Roadside Stands, Edisto and Jacksonville Zoo

Each year, right after school has let out, we like to let Cadence pick somewhere she wants to go (within means) to celebrate her going into another grade. We also like to do this same thing a week or so before school lets back in (we like to call it our end of summer vacay). Sometimes it's an overnight trip, sometimes it's a weekend trip, and sometimes, like this weekend, it's day trips. 

Cadence had a hard time choosing between a water park and the Jacksonville Zoo, but in the end, animals won so we headed to sunny Florida and spent the entire day there. If you are within driving distance of the Jacksonville Zoo, I highly suggest a trip there, it's beyond fun and they have tons of things to see and do!

The dinosaur exhibit was hilariously fun. Although she knew they were not real, Cadence still wasn't sure about the displays. They move around and make noises just as if you were there in Jurassic Park. Tarl and I were cracking up at that child and her facial expressions towards some of them. The dino display isn't always there. I believe the exhibit runs through to mid-July, so if you can make it out there before they end it, do so!

There is a lot of extras you can do at Jacksonville Zoo, including a train ride, stingray petting, 4D theatre, carousel, and butterfly hollow. You can pay a small sum for each of these, or when you buy your tickets, you can pay an additional $10 per person and get to do all of them as many times as you want, which is what we did. I will say, it was so nice getting to ride the train as many times as we wanted. The zoo is quite large and spread out and since the train has two stops, we could take one stop to one side of the zoo and the train to the other side of the zoo near the entrance. It was a nice shady spot to rest!

The penguin exhibit was precious. They had a little cove underneath where children can crawl and really get an in depth look at them swimming. Who doesn't love watching a penguin swim? If I would've fit, I would've crawled right under there with Cadence!

Baby Luna was born two weeks ago, isn't she precious?!

This tiny monkey, although it doesn't look like from the close up of this picture, is about the size of our thumbs...I wanted to take home this little creature, alas, Tarl said no, but I don't think the zoo would've allowed me to either.

The zoo is located along the Trout River, so while you're walking on the South side of the zoo, you have this gorgeous view of the marsh grass and riverbank, along with all the gorgeous homes across the way. We stopped in this area for at least 10 minutes just staring off and taking pictures. Isn't it stunning?

It was hot. It was long. It was fun! Tarl, Cadence and I all agree'd we like Jacksonville Zoo more than Columbia Zoo, although they are both great fun, Jacksonville has more to do in our opinion.


Sunday morning we took a drive to Edisto island to go to the beach. We had lunch at a beautiful restaurant only one bock from the ocean, and then enjoyed time together splashing and playing in the waves. Edisto was amazing, although in the lowcountry, I have never been, so we took a drive and I'm so glad we did. We already have plans to go back and enjoy the beach there.

There was a quaint little roadside stand on the way to Edisto. They had u-pick blackberries, used books, mason jars filled with flowers, coastal decor (swoon!), watermelons, peaches, fresh vegetables, even homemade pies, pimento cheese, chicken salad, basically tons of delicious goodies perfect for a beach trip. I picked up some squash and zucchini and fried them last night for dinner, they were delicious! They had rows and rows of gorgeous flowers they grow on site. It was a dreamy little place to stop on the way.

Cadence and I have a fun little DIY to try today...not going to lie folks, it was great not having to set the alarm on a Monday morning. I'm loving this stay at home mom life, dishes and laundry included!