Last year we visited Naples in mid-June and it was so quiet and wonderful that we decided we'd visit during the summer again. This year we visited at the end of July through early August and the weather was not as stellar. Boo! The city was a ghost town still, though, so that was awesome. The traffic decreases by about 95% in the summer which makes getting to the beach a super quick trip!
We took a Friday night flight on Allegiant (gag me) to Punta Gorda and drove the hour to Naples in our horrible little Mitsubishi rental car. We did a package deal from Allegiant to get airfare for the both of us plus a rental car for 5 days for like $400. You get what you pay for when sometimes. Oh well. We don't drive much once we're in Naples. Our flight was a bit delayed on Friday night (shocking since Allegiant has like two planes) so we did not get to the condo until it was technically Saturday morning. Oh well, we'd wake up much closer to the beach than we do at home!
Breakfast at Skillet's is a requirement
First, though, we had to visit the newest Skillet's location because it is our favorite breakfast spot. This location had ample outdoor seating so we were quite pleased. After breakfast we made a quick turnaround to get to the beach!
I love this view!
I read a book and Jackson played in the waves and all was well in the world!
The beach pretty much to ourselves
Happy boy!
My beach hat representing the area's airport
After we'd had enough sun and felt crispy, we headed to Publix to grossly overpay for some groceries. Listen, you guys, the groceries in Naples are so darned expensive. I think everything is at least 50% more expensive. It could just be that Publix has kind of a monopoly in the area, but it is always painful to grocery shop there. In the summer all of the restaurants run specials to try to get the few folks in town to dine with them so it is sometimes cheaper to just dine out! This trip we did a little of both.
Sunday morning had a few storms, but it cleared up so we did our beach routine. We fall into such an easy rhythm when we're in Naples.
The view from my chair
Date night!
Then, Monday, Tropical Storm Emily hit. UGH! She came out of nowhere and just dumped rain on us!
Stormy day beach walks
Trying not to blow away
Sunset during a storm
Catchin' sunset
We went to Skillet's again on Tuesday morning. We love it. When we headed back to the condo, all seemed well then the heavens opened and it started to rain again. Bummer. The condo doesn't have internet service during non-season so Jackson left Tuesday morning to go send some work e-mails from Starbucks. He got caught in another storm and couldn't get back to the condo for about three hours! The Starbucks is about 5 minutes away normally. It was insane!
FLOOD!
Remember we had the tiniest rental car ever so he could not risk flooding it out. We didn't want to own that little piece of junk, you know!
Jackson's view trying to get back
to the condo during a storm- it looks like he'd
drive into a river!
There was a finally enough of a break in the storms that some of the water started to soak into the ground and Jackson was able to get out from where he was trapped in the rental car. He kept his spirits up during the whole thing. I just sat at the condo reading a book- ha! Then, as soon as he got safely back to our place, the sky dumped AGAIN! We looked out and realized that the balcony was getting flooded really quickly because the gutters were full! AGH!
Thankfully the downpour didn't last too long and we were able to stop any water from coming into the condo. There are so many trees around that their little twigs and stuff are just hard to keep up with. We made a maintenance call to make sure the gutters were clear once we left and there was no one to sweep out flood waters!
Luckily, the skies cleared for a little bit in the afternoon and we were able to get in a few hours at the beach. We were basically on call for sunshine. As soon as it looked clear, we were beach bound!
The sun came back out- head to the beach!
More storms coming...
We had some more storms Tuesday night and then finally all was clear. We'd made it through a tropical storm. Wednesday, our last day, was gorgeous. We sat out on the beach for as long as we could before it was time to clean up, pack up and head out to the airport.
Finally! A clear day on our last day!
In amazing news, our flight on Allegiant home was on time and we even landed a few minutes early. It was a true miracle! (Can you tell I loathe Allegiant?)
Suntanned and tired--headed home!
We got back around 8:30 so we had time to get unpacked, laundry started and get ready for a busy Thursday. We always seem to land really late so it was kind of nice to be home at a decent hour this time. We've decided we probably won't go back to Naples so late in the summer again. The weather is just too hard to predict. It was still nice to just take a break, though, and fit in as much beach time as we could!
My Uncle Derek was visiting from Hawaii and loves the Chicago Cubs. We decided since he was coming all the way to Indiana for a visit he should get to see his beloved team play. We booked a hotel for Saturday and Sunday so that we could all really enjoy the city.
We drove up Saturday morning and decided to take a bus tour of the city. Uncle Derek had never spent time in the city and it is easier to have a guide tell us what everything else. I loathe driving in downtown Chicago, too, so it was nice to let someone else chauffeur us around.
BUS TOUR!!!
Uncle Derek snapping photos on the bus
City views from the bus
The fountain from Married with Children
We rode around the entire bus loop and learned a lot about the city that we did not know before. We also saw some parts of town that we'd not been to so it was really a good tour.
