Say Yes to Hoboken

20 comments

1. Miranda said… February 23, 2012 8:55 pm

   My husband and I were lucky enough to live in Old San Juan as interns in a store for the first summer married. It was awesome, and I can’t wait to go back with our kids sometime. You can’t miss trying: a Mallorca and hot cocoa at La Bombonera, a coconut piragua from a street cart, and a free pina colada sample from Barrachina.

   Our favorite beach on Culebra was Zoni on the other side of the island. The sand and surf are the same as Flamenco, but there are far fewer people, and an amazing view from the hill overlooking the ocean. We just did a day trip to Culebra…(well, we planned on camping, but the swarms of mosquitos changed our minds!)

   We loved El Yunque (La Mina Falls is great for swimming/wading).

   My very favorite memory is eating chicken pinchos and plantain tostones at a tiny shack near the ocean on the side of route 187 headed East. Of course the best food is the for the locals, by the locals food.

   Side note: we brought home a couple watercolors by local painter Erick Ledesma and are still totally enamored by them. If you have a chance, check out what he has available!
2. Zsa Zsa said… February 19, 2012 10:49 pm

   I’m glad I live in the tropics and I can go to the beach year round. Now, if I can just find the time to do it…
3. Thompson said… February 19, 2012 3:05 pm

   I highly recommend Vieques! Gorgeous beaches and very few people. We took a ferry from Fajardo and then rented a Jeep on the island to get around for the day. We didn’t stay overnight (though I wish we had). Also ziplining in El Yunque was really fun/beautiful.
4. Lisa said… February 17, 2012 2:11 pm

   My kids love exploring both the forts in San Juan..El Morro is their favorite. They spend lots of time flying kites on the grounds. And I have taken some amazing pictures of them in the fort overlooking the beach.
5. Karleen said… February 17, 2012 10:04 am

   Hi! Live in PR and have a 3 year old daughter…
   Must for anyone visiting:
   1. El Yunque (Rain Forest)
   2. El Viejo San Juan ( The Old City) Beautiful old world feel, amazing restaurants, Old spanish forts to visit – El Morro, kids fly kites on the amazing green lawns http://cn2.wnet.org/wliw/21pressroom/files/2010/11/EL_Morro.jpg , and you can take a trolley ride through the cobble stone streets.
   3. Various beaches to choose from but our favs that are kid friendly and have shallow tide pools that are safe to wade in are Aviones Beach in Piñones (although a surfing hot spot there is a very cute tide pool and no more then 2′ deep water http://s3.amazonaws.com/photos.zeepuertorico.com/LOIZA-La%20Posita%20de%20Pi%C3%B1ones%5EIMG_9246-BIG.jpg or in Isabela – Villas del Mar Hau http://a1.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/44/ac8b97e453b0495f8ae3a5f9d0131bd8/l.jpg
   4. Culebra is amazing and Flamenco Beach is a dream http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g580453-d317155-w2-Culebra_Beach_Villas-Culebra_Puerto_Rico.html
   5. As you mentioned the Bio Luminescent Bay in Parguera and there is Las Cabezas de San Juan http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/las-cabezas-de-san-juan-nature-reserve/

   Hope you have an amazing trip!
   • Liz Stanley said… February 23, 2012 6:21 pm

     wonderful! we are headed to check some of these out tomorrow
6. Caroline said… February 17, 2012 7:41 am

   Liz, my youngest daughter’s God Mother is from PR. I should tell her to stop by here and make some suggestions! I have heard that Fort San Felipe del Morro in San Juan is a cool place to visit. I bet your son would enjoying running around there!

   We took our youngest child to Aruba with us over the holiday this year for a family wedding. My husband is from Venezuela so it was his fam and literally a 20 min flight for them. We had a great time. Since Latin Americans, as a culture, love children–you should have a great time in Puerto Rico with your son this time!

   Have a fabulous time!
7. Juli said… February 16, 2012 5:45 pm

   I love Puerto Rico! Last time we stayed on Vieques, which had a bio bay, but we stopped at Culebra for a day on the way back and loved it! We hiked to a nature reserve and for some amazing snorkeling and had this pristine beach all to ourselves. Hope you have a great time!
   • Liz Stanley said… February 16, 2012 9:11 pm

     Thanks! I think we’re looking to stay on that island for a day. so excited!
8. Gabiii said… February 16, 2012 3:41 pm

   Cool!!! You’re coming to my hood.
   Well it’s not exactly of the beaten path but a friend of my mom’s rents a house in old San Juan, one of those centuries old houses from the spaniards time I can’t find the listing exactly but you can just check on The site http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/caribbean/puerto-rico/puerto-rico#a16449
   Those are all the municipalities, you’re bound to find lovely scenery any where but Rincon is renound for it’s world class surfing as is isabela, there’s nothing like old San Juan for historical charm although it’s just listed as San Juan [hotel el convento, used to be a convent it’s right in front of the cathedral and a lovely park and a children’s museum, we’ve never stayed there but it’s droolworthiy), ponce is grand, palmas del mar Humacao is kind of like the hamptons for people from San Juan, vieques
   • Gabiii said… February 16, 2012 3:54 pm

     Has more of the small island appeal as does the other island municipality, culebra, at least for us locals, amazing beaches perfect for the weekend or day trip via ferry or plane. I am from vega Baja so I’m biased and y love love LOVE my beach but it’s not turisty at all. There’s also Dorado for great golf and Manati for horseback riding to the beach and you’re bound to find rental houses there as well. La Concha is an amazing, newly remodeled hotel in el condado, I’m sure I was completely unhelpful in narrowing anything down for you but…
     Hope you have a lovely time
     • Gabiii said… February 16, 2012 4:05 pm

       http://www.vrbo.com/56880
       • Gabiii said… February 16, 2012 4:12 pm

         http://www.vrbo.com/243963#comments
         This link and the one above are to the houses of my mom’s friends
         Sorry this is beginning to feel like I’m spamming you
   • Liz Stanley said… February 16, 2012 9:12 pm

     Thanks, I’ll check these out!
9. Caitlin @ Hardly Housewives said… February 16, 2012 3:41 pm

   OBSESSED with the bio bay! So jealous! I loved,at the very beginning, before I knew how wacky it would be when we were swimming in it, seeing a fish go jetting through the water. SO cool!
10. ivette said… February 16, 2012 3:26 pm

    I’m currently living in P.R. Hotel El Conquistador is very nice and they have a boat that takes you to their own private island. The national rain forest or el Yunque is something you should see and your children might enjoy. Have fun and appreciate your beach time! Flamenco beach is to die for btw.
11. kalpesh said… February 16, 2012 11:46 am

    We went for our honeymoon. its gerogeous and rain forest is amazing, zipline and yes bio bay for sure
    • Liz Stanley said… February 16, 2012 11:50 am

      which rain forest did you visit?
12. Lisa Maria said… February 16, 2012 11:38 am

    Go to flamenco beach!!! There are several boats that takes you out there to snorkel and swim and when we went in August, there was no one there but the people on our boat. Its one of the top ten beaches!
    • Liz Stanley said… February 16, 2012 11:50 am

      Just checked that out. Looks amazing! Putting it on our list, did you stay there or just visited for a day?