tiny florida tourist

[modernmommy]

       We spent a beautiful day at Bok Tower Gardens last year in March. We love historic places, and beautiful gardens, so this spot hit the mark! Go and spend the afternoon exploring the gardens, and touring the historical home. We enjoyed lunch at a small cafe on property, and a new children’s area was finished last year, complete with water features that my girls really enjoyed it!

[modernmommy]

Asheville

Oh, Asheville, we love you so much! This was our second family trip to Asheville, and it did not disappoint. We decided to stay downtown this trip, at the Hyatt Place. It was a great location, and a lovely hotel. We chose to visit the West North Carolina Nature Canter on this trip, and the kids had a blast! A beautiful zoo in a natural setting with fun activities like sifting for gems. We visited the new Asheville Science Museum, which opens officially this summer, and we made trips to the Asheville Botanical Gardens,and the River Arts District. Asheville has great food, and some of the more memorable experiences were meals at Asheville Pizza & Brewing and Tupelo Honey, and ice cream at The Hop and Double D’s Coffee & Desserts. I mean, who doesn’t want to eat dessert in a double decker bus!? So many fun family adventures to be had in Asheville. We can’t wait to go back!

[modernmommy]

Catawba Falls

One of my favorite memories from our spring break road trip this year, was a hike we did while we were in Asheville. We drove about 25 minutes east of Asheville to Catawba Falls, near Old Fort, North Carolina, to hike this trail. There is plenty of parking and a bathroom at the start of the trail. The hike itself is about 2.5 miles roundtrip, and classified as a family friendly, moderate hike. You do walk up some steep inclines for the first mile or so, and parts of the trail were muddy, so wear good shoes. You are hiking next to a river the entire time, and see many small waterfalls before you get to see the big one at the top. This hike was so scenic and peaceful, and definitely a highlight of our trip.

*When you are headed back to Asheville, stop off for a meal at Okie Dokie Smokehouse. Some of the best BBQ I’ve eaten!

[modernmommy]

Carl Sandburg Home

After two nights in Stone Mountain, Georgia, we made our way up to Asheville, North Carolina. We stopped in Flat Rock before we got to Asheville, to visit Carl Sanburg’s home and farm, which is now an historical site. It’s free to visit, and $5 if you want to tour the home. We got lucky, because two baby goats had been born the week before, and they were the cutest! Who doesn’t love a baby goat in a sweater? There are hiking trails on the property, so pack a lunch, and plan to stay for a while, to explore this beautiful place. 

[modernmommy]

Stone Mountain

We’ve just returned from an eight day long spring break road trip! This year, we started our trip with two nights in Stone Mountain, Georgia. I wanted to stay close to the park, so we booked a room at Atlanta Evergreen Marriott Resort, located inside of the state park. Stone Mountain is a beautiful place, with hiking trials, lakes, historic homes, and so much more. 

[modernmommy]

You never really say goodbye to summer, here in Florida, but we are still excited for all things pumpkin. Happy Fall.

[modernmommy]

Grovepark Inn Asheville

I have been meaning to share these photos, and our experience here, for a while now. For our annual spring break road trip last year, we visited Asheville, North Carolina, and stayed at the historic Grovepark Inn. This resort is MAGIC. Beautiful mountain sunsets, historic craftsman style architecture around every corner, huge fireplaces with rocking chairs, farm to table restaurants, a world renown spa with a grotto pool, and that southern hospitality only the Carolinas can offer. We still speak often of this trip, and look forward to visiting again, soon.

[modernmommy]

Anna Maria Island

The girls are officially on summer break, and I couldn’t think of anything better to do on the first day of June, then some beach exploring. This was our first trip to Anna Maria Island. It is a short hour or so drive south of our home on the west coast of Florida, and we are so glad we made the trip! We swam in the waters near the pier, where we saw lots of marine life. We had lunch on the pier at a small casual restaurant called The City Pier Restaurant. The girls and I had burgers, and my husband had a fish sandwich. The food, and the view, were great! We’ve decided to plan another trip to this area, soon. I am embracing the warm weather, it’s here to stay for a while, so lots of trips to the beach are in order. Happy (almost) Summer!

[modernmommy]

January Park Days

Hello! I haven’t done a post here since last summer. This is a super busy season of life for us, and we are still a family very much on the go! 

Amelia will be 10 this year, and in a few months, Maggie will turn 7!

 So far in 2017, we have been enjoying the great weather and our beautiful parks here on the west coast of Florida. We have become Disney annual pass holders again, and we’ll also be taking a week-long road trip to Savannah and St. Augustine in March. I hope to share more of our travels here this year with all of you!

[modernmommy]

Ringling Museum

We spent the day exploring at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida. Located on the west coast, just south of the Tampa Bay Area, this beautiful home with it’s tropical grounds, banyan trees, circus memorabilia, and it’s extensive art collections, makes this a must-see spot! 

