Friday I'm in Love: Tampa With Kids

Normally as the winter drags on into March, I don't care because I'm too busy planning our March/April trip to Florida. But this year, in addition to being one of the worst winters I can remember, we're not going to Florida.

I am trying not to be bitter.

In effort to stick with my "Friday I'm in Love" theme of being more f***ing positive, I have decided to share some of the fun things to do with kids in the Tampa area. And to try to be grateful that we've gotten to go for the last couple of years.

This is my (now-local) brother-in-law's favorite beach. 

Not only does this park have an old fort, it also has some great beaches. 

This is the BEST aquarium. You can see Winter (the dolphin from the movie Dolphin Tale) and learn so much. Plus, it's way more ethical than Sea World. And it's right near Clearwater Beach!

This museum has a really fun children's play area as well. 

Anna Maria is closer to Bradenton, but it is my all-time favorite place in Florida. Beaches, restaurants, history and quaintness. 

We love aquariums. This one also has a cool kids' water play area. 

What are some of your favorite warm weather destinations? Help me daydream, please. 

Check out some other great posts at the Epic Linky Party:

We Finally Made It Home

So our car died while we were in Florida. Luckily, we were able to stay with my brother-in-law and his girlfriend (who are totally awesome) while it was getting a new engine (FYI, never buy a car that has previously been leased. Just don't.)  But I found it hard to blog there and I was all stressed out, except when I was trying to pretend it was an extended vacation.

Which it was, really. I mean, it was sunny and over 80 the whole time. Look.

Fort De Soto State Park. Beaches and history - it's like it was made for our family. 

Brief visit to the Car Fix set. You know it's bad when even they can't fix your car.

This is not Winter, heroine of Dolphin Tale. This is Nicholas. He is more exciting to watch. 

We did watch Winter though, I swear. 

There was too much TV watching. 

Making a movie at the Museum of Science and Industry.

Anna Maria Island is my new favorite place. 

Apollo Beach. 

Someday, when my brain is not freaking out about all the stuff I have to put away and the laundry and all the things we are behind on, I should write about traveling with kids to the Tampa Bay area. I totally feel like an expert now.