Buchholzs in a Burro: Reflections of Beach Camping: Perdido Key (by Jim and Sunshine)

Camping on the beach at Perdido Key

March 29th... Sunshine's birthday! Instead of a party, or cake, or gifts, we spent the entire day driving. But it was quite the birthday present in the end! The Perdido Key unit of the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida offers the unique experience of camping on a beach in a tent. Since we brought our tent along, we thought this sounded like it would be an amazing experience, and drove from our campsite in Apalachicola National Forest four hours to Perdido Key just southwest of Pensacola. We arrived in the evening as the sun was setting, and quickly organized all of our camping supplies. We had to hike a half-mile on the beach to reach the primitive camping area, so that meant loading up the backpacking backpack (we brought one along) and the child carrying backpack full of supplies. While Dad drove the car back to the parking area (another half mile in the opposite direction), Mom and Walden began the walk along the beach as the sky grew darker and darker. We found a good spot on the beach and set up the tent in the dark.

Jumping waves

Here are some highlights of our two-night camping trip, March 29-31:

Eating a supper of trail mix, granola bars, and raw veggies in our tent the first night as the wind blew and blew continuously.
Climbing to the top of a dune and watching two lighthouses shine their rotating lights in the distance... a green/white light and an orange light. Walden was amazed!
Looking up at the stars and drawing lines to see shapes in the sky. We saw the "W" in the sky for Walden and a queen. We saw the Big Dipper (Walden asked if it was filled). We looked at the stars in Orion's belt and saw his sword and shield for fending off the lion.
Walden scared of the people in the sky! Had to explain that they were only pretend. It's what people did in the olden days before iPads.
Watching sunrise the next morning reflecting off the ocean waves. Seeing the incredible smile on Walden's face when he saw the sun finally come up.
Making LONG shadows in the sand with the early morning sun.
Finding a handful of baby sand dollars.
Building sand castles... and of course watching Walden stomp on them every time.
Sitting in a parking lot, eating a scrumptious lunch of hotdogs and potatoes back at the Burro. And, yes, thinking how nice it is to have a Burro vs. a tent.
Helping Walden jump the big waves, just like Daddy did in Lake Michigan when he was a kid.
Making a mermaid tail for Mommy out of sand.
Watching a Great Blue Heron follow fishermen around like a puppy... getting to see it up-close and personal.
Walden napping in the backpack in the middle of the beach, while Royal Terns hovered, dove, and caught fish.
Watching the sunset and waiting patiently for the lighthouses to turn back on again.
Deciding to stay a second night on the beach because we felt so relaxed and were enjoying ourselves so much.