Florida Keys

We just returned from a vacation at the Florida Keys. Ever since we have been living in Ohio we have wanted to do a Keys vacation and it finally came together this summer.  We were not disappointed.  It was just like the Caribbean but we could drive there! 

We rented a house with a private beach and were able to snorkel right outside our back door.  We had practiced with the little guys before we left but we weren't expecting much when we took them out snorkeling.  Usually we have one adult and Taylor in the water with the other adult watching kids on the beach.  To our surprise, Nicholas LOVED looking at the fish and Isaac wasn't too bad either.  We did have a run in with a school of jellies at Dry Tortugas that really scared him.  Go figure, we all got stung except Isaac and he was the most terrified.  After we had been out for a while he asked to go back to shore as he had been "traumatized enough already."  What a drama queen!  Once Nick saw the fish, we couldn't pull him out.  He was peeking in every little puddle and tide pool he could find.

We spent a day at Key West and a day at Dry Tortugas National Park.  We had really wanted to camp at Dry Tortugas but weren't fast enough to reserve a spot so we had to do a day trip by ferry instead.  That place is so cool, there is an old fort to explore and the waters around the island are clear and full of fish.  We went kayaking to an island and learned about the early settlers of the keys.  (They had run ins with the Indians just like the settlers on the prairies).  Taylor and I even got to go for a scuba dive one morning. 

We are home now and school starts tomorrow.  Back to the real world for all of us.