I spent the final seven days of 2023 in Antigua with my mother and father, my siblings, some prolonged household, and my son, Leo, who was 10 months outdated on the time. It was my first journey after changing into a mother, which made having the entire household in one place much more thrilling. Instead of staying at a resort, we rented this large three-story home with a view of the mountains. We introduced in a neighborhood chef who cooked Antiguan meals like plantains and saltfish for breakfast; therapeutic massage therapists for remedies on our large out of doors balcony; and instructors who led yoga periods by the pool. My little sister Lawrencia is large on touring and planning, so she made the schedule. We sailed on a personal catamaran to a secluded space of the island, the place a chef cooked fish and veggies on a makeshift grill. After lunch we went swimming. The coral reefs had been so orange, yellow, and blue. We even swam with stingrays. We went in the water nearly on daily basis, even Leo. He was so little that all of us stored passing him round from individual to individual. Being with my household and having my son there, I believed, was very consultant of what my life was now going to be like. I bear in mind a second after I was breastfeeding Leo and simply feeling actually supported by everybody round me. I had been working a lot that previous yr. Then issues began to decelerate due to the infant. Having Leo allowed me to make selections for my peace and calm that I did not all the time make for myself, like taking this trip. Actually, that is the factor I bear in mind most about Antigua: a way of calmness. I’ve been to different islands in the Caribbean that may really feel very completely different, very dwell and in-your-face. I imply, Antigua has a few of that too: Toward the tip of the journey, my mother and father babysat Leo whereas my siblings and I had just a little nightclub second. But total Antigua felt very calm to me. Maybe that is simply how I felt. Because I received to be with the folks I really like.
Keke Palmer stars in the movie Good Fortune, in theaters October 17. This article appeared in the November 2025 concern of Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the journal here.