The Rhythm of My Story: Florida Vacation -- Tampa to Key West

Since Bryan and I heard that Annual Conference would be in Tampa in 2015 we have been planning a vacation to Florida so we could visit his niece, Margie. We arrived in Tampa on Saturday, rented a Toyota Rav 4 and headed for Fort Myers, where Margie lives with her husband, Mark, and two dogs -- Ryan and Sailor. Margie was 9 months old when Bryan was born and so they grew up more like siblings.

On Sunday Margie and Mark showed us the wonders of the Fort Myers area. After a delicious breakfast of blueberry pancakes we headed to Sanibel Island for time swimming and kayaking in the Gulf. It was magical. Then back home for a swim in the pool -- dogs included -- followed by a delicious dinner of grouper sandwiches.

It was difficult to leave on Monday after such amazing hospitality. We drove to Everglade City to take the Ten Thousand Islands boat tour. I knew we would see dolphins...

but I really wanted to see manatees. Which we did!

Then we backtracked to Marco Island to spend the night. I was expecting another experience like Sanibel Island. I was disappointed. After a quick walk on the beach, I fell fast asleep.

Tuesday morning we headed back to the Everglades. We stopped in the photo gallery of Clyde Butcher -- a black and white photographer. His work was amazing. Then we stopped at Shark Valley in the Everglades. Our plan was to take the tram tour but we would have to wait too long so we walked some of the way. We heard pig frogs, saw our first orange grasshopper...

And a bird camouflaged in the brush...

But I really wanted to see an alligator. I did see one alligator tail...

Then we headed for Miami Beach. Our room was an oceanfront room.

We headed right down to the beach to swim in the Atlantic and relax in the sun.

We enjoyed a walk down the boardwalk until we realized we had been identified as easy marks. We hurried to our hotel room.

Wednesday morning we got up early to head to Key West. We stopped at Robert Is Here for fresh mangoes and the most amazing fresh fruit shakes. I had the strawberry key lime. We stopped in Key Largo to go snorkeling at a coral reef. I saw lavender colored fish! I guess the sea sickness and gallon of salt water I swallowed was worth it.

Our next stop was at Robbie's Marina to feed the tarpon. One man, who was leaving as we arrived, had been bitten by a tarpon.