Florida
- Day 7
Thursday 30th October 2025
Participants: Tam, Kev, India, Georgia and Charlie
After breakfast we pack up and load the car. George and Charlie's flight from Mexico doesn't arrive at MCO until 3.42pm. We decide that we should just drive the A1A along the coast, then do some shopping before driving to the airport. We leave at 10 am. The sun is shining, the birds are flying over the water, rock music on the radio and we all agree this is why we love Florida.
Drive through Flagler Beach, Daytona Beach and on, hoping to get
down to Apollo Beach, but unfortunately the state park is closed
due to the government shutdown. We have a quick Google and
decide to go to JB's fish camp for lunch. It's situated on
an inlet and although it's quite breezy we decide to sit on the
deck so we can enjoy the views. We all have Cajun spiced
fish sandwiches which are very tasty. After eating we walk
out onto the deck and see two groups of dolphins. They're
having loads of fun jumping and frolicking in the
water, then Ind spots a Manatee floating by. What a
great find this place was. We all agree that on a still evening
it would be fab to be here watching the wildlife, listening to
music and enjoying happy hour - obviously with a designated
driver.
[Kev - this chap decided to join us for lunch.]
Back on the road reluctantly as we could happily have stayed here for longer. We've got to go to Publix for some shopping before picking up George and Charlie.
Unfortunately the traffic
approaching Orlando is pretty heavy so it takes a while to get
there, but once in we approach our goal of getting everything off
the list with military precision as we know George and Charlie
have landed. Even so we figure by the time they get their luggage
and pass immigration we should beat them as we are only 20
minutes away. However, it appears not, as we get in the car
we get a WhatsApp from Charlie to say they are through and ready
to be picked up and Kev will get a bad Uber rating from
him. It looks like flights from Mexico are much quicker
through MCO or it could be they were the only flight in Terminal
C at that time.
Anyway India had produced a rough Stringer Booth sign as we'd assumed we'd meet them in arrivals, so I embellished it with drawings of a dolphin, manatee, Mickey mouse and a Disney castle. We put it in the car window and duly go to the pick up point at MCO where they are both waiting. Smiles all round as we try to fit their suitcases in the car around all our luggage and the shopping that we've bought. Once sorted we breathe a sigh of relief and set off on the 2 and a half hour journey to Anna Maria island. Unfortunately again the traffic on the I4 is horrible, I think it was a culmination of a crash and the time of day. Ind puts her best navigational skills to work and thanks to Google maps which we used instead of the sat nav (which was possible as we'd got esims with unlimited data) she manages to keep us on the fastest routes. Even so it seems like forever before we are even clear of Orlando itself.
During the journey we catch up with George and Charlie's thoughts on their trip to Mexico. It sounded amazing and they crammed a lot in, including a taco tour, hot air ballooning over some ruins, a visit to an amazing bar and lots of delicious food. Apparently though the last day to fly to Orlando was stressful from start to finish and it was only when we arrived at Anna Maria that they found out they'd actually been on stand by for the flight. No one had told them, even though they queried why their boarding pass had no assigned seat.
By the time we get to AMI it is dark and also there are spots of rain, so we're all very grateful when we cross the bridge over and finally arrive at the villa at 8pm, especially Kev who by now had spent some 10 hours driving the car, less the time for lunch and shopping.
Our villa looks very impressive from the outside and doesn't disappoint when we go in. A huge light vaulted sitting room is upstairs, with a well appointed kitchen and 3 bedrooms, one with ensuite and another bathroom. Outside is a large deck with a table chairs and other seats and below that the beautiful pool and pool area that leads straight to a small dock. The property is called Magnolia Breeze and we see outside a for sale board but figure it'll be out of our league. We actually only booked this a month or so ago, originally we were in a 2 bedroom villa as the first one we booked got changed, however as the time approached for the holiday we decided to look for alternatives. How lucky that this was available as it is definitely a step up from our original choice and worth the extra cost.
We whizz round and unpack the groceries
and head straight out to eat. George and Charlie haven't
eaten anything since breakfast and are ravenous. Last time
we visited we had also arrived later than expected and headed
straight to the Sandbar and enjoyed food and drink on a table
right on the sand. As it was almost directly across the
island from our villa we'd already decided to relive that
experience. A short walk along the road, admiring all the
incredible houses we walk past, also passing a couple of buzzing
pubs, we get there. We head on in and realise it is
dead, no customers there. The fact that it's incredibly windy and
it's right by the sea is probably why, but they ask if we want a
table and we decide to go for it. Also after a short
deliberation we decided to brave outside.
[Kev
- yeah, it was somewhat breezy and a little chilly, but we're
hardy souls. For 'hardy' read 'stupid'.]
There is a half moon so you can see the beach and hear the waves and we all have jackets so it isn't too chilly. I only want something light so go for shrimp nachos, but they were a huge plateful, Kev, Ind and George have grouper tacos which they say are delicious and Charlie has a burger and wedges and starts with coconut shrimp which he'd remembered from last time. A lovely start to our AMI holiday, we then browse the lovely clothes in their shop before going just up the road to Bortell's lounge, a sports bar where we sit at the bar and have a beer, before heading back for bed. It's been a long day but great to be reunited.
[Kev - the family are back together again. Apart from Tam who's taking the photo.]