We have been planning for a trip to Florida since last October. The plan was to find a condo on the beach with a pool right on the beach. The goal was to not plan too many things to do and focus on playing on the beach and swimming in the pool; not to have every minute scheduled out like we did when we went to Disney World. A plan for every minute helps Disney work; this vacation will be totally opposite.
Michael finished up with school on May 17 with the awards ceremony at MTCS. He received many awards including the Spanish award. So we decided on May 18 around lunch we were going to hit the road and drive to Birmingham, AL spend the night and then arrive at Navarre Beach, FL around 3:00 or so.
We spent friday morning finishing getting things ready; getting the car ready, putting the bicycle rack on the van, getting packed, cleaning out the van and packing the car. It took us most of the morning to get things ready to go and packed. We ate lunch before heading out. It was warm today, but sunny! Time to head to Florida. Time to go!
We took 840 over to Franklin and then headed down 65. After a few hours we stopped at the rocketship Alabama Welcome center. To promote space exploration Alabama placed the rocketship right at the welcome center on the interstate. The stop was just to get out and run around. After using the restroom I played tag with all 3 of the kids. We were running all over the place. The goal was to get the kids running around since we are sitting in the van for a long time. We stopped for about 30 minutes or so just running around and having fun.
As we drove into Birmingham we decided that we wanted to stop and grab some pizza near the hotel. Heather pulled up a pizza hut on my phone and ordered a pizza. On the way to the hotel we followed the GPS to Pizza Hut to pick up the pizza. The Pizza Hut did not appear to be in the best part of town.
After picking up the pizza time to head to the hotel. We headed to the hotel. We were staying at Country Inn and Suites just west of Birmingham.
Once we got checked in we enjoyed the pizza in the breakfast area. The kids were wild; but who could blame them, we're going to the beach tomorrow (also that is why we wait in the breakfast area).
Before, the kids hit the sack I thought I would take 30 minutes and head to Pleasant Grove and see the tornado damage that is there. The large tornado damage was actually visible from our hotel room. Pleasant Grove was hit by a torndo in April 2011. Almost a year and 2 months later Pleasant Grove was still devastating. There were parts of the city that were still leveled with no house. You could see where houses once stood. There was one house in which all that was left was the front steps. The entire house was gone including the basement.
Once I got back to the hotel room it was time to hit the sack.
On Saturday morning our kids got up early and we went down the eat breakfast at the hotel. The breakfast area was pretty crowded. All 5 of us sat at one small table.
Once we got the bikes back on the van we kept heading south down 65.
Lunch was planned to be at Subway in Greenville, AL. Subway in Greenville near the interstate was at a gas station. We ate at the subway, but used the Burger King accross the street for the bathroom stop. We just walked accross the street to the Burger King. Subway was having a contest in which you could win this or that at the store based on the peel off item on the drink. We won a cookie. Their cookies at Subway are huge so I told Michael to wait in line and get it. We split the cookie between the 3 of the kids. Heather laughed at us spliting a cookie instead of getting 2 cookies for the other 2.
Finally around 3:00 we made it to Navarre Beach, FL. Navarre is in-between Ft. Walton and Pensacola Beach. We headed over the bridge to the island and checked in at "The Pearl". Our condo was in The Pearl Condos on the 10th floor with a balcony over looking the beach. What a great view. After getting all our stuff up in the condo it was time to go out to the beach.
Sunday morning (May 20) we got up and headed off to Church. Navarre Church of Christ wasn't too far from the condo. The Church was a small church that focused on visitors. 60% of the people at Church were visitors. I enjoy visiting other Churches and worshiping with brothers and sisters when on vacation.
After church we headed back to the condo for a quick bite to eat for lunch and then to the beach and the pool.
Monday (May 21) was dolphin cruise and snorkle day. I had made reservations to go over to Destin (about 45 minutes down the road and go on the Sea Blaster). We took the Sea Blaster last time we were at the beach (we went to Panama City Beach 4 years ago). The reservations were for 11:00.
Each morning we took our bikes out on the bike path. Some mornings I took Josh and Michael; some mornings it was all of us, some mornings it was Josh and Michael and then I took Kayla out separately. One of the mornings I took the bike out by myself. I am glad we brought
We wanted to get there a bit earlier just to make sure we don't miss the boat or have to hurry for being late.
We arrived at the pier about an hour early. The Sea Blaster guys were nice enough to allow us to put our stuff on the boat. We walked around the outdoor mall area and found an American Doll Store. Kayla was so excited. She could have spent all day there.
We got in line to get on the boat. Once on the boat it was time to head out. The weather was great! Sunny and hot. We were all lathered up with sun screen. The first stop was by the rocks to snorkle to see the fish. We started out with Michael and I heading to the rocks where Sea Blaster recommended. I was hoping to take Josh but as soon as he jumped off the boat he went into a small panic. He had a lifevest on but didn't grasp the concept of floating. His panic wasn't too bad, but it took him a second to get used to it.
Kayla and Heather went together. After heading over to the rocks Josh wanted to go back with Heather. After Michael and I looked at the rocks Heather and I switched, but Josh wanted to go with them. Kayla and I swam around while they snorkled.
Before the boat left, Michael wanted to take his turn to jump off the boat. The boat was pretty high. The jump is about 10 feet high. Josh didn't want to jump off. I got a chance to jump off the boat mysel; it was a higher than it looked from the water.
Once we got all settled down on the boat time to go and see some dolphins. We saw many dolphins and drove the boat down the beach. Sea Blaster lets all the kids drive the boat.
Like last time we took the Sea Blaster this time was just as fun!
When we arrived back at the condo it was pool and beach time.
Tuesday was beach and pool day. We started the day with a bicycle ride; eat breakfast; then to the beach for the morning; once tired of the beach our kids like to go to the pool; we would do this until 2:30 or so. Then we would head up to the condo, take our shower and baths and get ready for dinner. By the time we got ready and drove the place we were going to eat dinner it would be around 4:00.
