Geography #2: Honduras, Dolphin Kisses, and 5 Dolphin Experiences

Dolphins Play in Roatan, Honduras; Photo by Krenda

Highly intelligent, social, and playful, it's no wonder kids love dolphins.  Dolphins live in groups, playing and hunting fish and squid together.  Dolphins mostly live in shallow areas of tropical and temperate oceans.  They are mammals, so they need to come to the surface of the water to breath.  It is such a joy to see a dolphin dive out of the water or make synchronized moves with other dolphins.

Kids tend to be most familiar with the bottlenose dolphin, one of the dolphins in the whale family.  Chinese River Dolphin, Indus River Dolphin, and Killer Whale have endangered status.  We donate to the Defenders of Wildlife, a BBB Accredited Charity.  According to the Defenders of Wildlife, dolphins use echolocation to find prey, ie they locate objects by reflecting sound.  Bats also use echolocation.  Did you know that dolphins can hear frequencies 10 times the upper limit of adult humans?  Dolphins have well-developed sense of touch, but not smell.

Anthony's Key Resort

If your kids want to touch a dolphin, consider splurging on a dolphin encounter.  We gave our kids a dolphin experience at Anthony's Key Resort in Roatan, Honduras.  The dolphins are very friendly and the trainers teach the kids about the dolphins.  Bottlenose dolphins tend to only be 8 feet in length and weigh 440-660 lbs.  Despite their weight, they are highly agile and move with grace.  If you go direct the Dolphin Encounter costs $89 or Dolphin action swim for $139.  We may have paid more by booking through the cruise line.  Prices always vary and change, so look up the websites.

You don't need to travel to Honduras to touch a dolphin.  Here's five dolphin experiences in the United States:

1.  Miami Seaquarium, Key Biscayne, FL, Dolphin Encounter ($165, age 5-9 $125, observer $53), 30 minutes includes shake hands, share a kiss, and try out training signals, it does not include swimming, options Dolphin Odyssey with dorsal pull start at $110, Seal Swim start at $110, Penguin Encounter start at $105, Trainer for a Day $495, general admission ($46, age 3-9 $36)

2. Sea World San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas Dolphin Encounter ($194), entrance fee $69 + Swimming with the dolphins (or beluga or sea lions) $125 at Discovery Points Dolphin Lagoon, must be 48 inches or taller

3.  Dolphin Research Center, Marathon, FL ($199+reservation fee) Dolphin Encounter includes 20-25 minute swim/dorsal pull for age 5 and up, paying adult must accompany child age 5-7, alternatives Meet the Dolphin (touch at dock) $50, Paint with a Dolphin ($65), Play with the Dolphin at dock ($85), Dolphin Splash ($139), Trainer for the Day ($695), general admission ($28 adult, $23 age 4-12) includes educational theater, accredited by Alliance of Marine mammal Parks & Aquariums

4.  Dolphin Quest Big Island, Hawaii ($265) for Encounter Deluxe for age five and up, options include Sunrise Dolphin Kayak $169, Underwater Adventure ($350), dolphins swim in four acre saltwater lagoon, accredited by Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and American Human Conservation certification

5. Discovery Cove, Orlando, FL ($390) dolphin swim and day resort $390 includes 30 minute dolphin swim; day resort ($280) + shark swim ($99) or ray feeding ($59)

A lower cost option than being in the water with the dolphins is looking for dolphins from a boat.  Take a trip from either US coast:

1) Captain Dave's Dolphin and Whale Safari, Dana Point Harbor, CA ($65 adult, age 1-12 $45), 2.5 hour boat ride, claims to tour in area with more dolphins per square mile than anywhere else and potential to see four types of dolphins

2) Dolphin Explorer, Marco Island, FL ($64 adult, $45 children), ride on a 30 foot catamaran in the Gulf of Mexico, Eco-Tour and cruise begins at 9AM and 1PM

We took this excursion as part of a Royal Caribbean cruise on the Navigator of the Sea.  The cruise began in Galveston, Texas and traveled to Roatan, Honduras, Belize, and Cozumel, Mexico.  A former Procter & Gamble co-worker and friend of mine recognized the resort.  In her case, they flew to Belize and stayed at Anthony's Key Resort.  Either way, you will certainly create a lifetime memory.

History Lesson #1: Casa Loma Castle in Canada

     Why not dream big? And dream big early.  Tour the Casa Loma castle or "House on the Hill" in Toronto, Canada for a business and history lesson of a dreamer.

