We left our hotel at about 9 a.m. and stopped at the Parks at Chehaw, which is an 800-acre property with a zoo, a giant play area, a BMX track, and various other outdoor spaces. Our Roger Williams Park Zoo membership got us in for free again – that was a great investment.
The zoo was a little eerie, because it was almost completely empty of visitors. We felt a little like the Griswolds showing up at the defunct Wallyworld. There was one car in the gigantic parking lot and I’m pretty sure it belonged to the girl who worked in the gift shop, who was also the ticket-checker. It was actually a nice zoo, with lots of space for all of the animals, and well-maintained pathways and exhibits. But seriously, we only saw 4 other families in our entire time at the zoo. I started to wonder if there was an escaped gorilla keeping visitors away, with only the ignorant tourists showing up.
There was a huge play area so after we were done with the zoo we gave the kids a half hour to finish wearing themselves out. When we arrived, we were the only ones there, and one other family eventually showed up. Very strange. There was a cool picnic shelter and I couldn’t figure out what the funny animal noise was until I investigated further and realized that the noise was coming from a giant pack of hungry rabid BATS. Well, they probably weren’t rabid but I HATE BATS!!! They may be the creature I hate most. They are SO GROSS!!! I know they eat mosquitos and all that but YUCK! Speaking of eating things…I read an interesting fact at the zoo. If a snake eats 10 mice in a year, it prevents 2500 mouse babies from being born. Snakes rule!!
We stopped on the way back to the highway to get some peaches fresh off the tree, and they were delicious! Then we got as far as Gainesville, Florida before we needed a time-out from driving. When I told Ben how to get to Ruby Tuesdays, Aliya said, “We’re getting out of the car to eat! Really?? We’re going inside?!” The drive-thru has become a way of life over the last week. So yes, we went inside to eat. We sat down and everything.
We made it to Bradenton around 7 and settled into the condo. It’s a really good-sized space for the 5 of us, with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, an eat-in kitchen plus living room / dining area, and a small screened-in porch with a table. There are 2 pools, 2 whirlpools, a clubhouse, and tennis courts. There’s some visible wear and the furniture is ’80’s particleboard, but who cares? We got a great deal – $67 per night!! I haven’t seen any bugs or rodents, everything seems clean, and the car alarm hasn’t gone off yet. Plus the AC works and there’s a washer & dryer. What else could we ask for?
Mom & Keith brought pizza around 8, and the kids ran around like their normal crazed, just-out-of-the-car selves. Actually, they were acting kind of like escaped gorillas…maybe that’s why we were alone at the zoo this morning. Word got out that we would be there.
Tomorrow we’re headed for the aquarium and dinner at Mom & Keith’s, hopefully with a nap in between.
And an update to yesterday’s post…when I said that it was an uneventful day, I forgot to mention (or subconsciously blocked out) that when we arrived at the hotel, Adlani (who has to fiddle with everything he comes into contact with) turned on the heater in our room. By the time I smelled the burning-hair smell, the smoke alarm was going off. By the time I figured out how to make it stop, the front desk was calling to see if our room was on fire. Ugh – BOYS!!!
The Parks at Chehaw:
I use this spray bottle for very effective kid control in the car.
Ben uses it to keep himself awake.
Norah hanging out in the closet:
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