facing fears

We were back at a Thousand Trails location at Bulow Bay in Florida. Who is the snow bird now?! As we were right outside of Daytona Beach, we absolutely had to drive down the strip and hit the beaches. Raina is a big beach lover by now, and had so much fun dive-bombing the waves.

I know it is silly, but I am still so absolutely fascinated by lighthouses. The first time I saw one on the shoreline of a lake, I was absolutely floored. The largest lake I had seen was Tahoe, and that one certainly had no need for such a light. (Fun fact: Lake Tahoe has actually had a tidal wave in it’s history. A very large piece of land broke off and slid into the lake, causing a tidal wave!)

The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse and Museum

There are 203 steps to the top of the lighthouse. It’s a bit of a workout, but for some, it is a struggle of willpower! Dakota has a fear of heights. Not all heights apparently, just ones that don’t strap you in or if he doesn’t feel like he has control of the situation. Manmade structures that don’t have a means of escape…REALLY freak him out. So I took the camera up the lighthouse and didn’t expect to see him at the top. I am so proud! Dakota faced his fear and made it to the top! He was very sweaty and his heart was racing, but he did it! The view was incredible.

Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park

The Bulow Plantation Ruins were right next to our campsite and we loved checking out this low-key historic site. This was a sugar plantation built in 1821. His enslaved workforce cultivated indigo, cotton, rice, and sugarcane. The plantation had a large sugar mill, of which remains can still be found with a nice walking trail and signs showing the process of creating the sugar and molasses. The plantation was destroyed in the Seminole War of 1836. It’s main claim to fame is its size, it was the largest plantation in East Florida, and the noted visit of naturalist John James Audubon in January of 1832, who explored the area during his study of American birds.

We also got to experience our first Buckey’s Gas Station. And I say experience because it really is an experience. If you have never been, they are these huge gas stations that have full on shops inside and all kinds of snack foods that is made right in front of you. They have a fudge station, a beef jerky bar, a barbeque pit, samples, and best of all: the most delicious fudge pops on the planet. All their merch even has the ugly little squirrel-thing mascot. It is wild.

Not a lot of museums as it was Christmas time and most were closed, but we did visit the Casements in Daytona Beach, which was the winter home of John D. Rockefeller. So….I love museums and hate to ever speak ill of one. All I will say is that it is not what I expected and I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit if I were you.

Merry Christmas!

For our Christmas celebration this year, Dakota and I got each other rollerblades! Raina wasn’t sold on the concept, she was extremely weary of them. But we had to try them out for the first time at the Daytona Speedway! (Where Dakota had his first of many crashes)

We also bought a little tree, I crocheted some garland, and we celebrated Christmas by giving our little pet family their gifts. Doesn’t Raina look adorable in her matching jammies?! Jubilee was less than impressed by our crinkle sleeping pad!