Kelsey Walters

We usually spend our summers trying to be outside as much as possible, camping, hiking, exploring trails, and pretending Florida isn’t actively trying to melt us by midafternoon. But when the recent heat waves rolled in with record-high temperatures, we decided it was time for an indoor adventure. That’s how we finally found ourselves at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in downtown St. Augustine.

Looking for Fourth of July events in Volusia County, Florida? From fireworks and patriotic parades to live music, family festivals, beach races, BBQ competitions and America 250 celebrations, communities across DeLand, Orange City, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Port Orange, Edgewater, Ormond Beach, DeBary, Deltona, Oak Hill, Lake Helen and Ponce Inlet are hosting Independence Day events for residents and visitors.

For Mother’s Day this year, we skipped the usual brunch scramble and decided on something a little different: a family day trip to Winter Park by train. It also doubled as a birthday celebration for Scott. As our resident train nerd, he got the Amtrak ride. As the mom of honor, I got to do whatever my heart desired.