Back to the Ocean
One Ocean!!
Hi friends. 🙂 How’s the morning going? I hope you enjoyed the long weekend! Why can’t every weekend be 4 days? It sure is nice to have my favorite buddy around, especially when it comes to wrangling the kiddos. We took turns sleeping in, crushed to-dos around the house, and took the most amazing little getaway with the crew to a beloved spot: One Ocean in Jacksonville.
One Ocean has always been one of our *places*. It’s where we visited when we were first getting settled in Valdosta last time we were here, as newlyweds. It’s where we said “see ya soon” before the Pilot left across the world, and where we celebrated being reunited after months apart. It’s charming, beautiful, and located right on the beach. It was pretty surreal to head back, years later, with our babies!
I couldn’t help but wonder if some of the magic had disappeared over time. Sometimes resorts or favorite places tend to get dingy or lose some of their sparkle over the years, and others have the rare gift of timelessness I thought that maybe we’d return and it would be like, “meh, it’s different” but we’d be glad we went back to check it out again. Nope. It was even better than we remembered.
While we were there, Liv said, “I don’t miss home at all.”
I feel ya, Liv.
We had such a great weekend. When we checked into the hotel, they had a platter of crudités with dips waiting, along with a bottle of Cabernet.
We changed into our suits, and walked down to the beach, where the girls splashed and giggled in the waves. The water was SO WARM, and even this chicken (<—me) could get in, waist-deep, without shivering. We played for a solid hour before heading back to the room to get ready for dinner.
We walked down the street -there are so many new restaurants!- and decided on an old favorite: Ragtime Tavern.
We’ve consumed many bowls of gumbo (so good) in this restaurant. 🙂 They seated us downstairs by a wall aquarium, which was clutch for pre-dinner entertainment, and the food came out quickly. We shared a hummus appetizer and giant plate of sweet potato waffle fries, and for my entree, I had the blackened mahi with red beans and rice.
We walked back to the hotel, and I put P down for bed while the Pilot and Liv went swimming in the hotel pool.
Sunday morning, we decided to have breakfast at the hotel, which had an amazing spread of all of our favorite breakfast treats.
The family that rompers together…
(Super similar one at Target)
The rest of the day was spent at the beach, building sand castles, collecting seashells, and chilling in the shade.
(Suit is here // hat )
(P refuses to wear a hat, so we spent some time under the umbrella and I’d hold my hat over her to give her a little extra sun shield)
We made a stop at another favorite place on the way home.
This TJ’s was LEGIT. They had two tasting huts, wine tasting (whaaaaaat), and a treasure chest with bars, pouches and lollipops for the kids. We stocked up on some staples, and made the drive back home. Both girls napped most of the way (YES), and the rest of the time Liv watched Moana, while P asked for ice cream (she’s obsessed) and played with her buckle toy. This thing may be the best $20 I’ve ever spent.
I hope you had a wonderful weekend, too!! What’s one of your favorite destination spots or resorts that you love? Favorite thing you did this weekend?
xo
Gina
Blasts from the past:
Valentine’s Day at One Ocean (when I didn’t know what a macaron was. shame)
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Great family outing!!! These are the best days. Love the sandals you are wearing with the romper…can I ask where they are from?
thank you! they’re old from white plum. the brand is BC
Love reading about your adventures. Can you do a post about how you all travel with two kids and stay in the same room???? The more details the better!! I want so badly to travel more with my kids, I feel like we are missing out. But both sleep in their rooms, with black out shades and noise machines. I can’t even imagine the chaos that would happen if we were all in the same room.
sure, i can definitely do that!! i was scared initially too, but the more you do it, the easier it gets
Yes, I was thinking the same thing. How in the world did you get P down while Liv & pilot still had fun. We have one kid and it’s still like me and hubby sitting in the dark from 7pm on.
we usually take turns taking liv out while the other person puts p down for bed (or for naps at the hotel)
i turned the lights out and hid in the bathroom reading a book until she fell asleep haha
Great post, looks like a fantastic family outing! Love the sandals you are wearing with the romper. Can I ask where they are from?
