Titusville, FL – Again, but in the Summer
So before the craziness that is 2020 happened, Andrew and I had been planning to go to a different destination in the US every month this year. We made it on our first two trips, but once March hit, it was canceled trip after canceled trip after canceled trip. However when August rolled around we decided NOT to cancel our trip to visit my sister (Beverly) and her boyfriend (Richard) in Titusville, Florida. We had originally chosen to visit them in August with the intent to see the bioluminescent plankton, or ‘sea sparkle’. Since the trip would be either spent with low risk family members or partaking in outside activities we decided it would be a good opportunity for us to get out and break up the monotony that this year has thrust upon us.
Pandemic Precautions
Trying to be extra cautious to avoid the spread of Covid19, at the airport and on the airplane we opted to wear some vented N95 masks we had found in our closet. We also wore our cloth masks over them to cover up the vent from the N95 mask to help protect others. The airport / airplane was a little eerie; it was emptier than usual, and just felt a little sadder. Reassuringly though, most people I saw seemed to comply with the mask requirements (yes there were a couple nose peepers, but as soon as an announcement came on telling people to wear masks properly they usually adjusted them). Southwest boarded the flight 10 people at a time to reduce congestion and as advertised the plane was empty with “no middle seats”. I actually opted to sit in the middle with my husband in the window seat so we would be a little more separated from the people walking down the aisle. Overall air travel was pretty easy – although one thing I hadn’t been expecting, was that the mask made my motion sickness way worse! Luckily I was able to get some Dramamine from Richard before our flight home!
Florida Adventures
Beverly and Richard picked us up from the Orlando airport and after a quick lunch at Panera Bread’s outdoor seating we made our way over to the Bok Tower Gardens. The gardens are a well manicured estate, perfect for strolling at a safe distance from others. The main attraction of the gardens is the Singing Tower. We made it to the base of the tower just in time to hear the daily Carillon concert. After getting our fill of nature (and Florida heat) we made our way to B&R’s place with a pit stop at Playalinda (a local brewery) for some much deserved growlers. We ended the day with homemade tacos, beer, and board games.
On our second day we decided to venture over to Melbourne, Florida where we checked out a few art galleries and museums. We also played a quick game of corn hole at a park nearby. We grabbed a quick and tasty lunch from the Bearded Chef Food Truck and enjoyed it at the nearby Pineapple Park along the river. That afternoon we played a few more board games and then attempted to go find some manatees. Sadly the almost daily torrential lighting and rain storm hit us right as we got in the car so really we just took an hour car tour of Northern Merritt Island in the rain. One day I’ll finally get to see those majestic sea cows.
That evening was the main event: kayaking with the bioluminescent plankton. We had opted to pay extra for a private kayak tour to further help us keep our distance from others. While the plankton wasn’t particularly active (the guide rated it about a 3-4 out of 10) it was still really neat to see the glowing water as we swirled our hands in the water. We were also given nets which we were able to use to catch Comb Jellyfish, which glowed with movement. The jellyfish were really cool and we were encouraged to hold them since they don’t sting, although they felt a lot like snot in your hands. I would recommend trying to experience the bioluminescent wildlife if you ever get the chance! Although hopefully they’ll be a little more active for you.
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