Chicago deep dish pizza
We had to have Lou Malnati's Chicago pizza. It did not disappoint. Each Saturday night in the summer they have fireworks off of Navy Pier so Jackson and Derek went out to see them. I was exhausted and had a busy Sunday planned so I stayed back.
The skyline from Navy Pier
I've wanted to try Soul Cycle for YEARS! Our friend Jess recently moved to Chicago so she signed up for class with me. It is just an indoor cycling class with really loud music.
Morning workout
It was a fun class, but I prefer CycleBar here in Carmel. After our class Jess and I walked over to meet Jackson and Derek for brunch.
This dog was walking himself! Love him!
Brunchin'
More brunch
After brunch Jess headed out and we decided to do a little more touring before the evening's ball game.
Millenium Park
The Cloud aka The Bean
Touristing
Uncle Derek and Jackson
The view from our hotel room's shower
AMAZING
We took the "L" train over the Wrigleyville. We grabbed Italian beef sandwiches at a place Jackson had heard good things about called Al's Beef. Those good things he'd heard were lies. HA! It was fine, but nothing to write home about.
Sunset at the ballpark
Uncle Derek happy as a clam!
Amazing evening
Baseball fans!
Our seats were actually great
We sat near some of the most fun folks ever. The game was an absolute blast. The Cubs won. There was a lot of action near our seats in the right outfield. We had no one behind us so we could stand whenever we wanted. I cannot say enough about how great our seats ending by being. What a relief! We joined all 56,789 of our closest friends for the trip home on the train. It was insane. We eventually got back to our hotel for the evening and got to enjoy our fancy room. Monday morning we got out of town and dropped Uncle Derek off for a day at the lake with Mom before heading back to Fishers. We had a really fun weekend!
Side note about our cool hotel room:
During our trip, there was a mix-up at the hotel. Our first night ended up being Uncle Derek in a suite with double beds (instead of the two bedroom suite we booked) and us in a king room a few floors away. Jackson was beyond annoyed that they gave the room we booked away so the hotel upgraded us to the Royal Suite for the second night. It goes for over $2,000 a night. It was on the 37th and 38th floor of the hotel so the views were just AMAZING.
We still think they should have just gotten things right initially as having to move around the hotel was a pain, but it was pretty fun to crash in this suite for a night!
We did not have plans to travel this Independence Day (bummer) so we parked at Susie's and walked the few miles over to see the fireworks at Geist. They were decent and FREE so that's cool.
Geist fireworks
Jackson and Susie
Bill and Liz Trinkle got a new puppy so we went over to meet him. He's a Wheaton Terrier and he's adorable! He's also 100% puppy!! You forget how much work puppies are.
Mr. Copper Trinkle
We had s'mores over at the Porterfield one evening after they thought the kiddos had gone to bed. Jocelin heard us and decided to come down and join the fun. She's a girl after my own heart.
Jocelin Porterfield enjoying an after-her-bedtime-s'more
We've been home quiet a bit recently so we've gotten into a good groove of eating at home and just kind of hanging out.
These two are my loves
MacK spending time in the office
Walking around Fishers
Family dinner!
Crab cakes, corn salad and green beans- SO GOOD!
This summer Jackson signed up for sailing lessons held at Geist. He really enjoyed them.
The rest of June was pretty quiet. We went to Marion and Upland to celebrate Father's Day.
The loves of my life
MacK and Grandpa playing ball
My Dad throws the ball until MacKenzie gives up. She loves him for it.
Belated birthday/ Father's Day dinner
What? You don't make your father cook dinner on Father's Day? Weird. :) Guy makes the BEST fried chicken so that's what we had for my belated birthday dinner that happened to fall on Father's Day! ;)
Coffee on the balcony
The City of Fishers always has its summer festival at the end of June so we spent that weekend just hanging around the neighborhood taking it all in. We got fair food (ok, just a lemon shakeup) and watched the parade. MacKenzie was less than impressed with the parade, but she liked that people enjoyed her patriotic bandana choice. :)
Waiting on the parade!
Petefish.
Afraid of the drummers
We got to have a very overdue dinner with the Bates family. Josslyn is getting SO BIG and she really wanted to show off her biking riding skills. Jackson loves that kind of thing so he was out playing with her as soon as dinner ended. I didn't get any shots of Cameron, but he's also getting big and is not much a baby anymore!!
Learning to ride a bike
Jackson and Josslyn
We made another trip to Upland to celebrate Mom's birthday a little early and to hang out with Ella. She's no Madison, but I do enjoy a good puppy visit!
Ella wants my treat!!
Waiting to play ball
Do you know who does not enjoy a puppy visit? MacKenzie. HA! :)
