I totally overposted this past week! (sorry) But I also got lots of messages, asking questions about our trip. So I thought I’d blog about the experience, itinerary, and my little secret tips.
Our schedule:
Day one- Left Boerne by 11:00, got to South Padre by 4:30. Checked in, warmed up dinner in the oven, and spent the evening on the beach.
Day two- Enjoyed the whole morning on the beach. Got the kids out of the heat of the day, with lunch and froyo. Back to the beach for dinner and more fun in the waves. Stayed way past sundown, to have fun with all of the glow bracelets I brought.
Day three- Enjoyed the whole morning on the beach. Got the kids out of the heat of the day, with lunch and froyo. Back to the beach for dinner, lots of boogie boarding, jumping waves, and building sandcastles. Stayed past sundown, to go searching for and catch crabs.
Day four- Toured the local sea turtle rescue center. Visited with all of their residents, learned their stories. And then we had the privilege of watching a sea turtle release. Stayed out of the heat of the day, with lunch and froyo. Enjoyed the beach one last time.
Day five- Just enough time to pack up and let Evan swim in the pool one last time. Left South Padre at 10:00. Detoured a little in Riviera, for lunch. Made it back to Boerne by 4:30, just in time for Meet the Teacher! Whew!
My favorite things to take on a beach trip:
a great wagon (to tote everything from the room to the beach)
an umbrella (for shade throughout the day)
a great beach chair (to comfortably sit and watch the kids play)
one great shovel plus lots of sand toys (for fun sand play, sandcastle-making, and catching crabs)
glow sticks or bracelets and flashlights (for fun after the sun goes down)
boogie boards (for even more fun in the water)
sunscreen (duh!)
our fun tropical cups (for drinks at breakfast) plus our thermoses (for cold water throughout the day)
our Olympus TG-4 waterproof camera (for great pictures anywhere!)
The places we stopped:
UMix Frozen Yogurt Shop (Every single day. 😉 Had a few great yogurt flavors and lots of amazing toppings. But their fruit sorbets are the bomb! Pomegranate, watermelon, pink guava, kiwi/strawberry, pineapple! So delicious!!!)
Sea Turtle, Inc (Houses, treats, rehabilitates, and rehomes/releases sea turtles… after the turtles have ended up there due to entanglement, predator attacks, or health problems.)
Isla Blanca Park (The state park where we watched Sea Turtle, Inc release Madi-Jax, a 101-pound loggerhead sea turtle back into the ocean!!!)
Kings Inn (For three pounds of the best fried shrimp in Texas!)