We took Pearl on her first trip to Florida with M and M’s family at Big Lagoon State Park near Pensacola, Florida. We also tested out our new kayak carrier in a harrowing drive down through a wind advisory warning. It was worth it because the spacious campsites were near two ponds with boardwalks, nice birding opportunities, turtle viewing, and even an alligator that swam over to hang out for a while. The state park had a small beachy area where the kids could have hung out forever.
We cooked a full breakfast every day as well as fresh fish and veggies on the new 17” Blackstone griddle. Yummy! And the kids pretty much expect S’mores every night we go camping now. I can’t say that I disagree.
The boardwalk was a great place to hang out, race, and enjoy the sunset at the end of a full day.
When the oldest cousin joins the party, these three have a blast.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
We had another Bishop water adventure when we kayaked over to Gulf Islands National Seashore. M and M took the kids over in a canoe with an electric motor. With choppy water and a ridiculous headwind, we could not handle the trip back in the kayaks so M picked us up in the car.
We had the beach all to ourselves. The strong winds made setting the tent up a big challenge, but it was perfect for kite flying!
Some areas of Big Lagoon were closed due to hurricane damage a few years ago. I hope we are able to explore them next time we come. And if we had another day, we would have liked to explore Gulf Islands National Seashore a bit more by car. Great seafood, secluded beaches, spacious campsites, and natural beauty made Big Lagoon SP a place we will revisit for sure.