Florida – Date Trip

Florida – Date Trip

Life is busy. Crammed busy. Summers especially, without the routine of school as far as the kids are concerned, and juggling employee PTO accommodations at work while simultaneously meeting the demands of our clients. To entertain the kids and keep the clinic pace going, the kids visited a number of camps, and the grandparents got some quality time with them. This freed both of us up to work some of the time we’d typically be driving kids from here to there.

Henry had “fun for now” & learned “skills for life” at Falcon Camp on Leesville Lake in Carrollton, Ohio.

But there’s that one small stretch of time when all three are occupied. That’s when Jenn and I took off for a couple of days to paddle an area of Florida we’d not yet explored.

We’d not his been into touristy beach places, but when the priority was to slow the pace down and enjoy the time with each other, Cocoa Beach was a perfect place to settle.

Paddling the Banana River Aquatic Preserve

The restaurant scene is really good. We ate at Fourth Street Fillin Station twice and enjoyed the flavors and vibe on both occasions. If we lived in Cocoa Beach, I could see myself working there. 🙂 We also had two very good meals at Florida’s Fresh Grill. We probably shortchanged the area going to two places twice, but when you find a location you really like… 🤷‍♂️

Enjoying a local brew

We only ate at The Tiny Turtle once, but had we stayed longer, we’d’ve thoroughly moved through their taco menu.

The pier wasn’t much, but the bike ride to get there was fun & the beach walk was pleasant.

Just leaving the car in the garage and biking to the store or pier or restaurant and walking to the beach with our wagon of gear, even in the heat & humidity of Florida in July, was a fresh and fun way to spend our time together. Independence Day hours on the beach would’ve been unthinkable at previous times in our lives, given the sea of humanity we tend to try and avoid, but the crowd was cool, and the environment was fun.

Before I close, I must tip my hat to the Ron Jon Surf Shop. It’s a very cool shopping destination, and they put on a very good display. Don’t miss this when you visit the area.

Kudos to you, Cocoa Beach, Florida. We loved our time with you.

One response to “Florida – Date Trip”

  1. […] it. Our couple of days in Lisbon involved urban hiking their many steep-inclined streets. Even our paddle boarding trips involved many miles of paddling following an early AM rise to beat the high heat. We may come home […]

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from the Gates Family!

Way back, we formed a plan to visit all fifty states with our kids before our oldest finished college. Simply passing through a state wouldn’t count as a visit. Instead, we’d investigate places and themes that make each state unique to the union.

This required choosing age-appropriate states and activities all along the way, and the plan has always been fluid. Our only obligation is to ourselves and our kids (there are no outside rules for this project) and the most difficult part of this project has always been saying, “No,” to so many cool and interesting things in so many states.

The adventures we do plan? Wonderful!

The adventures we’ve stumbled upon without planning? Amazing!

Whether you’re looking for inspiration for your own family, or you’ve crossed paths with us and you’re following up with our own brand of craziness, take your time as you peruse the posts. We really hope you enjoy them.

Check out the highlights…