I got a Delta e-credit when we had all the problems coming home from our Europe cruise. I had hoped to go with Ryan back to Europe in April, but those plans fell apart, so instead, I invited a couple friends to join me for a long weekend getting my 43rd state - Florida!
We flew into Tampa, and we stayed on Clearwater Beach at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort. We also spent one day in Crystal River, about 2 hours north of Clearwater. It was truly the best time!
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FRIDAY
On Friday, we all flew in. My friend Crystal and I flew on Delta using my credit. My friends Chelsea and Sara flew on American, because it was cheaper. Our flights arrived about 30 minutes apart, so it was perfect. We all had to be at the airport in the wee hours of the morning though, so it was a short night, but it also made us able to maximize our time Friday.
After we arrived and got our rental car, we headed to a Cuban restaurant - La Segunda. We got Cuban sandwiches and shared a guava pastry. We got checked into the hotel and I took a quick power nap, NS we checked out the beach quickly before riding the Jolley Trolley (free with hotel) to Pier 60. We wandered the flea market-style vendors and watched a few street performers.
For dinner, we ate at Crabby's, where we started our key lime pie tradition. We ended up buying and sharing one from each restaurant we visited, and they were all delicious. We were able to see the sunset from our table, and I shared fried shrimp and fries with Crystal.
With a ride back to the hotel on the Jolly Trolley, we went to bed early after our early start.
SATURDAY
On Saturday, we got up and headed out to the beach for some exercise. Crystal and I jogged about 3 miles, and Chelsea and Sara walked along the shore.
Then we headed to Crystal River. We stopped at Sara's Diner where we had the world's best server - Susie. The food was amazing! I think this was my favorite spot of the trip.
We used Fun 2 Dive for our manatee snorkeling. We had booked the 1 o'clock tour, and I'm so glad we did. It was a long drive, and the water was so cold! They gave us wet suits, but we were all still shivering. We had a ton of time in the water, and Chelsea was able to capture a bunch of great pictures on her GoPro.
After changing, we decided to hang out in Crystal River. It was almost 5 o'clock though, and most places were closing or already closed. I had read about Amy’s On The Avenue for their cake, but it was really just a boutique store. We got some cake for later, but it was dry. Definitely wouldn't go out of my way to stop in again there.
After walking around, doing some gift shopping, and taking some pictures with murals, we headed back towards Clearwater. We stopped for dinner at Thai Bistro, which had panang curry to rival my favorite place here in San Antonio. The presentation (heart-shaped rice patty and fish-shaped bowl) was perfection!
As we drove home, Chelsea saw a sign for Key Vista Nature park, and we stopped just in time to hustle up the tower and catch a perfect sunset. Nice spontaneous adventure!
Back at the hotel, we spent some time in the hot tub before showering and going to sleep.
SUNDAY
We had to get moving early because the nearest ward was half an hour away, but we scooted in and took the sacrament and listened to Fast & Testimony Meeting. It's always fun to visit another ward.
Afterwards, we grabbed brunch at Mama's Kitchen, where the server was rude and the food was meh. Would not recommend. Back at the hotel, we changed and headed to the beach, pool, and hot tub. We read and relaxed and napped. Aww, well-deserved for all us moms.
After getting showered and cleaned up, we walked to Backwaters for dinner. The grouper was recommended, and Sara loved the sandwich and Crystal loved the tacos. There was an ice cream shop nearby (Kohr's) but it was simply awful. Gritty and flavorless.
A little more souvenir shopping and sitting by the fire pit rounded out our evening.
MONDAY
Our last morning! We took it easy, walking the beach together to the jetty and getting checked out of the hotel. And it's not a beach trip if there aren't some good seashell finds!
Breakfast was at Egg Haven Cafe, which I wouldn't recommended. There were bugs in two cups, which kinda spoiled the whole meal. We picked it for the fresh-squeezed orange juice, which was good, but I can't overlook the bugs, ya know?
Then we headed to the American Victory Ship & Museum. It is a retired WWII ship in Tampa Bay, and we enjoyed touring it. It was insanely hot and humid this day, though, so I mostly remembering being sweaty, haha. But they gave us all teacher discounts (2 of us are substitutes), which was nice, and there really was a ton of interested information and things to see.
All we had time left for was a stop at Jeni's Ice Cream. Then we returned the rental car and headed back to the airport. Crystal & I had to leave earlier than Sara & Chelsea, but they got to see JoJo Siwa (google her) in the airport and sit with an NFL player (Bucky Irving) on the plane, so they weren't too sad to have to wait around.
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We really did have the best time! I haven't had the best track record with girls' trips in the past, but this one checked all the boxes - similar interests, similar tastes in foods, similar budgets, similar emphasis (or lack thereof) on clothes, shopping, and primping ;-) We were also able to achieve a great balance of adventuring and relaxing. Win! Hope we can do it again someday.
