Jacqueline Silvestri Banks grew up in Casa de Campo and although she is currently living in Forth Worth, Texas with her husband, Andrew and adorable baby girl, Annabelle – she recently visited Casa de Campo for a 2 week vacation. When not on vacation, Jacqueline is a pre-K teacher and a certified Holistic Health counselor, who writes her own blog about her experiences as a mother, and so here we bring you a post written by Jacqueline – we hope you enjoy it!
Top 5 things to do with a toddler in Casa de Campo
by Jacqueline Silvestri Banks
I recently spent my first vacation as a mother in Casa de Campo. My daughter is a very active 17 month old and initially I was worried about how I would entertain her since I usually enjoy my time in Casa lounging on the beach and going for long, leisurely dinners. To my surprise there are many wonderful activities to enjoy with an active toddler. Here are some of the things Annabelle and I enjoyed and look forward to doing again the next time we’re in Casa.
1. Play at Minitas Beach
At Minitas beach you can splash in the waves and build sand castles. There is also a playground complete with slides and a toddler climbing wall (see photo right). If your toddler loves to dance, join in on at afternoon merengue lesson (daily from 3pm to 4pm at “La Palapa”)
Jacqueline and Annabelle swimming at Minitas Beach, Casa de Campo
2. Have fun in the main Casa de Campo hotel area
If you happen to be an early riser, stop by the spa to walk their labyrinth before they open. Or just head to the main hotel area and take a dip in the kids pool, my daughter loved that she could run around the entire pool on her own. A great tip to remember is that the La Caña Restaurant and Lounge by Il Circo serves snacks by the pool from 11am – 6pm which is great if nap time happens to be at lunch time or if you eat a very early dinner like we do.
3. Visit the ponies at the Dude Ranch
Animal lovers will have a great time visiting the Dude Ranch and visiting the horses. Be sure to ask if your toddler can feed a horse an apple! For the more adventurous toddler there are ponies that can take them for a ride around the stables. The Polo fields are also a great place to kick a ball around or fly a kite.
4. Explore Altos de Chavón
There is a lot to do in Altos de Chavon! Just walking around the cobblestone streets is fun, especially all of the flower covered walkways. There are fountains to explore and stairs to be climbed at the amphitheatre and Margarito the donkey is always around and happy to take a toddler for a ride. The museum is a great place to visit, Annabelle especially loved the Taino Indian hut in the museum’s garden and we took some fun photos with Annabelle pretending to be a Taino (see photo right). If you have time be sure to inquire about the children activities at the museum, everything from painting to ceramics can be arranged. If you work up a sweat with all the running around there is even a pool in Altos de Chavón to help you cool off.
Taking a stroll through the gardens in Altos de Chavón
5. Relax and let “Kidz n’ Casa” help out!
You can enjoy all those fun activities together and when you need a break to sip a cocktail on the beach there is a great toddler program at Kids n’ Casa and babysitters to help you enjoy a night out.
If you enjoyed this post, please CLICK HERE to read more from Jacqueline’s blog!
[We especially LOVE her recipes, aimed at babies but great for adults to – especially fussy eaters like me, as they contain hidden vegetables!!!]
About Jacqueline
Jacqueline Silvestri Banks, who grew up in Casa de Campo is a certified holistic health counselor and busy mama. Her focus is on helping other busy moms in all stages of motherhood keep themselves and their little ones healthy and happy. She uses natural and organic solutions to solve individual health problems and promote clean living.
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