Ponce de Leon State Park

There is a gorgeous spring-fed pool at Ponce de Leon State Park. It is absolutely packed in summertime but is evidently mostly empty in January. We were worried it would be too cold (it was) but it was also totally worth it. Juniper was the first one in, as she usually is, and the last to get out. Most of us could only handle a few minutes before we had to get out to warm up. Grandma and Grandpa brought their snorkel gear so everyone who wanted to got to see whatever was hiding way down in the sink holes. The water stays a consistent 68 degrees. I don’t remember for sure but I think it was about that same temperature outside. We’re glad we went when we did though because it was probably the warmest and sunniest weekend we had while in Destin.

Juniper

Grandma and Grandpa!

Dave’s parents arrived a couple of days after we did to begin their year as Snowbirds. We have loved having them here!

Margot absolutely refused to be in this photo.

Don’t worry, the shark isn’t real.

I think Townes actually ate this whole thing. He barely eats anything so it was a real feat.

Everything we got from a fudge shop was too rich to finish but we definitely enjoyed the first few bites!

Experiencing what a hurricane feels like in this hurricane simulator.

The first couple of weeks we were here the weather was fabulous. Sunny and warm enough to get a little bit wet in the ocean.

Alabama, Mississippi and Florida

On our way from New Orleans to Florida we got to check two more states off of our list: Mississippi and Alabama. (We checked Arkansas off on our way to New Orleans.) 

We stopped in Mobile, Alabama so Dave could show the kids his birthplace. Haha. The lunch we got at this food truck there was delightful. 

Our first day in Destin, Florida was overcast and rainy but that didn’t stop the kids from jumping in the pool as soon as they rolled out of bed. We hadn’t paid for it to be heated but it definitely was for some reason so we enjoyed that for about a week before the heat shut off. We walked down to the beach during Dave’s lunch break our first day and “accidentally” got soaked in the ocean. It was the kids’ first time in the Gulf and it was just too exciting. The sand was sugar white and so, so beautiful. 

New Orleans! Whitney Plantation and a haunted swamp walk

The tour at Whitney Plantation was fantastic. Of course it was sobering and sad as well, but I was pleasantly surprised with how interested all of our children were to listening to their headsets at each site. The focus of the plantation is to tell the stories and experiences of the slaves at this plantation, which I think is really valuable and (unfortunately) quite unique. Each of us got a card with a slave’s depiction and story on it to carry with us and there were beautiful sculptures throughout the property of enslaved children. It was powerful and very well done. 

Gorgeous live oaks

The Big House

Some of the sculptures on the porch of one of the cabins that housed slaves. Surprisingly this cabin had continuous residents all the way from the time the plantation was in use (built in 1803) until the 1970’s. Incredible because it is not insulated or very large.

These big cauldrons were used to process sugar cane at the plantation. It was quite dangerous work.

We had to stop and see a NOLA cemetery up close - very cool!

We happened to stop for lunch at Juneau’s Sandwich Shop one afternoon in Morrero, Louisiana. Nina, the owner, was so kind to us and gave Mabel a whole plate of fried oysters, who was legitimately thrilled. We also got to try the Weenie Sandwich, which has apparently been Juneau’s most-loved sandwich for decades. Nina made sure we drove around the corner to see the home that was destroyed by a tornado just the week before!

We saw up close the destruction left behind by a hurricane (I think it might have been Hurricane Ida in 2021) on our stop at Tickfaw State Park. I was surprised at how much of this we saw all around New Orleans - lots of missing roofs and damage.

We had to drive over a supposedly haunted causeway to get to this Joyce Wildlife Swampwalk. The causeway was foggy and creepy but the swampwalk was especially spooky! Still didn’t see any alligators but we did see someone’s sandals and water bottle floating in the water. Hopefully they just dropped them and weren’t gobbled up by an alligator!

New Orleans did not disappoint. Despite the rainy weather we had a lovely time ringing in the New Year there and I’m excited to go back someday and see some of the things we missed (and of course, get our favorite beignets).

New Orleans! French Quarter

We walked around the French Quarter for a few hours on two separate days. The first day it was raining so badly the streets were near empty. It was fun to go back on New Year’s Eve and see it when it was a little more lively, though the kids thought Bourbon Street was too loud and crowded, and it was only 2pm. I’m sure it got much more so after we left.

Our passes allowed us to do the Urban Enslavement Tour at the Herman-Grima House for free. It was really interesting and very well done.

We got to see a whole bunch of super old and fancy Mardi Gras costumes for free! There is a small museum inside Arnaud’s, a classy restaurant in the French Quarter. We even got to walk through part of the restaurant and see photos and newspaper articles about all the famous people who have eaten there.

We had to try the beignets at Cafe du Monde, seeing as they are super famous, and while good they paled in comparison to our favorites. It was a fun experience though, and if you ask Margot about it she will tell you about the chickens that were on the ceiling fans. It took me awhile to figure out that she was talking about the pigeons since the tables are outside. Also, our kids didn’t like the experience of standing in a long line and then snagging a tiny table amidst crowds of people all vying for a spot.

The Mississippi River!

New Orleans! Beignets and Barataria

From Kansas we drove south in search of better weather. I figured it was my opportunity to finally see New Orleans so we headed there to spend a few days on our way to Florida. It was a rainy holiday weekend so we weren’t able to see everything I had hoped, but we still got to see a bunch of awesome stuff. Our first order of business was to eat some beignets. There was a place near our Airbnb that sold the most delicious stuffed beignets called The Coffee House. Our family’s favorite flavors were: Bavarian cream (me, Dave, Townes and June), chocolate Bavarian cream (Else, Wren and Margot), and lemon (Mabel). We went twice in the 3 days we were there and continue to dream of them at least weekly. Ha. But really, they were pure perfection.

We checked out the Barataria Preserve which is part of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park so it was free. We didn’t see any alligators but the boardwalk trails were great, especially in 60-degree overcast weather. I can only imagine how hot and humid it would be to visit in the summer! The visitor center had some good exhibits for kids, too.

We bought some Valomilk cups while in Kansas and took them as a snack on this hike. Most of us thought they were fun to try but they weren’t as good as peanut butter cups (obvs).