I told Philip I missed the beach. I love the lake, and I love our house there, but I have always and will always love the ocean and the beach. When they decided we got a week off for fall break this year (usually we only get 2 days), we decided to take a trip just the 4 of us. We decided to go back to Tranquility Bay (see post from when we went last time HERE ).
We used sky miles and companion tickets so we had to take what was available to us as far as flights went. And we were a little nervous considering Hurricane Ian barreled through the Keys the week before.
But we made it with no issues!
They upgraded us from a 2 bedroom beach front to a 3 bedroom (if you insist). So we could sit on the porch or even the living room couch and watch the kids in the sand.
Parker loved searching for coconuts, iguanas, shells and treasure.
Due to the amount of sand that the kids were covered in daily, they ate breakfast and lunch on the porch most days.
We had a private little lagoon, where tons of seaweed was washed up from the hurricane. They even brought in a bulldozer one day to scoop it all away.
We walked to the 7 mile bridge.
We stopped at every playground we walked past, because hello energy burner.
The kids dug HUGE holes and made serious sand creations. While I read so many books I lost track.
My favorite thing we did was the Dolphin Research Center. It was so cool how they rescued dolphins, trained them and interacted them. We watched them expel milk from a pregnant dolphin, talk to several dolphins and get them to do tricks and stunts, and one dolphin in particular took a liking to Ainsley and just laid there looking at her and squeaked every time she tried to get up to leave.
We took a chartered boat to the sandbar one day. In the middle of the ocean just this huge sandbar you could step out onto and play.
We tried the paddle board.
At night we would walk to dinner, where Philip and Ainsley would try new seafood and Parker and I would stick to American food :)
One day we drove the hour drive to Key West and did all the things up and down Duval Street.
We went to the Butterfly Conservatory, which was sooo neat. Ainsley was a bit freaked out by the amount of butterflies coming at her, but then she decided it was pretty cool.
We went to the Mel Fisher Museum where Parker intently listened to every story about all the treasure. Him and Philip read a book about this before we went and he had seen lots of pictures. He was pumped to finally go to this museum and I was surprised how much he paid attention to everything.
We stopped for lunch where the chickens tried to jump up and get the kids fries. Water guns were available to shoot them away. They also got to sign a dollar and staple it to the doorframe, which they thought was fun.
, and of course: ice cream.
Ainsley loved all of the rainbows all over the town.
We visited the putting greens several times at our resort.
We recreated a picture from Ainsley's first time at the beach. Same spot :)
Ainsley ate more pretzels than should have been allowed, but hey, vacation.
We had such a great time. The kids play so well together and they really enjoy each others company. Which in turn allows Philip and I to enjoy each other.
The kids loved snorkeling. They saw so many cool things and Parker really got into it, and was good at it.
Philip taught us all how to play chess. The kids got into it and even beat Philip and I one night, which they were super proud of, thus earning the right to pick dessert that night.
We went to a very cool outdoor aquarium.
The kids got to sift for shark teeth, which you know Parker was all about.
Ainsley met a sting ray she thought was so cute.
We walked to a light house at the end of a pier.
We were so sad to leave our happy little home.
But we packed up and spent the day in Key West before our late flight. We climbed up to the top of a light house where you could see all over Key West.
Philip got his last fill of some oysters.
And we said goodbye to the wonderful Florida Keys.
We had such a relaxing, enjoyable trip. Its been a tough couple years for Philip and I think this was just what the doctor ordered.
