Daytona ... the Thanksgiving trip (heavy on the pics!)

Well I just got back from a week in Daytona. I had a great time with my sister, her husband and four kids, my dad and my grandparents. Oh and of course my husband and two kids as well. ;) It was AWESOME.

First off we spent some time on the beach. Fortunately the weather was pretty nice. Mostly in the high 60s and low 70s. It was GREAT!

This pic was taken at the park right above the beach, of my broken child with the freaky elbows. It's just not normal.... eh. :oops:
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...eirdelbows.jpg

We found like 10 of these starfishes and a couple others of another species... I've never seen one so purple!
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/starfish.jpg

Here's a bunch of the rugrats playing on the beach!
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...08-12-1025.jpg

Then my sister, her husband and I hunted down lizards in my grandparents backyard... we finally caught this teeny little guy.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...rip/lizard.jpg

This squirrel is such a fatty. My grandmother spoils the little boogers rotten! :rolleyes:
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/squirrel.jpg

We took a trip to Blue Springs Park and saw a LOT of manatees!!!
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...p/manatees.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1.../manatees2.jpg

We saw quite a few Cormorants...
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...courmarant.jpg

This grackle was pretty cool
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...ip/grackle.jpg

On our little hike we saw this little fellow too... What a cutie!
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...ip/raccoon.jpg

I just had to post this pic, because it was pretty...
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...0trip/tree.jpg

And this one too!
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...trip/plant.jpg

Here's the actual spring... (it's the dark spot next to the manatee)
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...rip/spring.jpg

Here's a HUGE gator that was hanging on the opposite bank. Never did see his face.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1.../alligator.jpg

We also saw two alligators just swimming up toward the spring. It was so cool!
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...alligator2.jpg

We also took a little trip to the Ponce de Leon Lighthouse and the science center next to it.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...lighthouse.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...ouseshadow.jpg

Here my first wild snake pic! WOOHOO!!!!
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...trip/snake.jpg

This Red Tail Hawk was very irritated, but still gorgeous. Most of the animals at this science center were rehabs.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...0trip/hawk.jpg

This owl wasn't impressed with us at all.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...20trip/owl.jpg

I couldn't imagine how this little guy had survived the injury.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...rip/turtle.jpg

All in all it was a wonderful trip. I did take over 400 pics so this is just a teensy samply of all the pics I took. :oops:

Looks like the turtle got hit by a boat prop. Hope they can rehab the little guy.

Looks like a wonderful trip!! Great pictures - I'm lovin that purple starfish! :cool:

Wow so many great pics! You really did get to see alot of wildlife:snake:
Looks like a really nice weekend. The manatees are soo cool! and the alligators are always a thrill to see in their own enviroment, thanks for sharing.

Awesome shots, Christie! Looks like a fun time!

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Originally Posted by Slim

Looks like the turtle got hit by a boat prop. Hope they can rehab the little guy.

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Yup, that's what we figured. I hope the little guy pulls through, if he has made it this far I hope that bodes well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nwheat

Looks like a wonderful trip!! Great pictures - I'm lovin that purple starfish! :cool:

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It really was a great trip. Thanks Nancy.

I never knew starfish could be that purple. My pic doesn't do it justice! :no:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

Wow so many great pics! You really did get to see alot of wildlife:snake:
Looks like a really nice weekend. The manatees are soo cool! and the alligators are always a thrill to see in their own enviroment, thanks for sharing.

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I know! It was awesome.

This was my first time to see a gator in the wild and I saw THREE!! Then the snake. I was in total animal heaven. My family was all making fun of me, and my husband threatened me when I went after the snake. I so could have had it! :mad:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by python.princess

Awesome shots, Christie! Looks like a fun time!

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Thanks Melanie! It was fun sharing it all with my family too.

Wow! That looks like way too much fun! We never do stuff like that...we're so boring! LOL

Looks like you had a great time!! The pics are great. Thanks for sharing..

Alan

Awesome pictures! It looks like you guys had a blast! I love the picture of the shadow of the light house and the one of the giant leaf...too cool!

those are some excellent shots. are you from florida? if not thanks for stopping by!

i hope you didn't keep those sea stars!!!