a vast range of cuisines, and many of them are located in Oranjestad.  The Renaissance Marketplace houses a variety of restaurants; new dining options there include Sea Salt for fresh fish and Sidebar for gourmet burgers and craft bourbon cocktails. And the new Wilhelmina Restaurant close by has been drawing crowds eager to try their avant-garde international menu. On Surfside Beach just down the linear park path, you’ll also find West Deck for great local fusion fare and Barefoot for romantic sunset dinners on the sea.

PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide

PHOTO: Aruba Tourism Authority

Shopping

Oranjestad has always been a hotbed for retail therapy seekers looking for upscale jewelry, gold, silver, diamonds, and Swiss watches or designer fashions at very good prices. But now the well-established family run businesses behind modern malls like the Renaissance are also benefitting from a new influx of foot and trolley traffic. Specialty stores are also moving into the new malls like Margarita Plaza, offering sportswear, baby items, footwear, and duty-free cosmetics and perfumes.

PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide

PHOTO: Aruba Tourism Authority

Main Street

Oranjestad’s original “Main Street” was once Caya G. F Betico Croes, directly behind the Renaissance Marina hotel, but over time the neighborhood became badly neglected and business slowed down because visitors—especially cruise ship passengers—preferred to stick close to the marina’s L.G. Smith Blvd., where the souvenir market stalls are set up. But now, the old main street has rebounded thanks to the new trolley, and the newly completed palm tree-lined pedestrian-only portion of the street.

PLAN YOUR TRIP with Fodor’s Oranjestad Guide

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World’s Coolest Underwater Lodgings

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PHOTO: Patrick Williams Photography

Undersea hotels represent one of the newest frontiers in hospitality. From Zanzibar to Sweden, beautiful underwater properties with one-of-a-kind views have been popping up around the globe, featuring some of the most unique rooms that travelers can book. Meanwhile, closer to home, many celebrated US aquariums offer sleepovers that aren’t just for kids anymore. Check out our picks for places that allow you to sleep under the sea (or at least pretend that’s where you are).

By Rachel B. Doyle

PHOTO: Genberg Art UW Ltd and photography credits: Jesper Anhede

The Manta Resort

WHERE: Pemba Island, Tanzania

Pemba, a verdant Indian Ocean island in the Zanzibar archipelago, has long been enticing divers with its pristine coral reefs and clear waters. Now the chic Manta Resort has taken the aquatic worship one step further, last month opening Africa’s first underwater hotel room. Submerged 13 feet underwater, the room has eight large, lit windows through which guests can gawk at a Technicolor parade of fish and cephalopods. A ladder leads to a sundeck and lounge.

Insider tip: Guests can have meals sent out to them by boat, such as grilled snapper with rosemary bread, followed by chocolate mousse and spiced pineapple.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Tanzania Guide

PHOTO: Courtesy of Jules Undersea Lodge

Jules’ Undersea Lodge

WHERE: Key Largo, FL

The granddaddy of underwater hotels, Jules’ Undersea Lodge–a former marine lab that opened as an inn in 1986—has an unusually high bar to entry. All guests desirous of spending the night need to know how to scuba dive. There’s no other way to enter this two-bedroom retro hideout, 30 feet below the surface in a mangrove-laden lagoon. The customary underwater dinner is pizza from Papa John’s, but guests can upgrade to local lobster or filet mignon.

Insider tip: Don’t want to commit to a whole night among the angelfish and barracudas? Jules’ also offers a three-hour lunchtime “mini-adventure” for $150 per person, pizza included.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Key Largo Guide

PHOTO: foco design

Hydropolis Underwater Hotel and Resort Dubai

WHERE: Dubai, UAE

Where would they build the most ambitious luxury hotel under the waves? Dubai, of course. The Emirate that brought you a man-made island in the shape of a palm tree now hopes to unveil the Hydropolis Underwater Hotel, in a Hyde Park-sized complex 66 feet under the sea. Guests staying at one of the 220 suites will be greeted at the “land post” on Jumeriah beach and taken by submerged subway to the main part of the hotel. The developers say that they hope to welcome 3,500 guests a day, once they overcome “financial constrictions.”

Insider tip: This hotel also plans to offer a plastic surgery clinic, and recovering patients can stay out of sight under the sea.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Dubai Guide

PHOTO: Västerås stad

Utter Inn

WHERE: Västerås, Sweden

The most rustic underwater hotel of the bunch, the tiny and adorable Utter Inn gently bobs in Sweden’s Lake Mälaren. The visible part of the hotel is designed like a typical Swedish home, with an A-frame roof, red sides and white gables. Down a 10-foot ladder there’s a cozy room with twin beds and panoramic windows to watch pike and perch swim by. With no electricity, the tranquility here is absolute.

Insider tip: Use the on-board inflatable canoe to visit an uninhabited nearby island. Many of Lake Mälaren’s islands were once Viking settlements.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Sweden Guide

 

PHOTO: Courtesy of Poseidon Undersea Resorts

Poseidon Undersea Resort

WHERE: Fiji

Some 150,000 people have allegedly signed up to be notified once Poseidon Undersea Resort opens for business. The five-star underwater resort in Fiji was scheduled to launch in 2008, but a combination of the global recession and the difficulty of sub-aqua building have led to it still being incomplete. Ambitious projections show an underwater library, golf course, and tennis court, while the website promises future guests the use of a personal submarine.

Insider tip: If you really want to jump the queue, contact Poseidon about booking a wedding in the undersea chapel. Just don’t set a date yet.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Fiji Guide

PHOTO: Gian Marco Valente/Dreamstime.com

The National Aquarium

WHERE: Baltimore, MD

Although the U.S. only has one underwater hotel, America leads the pack when it comes to aquarium sleepovers. At the National Aquarium in Baltimore, home to over 17,000 animals, overnight visitors can choose between shark or dolphin-themed sleepovers. An underwater viewing area morphs into dramatic sleeping quarters, and guests can take nocturnal tours, watch dolphin shows, or see sharks being fed. At $115 per person including breakfast and dinner, this may be the best deal in Baltimore’s popular Inner Harbor area.

Insider tip: Discounts are available for groups of over 15 people.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Baltimore Guide

PHOTO: Patrick Williams Photography

The Georgia Aquarium

WHERE: Atlanta, GA

Kudos to the Georgia Aquarium, the world’s second largest, for realizing adults might want to have aquarium sleepovers too. This aquarium, home to some 100,000 sea creatures, offers the 21+ crowd a package with live jazz, cocktails, and behind-the-scenes tours. Guests can then sleep in until 10 am on mattresses plopped in front of beluga whales or a giant Pacific octopus.

Insider tip: Wear comfortable shoes. This aquarium is enormous.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Atlanta Guide

PHOTO: Courtesy of Oregon Coast Aquarium

The Oregon Coast Aquarium

WHERE: Newport, OR

Overnight guests at the Oregon Coast Aquarium get to bed down in underwater walkways along with some 5,000 species. With its 360-degree views, this exhibit has an apt nickname: the shark tubes. The itinerary for kids includes a scavenger hunt through different marine habitats, and the package also comes with two meals for $60. The program for adults is less scripted (sadly, no scavenger hunt), but can include a tour of a nearby brewery.

Insider Tip: Bring warm clothes for sleeping–it can get chilly in the shark tubes.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Newport Guide

PHOTO: Courtesy of Ushaka Marine World

uShaka Marine World

WHERE: Durban, South Africa

Slumber parties at this South African aquarium take place in a highly realistic replica of a wrecked 1940s steam ship outfitted with massive fish tanks. Overnight visitors to the cleverly designed uShaka Sea World can wander through four connected “shipwrecks,” where they’ll find 32 tanks boasting many species of rays, an array of incredibly poisonous reptiles, and one of the most diverse collections of sharks in the world.

Insider tip: Take your swimsuit. The uShaka complex has a nice stretch of sandy coastline.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Durban Guide

PHOTO: Courtesy of Aquarium of the Pacific

The Aquarium of the Pacific

WHERE: Long Beach, CA

Leave it to Southern Californians to figure out that aquariums and meditation are a perfect match. The adults-only package at the Aquarium of the Pacific involves a yoga session, fish feeding, and an informal lecture on marine life for $80. A pizza dinner and light breakfast are included, and alcohol is available (once you’re done demonstrating chakravakasana poses to sea otters.)

Insider tip: Download the aquarium’s free “Explorer” app before going.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Long Beach Guide

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