Well it has been almost a year since our trip to paradise and I am so ready to go back. So to curb my desire to hop on a plane and head to Aruba I will blog about our trip here! Tag all the things we did and maybe JUST maybe YOU will want to visit my favorite island too! Christmas 2016 my sweet husband surprised me with a vacation to Aruba. He and I never went on a honeymoon when we were first married so it was a LONG overdue vacation. He also knew he had to surprise me with it due to the fact I never EVER leave my babies and I needed time. Time to relax – time away- time to recharge.
Our trip was April 14-20 it was PERFECT. The weather was delightful 84-89 degrees and the trade winds kept it not humid . We stayed at Renaissance Ocean Suites in Oranjestad, Aruba. The resort was stunning it was right off the water it had a wonderful pool and a beach area right on site. ONE huge perk of the Renaissance was the private island. The Private island was avaliable for free to ALL Renaissance guests. If you were staying at another hotel no worries you could buy a day pass for $100. On the private island you have 3 different beach areas that you can lay out and enjoy. One area that you can lay and watch the planes fly in and out of Aruba’s airport, then there is a family friendly beach where you can snorkel and and lay out in the sun. Then my favorite part of the private island was Flamingo Beach. That is where a flock of flamingos live and roam. You can feed them take photos with them too! There are also private spa areas available to rent as well.
(Note some images will be with my BIG camera and also some will be iPhone photos in this blog)
Day 1: Once we got to the beautiful island around 3:00pm we arrived to Aruba we took a shuttle bus to our resort and checked in. Once we unloaded all the things to our room we explored our home for the week. 
Views from our room. <3
These iguanas where ALL over the place! ha I may have had a LITTLE fun videoing them for the kiddos. 🙂
Enjoyed out first sunset right outside our resort. Sun sets Approx. 6:30pm and Rises 6:30 am- the first night we slept literally from 7:30pm – 9 am if you are a parent YOU know how amazing that had to of been! ha!
Day 2: Good Morning Aruba! This day was a lazy day but we first enjoyed breakfast at The Dutch Pancake House Lunch at Casa Tua which were located right beside our resort. I am pretty sure we ate at the Dutch Pancake House ALMOST every morning for breakfast! It was just so good! Then the day was spent sea side at the resort and exploring around the resort.
This was the Apple & cinnamon sweet pancake from The Dutch Pancake house! It was delicious!! 
We also went on a walk around Oranjestad and found a grocery to stock up our mini fridge. 
Of course dug out my big camera this day and took lots of photos of the island around the resort. 
Here is a link with some neat information on Queen Wilhelmina. Day 3: Easter Sunday! We ventured out early… I after the first day I refused to sleep in and miss ANY moments at this gorgeous island. We where on the first boat to the Renaissance Private island for breakfast at the Papagoyo Bar & Grill and to spend the day in the sun!
After breakfast we enjoyed our pink friends at Flamingo Beach.
The Dutch Caribbean is possibly the prettiest place I have ever seen. 
I have so many photos of these gorgeous birds… those are just some favorites. The private island was getting busier by the mid afternoon so we went back to the resort and went on a impromptu taxi ride around part of the island. I told the driver I wanted to see unique places the divi tree and stuff you do not see at the resort. Here are some of my favorite images from that (sorta pricy– but completely worth it) taxi.
I loved this sweet little house. 
Eagle beach , Aruba This Divi tree is the islands country’s TREE they are so beautiful and all over the island. 
That evening we went back to the resort to watch the sun set. 
I’ll get my part 2 Aruba vacation blog up asap.
Links-
Renaissance Ocean suites resort
leave a comment