Fave Place to Stay– One & Only Ocean Club, Paradise Island

Nothing combines the beauty of Bahamian beaches with ultimate luxury like this resort. I adore the simple elegance of the plantation-style architecture and unsurpassed attention to detail. From the private treatment villas at the spa to a gorgeous Versailles-inspired gardens, this resort fuses together elements of splendor and relaxation from around the world, truly living up to its name.

Highlights: personal hammocks, the beach (look at the water!), adults-only pool for peace & quiet, access to Atlantis Water Park for some big-kid fun! And, of course, the world-class spa…private treatment VILLAS, hellooo!

Website: One & Only Ocean Club
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Local Grub Spot– Arawak Cay, Nassau

Known to locals as “the fish fry”, Arawak Cay is an unassuming strip of restaurants where Nassau residents and well-informed foodies come for authentic, no-frills Bahamian flavor.  I headed to The Stone Crab House for a cornucopia of conch– conch fritters, cracked conch, conch salad…oh yeeeah! Wash it down with my local drink of choice, Sky Juice (a strong mixture of gin, coconut water & sweet milk) for a true taste of the islands that will send you soaring with joy amongst the puffy white Caribbean clouds.

About half a million pounds of conch is consumed in the Bahamas each year. It’s a delicious island staple that’s rumored to be an aphrodisiac, and must be tried! But if it’s your first time, my general rule about conch is– taste it before you actually see it.  Once it’s chopped up, battered or fried, you’ll have no idea that the tasty dish you’re consuming is quite possibly one of the ugliest sea creatures on the planet!

Website: Arawak Cay, Nassau
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Wine & Dine Splurge– Graycliff, Nassau

This historic mansion, transformed into the Caribbean’s first 5-star restaurant, is famous for its sophisticated Bahamanian-inspired cuisine and 250,000 bottle wine cellar (3rd largest in the world). But the 6th shining star at Graycliff is Chef Elijah Bowe, a larger-than-life personality whose charisma and charm is as abundant as the magnificent flavor in his dishes. I had the honor of cooking alongside Chef Elijah at Table One, a demonstration and private dining area in his kitchen. This was one of the most memorable and fun experiences of my life! We (ahem, yes I assisted) whipped up stone crab in a lovely cream saffron sauce and feasted on a number of foodgasmic Chef Elijah creations, plus bottles of heavenly wine and a 6-way dessert sampler. Oh, what a night!

Website: Graycliff Restaurant
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Sealife Encounter– UNEXO Dolphin Experience, Grand Bahama Island

Get up-close and personal with these magnificent sea creatures in their natural environment. I was amazed by the physical strength, calming demeanor and intensely-focused intelligence of these gorgeous dolphins. UNEXO also offers shark encounters, as well as scuba and wreck diving. Fun for nature-lovers and kids of all ages!

Website: UNEXO Underwater Explorers Society
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Sounds & Sunset– Bikini Bottom Bar & Grill, Grand Bahama Island

Nothing feels more right than being on an island and watching a glorious sunset, while live Caribbean music fills the air. My favorite spot on Grand Bahama is Bikini Bottom, a casual place with the coolest Rake ‘n’ Scrape band in town– the Island Boys. Rake ‘n’ Scrape is an genre of music that originated in the Bahamas with distinct sounds created by goat skin drums and scraping a hair pick along a carpenter saw. It instantaneously fills you with funk, happiness and the overwhelming urge to get up and dance! I had to opportunity to learn how to play the instruments and jam out with The Island Boys, probably not the most enjoyable experience for the customers that night, but something I will never ever forget. Rake and scrape, yaaaaaw!

Website: Bikini Bottom Bar & Grill

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Mayleen Ramey hosts Destination Tennis, a travel show on Tennis Channel. Below is a promo video for Destination Tennis: Bahamas, please check Tennis Channel for air times of the full episode.

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a visit to this city is not only an experience of the senses, but also a journey through time. from the breath-taking architecture to many still-practiced traditions of the past, this modern and charming city has a deep connection with its history, yet a passion for living in the present. and the argentines certainly know how to live the good life! foodies and wine connoisseurs will drool over the happiest (and tastiest) cows in the world, as well as the local malbec and torrontes wines. tennis players have their pick of literally hundreds of public red clay courts across town! music and art-lovers will rejoice over the museums, theatres, and especially, the thriving tango scene.

during my week in this beautiful city, i tried to experience as much of the food, culture and tennis as possible. as a traveler, my goal is to delve into my surroundings, try as many new things and meet as many locals as possible. i believe the greatest memories of our trips are created through real connections and authentic moments. i encourage you to reach beyond the tours and guide books, to trek on the less obvious path and to appreciate every moment of the way. these are some of my fondest memories and tips from buenos aires:

MATCH MADE IN MILONGA

i had taken tango lessons for a month prior to my trip to BsAs and was so excited to dance in a real ‘milonga’ or traditional dance hall. however, the milonga etiquette dates back decades and the unspoken rules leave many foreign dancers scratching their heads, wondering why no one will dance with them. apparently, it’s impolite to ASK someone to dance! instead, a quick glance and subtle nod is an invitation, which needs to be answered appropriately. in order to avoid offending anyone or sitting perplexed all evening, i commissioned the service of tango taxi dancers, on a recommendation from an LA tango friend.

i met with a tango pro for an hour lesson at a dance studio, then accompanied the pro to the milonga. riding through the city, practicing my spanish and finally showing up at the milonga was something i will never forget. small tables covered with linen cloth surrounded the dance floor in this enormous vintage hall. with a somber, elegant and traditional feel, i almost expected to see men on one side and women on the other. in the middle of the room, dozens of couples quietly spun in a large formation, hypnotized by the throaty tango projecting from a record player, filling the vaulted ceiling and musty air. wow, i thought, THIS is tango…and then i danced.

ADDITIONAL TANGO INFO:

Tango Taxi Dancers: a tango agency that arranges private lessons & milonga visits– a great service for someone who already knows how to tango and wants to practice with a pro in a milonga setting. for beginners, i would suggest a group lesson at a tango show or studio.

Confiteria Ideal: one of the most beautiful & historic milongas in buenos aires, offering shows & classes throughout the week. tidbit– scenes from the movies, ‘evita’ and ‘tango’ were filmed here.

Tango Brujo: a tango store where i purchased my ‘dancing with the stars-esque’ dress (above) & hand-made leather dancing shoes…love them! they also have a studio upstairs for tango lessons.

yes, it’s TRUE…not only am i a certified cowgirl, thanks to passing an intense training course at ‘cowboy u’ in scottsdale, arizona…BUT i’ve also safely landed a hot air balloon in the middle of a suburban neighborhood…and that was all in one day! if you tuned in to the premiere of ‘destination tennis: scottsdale’, you’ve already witnessed my adventures first-hand and i hope you enjoyed the show.

if you missed this ep, be sure to check the tennis channel schedule for repeats…it’s worth tivo-ing, i promise. if not for the beautiful sweeping desert landscapes and world-class tennis resorts, then certainly for a good laugh as i learn to ride a horse or get crushed at tennis by a 10-year old kid (he was GOOD, what can i say).

this has been our 2nd official episode to air on tennis channel and we’re getting geared up to shoot our next show in vancouver, canada! i grew up playing tennis & traveling…and i love nothing more than meeting people, great food, and sharing new experiences. so i invite you to come along for the thrills, laughs, and good times on ‘destination tennis’. thanks for watching :)