The Summer We Met Winter

So last summer, there was no family vacation. We bought the camper, justifying the purchase as a built-in vacation for whenever we got the urge. We took it out once! But we'll use it more, I'm sure. This summer, we went back to Tampa because I promised the boys I'd take them to see Winter last year, and I try not to break those promises. Kids don't forget ANYTHING. Better late than never, right?

We stayed in a suite on Tampa Bay. The boys love staying hotels and this one was plenty big for all of us to feel comfortable during our stay. The balcony overlooked a marshland type area on the bank and I very much enjoyed watching the birds there each evening. Ollie liked standing out there and shouting for the sake of shouting.

One of only three pictures of me. Proof that I too was on vacation.

We ate at The Red Elephant, a grill and pizza restaurant that had a game room for the kids. They played that terrible claw game, but they actually won some small prizes. This game was kinder than most. The next morning, Oliver awoke with a very high fever, so we opted not to go to the beach that day. Friday was Clearwater day and I didn't want to ruin the big boys' day so we still visited Clearwater Marine Aquarium and Hogan's Beach Shop but that was it. The poor baby was just burning up. I felt terrible. We got him on the old Motrin/Tylenol regimen and the fever was gone by the next morning.

Hulk Hogan's Beach Shop was just a tiny little souvenir shop, basically. Lots of cool Hogan t-shirts and a few collectibles. Daddy got a shirt and I got Ollie a jumper, and Jack spent $16 of his own money on a trash can and ladder toy for his wrestling figures. I have to remind myself, it's his money and he can spend it on whatever he wants, no matter how useless or overpriced I think it might be!

"Ripping" off their shirts with the Hulkster

Ollie's Hogan jumper.

If you don't know who Winter is, she is a dolphin that lives at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, which is also an animal hospital. They keep several animals there on display that have suffered permanent injuries and cannot be released. Winter was found beached and caught in a crab trap. The wiring cut off circulation to her tail and it eventually died and fell off (different than in the movie, for those who have seen it). A movie was made about her and now she's famous! And you'd know it if you saw how crowded the tiny little aquarium was. But I really can't complain, all that revenue is going to the hospital so they can keep doing what they've been doing, helping the sea critters.

This turtle lost his back flipper some how

Check out the shoes

Nicholas the dolphin playing with a toy. He has some gnarly scars on his head.

A new rescue getting cleaned up.

Winter herself. She seems pretty shy.

One of Winter's old prosthetic tails.

Winter and another dolphin named Panama put on a demonstration with their trainers. If you're interested, you can purchase a dolphin-encounter type session, like the kids pictured below.

 

Winter getting eye drops.

Panama, showing off.

Winter showing everyone her nub.

Getting her tail put on.

With her tail.

This boy is "trainer's assistant," another package to be purchased if you're interested.

Winter learned to swim without her tail, but she does so in a side to side fashion, like a fish. This damages her spine and atrophies the muscles she'd normally use to swim in an up and down manner. So her wearing the tail is her physical therapy, to help work those unused muscles and protect her spine.

Seeing Winter was a great experience. The boys waited so long for the chance to do so. As I mentioned, the tiny aquarium was very crowded with Winter fans, but it was worth it to see her in "person." There is a newly opened "Winter's Dolphin Tale Adventure" museum. We visited it first then took the free trolley over to the aquarium. Of course the boys liked that, any transportation different than just riding in a car excites them.

We then went back to the hotel and Daddy napped with the still feverish Ollie while I took the boys to the pool to swim. Before we left for the pool, we got a call from the front desk. The man below us complained about the noise, from the boys "wrestling" in the living room. We had a talk with the boys and later that afternoon, we left an apology on the man's door. Later that evening we got a call back, the man bought all the boys ice cream! Life lesson: a little kindness can go a long way.

Choco-Tacos

We ate at Hogan's Beach that night. Expensive and not the greatest service or menu selection, but a very cool atmosphere and a must-see for Hogan fans (ie Daddy). There were cases of memorabilia and collectibles to look at, a breezy porch to dine on by the bay, a beach area to walk and a volleyball area.

On the beach area at the restaurant

Daddy relaxing at the table

Playing in the sand

Running. Julian took this one.

Posing with some of the memorabilia

We settled in for a movie night, and watched Oz: The Great and Powerful. A nice, quiet evening to a very hectic but enjoyable day.

Snuggled in bed for a movie.

Saturday was devoted to St. Petersburg. We shopped on the Boardwalk and checked out the pirate ship. Of course, we ate at Bubba Gump's and spent far too much money on lunch and Forrest Gump things. I love that place and I love the movie, so it was going to happen. The boys spent the rest of their own souvenir money and I must say I'm proud of Julian's purchases. He listened to my advice and bought things he could only get at the beach, like souvenir bracelets and a hat, seashells and shark teeth.

A great blue heron on the pirate ship

Outside a shop on the boardwalk

Eating lunch at Bubba Gump's

Our attempt at a Forrest Gump Ping Pong Paddle endorsement impression

I just had to get Ollie this Sippy Cup. It's awesome

With Ollie feeling all better, it was beach time! We spent a few hours at the beach after lunch, before heading back to the hotel. The boys, big and small, enjoyed splashing in the waves. We helped Julian and Jack learn how to boogie board, and the boys and I collected seashells, barnacles, and sand dollars to take home.

We decided to grill steaks that evening. I took the big boys swimming some more while daddy went grocery shopping. Ha! We then grilled out, ate on the deck, fed the birds, and watched the sunset.

The view from our room after the sunset

Another view from our room

 Julian lost his tooth while we were in Florida, and the Tooth Fairy left him a sand dollar!

I also took several wildlife photos, combining two of my favorite pastimes:  taking pictures and watching birds. I enjoyed watching the egrets and heron fishing in the bay every evening, and of course the pelicans were beautiful though slightly intimidating. One nearly dive-bombed daddy while it was hunting for fish in the surf. I played with several of the functions on my camera, just trying to learn a little more about how to use it properly. Here are some of my favorites, unedited because I'm not evening considering diving into the headache that is learning Photoshop just yet.

 A mallard pair

A great blue heron chasing off an egret. They fought over this prime fishing spot.

Perched in a tree after losing his chance at dinner

This bird caught me watching him

I like this silhouette-type photos

A gull, with a storm in the distance

A little heron

So we had a fantastic vacation. Although, with three small children to entertain, prepare for, and tend to, it was hardly a relaxing weekend! But, we saw many things and had a lot of fun. I'm sure we will go back next summer. This was actually our second trip here as a family. Next year, we plan to spend a little more to stay right on the beach, and hopefully take the pirate ship cruise. Until next year Tampa, we love you!