Fowl Cay, Bahamas

Sandy works for a pretty amazing company. They like things small and personal and always try promoting company cohesiveness. One of the perks of this cohesiveness they strive for is the company trips they organize-and following in the company's unique print, they always plan places that are out of the norm. They keep their groups that go on each trip small, making it easier for people to get to know each other (the company is pretty well spread out across the U.S. and even has a few in the U.K.) so each trip, if you're interested in going, is basically a draw based on seniority, who's been on a trip recently etc...
Last year, Sandy came home (or maybe he emailed me?) and told me about the next VaST trip being a Bahama trip and that he was interested in going. We talked about it, checked the info out, and put our names on the list. A few months later we got news we were selected for this trip and the planning began. Now a year later, and we just returned from Fowl Cay, Bahamas!
First, I mentioned the company chooses places that are out of the norm-but whats so different about a Bahama vacay? The island, my friend! This resort was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Located on a 50 acre private island, only consisting of 6 villas, an office, and a restaurant/main house-we were in heaven for a week...minus our kids :( yes, I cried for days when they left with grandma and grandpa-it's the longest I've been away from them, wasn't happy about leaving them and even considered not going...really. Once we got there I relaxed some and ended up glad that I went; it was so much fun and so gorgeous; I wish the pictures could capture it like it really is! We skyped with the kids a couple of times and they had so much fun with grandma and grandpa they hardly knew we were gone (so thankful for such awesome parents/grandparents!!!!!).

Things we did:
-played on the beach
-read
-kayaked
-Sandy long boarded and went scuba diving
-snorkled
-boated
-boated by Johnny Depp's island  (flew over Tyler Perry's, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's as well)
-swam with sting rays and nurse sharks
-fed some "wild" pigs
-ate (and ate, and ATE!)

Flight from Nassau to Staniel Cay

At Staniel Cay, on the boat heading to Fowl Cay

Kayaking around the island and Sandy longboarding

Snorkeling-I didn't last long-turns out I prefer to breath normal! Some funny group shots Sandy got under the water; Sandy was a fish and impressed everyone with his ease in the water..

Little bird that liked keeping me company while reading, island dog (Ruby), Bob the entertainer that VaST hired...so cool and crazy talented! A shell with a crab inside, and a lizard eating another lizard

Sandy scuba diving-saw some crazy big lobster. Favorite part was a sink hole that spun him around and spit him out, says he now knows what it feels like to be a turd in a toilet, HAHA!

The pigs would swim out from their island wanting food from the boats-this one loved milano cookies, it left the bread for the seagulls

Sandy's new friend. It chased him around the boat twice and Sandy had to kick it with his flipper a few times before he could get back in the boat. A little intense-Sandy kept thinking "Steve Erwin!" YIKES!

different views and vegetation around the island

front view from our villa

rear view

view from Hilltop house

another view from Hilltop house

and another

one more

The view, 360 degrees, was absolutely breathtaking, hence the many panoramas. We were assigned a villa called the Sea Breeze, which was just what we wanted! It's a "treehouse" on stilts with 3 different buildings; 2 being bedrooms/bathroom and one being the living area/full (and fully stocked) kitchen.

Every night we met at the Hilltop for drinks and hors d'oeuvres followed by dinner, which ended up being one of my favorite things; I couldn't get over how amazing the food was!!! They would give you a choice of 2 entrees; Sandy and I usually each ordered different from each other, then shared.

Night 1- BLT salad, grouper and a dessert cupcake
Night 2- Conch Chowder, shrimp and grouper kabobs or steak with a yummy carrot/cheese stack of some kind and dessert was the most delicious chocolate caramel brownie, with ice cream, I have EVER had! (This dinner was a favorite, next to night 3)
Night 3-Butternut squash soup, Lobster Tail, birthday cake (we celebrated 2 birthdays while there)
Night 4-Caprese Salad, Mahi Mahi or Chicken both served with pasta, tiramasu
Night 5-French onion soup, tuna or filet minion with some kind of potato cake, key lime pie (this was our least favorite dinner yet had it been served the first night we wouldn't have even noticed. It simply didn't compare to the others)

After dinner there would be drinks and socializing for as late as anyone could stand it and they'd take your order for your lunch the next day. Depending on whether you planned to be on the island or out exploring on the boat (each villa had their own boat and golf cart) they would either pack your lunch in a cooler or have it prepared at the Hilltop. The breakfasts were brought to your kitchen each morning, consisting of fruit and some YUMMY pastries (like chocolate crescents).


The experience was one we won't soon forget and Sandy and I are so grateful he works for such a great company that make this possible, and for all the help with our kids while we were gone. THANKS!!!