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A career couple takes their first vacation since daughter Lulu was born and escapes to Nassau, Bahamas.

Our idea of a nuclear family doesn't feature Dad as primary disciplinarian and breadwinner, Mom holding a quilted diaper bag with matching paci-protector, and siblings in coordinated dress. We're two career-driven thirty-somethings whose raison d’etre never had a thing to do with family planning.

Then 20 some-odd months back we were blessed with the arrival of Lulu, The Little World Changer. And we’ve been trying to figure out how we’re all going to live together ever since. Fast forward to summer ’08: Lulu’s almost 2, and precociously good at both giggling and tantrum throwing. As for Mom and Dad, well we’ve almost gotten the hang of this parenting and heck, we could all use a break.

It was our first vacation with our nearly 2-year-old daughter Lulu. Sure, we’ve traveled together to visit family, but never just for pleasure. We've had a long list of family vacation destinations dancing in our heads, mostly spurred by our own nostalgic childhood memories. Will she like the ocean? Will she like the pool? How fast can she get sunburned? Will she be able to sleep in the hotel? Will she remember any of it? We can’t scar her for life yet, right?

It started to feel like we were mobilizing an expeditionary force. So we made a decision before we even got to the Bahamas. We were running away from running. And we were determined that for three lovely days, there would be no wrestling matches in and out of the car seat. Once we got there, we weren’t leaving the resort.

And so we headed to The Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort and the Love Your Family Program in Nassau, Bahamas. The package offers a suite of services aimed at the family traveler including a generous resort credit per day, Kids Camp, a Parents Night Out, complimentary crib or rollaway, evening entertainment, lots of swimming pools, and views of the ocean. For added savings, kids 5-years-old and younger eat free from the kids menu and 6 to 12-year-olds get 50% off regular menu items and free souvenir cup for drink refills on soda, juice and milk throughout their stay.

Resort Dining

Upon arrival to the resort, we immediately rushed outside hoping to find authentic Caribbean cuisine served against a perfect tropical backdrop. However, the main menu at the Sheraton’s Dolphin Grill reads dangerously close to its children’s offerings. Western family-friendly fare like hot-dogs, hamburgers, chicken fingers, and fries aren’t just options, they’ve colonized.

If you’re looking for something uniquely Bahamian, get the conch fritters. They were amazing. Deep-fried to golden perfection these little pieces of heaven taste like spicy cornmeal hush-puppies with a small bite of conch meat at the center. Though they provide a little heat, Lulu contentedly nibbled on them, following with frequent sips of water and exclamations of “this hot?!” Try them with a local Kalik beer if you're a grown-up. Listen to steel drum music, look at the ocean, and relax.

Most of our dining experiences at the Sheraton Nassau Beach were predictable. The hotel’s Bimini Market serves buffet-style food and is open for breakfast lunch and dinner, with views of the pool area. Amici, A Trattoria is the resort’s high-end establishment serving traditional Italian cuisine. The space is beautiful, the staff is attentive, and the food passable.

The Caribe Café, a coffee and pastry bar just off of the hotel's lobby, which also serves sandwiches at lunchtime and dinner, has a pretty good coconut pie. If you have a chance, go get a slice when your child isn’t looking. Sneak it up to your room and enjoy it with your spouse on the balcony after the kid is asleep.

room and enjoy it with your spouse on the balcony after the kid is asleep.