Floridian Stay pt. 2

Warm greetings from the ever-so-tropical Lake Worth! It’s been quite a ride the past few days. I hope you find some of my recent travels interesting and take away some of the dos-and-don’ts of Florida. 

Day 2: Beachin’ It and Shopping

                Friday morning consisted of a lovely late-start complete with coffee and oatmeal. We awoke after a full night’s sleep (necessary after being on the road, of course) and helped ourselves to breakfast. I topped my oatmeal with berries, pecans, sliced almonds, granola, almond milk, and viilia (a Finnish yogurt-type of dairy). Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo! We ate on the small porch/deck outside for a pretty view of the tropical bushes and flowers that surround the condo. As usual, us coffee lovers enjoyed a cuppa joe with some milk along with our oatmeal to help wake us up. When the window screen in the room you’re staying in is dark and the sunlight is blocked from entering the room, you must find a way for your body to sense that it’s time to wake up and get out of zonked-out mode and into full-speed-ahead mode. This leads to the next do of your vacation. Do: Get enough rest and a good breakfast after traveling for any extended period of time. This will keep you energized for a full day ahead!

Mummi, Mom, and I then prepared for a beach day. It was ideal weather out: bright, clear skies and a calm sea spread across the horizon. I, being younger and dying to get a small window of Lake Worth on my own (without parents, grandparents, etc... when you can't bring a friend with, you must at least get away for a little bit), decided to jog to the beach, backpack hitched along for the ride, while the others drove. Why do I need my backpack while on a run? To stop and take photos, if the chance presents itself! Which, of course, it did, and I was prepared with my mini Polaroid camera in my small, black bag. Do: Always be prepared! You don’t want to be disappointed for not taking advantage of opportunities. We spent about half the day at the beach swimming and tanning. If you enjoy swimming and the ocean is calm, now is really the best time to take advantage of long distance. Just swim out past the waves and horizontal to the shoreline for as long as you’d like. You can head back to the shore at any time and walk back to your proclaimed spot if you get too tired. Also, get a pair of goggles! The water here is clear as can be, and I was wishing I had a pair. Do: Have the right equipment for whatever activity you plan on doing. It will heighten your enjoyment of said activity. Somehow, by some miracle, I managed to convince my mom that she needn’t be afraid of going out a little further into the water (which was surprising due to her shrieks after I voiced the sighting of an ocean critter), and lo-and-behold, we discovered a sandbar! This place was absolutely perfect for just hanging out in the water. I’ve seen sandbars commonly in lakes, but never have I gone to one in the ocean, so this was a really interesting discovery! Added bonus: my mom is now more amiable towards deeper waters and has grown a little more adventurous. Upon leaving the beach, I noticed that my face was about as red as the hat I bought in Orlando. My thoughts: well this sunburn is gonna kinda suck. Don’t: Forget your sunscreen! You may think you don’t need it, but trust me, you do. A good sunscreen for those of you who don't have sensitive or fair skin is Banana Boat Deep Tanning Oil. This will not only protect you from the sun, but it will aid you in getting that gorgeous beach glow (a.k.a. tan, tan, and more tan).  

We ate lunch at the condo and headed out to do some shopping. After exploring an antique store, I ended up staying at Starbucks for a while to post on my blog (hellooo, wi-fi!) while Mom and Mummi meandered off to the nearby shops. After posting, I joined them in a little boutique called Kokonuts, which sported only the finest women’s beachwear. Normally, I wouldn’t even think about purchasing anything from such a pricey store, but there was a sale section in the back. Always. Shop. The sale rack. FIRST. Seriously, you might find something you love for a tenth of the normal price! I scored a cute bikini for $35, top and bottom included. Do: Check out boutiques you may like! If there’s nothing cheap, just window shop for ideas, and if there’s something you like on sale, enjoy this stroke of luck and buy it. My mom found a suit she looks stunning in as well, and the workers were extremely helpful in finding something right for her. If you have the funds or want to check out the sale rack, I would definitely recommend this place! We ate dinner back at the condo, and my mom and I ended up popping into the nearby L.A. Fitness at Boynton Beach for a good workout. It was nice to be able to work out in a gym again sans hard bedroom floors and makeshift equipment! After my hair began to look like I’d been electrocuted (as it does after working out), we headed back to get some rest.