The Road Home

Can you believe it? I've finally reached the end of our vacation. I'm so glad we were able to take 10 whole days. It was so relaxing and I was able to completely chill out and didn't worry about work at all (I'm someone who brings my work home, not matter how unimportant!) We got up early Sunday morning. We decided to do the 10 hour trip in one day so we could have that extra day at Universal.

Here with are with my Grandma and Grandpa! Check out my sweet new shoes. I had to buy a pair because my other shoes got totally soaked on that dumb Popeye ride and stunk too bad to wear!

I posted more about it last time we were down there, but my Grandma has the most amazing house! LOOK at this kitchen! The yellow cabinets and flower paper kill me every time! There is yellow linoleum too!

 It's so good! I wish I could transplant it into my house. 

  We were on the lookout for a cheesy cheap souvenir place. Crystal wanted a cute shirt and I'm always in the market for shell art. We stopped here after seeing all their signs about t shirts and baby gators. 

 Look at that big taxidermy gator! They had baby caimans in a tank. Pretty cute.

 Crystal bought one of those weird shark fetuses.

 Florida classic: Jesus on the half shell.

 This one was just too good. I had to bring it home.

 We stopped for lunch in Gainesville at a place called Boca Fiesta. It was amazing! Maybe my favorite meal on the whole trip.

It was such a cute place. We loved the dinosaur/bones/saints theme.

 The chips and salsa were really amazing!

 Mmmmmmmm I had TVP tacos with rice and beans and watermelon. Best vegan tacos I've had! And I why isn't watermelon a side option more often? Crystal and Marc shared some kind of goat thing. It was kind of a weird place. Vegan options along side exotic meat offerings. They had some movie nights coming up, and a trivia night. Too bad it's not in Nashville.

 Nothing much happened for the rest of the trip. Lots of driving. We stopped in Atlanta to go to Junkman's Daughter and ate at the same pizza place we ate on the way down. I had to show you that pizza because who the heck knew that roasted potatoes would be so good on pizza!

We got home around 10 pm, picked up the pugs, and the fell into bed. What a great trip. 

Universal Studios: Everything Else!

Even though the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the best part, there is still lots more to see at Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure. Here are some more of the sights we saw!

We are all pretty big fans of Jurassic Park. Did you see Chris Pratt is going to be in the new one? Yowza! Travis and I didn't ride the Jurassic Park ride the first time we came since it's a water ride and it was February. I loved it this time! We sat right in the front and got SOAKED. Why did we do all the water rides first? Dummies!

I've heard the E.T. ride is the next one that is getting pulled out of Universal. Which is a shame! It's so cheesy! Bad animatronics and aliens and all! 

There is a whole cartoon world full of comic characters no one cares about anymore. Like Kathy! Is that one still in the paper?

 Me and Sluggo. I never before realized those two pretty much represent us perfectly.

Another water ride! This one was the best! That big drop is SO FAST! You zip over the water and it isn't tooooooo big a splash. I wanted to go again later but no one else wanted to get wet again. Dang.

 Travis LOVES Wolverine. We happened to be walking by before a line formed. Perfect! 

 Mel's Drive In is so cute. It's modeled after American Graffiti, which I LOVE! It is also one of the only places in the park to get a veggie burger!

 For some reason they don't put veggie burger on the menu ANYWHERE but if you ask at Mel's or at the Captain America Diner they have one. It was actually really good! It had pickles and some really crispy lettuce. Really hit the spot!

 The workers in each section of the park have specific costumes they have to wear. I would be happy in the Mel's uniform. Or a few of the Harry Potter ones. I wish they sold the floppy corduroy wizard hats they wear! I mean it!

 Dudes.

The Harry Potter themed rides are great, but we all unanimously agreed that Revenge of the Mummy is the best ride there! It is an indoor roller coast and just the right amount of scary/thrilled. And the fire! And the green smoke! So good! I think we rode it four times.

They really expanded the Simpson's area of Universal since the last time we visited and it is awesome! Also, I have to compliment the lady who took this photo. She worked for Universal and took lots of photos and zoomed in. So much better than most of the people who will take photos for you! Thanks girl!

At Lard Lad Donuts you could buy HUGE pink frosting donuts that looked so good!

 Moe's! If you go through those doors you'll find a whole food court with places like Lisa's Tea House of Horror, Luigi's, the Frying Dutchman, etc etc etc.

I was THISCLOSE to getting a Flaming Moe. But they were 8 dollars and the guy behind the bar said it was pretty much an orange Fanta with dry ice.

 Man, we had so much fun. 

On the way out we stopped at this cute shop called  P!Q and I got some Sonny Angel figures. How cute are they? I got a bunny and an onion!

 On the way back to my grandparent's house we stopped and got delicious pizza. Mmmmm.