If you’re planning one day in Bimini, it’s easy to assume you’ll just pick a beach and call it a day.
That’s exactly what I thought too… and then we ended up squeezing in beaches, snorkeling, conch salad, a shipwreck, and a full island loop without ever feeling rushed.
We were on Virgin Voyages, got off the ship around 9:30am, and had to be back on board by 6pm. By the time we grabbed our golf cart (after stopping to watch stingrays and sharks by the bridge—which was actually really cool), it was about 10am. From there, we explored until about 5:30pm, and it ended up being one of my favorite days of the trip.
If you’re still figuring out logistics, flights into Florida can vary a lot, so I usually start by checking options on Skyscanner to compare timing and pricing before the cruise.
Before anything else, rent a golf cart.
This is the easiest way to explore Bimini and realistically the only way you’re going to hit multiple stops in one day without feeling rushed. It gives you full flexibility to stop wherever you want, skip what you don’t, and adjust your plan as you go.
The whole process took us maybe 30 minutes from stepping off the ship to driving away, and after that, everything felt simple.
If you want all the details on where to rent, pricing, and what to expect, see my full review of my Bimini Golf Cart Day: The Best Way to Explore Bimini on a Cruise Stop.
This is for my people who want to do it all (hi, same 🙋🏼♀️). It’s a full day, but totally doable if you keep things moving.
This is a quick stop—like five minutes—but don’t skip it.
Grab a loaf of fresh Bimini bread and eat it in the golf cart on the way to your next stop. It’s warm, slightly sweet, and one of those things you don’t think about again until later when you wish you bought two.
Blister Bay ended up being my favorite beach of the day.
We got there in the morning, and it was basically empty. The water is crystal clear, the sand is soft, and you can snorkel right off the shore without needing a boat or tour.
We saw several types of fish, a stingray, and even a parrotfish just swimming around like it owned the place.
We didn’t stay long because we had a full itinerary, but this is easily somewhere you could spend hours.
If you want more details, check out my guide to Blister Bay Bimini Guide: One of the Best Quiet Beaches on the Island.
As you drive along Queen’s Highway, you’ll see random spots where you can pull over and walk right up to the water.
This isn’t a full stop, more like a “pull over, look around, take a quick photo, keep going” situation—but it’s a nice way to break up the drive and see a different side of the island.
The Dolphin House is colorful, quirky, and completely different from everything else you’ll see in Bimini.
It’s a quick stop for photos, but worth it just to mix things up between beaches. You don’t need much time here—just enough to walk around and take it in. Unless you want to go into the museum, but if you do, you likely won’t have time to hit all the stops on this itinerary.
You’ll notice the difference here immediately.
Radio Beach is busier, louder, and more social compared to Blister Bay. If you want music, people, and a more lively beach setup, this is your spot.
Personally, I preferred Blister Bay—but this is a good stop if you want to switch up the energy for a bit.
The Sapona Shipwreck was one of the most memorable parts of the day.
The ship sits in shallow water, so you can snorkel around it and see marine life up close. We got in the water here, swam around the structure, and at one point saw a huge shark just casually swim by.
It didn’t mess with us, but it definitely made things interesting.
Some people climb on the rocks out in the water—I did, and it was fun—but even if you stay in the water, it’s worth the stop.
If you’d rather not navigate this on your own, you can also book a snorkeling tours to Sapona through GetYourGuide, which takes you straight there without guessing directions.
After a few beach stops, this is a good reset.
The Straw Market is where you’ll find souvenirs, handmade goods, and local items. It’s quick, easy, and gives you something to do that doesn’t involve sand (which your bag, shoes, and probably snacks are already full of at this point).
This is where you stop everything and eat.
Joe’s Conch Shack makes fresh conch salad right in front of you, and it’s one of the most popular local foods on the island for a reason.
If you’re trying to decide where to go or want to compare a few spots, see my full guide to Best Conch Salad in Bimini: 3 Local Spots You Need to Try.
Before heading back, this is a good place to slow things down.
Fisherman’s Village sits right by Resorts World Bimini and is set up like an open-air marina with shops, restaurants, and a central area where people tend to hang out for a bit. It’s an easy stop because everything is walkable, and if you’re coming from the cruise port, there’s a free trolley running every 10–15 minutes.
There are a handful of boutique-style shops here—things like resort wear, jewelry, beach essentials, and a mix of souvenirs that feel a little more put together than what you’ll find at the Straw Market. It’s a good spot if you want something nicer to bring home or just want to browse without being in and out in five minutes.
Right in the center is The Healing Hole, which is where you’ll find Bahamian food, drinks, and usually live music. It’s a good place to grab a cocktail and sit for a minute before wrapping up the day. There’s also a pizza and gelato spot (Amicci’s), which—honestly—can be a clutch move if you’re not quite ready for dinner back on the ship.
Between the marina views, shops, and food options, it’s a nice reset after a full day of beaches and driving around.
At the end of your one day in Bimini, you have two solid options.
You can head back to the Virgin Voyages Beach Club and hang out there, or stay out and catch sunset at Radio Beach.
We did a mix of both, but if you want one last stop before heading back, Radio Beach is a great place to end the day.
If you don’t want to pack your day this full, you can simplify it without missing the best parts.
