Florida – Titanic Trip Pt. 6 – The End
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Florida didn’t hold some long sought-after destination, or resort, or a must-see attraction. It wasn’t on our bucket list. In the end, Florida capped off our trip in the same manner that we’d started it. Family.
My dad (Lydia, here) moved to Florida a few years before our trip and we still hadn’t had the chance to visit. Why not tack it on to the trip of a lifetime?
My dad was living near Madeira Beach, Florida and it was such a joy when we saw his smiling face at the airport. He picked us up and the sightseeing began! We stopped for a drink and then went out to see the water. Not a bad way to start! Our first day was easy and relaxed, spending a good deal of it out in the sun and sand.
Salvador Dali Museum
Our first attraction of the trip (aside from a random wedding on a boat that we went to) was the Salvador Dali Museum. Talk about some crazy artwork! Billy’s dad majored in art, so near about instantly, he was on the phone to him to talk about everything we were seeing. It was really neat because his dad would tell us to search out a certain piece and then tell us about the minute details that we would surely have missed. Having him guide us through was a highlight for Billy and something he’ll always treasure.
Aside from Dali’s art, there were other wonderful things to behold. The building itself was beautiful and there was a hedge labyrinth outside. In all, a very cool place to visit. The rest of our evening was spent strolling on the pier and simply enjoying the wind-down of the trip.
Ca’ d’Zan
If I could only pick one attraction to see from this leg of the trip, Ca’ d’Zan would be it. Without a doubt.
In 1924, construction was started on this great house. John Ringling, of Ringling Brothers Circus fame, was building his winter home. His wife Mable oversaw construction, and so much so that the original plans were called ‘The Residence of Mrs. John Ringling.’
I could write a thousand pages and it still wouldn’t be enough to describe this house. Put simply; it’s stunning. The setting, the style, the grandeur, it’s all stunning.
The Tours
We went on two guided tours while we were there. From looking at the website, I couldn’t tell you which of the current tours we chose. If I remember correctly, there were only two options when we were there in 2012. With both tours combined, we got to see pretty much the entire house. And let me tell you, there isn’t an inch you want to miss.
From John’s all-marble bathroom to the glass ceiling over the ‘living area,’ this house hits all the marks. It has a secret vault that was the wine cellar during prohibition, and it also has a secret bar room. Seriously, it’s one cool place!
John and Mable also liked to buy things that were going to be discarded. So that chandelier there? That came from the original Waldorf Astoria hotel. And their couches? Bought used from the Astors.
The Grounds
The grounds of the house are nearly as lovely as the building itself. Mable had a rose garden and it is still thriving. When we walked through it, it was 99 years old. Today, it is 106 years old and is the oldest continuously operating rose garden in Florida.
There is another lovely spot called ‘Mable’s Secret Garden.’ On the map of the grounds, that is all that it is listed as. But if you look around long enough, far in the back, you’ll find Mable herself. She is buried there with her husband John and John’s sister.
Another curiosity of the grounds was this fella. We almost didn’t spot him, as he’s the same color as the roots surrounding him. How long do you think he’s been hidden there? 5 years? 25? Absolutely trapped in time.
There is also a museum on the estate grounds with old train cars from the circus and tons of other memorabilia. We had only about 10 minutes to rush through and check it out before it closed. It’s something I’d love to go back and see again someday.
After everything closed for the day, we headed back to my dad’s place and had another lovely evening on the beach. I’ve always loved the ocean air’s constant breeze, and I rather enjoyed going out to eat or grab drinks at an open-air establishment. We went to a different place every night and none of them disappointed!
American Victory Ship
I found it incredibly fitting that the last day of our trip was spent on a ship. After all, it was a ship that brought us into this incredible adventure in the first place.
My family has always been heavy into WWII history. My dad is retired Air Force, and his dad was in multiple branches of the military during his career. Having served in the Navy for a decade, my brother is currently serving in the Army. Military history has always been an area of interest for our family, so on our last day in Florida, my dad took us to see the American Victory Ship.
I’ve always had a love for big, old warships. I love the sound of the metal as you walk on it or the clang it makes as you climb the ladders. I love the smell of the oil and metal. They are an odd thing to love, but I never get tired of visiting them.
History
In 55 days, the SS American Victory was built from the ground up. Let me repeat that. In less than 2 months, the ENTIRE ship was finished. That’s a crazy short amount of time! (Billy wants me to put #Merica here, but I told him no. And yet, there it is. Dangit…)
It was delivered for duty on 24 May 1945. In 1985, it underwent a $2.5 million renovation. It was set to be scrapped in 1996, but luckily, it was rescued and destined to become a museum. To learn more in-depth history, check out the history page on their website!
Our Visit
We traversed every inch of the ship that we could possibly get to. My dad had visited before, so he acted as our tour guide for us. We practically had the ship to ourselves, too. It was ours to explore. Naturally, we spent a lot of time on the big guns.
After an hour or two, we finally made our way to the gift shop, bought a few souvenirs, and headed out for one last evening on the beach.
Our last night in Florida
1 May 2012 was our last night in Florida. It was the last night of our entire trip. It was the final day of an incredible adventure. I remember this because 1 May is my birthday. I turned 24 that year. The entire reason we couldn’t rent a car was because Billy turned 25 halfway through the trip, so in the beginning, neither of us were old enough. We both celebrated birthdays during the trip and it was the best gift either of us could have gotten.
Back on the beach
We spent the late afternoon into the evening on the beach and were gifted a gorgeous sunset. On that final evening, I finally braved the water and had the scare of my life. I have a healthy fear of sharks which started when I saw someone catch a baby shark on a fishing pole in Port Aransas, Texas. I was in my early teens and it stuck with me. Now don’t get me wrong. I love the beach. Give me the beach all day. Just don’t make me go in the water.
After giving in and running into the waves after Billy and my dad, I dunked my head underwater and came up smiling. My dad came up in front of me, and that’s when I panicked. Maybe four or five feet behind him, a fin came out of the water. I pointed frantically, but when he turned around, it had just dipped back under. What followed was a classic movie scene of me pointing when I saw it and then it going under by the time Billy and my dad had turned around. After about the fourth time, I told them to just keep looking that way. Sure enough, it came back up. And my dad laughed. And laughed and laughed. Turns out it was a dolphin. Dolphin or no, I spent the rest of the day fully out of the water.
Winding down
With night fully upon us, we went out for ice cream to celebrate my birthday. After thoroughly stuffing ourselves, we retreated back to my dad’s place and begrudgingly started packing. We would have loved to have visited for a few more days, and I know my dad wished we could have stayed on as well. But, as it were, the trip was at a close, and it was time to go home.
Going home
On the morning of 2 May 2012, my dad drove us and our ridiculous amount of luggage to the airport. I’m terrible at goodbyes and spent most of the morning holding back tears. When we parted at the airport, the dams burst. Still wiping tears, I waved goodbye to my dad one last time and, along with Billy, lugged our bags inside. We checked our bags, found our gate, and within a few hours, we were on a plane and headed back to Texas. It was finished. Our trip of a lifetime was complete.
Cheers,
Lydia and Billy
