Spring Break 2025: Tallahassee and Jacksonville, FL

Once we finished our activities in Mississippi and Alabama, we drove to Tallahassee to spend the night before driving to Jacksonville. Jacksonville was the very end of I-10, so that was the reason for going there. It was a little too far to drive all the way there from Mobile, AL, hence why we stopped in Tallahassee. 

Tallahassee was a disaster! I had a hard time finding a hotel in the price range I was wanting, and the best I could find was actually two rooms instead of one suite with a pull-out bed (what we usually had). I didn't even think about it, but it really should have been a sign that two rooms at the place we stayed were cheaper than one room anywhere else, which meant that these rooms were awful. And I mean AWFUL! They were motel-style, with the room doors all on the outside. Okay, we could deal with that. Except you could hear everything happening outside! People's conversations, police sirens, and the neighbor blasting loud music from their car right outside the door at 2:30 in the morning. The rooms themselves were filthy, and one smelled very strong of weed. The other smelled very strong of smoke. I laid in both beds of the smoke room and could tell exactly which bed the person smoked from. I swear I got smoke-free rooms, but oh well. I hardly slept that night! I felt gross and couldn't sleep over the noise outside our doors. We quickly packed and left the next morning, and I learned my lesson about paying for a budget hotel. It was a La Quinta, which I heard was very nice, so it surprised me! Oh well, Sam is booking our hotels from now on.

And Sam did happen to book our hotel in Jacksonville! It was tons better, but we had to wait for check-in, so we found a park to play at. It was a cute park and our kids made friends.

Eli riding the whale at the park.

Once we had our hotel, we changed into our beach gear and had a nice evening at the beach! We had sand castle buckets and a frisbee to pass the time. We dipped our toes in the water, and Joseph braved the brisk waves. It was a nice relaxing day after much traveling and all the activities we participated in.

 

I kept seeing these black seagulls!

Then we came back to our nice, CLEAN hotel and got some sleep before our big outings in Orlando! We officially drove all of I-10 from Santa Monica, CA to Jacksonville, FL. Not in one go, but still an accomplishment for our family. Next, Sea World Orlando!

Spring Break 2025: Mississippi and Alabama

After New Orleans, we decided to stay overnight at Moss Point, MS. There were only two king beds, so we had to make do with three people in each bed. The parents didn't sleep too well. The kids went swimming again even though it was still cold! At least the staff was super friendly!

Saying hello to Sam from the pool.

The next day we headed to Gator Ranch. It was really cold that morning, and I only packed light jackets for all of us. But we had fun regardless. There weren't very many gators out because of how cold it was, but we didn't know the difference I guess. While there I held a baby gator while everyone got to pet it. Then we went on an airboat tour across the marshy area. It was super pretty despite it being so cold.

The entrance to Gator Ranch.

All the baby alligators. 

They got one out for us to hold/pet.

The only size I'll get this close to one!

While we waited for the airboat tour, we walked around and saw the gators that were out.

Daisy saw us and swam right up to us. I'm sure she was expecting food.

Today was Mario Day (Mar10), so the boys all wore their festive shirts.

The airboat we were going to ride.

They gave us protective ear gear since the boat can get loud.

The beautiful marsh.

The only gator we really came across was Godzilla. I guess if we came across any Gator, I'm glad it was the biggest one Gator Ranch had. He is a sixteen-foot male and always hangs around this bridge. I know the pictures don't do it justice, but yes, he was massive! The tour guides threw marshmallows at him to lure him closer. Marshmallows float, and they are easier to spot for both the Gator and everyone watching. One of our tour guides, the newer guy, said he had never seen Godzilla get so close to the boat! So it was a little thrilling. I caught it on video, but I managed to get a few photos of him as well.

 

A cyprus tree.

 A gator out of the water!

Overall, it was fun and pretty, even though we didn't see a whole lot of alligators, and it was rather cold. The tour guide let us know that even if we don't see them, they are always lurking below, so don't fall in the water! Like we wanted to.

Our next destination was in Mobile, AL, where we toured the USS Alabama. It was only a half hour away from Gator Ranch, so we were able to fit it in just fine. USS Alabama was a warship during WWII, and after it was out of commission, they turned it into a museum of sorts. It was cool, and Sam particularly enjoyed it! After a while, the kids (mainly Eden) were getting tired, so we didn't get to see everything. The ship was huge!

Eli posing before we entered.

On the bridge to the ship.

On the deck.

The three huge cannons for shooting missiles!

Inside the cannon area.

Where most of the soldiers slept.

The ship was cool because it really was like a town on water. They had everything the men needed!

They had a place for haircuts.

A soda shop.

A butcher room.

 

A medical bay, complete with an OR.

A brig for unruly soldiers.

The ship had many battles, but something notable was when it was hit by kamikazes. 

Not sure exactly what these were, but it had to do with fighting the Japanese.

Fragments from the kamikaze plane that hit the ship.

We went below and saw the sonar room and the huge missiles that fit the cannons we saw earlier.

 

They even had sea explorations!

On the highest point of the ship.

Last shot of the USS Alabama.

It was a fun and interesting day! A little cold and rainy, but we were heading for Florida, and the weather there was quite lovely.