We had the most wonderful little getaway to Cocoa Beach, Florida. We arrived there after a quick nine hour trek to be greeted by ominous skies and the scariest downpour that you definitely don't want to see as you are crossing bridges over more water. We were so happy to finally reach our beachfront Hilton and waited as the rain faded out, so we could check out the area. We hit the famous city pier, grabbed a yummy bite to eat and nestled in our room to get ready for the morning. When we saw the newscast that there would be evening downpours for the next 10 days, we knew we had to prioritize our itinerary. We were happily greeted with a sunny morning and made it a point to get out on the beach. We were on the beach for hours. We packed up and visited the internationally famous dinosaur store just a few blocks from our hotel. This store was a haven for Quadson. They had items there like simple kids' games, all the way to $50,000.00 fossils for sale. It was fascinating. Little did Quadson know that after we left Cocoa Beach on Sunday morning, we would then take him to a dinosaur lover's dream, Dinosaur World, located on the other side of Orlando, near Tampa.
The road we covered (highlighted above) blows my mind. 75 South from Atlanta through Orlando to Cocoa Beach on the east coast of Florida, then across the state, 9 miles short of the west coast of Florida (Tampa) to Plant City, FL where Dinosaur World is located, then back up 75 to Atlanta. Wheww!!!!
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We are on the Cocoa Beach Pier, the longest pier I have been on with so many restaurants, shops and activity on it. Behind me is sooooo much water. While I am smiling, what I am actually thinking is "How am I going to make it on our November cruise...this is way tooooo much water."
There were so many fishermen on the pier. Here is a sting ray catch. He was thrown back in.
Quadson, on the pier, reporting in to his fishing buddy, Papa Jack, about what he had just witnessed.
Leslie might look prissy, BUT.....
Our night walk on the beach
The ocean atmosphere put Leslie to sleep so easily
A family portrait during our night beach walk
A little breakfast in the hotel before a day on the Atlantic
Feeling a little "Hollywood"
I got him!
Beach Beauties
Leslie got some great napping in, oceanside. 
Dinosaur World
So authentic looking
Wooden dino puzzle
Leslie and Quadson at the foot of a T-rex
Leslie had a great time
Everything was so life-like
Leslie likes whatever her brother likes
Eaten by a T-rex
He even got to pose as a paleontologist and mimic an actual dinosaur find, with his own brush and shovel
He did very well on this matching game
It was as if we were on the set of the movie, Jurassic Park
He "read" each and every plaque as if he could actually read it and was 99% correct with the info he was regurgitating from memory, and what was actually printed on the plaque. We were amazed.
