For those of you who follow me, you know how disproportionately excited I can get with anything involving steel pans, the Caribbean, and people winning things.

Earlier this winter I got to stop by the #OpenFun event with Carnival in NYC’s Greeley Park. Turns out, Carnival has canned real island air from six of its Caribbean ports to bring the scents and memories of the islands to a rather cold NYC!

In celebration of their new ship, Carnival Horizon, Carnival built a snow globe complete with unique vending machine that allowed guests to be matched with an island scent. Even more special was the fact you could win a cruise from the machine. Totally saw 3 people win while I was there, and I got excited for them.

I love when people get the gift of travel unexpectedly. You can see the joy on their faces, but joy can also be triggered by scent. I learned 95% of Americans say scent can trigger vacation memories. These scents took me back to the beach, tropical drinks and dancing with someone I love. It was a welcome treat in the midst of winter for me, and I know everyone else felt just as in awe that scents could take them back to vacations, or make them want to plan a get away sooner than later.

The Caribbean remains my favorite place to visit. Best beaches, amazing water, great music and great food. The best part is getting to know the local culture and immerse yourself in the undeniable energy of each island. Just like I think wellness and yoga is for everyone, I feel the same way about traveling. I encourage everyone to travel, and the islands are really a special place. They hold a spot in my heart, and could for you, too. And for those of you who are worried about the storm damage, many ports in the Caribbean are open for business and appreciate the support tourism brings to the economy.

Though I've never been on a cruise, it's tempting learning that Carnival Horizon has top of the line restaurants and spa cabins. Might be the self-care / tropical vacation I didn't know I needed.

Here are some pictures from the event if you didn’t catch all my IG stories!

This post was created for Away We Go with Carnival, the destination for getting in the getaway state of mind.

Source: Carnival

// NYC Winter Highlights from the Caribbean