Florida Fun

Alyssa and I had a nice time in Florida for spring break. A few highlights/ topics:

• I think I already mentioned this, but we stayed at a Hampton Inn. It was perfect for us- not luxurious but had it been, it would have cost a lot more money and I didn't want to spend a fortune on a getaway for just the two of us. The value was good, it was right on the beach, it was clean, everyone working there was super helpful and kind and there was a free breakfast every morning. 

Alyssa on our balcony

Speaking of the balcony and free food, Alyssa and I got breakfast every day from the hotel breakfast area and then brought it up to our room to eat on the balcony. Pure, caloric bliss. Here are couple of my plates- the oranges tasted so good in Florida- I think they were just plucked from a tree ;).

Breakfast with a not bad view

Our room

One morning was very foggy and overcast. Here is the view from our balcony around 8:00 am.

And here's how it looked four hours later...

• We spent most of the time at the beach either on walks or laying out/ reading at the beach. You could rent chairs/ umbrella on the beach but Alyssa and I didn't do that. Alyssa said she was fine to lay out on her beach towel so we did that. I brought one of those blankets that claims that the sand comes right off of it- for the most part, it worked as claimed. We put our towels on that. I also brought my small beach chair and umbrella that attaches to it and used that once. 

• We drove down to St. Augustine. I had been wanting to go there for a while and was glad that it worked out to go there this trip. It is the oldest European settled city in the United States and is full of historical sites. It made this history loving/ history co- major in college/ recent listener of APUSH Youtube videos for the AP exam heart happy. We had a time limit to spend in the city and though we drove through most of it, the only place where we spent time was the lighthouse. 

So  pretty!

Admission to climb the lighthouse stairs also paid for admission to a museum.

We climbed the steps of the lighthouse to the top of it.

The stairs and entire structure for that matter, were definitely not built with it being a future tourist attraction in mind. Groups were coming up and going down and we needed to mindful of others as we were going up and down the narrow stairs. 

Along the way up the stairs, there were placards with information and places to rest on the way up:

I could not have been a lighthouse keeper... though climbing up the stairs was not crazy tiring, I could not have done it while carrying the bucket filled with 20 pounds of oil. I could barely lift the empty bucket. 

It was really windy at the top- also super pretty. It was worth the climb.

• We got to see some of our friends.  One of my best friends moved out of Springboro and to Florida eight years ago.  I have not seen her much over the years so to get to spend some time with her was great. Eating seafood with her at a beachfront restaurant was the lobster on the roll.

We ate at this little restaurant where the ocean was under us. My stomach and heart were full after spending time with my friend and her daughter.

• We are not foodies but we do like to go out to eat! We had some good meals; almost any meal that I have not prepared is bound to be one I enjoy...

Onion rings, chicken fingers, shrimp, chimichangas, burgers and of course, ice cream!

We also had fun shopping and just hanging out together at the hotel. I'm so glad that this trip worked out for us. We missed the rest of the gang but we had a great time together.