During the second week in August, we took a family vacation to Pensacola, Florida. We stayed at an amazing place called the Portofino Resort and Spa. I highly recommend it! We had a spacious three bedroom condo overlooking both the Gulf and the Bay. It had every amentity we could wish for, and we all really enjoyed the pool(s)--there are 6 on the property, including an indoor pool!--bay views, beach life, good food, great company, and quality time with family. A great time was had by all!
Here is a picture of Max with Sue-B and Sugar Maury on the night we arrived. He's a happy camper with his Virgin Strawberry Daquiri!!
Family photo by the ocean... Finally, Max liked the sand this year!!!
See--he loved it and was throwing himself down in it and rolling all around :-)
Max could entertain himself for quite a while just digging in the sand.
A view from the beach of our tower. The resort has five different towers.
Riding down the elevator on the luggage cart and ready for some pool time!
Sue-B and Da
Sugar Maury and Papa Rocky Top
Max rode almost everywhere we went on Lance's shoulders. This is not insignificant, considering Max weighs 34 pounds!!! It was especially tough after Lance got sunburned on his shoulders, but he still carried Max around like that anyways...
My little beach bum :-)
Max was soooo sweet and fell asleep in his beach chair. It is amazing how fast the water and sand and sun knock them out!
Max and Lance spent hours in the pool. Those of you who know me probably know that I don't do pools if I can help it. I got a lot of quality "me" time in while reading several great books on a lounge chair(Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Art of Racing in the Rain, and some of The Other Boleyn Girl). Sue got a lot of reading in, too, but she indulged in a dip into the cool water every know and then also!
Max and Sue-B playing in the pool
Papa bought Max his first pair of floaties (blue, of course!). Max took to them immediately. The kid has swimming in his genes!!! He was so proud and did a great job with them!
Linda, Maury, and Sue at Hemingway's for dinner. Everyone really enjoyed Hemingway's--it was delicious and was the only restaurant we went to twice!
Max, Lance, and Dale at Hemingway's
Family photo at Hemingway's
Max hanging out on the balcony and enjoying the beach views in the morning before heading out for a day on the sand
My little Gilligan on his way to his very first boat ride!
We went on an amazing dolphin cruise, where we saw hundreds of jellyfish and LOTS of dolphins, too! From Left to Right: Dale, Linda, Lance with Max on his lap, Brittany, Sue, Maury
Here is a shot of some jellyfish that we saw in the Bay waters--unbelievable how many there were and how HUGE they were. Many of them were dinnerplate sized, and they were a bright pink color. So cool but also freaky!!
I cannot get over what great luck we had with dolphin sightings. They were jumping up and spinning in the air, etc., just like they do when they are trained in captivity, but they were in their natural habitat. It was simply amazing. Here is the best shot I got of a four-pack who were swimming around together. Dolphins are so amazing to watch!!!
Max and Lance goofing off on the Dolphin Cruise
Maury and Sue on the Dolphin Cruise. Dad was a trooper and came out despite his tendency to get sea-sick. He took Dramamine, wore Sea Bands, sat where he could feel the breeze off the water, and did great!
Dale and Linda admiring the views
Family photo before Lance and I got to go on a date night to a yummy Cajun/Asian fusion restaurant in the Pensacola Hilton and before Max went on "grandparents' night" to the Portofino's on-site restaurant :-)
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