Live TR - the 35 night trip!

[starbox]

Well, so far our adventures have only led us to places I would recommend.

Friends, I amfarid those days are over.

Now we are a family that loves mini- golf. We play mini golf on every vacation. We've played courses that have seen better days, we've played glow in the dark monster golf, but I've never actually gotten creeped out by mini golf.......until now.


Safari mini golf was actually a fun enough course, a good mix of easy and challenge - but it had definitely seen better days and those days were many years ago. We played at night and it was not well lit, adding to the total safari feel, as you really were not sure what was in the overgrown shrubbery.

Don't believe me - a few photos:
It starts innocently - little monkey before you start playing golf

Then a lion - but my how dark behind him.

Oooh - look in the shrubs, a creepy swan a sauraus...

Giant evil ducky of doom in algae pond.

But honestly, we laughed so hard that it was worth every penny - but, no, I would not recommend that you guys seek out Safari mini golf.

 

[starbox]

This morning we went to church at the Vero Vineyard church. If you are a family that wants to attend church on vacation, this was a very good experience. We've visited several churches in Vero, and we will go back to the Vineyard. It is very casual - plenty of people in shorts. They have coffee and Panera pastries at 9:30 in a coffeehouse setting. The service was at 10. A very warm and comfortable contemporary service.

This evening we went fishing along the jungle trail! I've grown to love the jungle trail. It's not connected to the DVC, but it is close enough to access pretty easily. it's a great place to ride bikes and fish!

I caught some fish!

The Indian River

But the coolest thing was our walk home! My favorite animal is an owl - I love owls, but I've never seen one in the wild. While we were walking a big bird whooshed over bus and perced in a tree. it was an owl! He started hooting.

Within minutes a smaller female whooshed in and they were hooting back and forth. Eventually, she flew away. I guess she was not that impressed.

 

[podsnel]

Those owls are SO COOL!!!! I have never seen one- and lucky you, you saw TWO!!! That mini golf was pretty sad... glad you had a good time with it, though. Ok- going back to catch up-

 

[nolanboys]

Your pictures are beautiful. It certainly makes me want to try Vero. And your pictures of the mini golf gave me a good laugh.I'll bet you'll be laughing about it for years to comes. Can't wait to continue reading your TR!

 

[Phelpsie70]

Loving your report! We are going to Vero in 12 days and your report has gotten me even more excited! Thanks for sharing.

 

[starbox]

Those owls are SO COOL!!!! I have never seen one- and lucky you, you saw TWO!!! That mini golf was pretty sad... glad you had a good time with it, though. Ok- going back to catch up-

I'm glad someone understands the ultimate coolness of the owls! That tree is overlooking the Indian River - seems like they must hunt along that way.

Your pictures are beautiful. It certainly makes me want to try Vero. And your pictures of the mini golf gave me a good laugh.I'll bet you'll be laughing about it for years to comes. Can't wait to continue reading your TR!

Yes! You must visit Vero! It is nice year- round!

Loving your report! We are going to Vero in 12 days and your report has gotten me even more excited! Thanks for sharing.

You will love it! The weather has been great lately. I did start to notice the noseeums at dusk a few days ago, so pack some Cutter Advanced.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

But the coolest thing was our walk home! My favorite animal is an owl - I love owls, but I've never seen one in the wild. While we were walking a big bird whooshed over bus and perced in a tree. it was an owl! He started hooting.

Within minutes a smaller female whooshed in and they were hooting back and forth. Eventually, she flew away. I guess she was not that impressed.

Awesome... Glad you got to see them.

My guess is it went something more like this... "Hoot! What are you doing over here, buster?" "Hi Honey, just looking at the... stuff". Hmph! wouldn't have anything to do with that owlet that's been around lately would it? You live in the woods buster and you best be back there soon... and you better be packing lunch" (birder phrase for bringing home the prey). "Yes, honey, I'll be there real soon".

