Yogi Bear Camp Jellystone, Madison, Florida

This was our first time staying at a Jellystone park and we LOVED it!!! I read a few reviews that were less then positive for this location and I am so glad that I didn't let those negative comments stop us from going and seeing for ourselves. We are now Jellystones newest fans! I mean with this wonderful setting how could you not love it!

We spent a week here and it flew by! I didn't even leave the resort once. Ian left to get a few groceries  and solar parts but other then that we were quite content here. We spent our week on the Lazy River...

 Meeting lots of new friends. One girl and her family even stayed at Bushnell Walmart the same night we did and they parked right beside us! Such a small world. Somehow I did not get her picture though.

We tried out the water slides.  Aayla tried them too with the help of staff walking down behind her for most of the way...but when she said she had to do it herself she stopped.

There was also a pool with a water play area which Aayla enjoyed much more then the slides.

We would stay by the beach area for lunch and lounge in the sun.

When we wanted a break from the water there was still lots to keep busy. The bounce pad and bouncy castle of course were fun. This is where they spent most of their time when they weren't in the water. There was also a playground, mini golf, Ga Ga ball and more. All included with the cost of the campsite. The only things that cost extra was gem mining, the arcade and water wars. Even the mini golf was free. All supplies like golf clubs and basketballs etc were available for free rental in the office. You just needed to leave your drivers license as a security deposit. I love not feeling nickled and dimed here. You pay more up front to get more overall.

There was face painting and hula hooping.

There were free kayaks to float around on. You did need to leave your drivers license as a deposit for the paddles but there was no charge for these either.

 Last but not least there was Yogi Bear and wagon rides.

There were also many trails to ride your bikes on and if you have ATV's you can ride them on their acreage. This place is great!

Glowing review to follow :)

Easter Hunt at the Shell Factory, North Fort Myers, Florida

The Easter Bunny found our trailer thankfully.

There were eggs everywhere inside and outside of the camper. Once they were all collected the girls traded some of the Pershops and Shopkin toys that were inside the eggs. Then we decorated our cookies that Sierra picked out at the store the other day.

 After we headed to The Shell Factory, Nature Park and Fun Park in North Fort Myers. It was advertised that they were having a free egg hunt for the kids.

Well they had an egg hunt which was basically just walking around the trail in the closed Nature Park area and being handed eggs by the volunteers a long the trail.

waiting for the trail to open

Receiving their first egg on the trail

After we walked the trail it was advertised that the Easter Bunny would be there...he was not.

So we explored a couple things like the fire truck and rock wall and tried to make the best of it.

 Then we headed inside to look at their "tourist trap" store.

We bought a few tickets so the girls could play a couple games.

 Posed for a couple pictures and wandered around before leaving.

I know it was a free event but we couldn't even see half the animals and if we wanted to, we had to come back in a couple hours and pay full admission to "see" the nature park. To be honest after walking through it I don't think it was worth coming back to see really (adults $12, kids 4-12 $8).

I think the event would have been so much better if they had a discounted admission and let you enjoy the park. Or even full admission with an egg hunt as an extra treat. I guess their hope was that people would hang out and do other paid stuff in the park and come back (and I am sure some did). Those activities in the Fun Park would add up quickly too. Fun park fees were as follows: Paddle boat and fish food $5, Mini golf $/ kids $4, bumper boats $5, Trampolines $3...thankfully their rock climbing wall was free.

I felt like we were being nickle and dimed and we left. I hate free things that aren't free as a form of advertising and I felt really let down. We thought this would be a great family Easter event. Win some and loose some I guess.

Have you visited the Shell Factory? What are your thoughts?

Sun Splash Water Park, Cape Coral, Florida

Today Grammy Sue decided that it was treat day and took the girls to Sun Splash Water Park in Cape Coral Florida and they had a blast!

Since this is a water park I didn't get many photos but I got a few in the beginning. First up was Aayla on the younger kids water slides.

Sierra tried out the next smallest slides and loved them.

Aayla also really liked their rope course and did it many times throughout the day.

Next up was the lazy river so I could then go put my camera away and enjoy the day.

There were other bigger water slides but my girls are not fans of big slides so we didn't go on them. That fact made this park kind of expensive since we only used half the park. I will admit the lazy river was very fun and definitely more my pace. It would be nice if they had a "no big slides" price to make it more economical for families who just want some wet fun but not all the big slides. Non residents fees were kids $17.95 and adults $19.95, making this a $100 excursion. Thanks Grammy Sue!!! They do offer discounts for residents which is nice for locals.

We packed a lunch to take with us but when we arrived we were given a coupon for snacks (and their bad weather policy), which made their lunch very affordable and way less hassle. If we ever were to go again I'd just go with the pre-pay snack option.

Tree Frogs and Coconuts

Sierra is always on the hunt for frogs, toads, lizards, snakes... and so she quite often has mini terrariums for a day or two before letting them go.

Aayla isn't as lucky quite so often but today was her day to shine too!

 Can you guess where this little frog jumped? Yep! Right up on my camera. I love Sierras expression!

All this frog hunting is hard work so off she went in her Jeep to find some coconuts and she found quite the score.