There is a lot of walking to cover the grounds, and it took us four hours to see everything we wanted to, but it was a steal at only $60 for the four of us to get in. 

We had lunch at the Banyan Cafe, where you can find burgers, wraps, and more, but there is also a coffee shop, and a restaurant located at the entrance to the grounds. 

Included in your admission, is the circus museum, and there was a lot of interactive things for the kids to do, as well as a bunch of terrific vintage circus items. 

Speaking of kids, this museum has a brand-new playground, located right near the rose garden. 

You are able to pick a time to tour the bottom floor of the residence of the Ringings, also included with your general admission. The home is still furnished as it was when they lived there, and their gravesite is right near the home.

There are many galleries of art to enjoy, including some modern pieces, but the Renaissance & Baroque art are the main attraction, and it does not disappoint! John Ringling was one of the early 20th century’s most prolific collectors of art. The Museum of Art is his legacy.

[modernmommy]

Fort Desoto State Park

We took the girls out to a beautiful park/beach at the very southern tip of Pinellas County this week. Fort Desoto State Park is home to an old fort that was built in 1898. The island was once home to Tocobaga Indians, and visited by Spanish explorers. During WWII the island was used for bombing practice. It is a large untouched island with many areas to explore. We spent our afternoon at the fort, and at the beach right behind it. All day parking is a steal at $5, and there are also camping grounds available, which I’m told are beautiful. We took a picnic lunch, and after we were finished, I let the girls feed the seagulls since no one else was around. 

I have travelled all over the caribbean, and you would be hard pressed to find a prettier beach with it’s turquoise waters and local sea life. Fort Desoto Beach was voted best beach in America in 2005, and best beach for families in 2014. Trust me, this place is paradise. A small grill and pavilion is located near the fort where you can order food and ice-cream, and if you head to the north beach, there is a swim area with lifeguards on duty. There is a museum, picnic shelters, kayak rentals, piers for fishing, and more. If you are in the Tampa Bay area, don’t pass up this gem on the west coast.

[modernmommy]

Salt, Sunsets, and Ice Cream.

We’re just home from another magical staycation at Clearwater Beach. We stayed two nights at the Frenchy’s Oasis Motel, our third time there, and it was another relaxing stay in our hometown. Sometimes, you just need to eat ice cream every day, explore new restaurants in your area, and enjoy old favorites, too. The kids last day of school was Tuesday, so we went straight away to the beach, and put our toes in the sand. I am looking froward to the relaxed feeling that summer brings. 

[modernmommy]

Honeymoon Island

We spent Sunday morning on our favorite beach, Honeymoon Island in Dunedin, Florida. The ocean was still a bit cool for me, but the girls had a blast pretending to be mermaids, and collecting treasures from the sea.

[modernmommy]

The Walking Dead Senoia, Georgia

My husband has been a fan of The Walking Dead since the very beginning. I am, however, a newer fan, having binge watched all 5 seasons to get caught up to the present. When we were planning our road trip, we decided to stay a night in Senoia, Georgia, where Woodbury and Alexandria scenes are filmed. They film all in and around this area, and it was really cool to drive the country roads, and recognize scenes from the show. We did a little shopping in The Walking Dead Cafe, where they also have a basement full of show props, and the cast has signed the walls. We ate a late lunch at Katie Lou’s Cafe. The bbq was delicious! The only hotels in the immediate area were bed and breakfasts, so we booked a night at Hilton Garden Inn 9 miles up the road. It was clean and cozy. Most people don’t realize that Woodbury and Alexandria are literally across the railroad tracks from each other, so you can see a lot of the sights quickly with a visit to downtown Senoia. 

Last night’s episode was intense. I am feeling anxious about next week’s season finale! Please don’t kill Daryl, Carol, or Glen. Pretty please!

[modernmommy]

Looking Glass Falls

We found out that there was a waterfall near our resort in Asheville, from a park ranger at another park we had visited the day before. So, we decided to take a side trip to the Pisgah National Forest to see Looking Glass Falls. It was a scenic 6 mile drive up the mountain to see this beautiful waterfall, and well worth the detour. If you are vacationing in the Asheville area, I highly recommend you visit these serene spot.

[modernmommy]

We’ve just returned from our first ever road trip outside of Florida with the kids. Our stops included Charleston, South Carolina, Asheville, North Carolina, and Senoia, Georgia. It was an amazing vacation, and I am so excited to share all the details here, with you! 

Everything was starting to bloom in the Carolinas, and we are so excited for spring!

[modernmommy]

I’m still working on editing photos from our vacation last summer on Daytona Beach, but I wanted to share one of my favorites of Maggie with you today. Warm wishes from Florida.