Vacation At Beach
There’s nothing better than a family vacation at the beach! This week we visited the calm, crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico, except they weren’t particularly calm or clear. Keith and I both grew up with memories of the Gulf being tranquil, especially compared to the Atlantic, but in the last couple decades environmental changes have had a huge impact on the currents along the western side of Florida. Most of the week the beach flew double red flags making it illegal to enter the water due to deadly rip currents. In 2023 Panama City rip currents claimed 8 lives, more than anywhere else in the US. During our 2019 visit Karolena and I were trapped in one, and if not for a brave surfer, wouldn’t be here writing this today. While the water was rough, we visited Gulf World which is always a family favorite.
The girls fed stingrays and even got to kiss a rather curious sea Lion! In the evening Kamryn and I hunted the elusive (and mildly creepy) ghost crabs by flashlight. Luckily, the beach opened up and we were able to enjoy some time in the water. Jeffre, the girls and I took the ferry out to Shell Island to snorkel for conch and managed to see a pod of dolphins on the ride back! To round it out, Keith and I enjoyed a date night at Pier Park to celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary. As a family, we learned quite a bit about the impact of global warming on our Oceans and about the sea life of the gulf. We almost learned a little too much about the Portuguese Man ‘O War when several washed ashore with the rough seas. More relaxation than adventure, it was a fantastic week.