 

[starbox]

Awesome... Glad you got to see them.

My guess is it went something more like this... "

. I actually thought of you and your DW when I saw them; I know you both love wildlife/birds.


I saw the best.graffitti.ever. Downtown Vero across from the courthouse.

I could not agree more.

 

[starbox]

 

[RLRDA]

Cool picture......are those your kids that are blurry and in the background? If so, that would be neat that your picture captured them like that.

 

[toniosmom]

That is such an awesome picture -- worthy of being framed! Every time you look at it, you will smile.

 

[starbox]

Cool picture......are those your kids that are blurry and in the background? If so, that would be neat that your picture captured them like that.

Yeah, that's my kids. We were at the beach most of the midday. Saw several couples walking the beach from DVc, but no dicers that read this tread. If you are following and go to Vero, you'll probable see me a little south of the resort with a navy/ white umbrella! Stop and say hello!

 

[starbox]

Today we took a family road trip back to Bathtub Reef in Ft. pierce ( about 45 miles south). I'd gone with the kids not knowing what to expect, but this time we were prepared with snorkel gear. (the kids did SnorkelEArs at DVC - which I highly recommend)

With snorkel gear, the reef is simply amazing. It is like being inside a tropical aquarium and there is so much amazing sea life. What is really cool is that you are in very shallow water, so even little kudos could try it.

I can't say enough great things about the experience. DD says it was the best day of her life, and at one point my cool, non-impressed 13yo DS stuck his head out of the water with a HuGE smile and said "God made so many cool things!!!". Totally out if character for him.

If you are at VB for more than a few days, the reef is really, really, really with a trip.

 

[starbox]

After the reef, we stopped by the Ft. pierce welcome center and found out about the manatee boat rides and beachfront horseback riding, both of which we hope to try before we leave.

I was thrilled to find out that Ft Pierce has tons of historic sights related to the writer Zora Neal Hurston. I visited her grave today.

 

[Pixieflip]

Oh, drat! I cannot view over half of the pictures! What I can see looks fantastic. I'm so glad you're enjoying it! Looks like a ton of fun and fabulous memories.

 

[starbox]

Oh, drat! I cannot view over half of the pictures! What I can see looks fantastic. I'm so glad you're enjoying it! Looks like a ton of fun and fabulous memories.

Sorry about that! I am trying to work my was through fixing the photos. . Update: they should all be working now!

 

[Tinks "SS"]

YEA!! i'm caught up with your TR. So great! The mini golf made me laugh also. Looks like ya'll are having a great trip!

 

[starbox]

Okay, so we did not actually hug a manatee today, but one came about two feet away from my kids. I heard them yelling and looked up and WHOA! manatee!! I grabbed my camera and ran after it, but it was moving fast and farther out to sea ( towards DVC ). There was a family with two little boys walking and I was yelling " look! A manatee! " and pointing. They got to see it, but I don't know if any other DVCers saw it.

In other wildlife spotting adventures, there was a HUGE turtle pretty far out today. Had to use binoculars to see what it was - I thought it might be a dolphin at first. Turtle activity seems to be really picking up; there were several new nests marked this morning.

The ocean was very, very, very calm today. How calm? Calm and clear enough to snorkel! There was a pretty sharp drop-off though, and the water was colder.

 

[DVCDawn]

Starbox, this is about the coolest thread EVER. I'm completely jealous. I've always wanted to rent someplace on or near the water for a month or so to find out what it's really like to live there. Maybe I can do it when my kids are in college. Just gotta wait 10 more years!!

In the few times I've been to VB, I only left the property once -- to go to Squid Lips which my kids LOVED, BTW -- so it's great to see and hear about all the places you and your family are going. I hope you enjoy every minute.

Subscribing now....


DVCDawn

 

[dvcminnie]

I'm so jealous but we love seeing the pictures. Can't wait to see more we will have to go to VB soon our kids would love it.