Live TR - the 35 night trip!

[jakenjess]

I'm loving your report! Your kids are just adorable, and you look like you're having a great time. It's making me want to take a beach vacation!! Thanks for sharing!

 

[starbox]

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!!
DVCDawn

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.

I'm loving your report! Your kids are just adorable, and you look like you're having a great time. It's making me want to take a beach vacation!! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for all the comments! I will say as a note of encouragement to anyone thinking they'd love to do, that it is really possible to make it happen. A couple of things are in your favor: 1. If you go far enough south, summer is actually low season, so rentals are off-rate. 2. Monthly rentals tend to be only slightly higher than weekly rates off-season

We rented this house for almost the exact amount that a 7 night MYW package at CSR cost us in 2004, when both kids were under 10. It was over 1,000 less than a 5 night Disney cruise would have been in the lowest category. So, cost is really not prohibitive.

The big issue is time off. I'm a teacher, so that's not an issue - but DH developed a plan for a working sabbatical and got it approved. He's kept "office hours" while here. I would guess that many jobs may allow teleworking for a specific project if you came up with a plan.

So if you can dream it, maybe you can do it!

 

[Chim Chiminy]

Still loving the report. I think I may have to pick up some snorkeling gear.

The mini golf adventure made me laugh.

 

[starbox]

Good evening everybody . I'm sitting on the covered portion of the back porch watching and listening to a thunderstorm roll in. When I left Florida at age 20, thunderstorms were the first thing I really missed. I love the way the rain smells, it smells like the color green.

We took a break from the beach today to visit the Mantee center in Ft. Pierce and take their Lagoon boat tour. It's about 20 miles south of DVC and a very easy drive. The manatee center is not much by itself, although they may have actual manatees in the colder months.

This picture is like, THE WHOLE CENTER.

But, admission is only a dollar and is included with the boat tour. The tours are at 1pm daily and are 19$ for adults, 12$ for kids. Toddlers are free. It's almost a two hour tour and it was fantastic, really educational and fun. I learned a whole lot that I did not know, and we got to see dolphins!!

I'd highly recommend the tour and felt like it was a great value.

Afterwards, we explored the Ft. pierce municipal dock area and had a very nice lunch at The Tiki Bar restaurant.

For 50 cents, you could buy a bag of fish food to feed the fish!

 

[starbox]

There is also a great Gelato place right on the docks (Uncle Carl's Gelato) and the coolest. Picnic table. EVER.

 

[starbox]

And finally, we stopped by the Smithsonian Marine Center - about a half a mile away. Lots of aquariums and touch tanks.

All in all, this is a nice little side trip for families. If you are spending a week or so at DVC and have sunburned or restless kids, this is a nice break from the beach that's also very educational.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

We're going in late December and REALLY hope to see Manatees. Thanks for sharing your fun.

 

[starbox]

We're going in late December and REALLY hope to see Manatees. Thanks for sharing your fun.

Rob, they should be congregating in the warmer water of the Indian River and lagoon by then - you'll see some! They are roaming in the ocean now, so it is harder. You and MB should do the boat tour, there are tons of birds along the mangrove islands.

 

[starbox]

Went out yesterday morning and the ocean was clear and calm as glass. We got to see a pod of dolphin playing offshore. We've had lots of bait fish for the past few days, so it's no big surprise. Even DS saw them, and us usually when we try to point things out he misses them! I've seen so much sea life this trip, I think maybe because there are only two or three other people on the beach in front of Sea Oaks.

By about 3, the waves and undertow had really picked up with the incoming tide. I saw a small shark (not big enough to harm a person!), but in the water very close to shore, so that was when we called it a day.
Thunderstorms rolled in and left behind a rainbow:

And a very cute and inquisitive snail:

That evening we went to Boardwalk Ice Cream and walked along the beach by Jaycee Park. The water was calm again and we saw another dolphin pod!

Off to the Farmer's Market this morning, and then I think we are going to walk the little beachfront shops. We check in at BCV Monday for 3 nights at WDW, which should be fun.

 

[El&Asmom]

Thank you for this TR. I'm totally jealous and can't imagine a 35d vacation. How wonderful for your kids to have these memories. Keep up the pictures!

 

[starbox]

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I see it!!!! Cool, Cool, Cool..... We really hope to see them in December!

 

[Weluvdisny]

Great TR! Sounds like you guys are having a great time. Hopefully it doesn't go by too fast for you!!

 

[starbox]

 

[wbl2745]

DH and I are both working remotely - he is finishing a dissertation and I have a freelance writing job for the month.

So... how is the dissertation coming? I ask because I'm writing a dissertation and there is no way on earth that I could do that "on vacation." I really hope your DH is 100% successful!

 

[starbox]

So... how is the dissertation coming? I ask because I'm writing a dissertation and there is no way on earth that I could do that "on vacation." I really hope your DH is 100% successful!

It is actually going really well because there are no distractions here. DH is using the third bedroom as an office and only taking 1day a week off. I've been teasing him because he is so pasty white while the kids and I are tan as can be. He's been working from about 7-7 daily, then eating dinner and doing something w/the kids before bed. I am holding out hope that a completed draft will be done.....

 

[Bill K]

 

[starbox]

Good morning! thanks to everyone following along, and especially, commenting.

We're heading to BCV in a few minutes to spend a few nights at WDW DVC. dH met his thesis goal up until this point, so he's joining us this trip!

Lots of sea life the past few days, including the manatee, a small shark, a LARGE turtle, and a cute crab we watched in bucket before releasing.

The ocean was goregous yesterday, and check out DD's castle!

 

[jakenjess]

Have a great time at BCV! That's great that your DH can join you. I'm sure he's in need of some relaxation. Love the sand castle! Thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures!

 

[Snowgod]

Nice pictures of our Waterfront in Fort Pierce. I hope you get to the Green Market on Saturday morning. Also the Tiki Bar and Cobbs Landing restaurants are great places to eat and watch the Indian River.