Saturday - Jacksonville

Another day, another gorgeous sunrise:

 "cheese!"

Saturday we headed over to Jacksonville, just a half hour or so away, to visit the science museum. Gavin was excited when we told him where we were going, he said, "Yay! Museums are my favorite!"

River walk area outside the museum:

 Museum:

 Afterward we went to Whataburger (yay!) for lunch:

 And then a park on base to play. Amelia played and wandered around...

 while Gavin went on a lizard hunt:

 got it!

 Then back to the beach:

 Nothing happier than a baby in a tide pool:

 That evening there was a free concert in the park next door. We had a good view from the hotel, and might have stayed for more than a few songs if it hadn't been country. The next act was more rockin' but they started right as the kids fell asleep (9pm). I could still hear them in the hotel room though.

 covering my ears because it was loud:

Sunday morning we headed home. As Amelia came in from the balcony the last time she said "beautiful view." We took the scenic route home through Amelia island and stopped to look at one of it's beaches - pretty similar to where we stayed, but more built up with condos and such. Still a neat area and I would like to return when Amelia is old enough to appreciate her name on an island and half the streets and businesses in town. All in all a fun trip, and cheap too. The whole trip was under $600 including gas. Thank you military discounts. I was happy to learn that Amelia is old enough to take on vacation and sleep well in a hotel bed, and look forward to many future family adventures.

Friday - St Augustine

Friday morning - the east coast has some awesome sunrises:

Friday we went to St Augustine, a little under an hour south of Mayport. We took the red train trolley tour, getting off to tour Castillo de San Marcos, eat at Burger Buckets for lunch (Jake had a mac and cheese bacon burger, Gavin and I split a burger with candied bacon on top, Amelia ate fries), and for ice cream (Jake and I had our first dole whip float - may be my favorite ice cream ever).

Waiting for the trolley:

 Jake and Gavin sat in the back facing backward:

 The Spanish architecture was super cool. Seeing St Augustine was Jake and my favorite thing we did on this vacation.

 Outside Castillo de San Marcos:

We watched a reenactment of firing a canon, Gavin asked the soldiers a good question (How much damage can the cannon do?), and he got invited back to help shoot the cannon when he turns 16. He's asked me a couple times since if he can go.

 Gavin would later get this hat blown off and gone on the trolley:

Bought him a new hat at the Navy Exchange:

 Amelia got food on the way home since she didn't eat much lunch:

 chocolate milk:

More fun on the beach in the late afternoon: