Day 1: Houston to Panama City Beach (10.5 hour drive without stops)
Somehow we lucked out and happened to visit the Maritime Museum on National Maritime Day! We were able to experience the museum for free but normally Adults are $10 and Kids are $6 (Kids under 5 are free). This was a really neat stop and the kids loved seeing the USS Pioneer, one of the first submarine prototypes during the Civil War! There was also a cute library across the street and a park with a splash pad nearby the museum. However, it was too hot in the day for us so we opted to check out Abita Roasting Company instead. Madisonville felt like a great pit stop with lots of options to get the kids a break from the car.
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Coffee and Beignets at Abita Roasting Company
Day 2: Panama City Beach to Legoland Resort (Pitstop to Vero Beach) 8.5 hours without stopping
Day 2: We spent the morning in Panama City Beach before checking out of our hotel. Then we stopped for lunch at the beautiful Dorothy B. Oven Park in Tallahassee. There was plenty of shade to help beat the heat and restrooms.
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The last stretch of our drive was a bit tricky. The options were to pay the Toll or take back roads. Since we did not get a toll tag we ended up taking the toll-free route. However, after driving in the car for a day plus 7 hours already, this was no easy feat! But the kids adored the Legoland Beach Retreat and it was definitely a great pitstop during our journey.
The biggest hit was the huge Lego room across the street at the Main Legoland Hotel. The boys were able to build Legos to their hearts content while mom and dad enjoyed some peace and quiet.
The giant rubber Legos at the Beach Retreat Pool were also a great find! The kids enjoyed making their own flotation devices out of the Legos at the pool. Legoland Resort also runs some great specials through their website or you can also check Booking.com for prices so be on the lookout for those if you plan to visit. We decided to enjoy the amenities at the resort with air conditioning instead of spending the day at the park. This has ended up being one of my favorite parenting hacks if you're looking for a more relaxing trip where everyone can enjoy activities at their own leisure.
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The kids also enjoyed their Lego sets that were waiting for them when we arrived at the hotel and the FREE Breakfast Buffet in the morning was another great perk offered! Overall this has been one of our favorite hotels to visit as a family.
