{thank you to The Plantation on Crystal River for hosting us!  the last time we were there wes was in my belly!}

{You can find products to most items above here:

Other products that weren’t linked are rash guard and hats from Honey Bee Tee’s  (you can get free shipping with code TUCKERBAFS

My sunglass chain from Veronica DeOre 

Wesleys adorable “marine shirt” and shorts c/o Mac and Mia (a kids clothes subscription box I’ll be sharing more on soon!)}

If you followed along on our trip to The Plantation on Crystal River, you know how much I loved our time there.  It’s such a unique place – feels so different than my neck of the woods.  But it’s only two hours away!  We’ve been wanting to take them scalloping for a while, but I’m so glad we waited since both were able to not just swim well, but dive down for the scallops.  We’re 1000% hooked and plan to do this every summer.  It’s just such a great family trip!!

We got in on Sunday, and swam the afternoon away at the Plantation pool.  It’s a fun environment around the pool, with a tiki bar, and live music.  I love the fact that you can dock your boat right on the water just steps from your room.

We tried to go to dinner at Seller’s, but the wait was an hour, and I was bordering on hangry.  It ended up working out because we went back and got a table at West 82 – the restaurant at the plantation on Crystal River.   They brought fresh cornbread out in an iron skillet in the beginning, and we all just devoured it.  Wes snuck a couple of butter balls in?!  Who eats straight butter?!  Wes. (:   We got the smoked mullet dip – which had pickled veggies and it was soo good.  The rest of our dinner was delicious.

The next morning we woke up early to go on the manatee tour.  But I started worrying that it would be too cold for my five year old.  It was just going to be the two of us going.  So we didn’t end up going, but plan on doing it next year.  You can swim with them!  get a selfie with a manatee (:

We had a big breakfast at West 82 ( kids eat free for breakfast) and  then we picked up our boat at the hotels nature center. It’s a gorgeous ride out to go scalloping with all of the marshes and palm trees.

I never really got what was so special about scalloping until I went.  It’s so peaceful floating along with your snorkel, and then you spot one!  go down for it!  it tries to flutter away because scallops are the cutest.  It’s like a treasure hunt for me.  Not to mention the way the light hits the water down there is just beautiful.  What was amazing was seeing my kids enjoy it so much.  Wes literally sat on his noodle with his goggles on in heaven, diving down every once in a while.  Tuck spotted and caught at least a dozen.  Both just happy as clams.  We ended up with a couple of bags of scallops after a few hours.  We scalloped for hours, and would have for a few more but we wanted to see Three Sisters Springs.

I planned on just swimming into Three Sisters Springs by myself.  But both boys begged to go, and I really thought they’d have a hard time with the temperature.  Nope!  They loved it and didn’t complain once about being cold.  There’s something so refreshing about being in the hot sun all day, and then dipping into fresh spring water.  Not to mention it is just beautiful, and crystal clear.

That evening with our friends we cooked up our scallops and had dinner.  They have kids the same age within a month or two… and we feel beyond lucky they are in our life and our kids have always played so well together.  The kids went fishing and caught a bunch of bream after swimming.  After that we called it a day.  An amazing day, that we will always cherish.

Until, next year, Crystal River!!

{thank you to Plantation  on Crystal River for providing acommodations!  }