One of these routines takes place when we go to ‘Bubbe’s Beach’. Our main activity is to spend the day at the ocean playing under the sun in the waves and sand. After everything is packed away in the car and the kids have changed out of bathing suits, we drive to see Mommy Zebra and Baby Zebra.
One time when the girls were very little our beach trip was cut short by rain. Bubbe and Papa Mike decided to take them for a drive to show them the animals at the mini golf course near the beach.
This particular mini golf course cannot be missed on the way to the beach. In fact, I have used it as a landmark for directions when telling others how to get there. When you drive near, you firs see the giant pink elephant sitting on top of a waterfall. Over the years, the elephant was given a giant pair of blue sunglasses. Around the corner is a black gorilla and by the parking lot stands a Mommy ebra and Baby Zebra.
Some days we drive by quickly and say hello and other days we drive slow looking for other animals hidden on the course.
We have found a lion hiding under a cave, a giant turtle next to a set of stairs, a couple of snakes, an alligator on the corner, a bird, and if you look close enough from the road you can spot a black scorpion.
The corner has gone through a few changes over the years. There used to be a go-cart track with a small cheetah guarding it from out the fence. The older building and go-cart track were torn down to make way for a newer and bigger building selling beach clothes, souvenirs and necessities you may have forgotten to bring with you, but the mini-golf course still stands.
This past summer as were in the parking lot looking at the animals, I decided there needed to be a picture of the Zebras with the kids.
No one really wanted to get out of the car since they were hot, tired and hungry, but what mom wants, sometimes mom gets.
They stood there and smiled when asked. Then they realized that you could actually play golf. Now instead of saying “Hi!” to the animals, they ask “Will we EVER get to play golf?”
Maybe, one day when it is not 100 million degrees outside. But then again, this is Florida.