Start with Nate’s Bakery, pick one main beach (Blister Bay, Radio Beach, or Sapona), grab lunch at a conch stand, stop by the Straw Market, and then spend the rest of your time relaxing.
You’ll still get a great feel for Bimini without rushing around.
If you really need to narrow it down:
If it’s a beach, go to Blister Bay.
If it’s a food stop, make it Shaky’s for conch salad.
If it’s shopping, go to the Straw Market.
If you’re turning this into a full trip instead of just a cruise stop, it’s worth looking at where to stay near Bimini so you can spread this itinerary out over a couple of days.
Bimini surprised me.
It’s small, but there are way more stops than you expect, and you can actually see a lot in a short amount of time if you plan it right.
You can keep your one day in Bimini simple and stay on one beach, or you can do a full island loop like we did and fit in a little bit of everything.
Either way, the golf cart makes all the difference—and the conch salad alone is reason enough to leave the beach for a minute.
Dubai is all skyline until you drive an hour into the dunes and it goes completely silent. Bab Al Shams was that shift for us: slower, quieter, more intentional than anything we did in the city.
If you want nightlife or walkable everything, this isn’t your stop. But if you want a night that feels like a reset, it delivers, polished service, food I’m still thinking about, and a setting that never tries too hard.
Full review (and whether it’s worth adding to your Dubai itinerary) is linked in bio. 🏜️
I flew @emirates economy to Dubai fully expecting to just survive the flight. We booked seats by the exit row — @bradplummer1 got the legroom (he’s 6’7”), I got a normal seat right next to him, and it saved us money over booking two extra-legroom seats. Smart trick if you’re traveling with someone who needs the extra space and you don’t.
The food alone earned this post. Warm chicken, a Waldorf salad that actually tasted fresh, real butter on the roll, and a breakfast spread that put most airport brunches to shame. Add in the twinkling-star cabin lighting once dinner wrapped, and it felt less like a flight and more like the trip had already started.
Not everything was perfect — the wifi didn’t work for me at all, so if you’re planning to get work done in the air, download what you need beforehand. But that was the only miss in an otherwise excellent long haul.
If you’ve got Emirates lounge access in Dubai, use it. Showers, buffets, quiet corners to nap it makes the layover feel like a reset instead of a slog.
Full review seats, food, lounge, and the wifi situation is on the blog. Link in bio. ✈️
CÉ LA VI Dubai review: is it worth the hype or just a pretty view with mid food? Verdict... worth it, but you have to order smart.
We went à la carte for lunch and worked through a good chunk of the menu. The braised beef bao buns are the move. Rich short rib, gochujang mayo, fried onions, order these no matter what else you get. The gem lettuce salad shocked me too, radicchio, candied pecans, edamame, ginger sesame dressing, huge portion, easily shareable.
Not everything landed. The wagyu gyoza was fine but skippable, and the salmon maki was pretty without much depth. Skip those if you’re trying to keep the order tight.
We got so full off starters we never even made it to our main (regret, but also priorities), so we went straight to the pineapple crème brûlée. Massive presentation, layers of pineapple compote and citrus cream under a perfectly cracked sugar top. One of the best desserts I had in Dubai, full stop.
This isn’t a budget lunch and it’s not trying to be. But between the Burj Khalifa views and food that actually backs it up, it earns the price tag if you order right.
Full breakdown of what to get (and what to skip) | link in bio.
📍 CÉ LA VI Dubai
Dry Tortugas is one of the most remote national parks in the country, and getting there is part of what makes it feel so special. No roads. No bridges. You get there by ferry, seaplane, or private boat and that’s it.✈️💙
We went by seaplane. The 35-minute flight over turquoise flats, shipwreck sites, and open ocean is part of the experience. I spotted sea turtles, sharks, and stingrays from the air.
Once you land on Garden Key, Fort Jefferson is the main event. Photos do not do the scale justice. Construction started in 1846 to protect Gulf shipping routes, and during the Civil War it served as a military prison. The views from the upper levels are some of the best in the park.
We did the half-day tour. That was a mistake. Two and a half hours is not enough time once you factor in the fort, snorkeling the old pylons, beach time, and that quiet window before the ferry arrives with 150+ people. I am going back and booking the full day.
Everything you need to know before you go | link in bio 🌊
#drytortugas #keywest #nationalparks #floridatravel #keywestflorida
The Marquesa Hotel was everything I wanted from an Old Town Key West hotel and quieter than I expected.
It’s tucked into a historic 1884 property on Fleming Street, close enough to walk to Duval Street, Mallory Square, and most of what makes Key West worth visiting, but removed enough that coming back to the property actually felt like a reset. Three separate courtyard pools instead of one big resort pool. An adults-only atmosphere that changes how the whole place feels. And Café Marquesa right downstairs, which ended up being my favorite meal of the entire trip.
It’s not a beachfront resort. There’s no big pool scene, no kids running around, no direct water views. That’s exactly the point and the tradeoff works really well if you want Old Town walkability with a quieter, more boutique feel.
The hotel earned a Michelin 2 Key designation in 2025, which made sense the moment I arrived. Polished without being stiff.
Full review with rooms, pools, what’s included in the amenity fee, and who I’d recommend it for | link in bio 🌴
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