Summer Experience Guide

As summer stretches on and the temperatures tick skyward, Florida families know that sometimes the best place to play is inside where the AC is cool and sunscreen is not required. Thankfully, the First Coast is home to plenty of indoor activities so you’ll never be bored while beating the heat.  Indoor Playgrounds Bay & Bee (locations at the Beaches and Bartram Springs, www.baynbee.com) Bay & Bee is a locally owned, eco-friendly indoor play space inspired by Montessori and Waldorf educational principles and geared toward children, infant to age 5. In addition to open play, classes and workshops are available …

The expression “Life’s a beach” looks at the bright side of things, putting a sunny spin on a phrase that when substituting its more vulgar counterpart means the exact opposite, or at the very least a female dog. “A day at the beach” also serves as a unit of measurement to describe a pleasurable situation, but in an idiomatic sense denotes less than desirable circumstances, as in ‘she was no day at the beach’. What does a day at the beach mean to you? For some, it’s as simple and stretching out on a towel or lounge chair, turning the …

There’s nothing more road trip-worthy than Florida’s theme parks, and this summer is a great time to brave the crowds and the heat. This year all of the major theme parks in the state have either already unveiled new attractions or will have something new to share in the coming months. Here’s a look at the five new additions we’re most excited about: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios For over 40 years the franchise has been a global phenomenon, keeping generations of fans transfixed on amazing adventures that happened “a long time ago in a galaxy far, …

“Camping was like childbirth.” I explained to my friend after my husband and I decided to give camping as a family a try this January. I am already planning our next camping adventure in my head, even though just a few days ago I was lying on a freezing air mattress, with a four year old as physically close to me as possible without crawling back inside his first home, and swearing to myself, “I will never do this again! Never!” Yet, somehow I am pretty sure we will do it again, and possibly even make it an annual thing.  …

BEAT THE HEAT WITH WATERPARKS Ahhh, summer! The days are longer, the temperatures are soaring, and people start getting desperate for any opportunity to cool off. For some, that means cranking the A/C and trying not to think of the sky-high electric bill coming their way. For others, especially the young and the young at heart, getting out and getting wet is the way to go. If you fall into the latter category, Florida has plenty of opportunities for a splashing good time. Experience some thrills while you chill at these waterparks in and around the Jax area. Shipwreck Island …