We are fresh back from our trip to Key Largo the second week in February, and we really had a great time together as a family! Sooo many great memories :) Here is a little compilation of the posts I did for each day we were in Key Largo.
Day 1: Calm and Storms
Day 2: Gator Park
Day 3: Bahia Honda and Key West
Day 4: Key Largo and Harris Park
Day 5: Theater of the Sea
Day 6: Hanging around the Condo Property
Also, instead of doing a boring recap of how our traveling went there and back, I thought I'd do a little piece on flying with toddlers with our experiences and tips.
Flying with Toddlers
I did a much more thorough recap of our trip with links as well, including the "best" and "worst" parts on my family blog, but I thought it was worth repeating here at least as a sort of menu for the rest of my blog posts on here.
Destinations
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Showing posts with label Key Largo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Key Largo. Show all posts
Friday, March 6, 2015
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Florida Day 1: Calm and Storms (February 8)
It's shortly before 7am here (shortly before 6am at home), and last night marks the first night that I haven't been worried about Kendrick on this vacation. He had a slight cough before we left, usually only when drinking and if I forgot to run the humidifier at night. Since arriving here, it has been constant at night and just unbearable. Yesterday we found a personal humidifier at Walgreens that has saved the day! Kendrick was still coughing occasionally, but it wasn't every half hour like the previous two nights. Hallelujah!
So I sit here feeling rested, with a cup of coffee while the condo is quiet and there are no little feet pitter pattering needing milk or diapers changed or anything else of me. It's calm. It's peaceful. The palm trees are swaying after a night of high winds and rain. I am sitting here near this lamp just journaling memories :)
Sunday was such a restful day, even if we didn't sleep all that fantastic the night before. We just hung out pretty much the whole day. The boys are in LOVE with the tiny little balcony here. They want to be out there first thing in the morning and the last thing at night.
We took the boys to the park in the complex...in shorts and t-shirts(!!). They LOVED it!
We pushed them in the swings for probably half an hour, which was just unheard of back home - even when the weather was nice. We had breakfast before and lunch after at the condo, and then worked on naps before too long.
After naps, we had to run to Kmart to pick up swim diapers and a few other things, then we went down to the pool and swam for an hour. The boys were BOTH just so blissful (although you couldn't tell from Kendrick's expression here).
We drive by this every time we head into town, and it is just gorgeous! I am just a tinge sad that we won't be chartering a boat this time around for some fishing and fun on the water, but it sounds kinda like a nightmare taking two little boys into the middle of nowhere on the ocean for a couple hours without the shore in sight. I keep reminding myself that one day it will be less chaotic and it's just for this short season in life that we are limited.
After the pool, and a non-nap for Cashel, we (being the crazy parents that we are) took two toddlers out for pizza! Upper Crust came highly recommended, so we had to try it out. And it was really very good! The boys? Yeah, they were not. I'm still fairly shocked that they didn't ruin anything with as squirelly and naughty as they were. I promise they didn't look so sweet and innocent, but there was just no way I was going to be able to take pictures, as it took all of Mark and I's strength to just keep the boys in their seats when they were writhing and screaming bloody murder. Eating out HAS to be the worst part of vacation when you have two toddlers.
We had promised the boys we would stop for ice cream on the way home, but they passed out as we were pulling out of the parking lot. Mark and I stopped anyway, and oh my goodness was this delicious! We got the special of the day and took home a half pint to share.
With the boys passed out and sleeping by 7pm, we cozied up in our pjs and watched a couple episodes of Scandal on Netflix before heading to bed for what will go down in history as "The Night of No Sleep". Kendrick was up at 12:30 and was coughing pretty much every half hour from then until 6am when I just gave up. Miraculously, he stopped coughing once we got up and was just running around making his cute little whispering sounds in awe of everything. Cashel was also very restless for Mark, since he hadn't even had a bite of pizza for supper (toddlers...ugh!) and was surprisingly starving and needed to eat and drink milk from 2-4am.
So I sit here feeling rested, with a cup of coffee while the condo is quiet and there are no little feet pitter pattering needing milk or diapers changed or anything else of me. It's calm. It's peaceful. The palm trees are swaying after a night of high winds and rain. I am sitting here near this lamp just journaling memories :)
Sunday was such a restful day, even if we didn't sleep all that fantastic the night before. We just hung out pretty much the whole day. The boys are in LOVE with the tiny little balcony here. They want to be out there first thing in the morning and the last thing at night.