thank you! they’re BC brand- i got them a long time ago from white plum. just checked the website and it doesn’t look like they have shoes anymore :/
One Ocean looks beautiful! I have such an itch to make it to the beach this summer, I think the babies would love it. Glad you guys got a nice, long weekend together.
thank you! hope you had a wonderful weekend, too
The family that rompers together SO CUTE!!! I am in need of some serious beach time.
or even a sedona getaway 🙂
P’s dress in the top photos is so cute! Looks like you had a ton of fun at the beach – I love when the water is warm. I have the feeling I’ll never swim in the ocean again once we move up to RI – way too cold! Maybe in July/August?
thank you!! yes, hopefully it will warm up a little. i’m such a chicken with cold water haha
Love that you guys had such a relaxing, serene weekend – and that you guys kind of have a lot of family traditions in one place! We’re that way with certain spots in the mountains (where we got engaged, married, bought our first place, etc.) But one resort that you can now share with the whole family. So much fun!
P.S. The girls are looking adorable. They’re definitely having a ton of fun. 🙂
Have a great rest of the week!
XO, Jessica
http://www.semisweettooth.com
thank you so much, friend! hope you enjoyed the long weekend <3
What was the other toy P like to play with while traveling? Was it a latch book?
I always save recommendations to my Amazon wish list to go back!
yes! the melissa and doug latch toy
Looks like such a fun weekend! I miss east coast beaches!
What a fun getaway! Looks beautiful!!
Also, super jealous of the TJs! Miss it so much!
i miss tj’s SO MUCH
Looks like a nice beach weekend! Girl..that TJ’s…I’ve never seen one look like that from the outside. I’m in Virginia and mine always do wine tastings…and each time, I’m there just sampling them all…even the beers…hahahaha! I do usually end up buying one …but for some reason, they always taste better while sampling. Occasionally, I get them home and it’s like, “hmmm…I don’t remember it tasting like this, oh well…it’s still drinkable!”
Lately, I’ve been into quiet & calm getaways. There is a rustic B&B (Goodstone Inn) in Middleburg, Virginia that is just so charming. Otherwise, I love Miami (fun, sun & drinks the size of my head!)
hahah that is so funny! our tj’s in tucson would do wine tastings occasionally, but the one in jacksonville had this whole thing set up
quiet and calm getaways sound perfect 🙂 i haven’t been to miami in years.. we need to change that!
xoxo
Thanks for the buckle toy recommendation!! I just ordered it. I am flying with my 16 months old in month and am in desperate need of airplane toys to keep her occupied for 4 hours. I would be grateful if you could offer any other suggestions if you get a moment. Thank you!
i hope it goes well!! usually i feel like i’m always more stressed than i need to be, and most of the time it goes well
she LOVES that buckle toy. it keeps her entertained constantly in the car. i need to find one with more buckles, or more challenging buckles haha
here are some more of her faves + tips for airline toys (she loves things she can take apart and put together):
-Small tupperware twist containers she can unscrew with toys inside
-this what should i wear book: http://rstyle.me/n/cn2gw4b5i37 (she loves dressing the baby and we’ll sing happy birthday to the baby when it’s her party, etc)
-this latches board: http://rstyle.me/n/cn2gx3b5i37
-all the snacks! she had her very first lollipop on the plane here to atlanta (i get the yum earth brand) and it was a HUGE hit. it kept her busy for like 20 minutes she said “yum” like 100 times haha
it will go great!! <3
Thank you so much!! I appreciate all of the ideas. I will definitely be stocking up my bag!
Traveling with a toddler is much different than an infant! HA!
Don’t you love the east coast water? I enjoyed San Diego and all but the Gulf Coast has my cold natured heart!
What a beautiful weekend! And I’m right there with you…why can’t all weekends just be long weekends?! Oooh and that, TJ’s, swoon! We have a tiny one near my house that I visit at least a few times a week, I can’t imagine the goodies inside one that big!
My hubby and I really want to do an east shore vacay this is giving us some good ideas!
you would LOVE jax
Just catching up. I totally forgot about Ragtime — spent many nights there with the wives when the ship was out. Used to go to Sliders too. Good times!