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Anna's trip to Nassau Bahamas with grandma enabled them to share fun times, discover a new culture, and enjoy each other's company.

The best way I’ve found to bond with a grandchild is to take him or her traveling. Exploring new places, trying out new foods and meeting people from other cultures all provide a basis for learning through conversation and discovery, and build unbeatable memories.

I decided to start early with my then 7-year-old granddaughter, Anna, and the destination I chose was Paradise Island, Bahamas.  It was close enough to our Florida homes for an easy trip, yet far enough away to be exotic, yet ideal for a family beach getaway.

Exploring the Islands of the Bahamas

The highlight of our trip to Paradise Island and Nassau, Bahamas was the Close Encounter experience at Dolphin Encounters (866/918-9932 or 242/363-1003; reservations strongly suggested) on tiny Blue Lagoon Island, which visitors reach from the Paradise Island Ferry dock. Here we knelt in the water as gentle Atlantic bottlenose dolphins snuggled against us, allowing us to stroke them and giving us "kisses." For the entire time we were there, Anna's smiles matched their perpetual grins.

Another memorable moment came the next morning when we enjoyed a horse-and-buggy ride. Our nag, who wore a straw hat festooned with lilac flowers, took us clip-clopping along the narrow streets of Nassau past colonial buildings as our driver told us a bit about English Colonialism and African slavery. We observed the action at the busy Straw Market on Bay Street, promising to return to buy souvenirs, and the teeming activity at the duty-free shops.

Then we stopped at the Pirates of Nassau Museum (242/356-3759) on King and George streets. Anna was frightened when the "pirate" jumped out with a bloodcurdling shriek. But she was delighted by the re-created buildings of old Nassau, the screeching pirate ship Revenge and the detailed description we got about the colorful lives of the pirates. This was a chance for her to learn about my favorite women pirates, Mary Reed and Anne Bonny.

Later, outside at Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Centre (242/23-5806) at Chippingham Road near West Bay Street, Nassau, a flock of pink flamingos marched in perfect precision. Then we photographed each other with exotic birds and snakes. Anna, who says she's going to be a veterinarian when she grows up, was less squeamish about the snake than about the birds.