The good ol’ spring break days – remember them? The one week a year where we roamed free as teens, raising hell on our favorite beaches, without a care in the world. In many ways I still live life as I did back then. Wild and without abandon, but not quite as carelessly. Still as free-spirited, but a bit more planned. As we grow older, our tastes change, and I must say, Myrtle Beach doesn’t have quite the same appeal as it once did.
Two spring breaks springs ago, my best friend and I planned an impromptu trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico. We were both craving some sunshine and Vitamin D. I’m a pretty adventure-seeking traveler, and Andrea wanted some major beach relaxation time (me too!), so PR seemed like an agreeable destination for us to get the best of both worlds. $45 later – thank you US Airways American Airlines miles – I was on my way to San Juan.
Tip: I booked this trip RT for free with miles earned on my AAdvantage card. As of 3/2016, the current offer stands at 30k miles just for signing up, and 30k more if you spend $1,000 on the card within three months of opening. 60k miles is enough for two RT flights to Puerto Rico. Just sayin.’
We eventually wandered away from The Dreamcatcher and out of the neighborhood, observing the vibrant colors, fruit-stands, and Latin-inspired energy of the Puerto Rican capital. Dinner that night was at a local, casual restaurant, where I sat down with a slice of coca mallorquina, a Spanish-influenced rustic flatbread baked and covered with fish, chicken, egg, onion, and tomato. Paired with a glass of white wine, I was already in foodie paradise. We were able to swing back to the beach in time to catch the beautiful sunset and watch the waves hit the shore. Afterward we wandered around the ritzy area of Condado (about a 10 minutes drive from Ocean Park) … and into a casino and instantly lost some money. Standard, right? Andrea got her blackjack fix. I had been up and traveling since 3AM, so we called it an early-ish night.
Tip: The cheap flights or mileage reward travel will often come with a downfall- less than desirable travel times. Don’t let this deter you. You can always catch up on sleep later and if you are extra concerned about not missing the zzz’s you need, consider taking a sleeping pill on the flight.
The next day we had an amazing, healthy breakfast served up by the friendly Dreamcatcher chef. And Puerto Rican coffee is something else!
We set off in our rental car to El Yunque National Forest, which happens to be the only tropical rainforest on US soil. Drivers in Puerto Rico are quite fearless so I put my game face on, got aggressive, and managed to get us there in one piece. The forest adventure consisted of stopping at scenic overlooks, a good hike at 2 miles return, and a short swim in the chilly La Mina waterfall within. The water was freezing, and intermittent light rain showers were testing us, but a quick dip was mandatory and we managed to snap a few fun pictures to savor the moment.
Afterward, since we had the car and nowhere to be, we drove to Luquillo Beach, orange-sanded and deserted. We napped, savored the breeze, and caught some sun. In this moment, I felt so incredibly lucky to be in the serene and calming environment away from all the stressors of normal life. Puerto Rico is technically American territory, so it’s easy to travel to (i.e. no passport requirement) yet it has the feel of an exotic land due to it’s primarily Latin culture and Spanish language. I can’t quite explain it eloquently, but this gentle combination of familiar and foreign is really a treasure in itself.
The next morning we did the touristy thing and had brunch + mimosas and walked around Old San Juan, admiring the pastel colored buildings and old architecture. San Juan is the 2nd oldest city in the Americas so there’s a ton of history to check out. We hung around a scenic overlook of the cruise port and then wandered over to the San Juan National Historic Site. The vast views into the city from the massive fort, which served as a military outpost dating back to the 16th century, accompanied by clear blue skies, made for a fantastic setting. The United Nations has designated this site as a World Heritage site because of its outstanding historical value. Definitely worth exploring if you are ever in PR and/or into UNESCO!
Later it was time to return to Ocean Beach and check out “our” local stomping grounds. We put on our ‘kini’s, grabbed some Medalla Light and DonQ (mojito flavored liqueur) and walked to the crowded beach. We spent a few hours baking in the sun/sleeping, drinking our brews, and watching the locals enjoy a day off from work.
