Blue Springs 2010

Only six more months and Mason will be eligible for the Padi Jr certification...But he is so ready now!

Marineland, St Augustine and Santa Claus

With Jon in WA, Mason and I are having to entertain ourselves so we spent our 1st Saturday apart sightseeing up the east coast. First stop Marineland...We did not do any of the interactive programs but were fortunate enough that while we were there 3 of the programs were going on and we experienced it through those good folks.


Marineland sits on an absolute pristine beach...Cool trivia; the oceanarium was rebuilt a few years ago but the over 70 year old water exchange system that runs invisibly under this unspoiled beach still works perfectly.

After leaving Marineland we drove north up A1A to Fort Matanzas National Monument. First things first though, the big draw here is not necessarily the fort but the larger than life trees that beg to be climbed and any kid worth his salt will not pass up!



A short ferry cruise carries us over to the fort.



Getting up and down is a snug proposition to say the least!




Your reward for the tight scale is a spectacular view of the wild barrier island.



Time for lunch and where else but the Florida Cracker Cafe, Mason loves their fried gator bites.

Turns out there was a Santa convention going on and everywhere you looked there was "Santa" so we visited with quite a few, each one insisting that they were the REAL Santa Claus! That and an ice cream for dessert made for a fine ending to our day.