We had an absolute blast in Florida this year. Despite being 8.5 months pregnant and sweating like a crazy lady, it was a much needed reprieve from the daily grind. I think it was also a really great way to end our lives as a family of three. We spent 9 days with my parents in Perdido Key, just like last year. We took the RV down, camped at Big Lagoon State Park (we love it there!) and managed to enjoy a wide variety of activities during our stay. This post is going to be crazy picture heavy (sorry!) so please forgive me. I made sure to truncate the post so if you're interested in seeing the rest of the photos and reading about where we went/what we did while we were there, feel free to click through below! (Spoiler alert: They're all iPhone photos... because who wants to carry around a clunky camera on vacation?!)
flamingos we set up at our camp site
Big Lagoon is seriously so so gorgeous
a little RV selfie at 34.5 weeks pregnant (with a dirty mirror!)
we walked around Big Lagoon + snapped some maternity photos
we did a late evening walk through the lagoon side of the park + looked at hermit crabs
we spent a handful of our days at Gulf Islands National Seashore
GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE
Our absolute favorite beach in Perdido Key is at Johnson Beach which is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. For a carload of all 5 of us, it was only $8 to get in (and that's for the entire week!) The sand is so soft, the water is so clear, and best of all: the beach isn't packed. Every day we were there we had a solid 100 yards to ourselves. Never again do I want to fight for public beach space and feel crowded. It's so worth the $8 haha! One super cool thing we experienced on our first day at the beach was a 7 foot hammerhead shark swimming around! It was so cool to see it in the wild. Later that day my parents found a baby bull shark that had washed up on the beach. Sadly it had already died, but it was neat to be able to see it up close and check it out. Toby thought it was the coolest thing ever.
we made sure to make plenty of time for just relaxing in the RV
we spent an afternoon at the Naval Aviation Museum and it was so cool!
NATIONAL NAVAL AVIATION MUSEUM
I definitely didn't expect the aviation museum to be as neat as it was, but boy was I surprised! It's located in Pensacola and it's FREE! The place is huge and full of so many awesome planes, helicopters, simulators, etc. Toby thought it was so neat and I had blast. Of course my favorite plane was totally the shark plane haha! Mike, my stepdad and Toby all rode on one of the Blue Angel simulators, and Toby even picked up some keepsake dog tags to remember it all by. If you find yourself with a rainy day to spare in Pensacola, I totally recommend going here. It's great.
we caught an afternoon movie at The Wharf and Toby rode on the ferris wheel with PawPaw
putt putt golf at Adventure Island at high noon and 95 degrees. I was miserable!
but Toby loved playing the arcade games and cashing in his tickets
we went bowling at the most outdated little alley I've ever seen. it was endearing!
Overall our trip was so much fun. By the end of it I think we were all ready to be home, and then we needed a vacation from our vacation! It always takes me just as long to get back in the groove. I really look forward to our family vacations each year and I'm so glad we get along with my parents so well that it's actually possible! The plan for the past 2 years was to take Toby to Disney World when he turned 5, but since I went and got knocked up we had to reschedule! We're hoping next year will be a good Disney year, even though Baby Flynn will be too young to remember it. He and I will just stroll around the park going from Dole Whip stand to Dole Whip stand. I mean, that is how you're supposed to enjoy Disney, right?!
Man, I miss the beach already! xo
Sounds like you had an amazing time! Disney next year will be a blast even though the baby may not know whats going on haha Toby will definitely love it. Its nice that your family has this tradition of yearly trips. It seems great for being together and bonding, and gives you something to look forward to the rest of the year!
ReplyDeleteJustine
http://theredlipchronicles.blogspot.com
I read that first sentence as "despite being 85 months pregnant" lol
ReplyDeleteLooks like the most amazing holiday. Really hope you had an awesome time on your last getaway as a family of 3. I'm already looking forward to next years post when he's there with you guys.
ReplyDeleteHope you're not struggling too much in your final weeks. xx
my dad is a pilot, so every vacation to gulf shores that we took growing up including a trip to the aviation museum. last summer i went back with my kids, and to my surprise the museum is SO much more kid oriented. it used to be just tons of reading, and my brothers and i were always so bored. it was a nice surprise to be more hands on and kid friendly. there was also a lighthouse down the road from the naval museum that you could tour. if you went to the basement they were showing an episode of ghost hunters that they filmed at the lighthouse. :)
ReplyDeleteHey! We had two of the same travel destinations this summer! (Course, I didn't have to go too far.) I had never been to the National Navy Aviation Museum, but they recently had a dedication ceremony for some new exhibits...including one about my great grandfather, the Father of Naval Air Photography! I thought it was super cool. And don't even get me started on the Keys. You might think a Florida girl would be immune to Key disease, but I'm not.
ReplyDeleteKelly
@KellyDelValle.net
LOVE THE FLAMINGOS! haha...and you all look so great! I'm glad you guys had a wonderful time!! :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks like so much fun + you are a CHAMP for being out in the FL heat while being 38 weeks pregnant!! :D
ReplyDeletewww.camillecolumbia.blogspot.com
The only problem with these photos is that I can FEEL the hot, haha. What an awesome trip and holy crap I'm impressed that you are smiling because I can tell you, -I- would not be smiling unless someone had just doused me with ice water.
ReplyDeleteAlso... what is a Dole Whip? This confuses me.
Wow!! The shark pics + stories to go with them... amazing. I'll admit I had to do a double take when I read "perfect way to end our lives as a family of three" but then I realized what you meant. Heh.
ReplyDeleteLove all the pics! My parents live in Perdido Key, too - small world :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a memorable vacation. Love that your family is close enough to do that. A definite blessing for sure. Great pics. The shark tale is amazing. And, ps, you are such a gorgeous preggo! <3
ReplyDeletesounds so fun! i love the family picture of you three, so cute :)
ReplyDeletexo, cheyenne