     Sir Henry Pellatt left his studies at age 17 to pursue business. By age 23, he acted as a full partner in his father's stock brokerage firm Pellatt and Pellatt.  Henry founded the Toronto Electric Light Company in 1883. He acted as chairman of 21 countries by 1901.  Henry had his Gothic Revival style castle built with 98 rooms in 180,000 square feet including Sir Henry's Study, Sir Henry's Suite, The Conservatory, The Billiard Room, Lady Mary's Suite, Breakfast Nook, The Great Hall, The Library, The Oak Room, and a theatre.  The castle has served as a private home, nightclub, hotel, and now a public historical landmark you may tour.

Fun Facts:  $3.5 million and 3 years to build; 800 foot underground tunnel; 5 acre estate garden; 8 language choices available in the self guided audio tour

Tips:  Ticket price is high at approximately $30.  Consider the Toronto City Pass.  It costs more ($73 adult, $49 child), but the pass could save you overall if you visit multiple sites in Toronto. The pass includes entrance to multiple tourist attractions: 1) Casa Loma, 2) Royal Ontario Museum, 3) CN Tower, 4) Ontario Science Centre or Toronto Zoo, and 5) Ripley's Aquarium of Canada.

     Casa Loma gives Kindergarten to 8th Grade groups lower pricing ($10 each) and a variety of educational programs:  General History Tour, Armour and Weapons, How Does Your Garden Grow, An Edwardian Childhood, Enchanted Tales of Lore, Legend, & Magic, Medieval Studies Tour, Hollywood Tour (movies featured Casa Loma including X-Men, Strange Brew, Chicago, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), and Lady Pellatt's Lost Jewels Tour. 
 
     At only one month old, my son didn't soak in the historical stories.  He might have enjoyed the sunshine in the garden.  The gardens opened in 1990 and are included in the admission, thanks to the $1.5 million dollar renovation by The Garden Club of Toronto, The Kiwanis Club of Casa Loma, corporations, foundations, individuals, and the government.  Keep on growing, learning, and dreaming!

Geography #1: Honduras and Capuchin Monkeys

The white face capuchin monkeys jumped onto the head of a small boy and we all giggled with glee.  If you have an opportunity to visit Roatan, Honduras, consider visiting Gumbalimba park in West Bay instead of a full day at the beach.  Walk through their outdoor botanical gardens.  Have patience for a parrot to land on your shoulder.  Watch the capuchin monkeys swing from tree to tree.

As one of the most intelligent monkeys in the world, capuchin monkeys have been known to use tools as weapons and for getting food.  They even have been trained to assist paraplegic persons.  Social in nature, capuchins often live in troops of approximately 16 members.
Gumbalimba park in West Bay, Roatan, Honduras.

Capuchins are native to Central and South America.  However, if you want to take your kids to see monkeys in the United States, here's three sites:
 1) Gibbon Conservation Center (Santa Clarita, CA) opens 9:30 to Noon Sat. & Sun., offering tours at 10AM ($15 adult, $5 child age 6-12), volunteer opportunities for adminstrative work, kitchen, and landscaping
2) Monkey Jungle (Miami, FL) established in 1935, it now has 30 acres and approximately 90 Java monkeys; some monkeys may show their water skills as they wade into the pond; home of the DeMond Conservancy for Primates & Tropical Forests

Parents can also show their support by volunteering time or donating:
1) Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary (Gainsville, FL) sign up to volunteer for various tasks such as cleaning, feeding, or landscaping (7-11AM, 11-3PM, 3-7PM) cater to monkeys confiscated or retired from research, see capuchins, marmosets, spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and tamarins

2) Born Free USA, a BBB accredited charity, includes a division "The Primate Sanctuary" supporting a 186 acre sanctuary near San Antonio, TX caring for 600 residents - baboons, macaques, and vervets

3) Primate Rescue Center, BBB accredited charity since 2000, located in central Kentucky

4) Primarily Primates USA (Bexar County, TX), BBB accredited charity

If you do visit Gumbalimba park, there's so much to do.  My husband took the canopy cables down from the mountain, using 17 stations and cables to meet me on the ground.                        Having ample time, my patience paid off as a parrot landed on my shoulder.  While the "pirate cave" onsite felt a bit commercial, the sandy white beach and clear blue water felt so natural.  We made friends and snorkeled to discover marine animals.