We took the boys to the park in the complex...in shorts and t-shirts(!!). They LOVED it!
We pushed them in the swings for probably half an hour, which was just unheard of back home - even when the weather was nice. We had breakfast before and lunch after at the condo, and then worked on naps before too long.
After naps, we had to run to Kmart to pick up swim diapers and a few other things, then we went down to the pool and swam for an hour. The boys were BOTH just so blissful (although you couldn't tell from Kendrick's expression here).
We drive by this every time we head into town, and it is just gorgeous! I am just a tinge sad that we won't be chartering a boat this time around for some fishing and fun on the water, but it sounds kinda like a nightmare taking two little boys into the middle of nowhere on the ocean for a couple hours without the shore in sight. I keep reminding myself that one day it will be less chaotic and it's just for this short season in life that we are limited.
After the pool, and a non-nap for Cashel, we (being the crazy parents that we are) took two toddlers out for pizza! Upper Crust came highly recommended, so we had to try it out. And it was really very good! The boys? Yeah, they were not. I'm still fairly shocked that they didn't ruin anything with as squirelly and naughty as they were. I promise they didn't look so sweet and innocent, but there was just no way I was going to be able to take pictures, as it took all of Mark and I's strength to just keep the boys in their seats when they were writhing and screaming bloody murder. Eating out HAS to be the worst part of vacation when you have two toddlers.
We had promised the boys we would stop for ice cream on the way home, but they passed out as we were pulling out of the parking lot. Mark and I stopped anyway, and oh my goodness was this delicious! We got the special of the day and took home a half pint to share.
With the boys passed out and sleeping by 7pm, we cozied up in our pjs and watched a couple episodes of Scandal on Netflix before heading to bed for what will go down in history as "The Night of No Sleep". Kendrick was up at 12:30 and was coughing pretty much every half hour from then until 6am when I just gave up. Miraculously, he stopped coughing once we got up and was just running around making his cute little whispering sounds in awe of everything. Cashel was also very restless for Mark, since he hadn't even had a bite of pizza for supper (toddlers...ugh!) and was surprisingly starving and needed to eat and drink milk from 2-4am.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Florida Keys in February 2015
We are just starting to plan a trip to Florida hopefully this February. We finally decided on a destination: The Florida Keys!
Links to sources:
TheNest.com TheNest.com TripAdvisor.com Fla-Keys.com (Islamorada) Fla-Keys.com (Marathon) Fla-Keys.com (Key Largo)
I'm sure I'll have more to add eventually, but that's about as much as I'm going to do for planning at this point. We are all SO EXCITED!! :)
Accomodations
Key Largo
We decided to stay in Key Largo as it is close to Miami, and only a couple hours' drive to Key West. We initially wanted to stay in Islamorada or Marathon, but with only 10 weeks before the trip, most of the vrbo accommodations were picked over (beyond this one, which we just weren't willing to shell out $300/night for), and we wanted to stay somewhere at least as nice as where we live.
We reserved a nice condo (in a Yacht Club, no less - we are SO not "Yacht Club" people) there through vrbo.com
This is the view from the balcony! I cannot WAIT!!
We reserved a nice condo (in a Yacht Club, no less - we are SO not "Yacht Club" people) there through vrbo.com
Activities
In these days of the internet having so much information as well as chat forums, vacation planning is easy! I turned to TheNest.com's travel board, which I've used to help plan ALL of our previous vacations. I didn't even have to post a question, since when I did a search, the question has been asked at least a dozen times: "What to do in the Florida Keys".
One thing I've really tried to remember when traveling with little kids is to always plan very few actual activities: The less we have to stick to a timeline, the better! That way, I don't get flustered when the day doesn't go as I planned, and we have plenty of time to rest and relax. If we have a day with no naps, we can move things around without running out of time to do it "all".
Here's my rundown of what I've compiled:
One thing I've really tried to remember when traveling with little kids is to always plan very few actual activities: The less we have to stick to a timeline, the better! That way, I don't get flustered when the day doesn't go as I planned, and we have plenty of time to rest and relax. If we have a day with no naps, we can move things around without running out of time to do it "all".
