Vacation!!!

It was family summer vacation time for us this past week. I took the entire week off work and we spent a great week hanging around Florida. We did several fun things.
TAMPA - CLEARWATER BEACH AND BUSCH GARDENS
On Monday and Tuesday, we went over to the Tampa area and cashed in some Hilton Hotel points (the kids love staying in hotels). We spent Monday at Clearwater Beach. Monday night we found a very nice - reasonably priced seafood restaurant on Tampa Bay. Tuesday we went to Busch Gardens. It was a slightly overcast day with light rain - which was actually good because it kept the crowds down. Belinda, Diego, Antonio and Brianna went on a "safari" animal tour (Marco was too little so he and I sat out). That was pretty fun for them. They got to feed Giraffes up close. Antonio and I went on a rollercoast ride - the Cheetah Chase. It was Antonio's first roller coaster ride. He really enjoyed it.

On Wednesday, we stayed at home. Diego and Antonio participated in a golf clinic and the rest of the day was spent just bumming around the house.
GOODYEAR BLIMP RIDE
Thursday was the highlight of the week. We drove down to South Florida for a once in a lifetime experience - we rode on the Goodyear Blimp "Spirit of Innovation". I am going to write a separate blog about that experience - it was awesome!
LION SAFARI WORLD AND A MARLINS GAME
During the day on Friday, we went to Lion Safari World near Royal Palm Beach. It's a really nice wildlife park in which you actually drive your vehicle through 75% of it. I enjoyed seeing the animals up close. The kids liked the splash park that they played in at the end of the day. In the evening, Belinda met up with her college buddy Sharon Powers and myself, Antonio and Diego, and her husband Mike and son Dexter went to the Florida Marlins VS Philadelphia Phillie's game at Dolphin Stadium. Not the most exciting ballgame, but, it was fun to be at the ballpark hanging out with the boys!

Today we are just chillin out. I went for a motorcycle ride this morning to the Eustis, FL area with 3 buddies for breakfast at a local "greasy spoon". We spent the afternoon splashing in the pool and I am about ready to throw some steaks on the grill. No complaints here.

Overall, it was one of the best vacations we have had in recent years. It was a nice combination of fun activities, good food, a couple of days of bumming around, and some much needed "away from work" time for me. Be sure to check out my photobucket site where I saved the pictures under the vacation 2008 tab.