Friday Faves {#305}: Florida Part 1

Hello and happy Friday!

How was your week? We spent most of our week getting back on track after being out of town last week. I did lots of laundry, meal planning, grocery shopping, and other odds and ends. The kids had their yearly check up yesterday, and I am almost finished with my closet/dresser clean out. It’s nice to get a couple of things checked off our list.

Anyway, as always, I’m linking up with Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites.

Last week, we spent a couple days at the beach before heading to Orlando for Hadley’s volleyball tournament. Since Siesta Key is one of our favorite places, I’m recapping those days today.

Father’s Day Sunday:

We were up very early (which was honestly, unfortunately, a theme of most days on this trip) on Father’s Day to catch our 9:30 flight from Lexington to Orlando. The flight ended up being delayed a bit, but it was a direct flight, and we landed around 11:30. We had to rent a car and then drive the couple of hours to Siesta Key. Traffic was pretty bad for most of the way, but we arrived at the house we rented by late afternoon.

We typically stay at Trav’s aunt’s house, but her grand-daugther was there with friends during the time we were there.

No problem though because Travis does a good job finding places for us to stay. This house’s name was “White Wake.” It had three bedrooms, and was spacious and really nice!

This was the view in the backyard. The house had a pool and was on the canal which was lovely.

We settled in, unpacked, and even “rested our eyes” for a few minutes before heading to one of our favorite places…The Daiquiri Deck!

We got a drink and a few apps before going to the Siesta Key Market to pick up some grocery essentials.

We went back to the house and hung out for a bit. We decided since we were tired, we’d just eat at the house, so Trav went to Publix to grab some groceries.

I caught the sunset from the backyard, and we had tacos for dinner at home.

It had been a long travel day, so we had a low-key night at the house. College baseball was on as well as soccer, so we all hung out in the living room until going to bed.

Monday:

Three of us slept in on Monday (Trav is always an early riser), but when I got up, I enjoyed my coffee poolside.

Once Travis got back from his walk, he had a morning swim.

Then, we got packed up for the beach. Hayden wanted to go back to the Daiquiri Deck and also look for sandals, so Hadley and I headed to the beach. Trav joined us later.

Of course, it was HOT, but we appreciated the breeze and got in the water when needed.

I love reading with the sound of the ocean nearby.

Mid-afternoon, we headed back to the house, had a late lunch and swam in the pool for a bit. Then, it was time to get ready for dinner.

We went to Owen’s Fish House which is a restaurant in Sarasota that we’ve gone to through the years.

Meet Owen…

Both kids were “adventurous” with their meal selections. Hayden does like seafood, and he wanted to tackle the seafood boil on the menu. It is for two, so I split it with him. He almost mastered cracking the crab legs….almost.

Hadley only likes salmon and cocktail shrimp. She has had lobster bisque before, and liked it, so she said she wanted to try the lobster. She loved it. So, overall, it was a good meal!

We got back to the house, and I took a pic of Trav and the kids as a belated Father’s Day photo.

Hadley will always take a pic! ha!

Trav and I headed to the beach to catch the last few minutes of the sunset. This is always a favorite walk.

We got there just in time.

So so pretty!

We stayed for a few minutes, and as we walked back to the car, the sky was showing off!

Then, kids wanted ice cream, so we picked them up for that. Once back at the house, we settled in for the night.

Tuesday:

We had a very low-key Tuesday. The long travel day Sunday and the sun on Monday had us all seeking the shade. Well, not Hadley…she doesn’t shy away from the UV. haha

Anyway, we had a slow morning, and I spent time by the pool off and on throughout the day. I’d finished a book on Monday, so I was excited to start this one while on vacation…

Later, Trav and the kids went out to lunch, but I stayed home and had leftovers.

Hayden and I watched some soccer…

Then, Trav and Hayden went to get oysters at Siesta Key Oyster Bar…another tradition of theirs.

Before we had taco dinner at the house, I snapped a pic of the kids…

Then, Trav and I headed to Turtle Beach for the sunset. It was about a twenty minute drive, but it’s my favorite beach. It’s a short walk to the sand, and it’s not very crowded.

My favorite view:

We brought chairs and were there for about an hour. It was so lovely.

I collected a few seashells like I always do when we go to the beach. I didn’t snap a pic of them until we get home, but then I added them to this vase I have in our sun room.

Look at all the seashells I’ve collected through the years:

Once back at the house, we spent some time out back…

….while waiting on the laundry to be finished. Then, it was a somewhat early bedtime because we had to leave by 6:00 on Wednesday morning to head to Orlando.

It was a quick couple of days, but I’m glad we made it happen. We’d hoped to go a day earlier, but we had to go to Trav’s cousin’s wedding on that Saturday before Father’s Day. So, we made the most of the time we had at the beach.

Trav and Hayden hadn’t been to Siesta Key since 2020, and Hadley and I went a couple of years ago for a few days. Since our fall break beach tradition, we’ve mostly moved away from beach vacations in the summer since it’s so hot, and we’ve been spoiled by the temps in the fall. That being said, it was nice to have a couple of days in Siesta Key.

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

Here’s a look back at the first time the kids went to Siesta Key. We drove that very long drive and arrived late at night. They were up early the next morning, and they couldn’t wait to check out the beach. That’s the pic on the left! Hayden was still in his PJs!

One more flashback Friday in honor of the 4th of July…here are the kids on their first 4th of July in 2010. Pinchy cheek cute!

Weekly Recap:

I had a few posts this week in case you missed one:

I hope you have a great weekend celebrating America’s 250th birthday!