Here's my rundown of what I've compiled:
Miami
*****Miami Seaquarium - a MUST for the boys! I can't wait to take them :)
Everglades National Park
This one is a whole destination in itself! $10 entrance fee to Everglades National Park.
website
Great informational PDF about the park
Dry Tortugas
Bird Watching
website
Great informational PDF about the park
Dry Tortugas
Bird Watching
Islamorada
Dolphin swimming at Hawk's Cay (technically between Islamorada and Marathon)
Key Largo
****Water Park at Jacob's Aquatics Center
***Harry Harris Park and Beach
***Harry Harris Park and Beach
Marathon
The sea turtle hospital tours in Marathon
****Bahia Honda State Park
"Bahia Honda has the most beautiful beach with soft white sand. They have snorkeling rental equipment on site and your can snorkel right off the beach. We also had a sunset picnic there on the beach and it was our most memorable day. It is about 1.5 hours from Key Largo and about an hour from Key West located just after you cross the seven mile bridge driving south. We picked up diner in Marathon and drove down to the park for our picnic."
****Rotary Field of Dreams (MUST for the boys!)
****Bahia Honda State Park
"Bahia Honda has the most beautiful beach with soft white sand. They have snorkeling rental equipment on site and your can snorkel right off the beach. We also had a sunset picnic there on the beach and it was our most memorable day. It is about 1.5 hours from Key Largo and about an hour from Key West located just after you cross the seven mile bridge driving south. We picked up diner in Marathon and drove down to the park for our picnic."
Key West
Big Pine Key
Snorkel at Looe Key and explore the park
Restaurant Recommendations
Islamorada
Morada Bay is good.
The Lorelai for drinks/lunch - on the water and awesome!
Cheeca Lodge for drinks and lunch.
Island Grill for lunch (both in Islamorada).
The Lorelai for drinks/lunch - on the water and awesome!
Cheeca Lodge for drinks and lunch.
Island Grill for lunch (both in Islamorada).
Marathon
The Island Fish Company for lunch - on the water and awesome! Good but can be super crowded
The Keys Fisheries is AWESOME for lunch or dinner-they do close on the earlier side so don't get there too late. (like 9 or 10PM-I can't remember) Their stone crab is really good-but everything else is too-we've never been disappointed and we've been going for 5 years. Easy to get a table
Burdine's Waterfront is also good and on the water-their fish taco's are great. It is a deck and a marina so you can sit above and watch the boats coming and going. I like that. Easy to get a table
The Keys Fisheries is AWESOME for lunch or dinner-they do close on the earlier side so don't get there too late. (like 9 or 10PM-I can't remember) Their stone crab is really good-but everything else is too-we've never been disappointed and we've been going for 5 years. Easy to get a table
Burdine's Waterfront is also good and on the water-their fish taco's are great. It is a deck and a marina so you can sit above and watch the boats coming and going. I like that. Easy to get a table
Links to sources:
TheNest.com TheNest.com TripAdvisor.com Fla-Keys.com (Islamorada) Fla-Keys.com (Marathon) Fla-Keys.com (Key Largo)
Basic Agenda
Our basic agenda will hopefully look about like this. I like to plan a big day followed by a low-key day so that we can Day 1 (Sunday)
Sleep in a bit (we will have gotten in late the night before), church at Key Largo Baptist Church (services at 8:45am and 11am) then relax and enjoy Key Largo a bit. Maybe take in the pool or beach a bit - basically a free-for-all day.Day 2 (Monday)
Miami Seaquarium day with supper at Rainforest Cafe. 1+ hour each way.Day 3 (Tuesday)
Water Park at Jacob's Aquatic Center in Key Largo: A low key day to rest up from the big day in Miami. Cook at the condo.Day 4 (Wednesday)
BIG day in Key West. Up early and on the road by 8 or 9. Home late. Sunset Day 5 (Thursday)
Lazy day - Harry Harris Park and Beach - Island Grill in Islamorada for lunch or supper.Day 6 (Friday)
Explore Islamorada and Marathon, take in sunset at Bahia Honda. Day 7 (Saturday)
Flight leaves at 10am, so it'll be a long day of traveling, unfortunately :(I'm sure I'll have more to add eventually, but that's about as much as I'm going to do for planning at this point. We are all SO EXCITED!! :)
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