Marianna Florida

We did 3 back to back camping trips.  Week 1 was our typical Blue Springs (which the boys went days before us girls), weekend 2 was back to Marianna Florida.  We went to Marianna 2 years ago on a whim and found great caverns and a second blue springs recreation area!  We stayed at a different campground than 2 years ago.  The ONLY draw back I found of this campground was it was just a field with sections for pulling in campers.  Not many trees so not much shade for the trailer which means the A/C was on over drive and didn't get a chance to rest - it felt like it was constantly running!

Tim found a gold dollar coin right a we parked!

This is the office right when you first pull in.  We got to the campground around 2pm Florida time so we just hung out at the camper, got in the pool, then we went to eat dinner at "The Wharf" (which was DELICIOUS by the way), and finished off with some frozen yogurt.

We got up bright and early Saturday morning to try and get to the springs as early as possible.  When we got there I believe we were like 5th in line to get in.  We set up at a pavilion that wasn't reserved for the day.

I was a little upset I didn't bring another book or even realize how close I was to finishing my new Debbie Maccomber book.  I finished it within an hour of being there.

I found a great deal on a Lilly swimsuit at TJMaxx and was so excited to finally wear it!

This was a great book.  A little different from the typical romance novel she writes but it was still great!

The boys loved this slide!

Sunday morning we asked the  campground if we could have a couple hours extra after check out time and they were more than gracious!  We didn't have to leave until 2 pm!  We went ahead and rented kayaks from them (first come first serve) and went exploring on the property.  Merritt Pond was on the property and it was GORGEOUS!  

Because it was Sunday morning most people weren't out on the water (we saw maybe one or two boaters and a sprinkle of kayakers).  We almost had the whole place to ourselves.

I mean ya'll the water was crystal clear!  I couldn't believe it!

We found a dock that wasn't attached to a house and stopped.  The boys got in the water and snorkeled for a bit.

Ya'll know I don't typically get in the cold water but this water wasn't cold and it was clear had there been a way to get into the kayak easily I would have gotten in the water too!  

There were two tree stumps in the water that Tim realized he could use to get back into his kayak.

He found another downed tree stump that he could hop on to get back in on our way back so he got into the water again.

This is when I realized I hadn't taken ANY pictures of the campground.  It was hit by a hurricane 18 months ago so they are still rebuilding a bit.  The swimming pool was right across from our campsite.

There was also a small dog park.

Next to the pool was the activity center, laundry room and bathrooms with showers.

They have a small café attached to the gas station that is right in front of the campground.  We walked over to it Saturday night and ate dinner.

 I wish I had gotten more pictures of the campground, the service and people that run it are amazing!  We will definitely be back Marianna is only 2 hours from our house and it's quickly becoming a favorite of ours.

Defuniak Springs, Florida

We made the trip to Defuniak again!  Our friends were visiting some family and it is such a quick trip it was an easy decision to go! Since we moved from Texas we don't get to see them as often!  We left after work on Friday night (after we fixed Tim's blown tire on his way home - thankfully we took my car this trip!)

First we went to dinner at Café Nola.  This place was AWESOME!  I had just a basic fried fish dinner, it was great and everyone else said their food was delicious as well.  There is a hotel attached to the Café.  Apparently room 8 is haunted.

There are 12 rooms.  Two adjoining rooms are downstairs and 3-12 are upstairs.

The lobby area from the stairs.

Rooms 1 and 2.

A little café area right outside the entrance lobby of the hotel.

This is taken from the entrance of the restaurant portion of the hotel.

There is also a bar just inside the entrance off to the side.

This table was great and able to fit us all!

Of course we had to get some beignets! They were SO GOOD!!! 

After visiting for a bit we went back to our motel room and hung out!

Woke up the next morning and met at the local Walmart to get lunch stuff for our trip to Vortex Springs!  Cale loves clowning around with Uncle Benny!

Packing away all the cooler stuff!

Drove 20 minutes and made it to Vortex Springs.

They have a cute little dive shop.

Guys putting together our shade tent.

Some pictures of Vortex Springs.  The water stays 68 degrees year round.  It was a little overcast when we first got there so it wasn't too hot, but later in the day the clouds parted and it got pretty hot!

Behind us was another pool area and it had a huge water slide!

Guys didn't bring a speaker so they improvised with a can!

I did some "reading".

They have a camp ground and some cabins.  In one area they had a "motel" style cabin and it looked like it had a lot of college students at it.

They have a kayak and a few canoes available for people to use.  I don't know if they are free for anyone with a wristband or what, but lots of people were using them and I never saw anyone get told to not use it.  So Kennedie pulled a canoe out and went to town.

 Our little area.

I love this picture that Tiffany got of Tim coming off the water slide!

We left around 3:30 and as you can tell he was tuckered out!  We went back to the motel to rest a couple hours and then headed to dinner.

4C BBQ is what we found through our google search. Didn't expect more than a BBQ restaurant.  Boy were we surprised when we got inside!

I guess Saturday nights are Karaoke nights!

They sat us in the middle of the dance floor apparently.  The minute we sat down the regulars hopped up when the music started for the night.  Man they knew EVERY line dance there ever was created!

This family and another family was our original Army family.  The 6 of us all dated at the same time and all 3 of the guys that were in the army together married Alaskan girls!  Tim is the only one of the group left in the army.

Cale NEVER snuggles daddy like this.  So he was soaking it up!  I left and took the kids back to the motel so they could go to sleep.

It was cool to see the brewery we have 20 minutes up the road from our house being served in Florida.

I thought the doors to the bathrooms were cute!

They are building an addition to the BBQ restaurant called the Hero's sports bar.  The owner took us over to have a peek.  It will be really cool when it's all done!

The next morning we headed back home.  We love Defuniak Springs and we always find something new when we go there.  No doubt though that we will be back to Visit 4C BBQ.  That place was a blast for the whole family!!