Arriving in Port Orange, we settled at Nova Family Campground. Close to Daytona beach, but not far from our favorite spot New Smyrna beach.

The campground was rustic and beautiful. Shocking because it was placed right in the middle of the city, just a block down from an elementary school. The spanish moss clinging to the trees and the great abundance of those trees really helped give the campground a feeling of nature and peace. The neighbors were all kind, always talking to our dog. The staff even called our dog by name each time we walked by just to pass him treats. Such a sweet place. To date, this has been our favorite campground.

We took a trip to the most amazing restaurant, Aunt Catfish’s on the River. They serve freshly made cinnamon rolls as appetizers in addition to a bar of southern side dishes, referred to as “Fish Camp Fixins”. While I love seafood, the only thing that can’t escape my memory is the taste of those melty cinnamon rolls. YUM. The kids both ordered shark bites, that had a dill sauce that was superb. F asked the remainder of the week to return to eat more shark!

My husband works during the week, so the weekends end up being the time we focus on doing our “big things.” Usually these “big things” include going to a city, hike, or an adventure that either my husband wants to join in on or that I don’t feel comfortable taking the kids without him. Saturday, we planned a trip to St. Augustine. We had heard of the history behind the fort, but was astounded to find an old town with stone/brick streets and just the cutest atmosphere. I even found a shop that sold “Gilmore Girls” apparel, which for me was the best part of the whole day! I’m quite a fan. The kids, however, will tell you that the best part was the christmas lights. Apparently, their light displays are known as the one of the top displays in the U.S. We weren’t planning on staying that late, but after hearing the hype we couldn’t very well go back. All I can say is Wow! See for yourself, the unetheral lights.

While here we also took many trips to New Smyrna. A few years previously, while I was pregnant with L, we came there to an Airbnb. We loved how it feels genuine and not crowded with tourists. The beaches are just crushed shells and the water is ‘shockingly’ refreshing. Our favorite restaurant on the water is called JB’s Fish Camp and still remains our favorite seafood joint. We felt like locals returning to our favorite place to dine. With outdoor seating directly on the inlet, we enjoyed watching for dolphins, sadly none this time, and enjoying the sun. Our first trip included so many no-see-ums that pushed to escape early. Our second trip to JB’s included a paddle board trip to remember. My husband took the boys to a nearby park, so I could get some free time. I rented a paddleboard directly from JB’s and headed out. As soon as I entered the water, I noticed dots in the distance appearing at the top of the water. I kept checking as I approached, on guard for alligators, instead I found the most amazing sight. There were 5 dolphins swimming and playing. I approached cautiously, mindful enough to give them space. One dolphin approached and repeatedly held up one fin, as if in a wave towards me. I began talking to it in my high pitched mama voice and it stayed along side me for awhile. At one point smacking its tail on the water and doing repeat below. I wasn’t sure if it was happy or upset, so I was careful to keep my distance, but the sight was extraordinary. It’s not every day that one gets to paddle board with dolphins. Such an amazing sight!

The remainder of our beach trips took us to Daytona Beach, but my husband and I both frequented there on Spring Break in the past and there was really no need to spend time there when we had the beautiful New Smyrna 20 min out. When we realized we needed to pay to enter the beach, we turned our cheap selves around and headed to the free and in our opinion much more beautiful New Smyrna beach.

From lights that looked straight out of a small town christmas movie.

Paddleboarding with dolphins.

Beach days.

You would think that our weeks stay couldn’t get much better, but one would be wrong.

We found out there would be a spacecraft launch from the Kennedy Space Center. We were thrilled to go watch. Apparently Canaveral National Seashore, right off of New Smyrna, is perfect for watching the shuttle launches. We packed up, picked up to-go lunch at JB’s (yes our 3rd time.. no shame!) and headed to the beach. We started in at the National Seashore, realizing that the land came to a point and the further we traveled the more likely it would be to see the launch. We cruised to the end, only to realize that the only remaining beach was the “NUDE beach”. Now it was the middle of the day on a weekday, husband was working from his phone, so we didn’t think it likely we would find anyone nude on the beach, as many were crowded to see the launch. Heading down to the waters, a scrawny older (mid-80’s) man passed us. As he struts down the beach he began undressing. Oh lord. We turned the kids until he walked far enough to be out of line of sight. I had to suppress my husband from speaking up, as to each his own, and we were on his territory. Haha, tears, the fat laughing tears, streamed down my face as I struggled to keep from outright laughing. Husband on the other hand was seathing. Oh our adventures, often lead us to strange circumstances. 🙂