Boy have my birthday celebrations changed. Just a couple of years ago the birthday parties were held after dark. These days, I’m lucky to even see the sun go down. Chasing a toddler has become a party of its own.
As usual, my younger sister, KristieMiss began planning Sister Day but demanded the week of April 18th be special in honor of my 21st birthday – Ok, so maybe I’m twenty-one plus some…
Have I ever told you how much I love to hate surprises? I enjoy the thrill of not knowing but dislike the unknown in-which I cannot properly prepare for. You see, KristieMiss refused to tell me the plan for our Sister Day all because it was my birthday. Finally, the day before she revealed our big plans to visit Florida’s Marineland, with my bff Lisa and our good buddy Bill .
Waking up for Sister Day was not only exciting for my birthday fun but for Ramey, my toddler. We lathered on the sunscreen, packed tons of snacks and drinks in the cooler and off we went. His reaction to the Marina and wildlife was priceless. He had never seen a porpoise or sea turtle. It’s the most special event to show him all these new things for the very first time. That in itself made for a happy birthday for me!
Taking the scenic route from Jacksonville took about an hour. Marineland is located on the Atlantic Ocean south of St. Augustine. For years it was privately owned and a vacation destination for many with live shows and more. Today, it is state owned and used for research and education. Parking is limited and it does not take long to view. My recommendations to you if you visit would be to pack a few items for the kiddos in your backpack. If you forget to do so, they do have a small area outside that sells snacks and drinks but back packing snacks can be fun, ya’ll!
Located just off the coast with a great view of the ocean, it is lovely for photographs of which we took a lot! Even on a hot day, the breeze from the ocean felt wonderful. Within a short distance, there are a few restaurants but some do not open until after four. We were pleased to find out our amazing friend Bill had made reservations at The Reef in St. Augustine with a lovely view of the ocean. “This is the life”, I thought as we enjoyed our time together!
While birthday celebrations have gone from darkness to daylight, our trip to this Florida destination was one I will treasure for a long time. Happy Birthday to me and thanks to my sister and friends and toddler for a day well spent.
Katie Girl