This Spring, Florida weddings were on our calendar. As a result, we were on the road for almost half the month. I had just been to Jupiter in March for a Celebration of Life for my cousin Tommy, but this time Bill accompanied me to the marriage of my cousin Sarah and Jonathan.
The marriage of Sarah and Jonathan
Sarah is the daughter of my cousin Sheila, one of twelve children. Sheila’s Mom, Eileen, was one of eight children in the Degnan clan. One of my favorite places to go was my Great Aunt Dot’s, Eileen’s Mom as a child. There was always a buffet of ham, roast beef, salads, desserts, and a house full of cousins on any Sunday. Aunt Dot and Uncle Ben’s home was spacious, with plenty of hiding places, perfect for Hide-n-Seek. I was excited to see so many of my cousins at Sarah’s wedding, first, second, once and twice removed!
Jupiter
We booked a room at the Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa, an elegant resort on the beach in Jupiter, known for its great service and amenities. Staying there was a treat. We had breakfast and dinner at the resort, and both were excellent. Unfortunately, the weather was not the best. As we arrived at the White Tail Social and Garden Club, a lovely place for Florida Weddings, the skies opened, and the rain and wind blew hard. But, despite the weather, the Callaghan clan’s spirits would not be dampened, even though the staff couldn’t keep up with all the puddles.
Although I had been to Jupiter once before, this was Bill’s first time. We were on our own on the wedding day, so we decided to take a drive. We found ourselves in West Palm and stumbled across the 12th Annual Downtown West Palm Beach Art Festival, a juried show with talented artists and artisans that we thoroughly enjoyed.
The Wedding of Sean and Samantha
Our Florida Weddings continued when we again traveled up the Florida coast to Vero Beach for the wedding of Sean, Bill’s youngest, and Samantha. We took our Airstream this trip and stayed at the Vero Beach Kamp, a comfortable, well-maintained campground close to everything.
Samantha and her Mom chose Magnolia Manor for their special day, where the staff and especially the DJ went above and beyond. They engaged the children in games, got everyone up on the dance floor, and made the day special. Magnolia Manor was a beautiful wedding venue, and this time, the weather was perfect.
Vero Beach
On our first night in Vero Beach, we had dinner just the two of us at the Ocean Grill, a waterfront restaurant built over 70 years ago. We were there at 5 pm, and the dining room was full by 5:15! I recommend adding this restaurant to your must-go list; the food was top-notch! I have to thank those who write reviews on Trip Advisor and Google for helping me find some great restaurants.
We took Bill’s daughter, son-in-law, and the two grandkids to Mr. Manatee’s the night before the wedding. It was the perfect casual restaurant with something for everyone and good service.
You know how much Bill and I love pickleball if you have been following me. Read how Pickleball has saved my retirement! I researched ahead of time and found the Vero Beach Pickleball Group on Facebook. The group plays every morning at Pocahontas Park at this well-organized location. Pickleball University, Inc. has a license agreement to operate this facility with the City of Vero Beach, and we were impressed with what they have accomplished. They were very welcoming, and we played for 4 hours each day!
From Vero Beach, we towed the Airstream over to Orlando and the Fort Wilderness Campground at Disney World. My next post will cover the great time we had and all the miles we walked!