last updated June 26, 2003
Our 1998 vacation was a few days at the beach thrown together at the last minute. July 2 we got up early threw some things in a suitcase and took off for the beach. Being the July 4th holiday week we were not sure if we would find a hotel or not but we just took our chances. Jerry was working on the road so we had had very little family time so this vacation was very much needed. James was 10 years old and Josh was 6. When we arrived in Destin we took a room in the first hotel we found with a vacancy. It wasn't on the beach but was right across the street with a walkway. There was a bed and that was all we could hope for at the time. We went to the ocean and played in the sand for a few hours before night fall. It was a lot of fun.
July 3 we got up pretty early and ate breakfast. We checked our of our hotel (not a smart move but you live you learn) and drove to Ft Walton Beach and rented a couple of waverunners. James and Jerry took one and Josh and I took the other for a couple of hours; then we swapped because I wasn't fast enough. That made the trip worthwhile. After we finished the waverunners we drove back to Destin and went to the go cart track and played miniature golf. They had a multi level wooden go cart track and slick track for the older guys. There was a small amusement park for Joshua's size and kiddie go carts so he could ride too. The guys loved every minute of it - I watched. We had a blast. James and Jerry took one and Josh and I took the other for a couple of hours. That made the trip worthwhile. The weather started to pick up - a storm was coming our way so we knew it was time to find a new hotel. It rained and we drove all the way down the coast looking for another hotel. Friday July 3 is not the day to find a vacant hotel room on the Beach. We ended up driving all the way thru Panama City before we found a room. We were exhausted and ready to hit the sack by then.
July 4, we made reservations to take a boat ride to Shell Island. That was a lot of fun too. We saw an island of birds and sometimes you can see dolphins as you go out but I didn't see any. The island is sort of secluded and there are shells everywhere. We ran into a jelly fish which stings when you step on it but thank goodness it was quick or we could have gotten hurt. We just took our time and enjoyed being a family. We made it home that evening around midnight and were tired but a good tired.