Florida Trip

We went on a wonderful 9 day vacation to Florida from August 6th-15th. The first half we were on a Carnival Cruise on the Victory ship.  The last half we rented a condo in the Florida Keys.

Day 1

After an all night flight, we boarded our cruise.

Our room was decorated and had cakes thanks to Marv and Vickie!  Then we explored the ship and ate some good dinner. 

Day 2

We stopped in Key West and explored a few streets.

Then it was already time to board the ship.

After playing in the arcade and catching a show, the day was gone.  Here are our sleeping arrangements: 1 queen bed, 1 set of bunks, and a trundle bed.  The kids rotated beds so they could try them all out.

Day 3

This was a big day!  We went to Cozumel and rented a van and drove to some ruins.

We stopped to hold a huge lizard and for a drink break.

Marv decided to stay on the boat.  Vickie came with us and we explored most of the day at some ruins.  We paid extra to have a personal tour guide.  He knew his stuff and spoke great English.  The place was breathtaking and all on a little island.

We snorkeled at the best clear beach we could find.  Before too long, it was already time to turn in the van.

We dropped off the van at the last possible time.  We then walked through an alley and bartered for souvenirs.  Then it was time to board the ship.  The best day of the cruise!

Day 4

We were on board all day.  The kids swam. Favorite drinks: Scott- Coke Zero, Me-Pina Colada, the kids- Sprite. 

I got brave and tried ox tongue.  It was actually delicious and I ate it up. The lava cake was fantastic and the baked Alaska was good.

We mini golfed at the last possible time before morning when we got off the boat.

Day 5

 We headed to the Frost Science Museum in Miami.

From fish, to water, to planets, and Leonardo da Vinci- there was something for everyone.

We drove and checked into our condo in Key Largo.  We were thrilled it had a place to swim and play, plus wild lizards.

Looked around at the area.  And had to have key lime pie in the Keys.

At night, we caught some little crabs and a lizard. Then we let them go.

Day 6

We spent all day in the Everglades!  With alligators, lizards, and huge grasshoppers in the swamps, we really enjoyed this experience.

There still was a lot of aftermath from Hurricane Irma one year ago.  

Look closely and you can see an alligator in the last picture!  What a great day!

Day 7

We drove the Florida Keys which is 90 miles of ocean highway, including a 7 mile bridge with no land on either side.  This is something that was on my bucket list.

Here we are at the southernmost point in America! 

Lincoln had a funny experience detailing how his little mind works.  We were grabbing some lunch and on the way back, he quizzically looked at this tree and noticed the chain around it.  "Mom, why would someone want to steal a tree?"  he asked me.  I then explained to him the chain was to lock a bike to it for safekeeping and not to protect the tree.  Cute kid.

Our next stop was Fort Wayne.  This place was supposed to protect USA from ocean invasions and is on Key West, the southern most point in America.

Luckily, USA never had to fully use it.  Sure, it was staffed and they did the drills.  They just never went to war using the base.

We snorkeled in a state park and it was fabulous.  So many fish and lobsters!

We were famished by the time we made it back to Key Largo.  We found a little sandwich shop and ordered food at 10pm.  We had no idea it would take over an HOUR to get our food.  Poor Lincoln was done and asleep when our food arrived.  We could not get him to wake up! A police officer, who was eating there too, helped us wake him up and probably startled him a little.  He asked Lincoln if he wanted to be taken away by the cop.  That got him up and to the car.

Day 8

We dedicated this day completely to the water.  First, we snorkeled and kayaked in the inlet.

Then we drove the golf cart to the other side and played in the ocean.

Finally, we went back to in inlet and the pool and finished off the day with a dinner at a Mexican restaurant.

Day 9

Robbie's Marina was our last stop before we headed back to the airport.  We fed some huge fish and shopped a little. Then we drove north to Fort Lauderdale.

Goodbye Florida!  You were one of our best vacations!

Our souvenirs: magnets, blankets, jewelry, toys, rocks, and candy.  What a great trip!