…and I went there once as a kid and will never forget how magical it was. For a unicorn lover like me, I get this place. I mean, for starters, mermaids live there.
Look.
So when my friend calls me on Tuesday and says “Want to drive three and a half hours with me to take the kids to Weeki Wachee on Thursday?”, there is no hesitation. The pope is Catholic, bears go potty in the woods and indeed I want to drive three hours to show my girls that there are mermaids, and they live in a natural spring somewhere in the middle of Florida.
The mermaid costumes? Don’t be too impressed. I don’t sew, but I glue. The tails are simply a yard of sequiny fabric. Didn’t do anything to it but hot glue a strip of gold sparkly trim to the waist. And then you wrap it around a kid’s waist and tie it in the back. Take the bottom, bring it to front and use two rubber bands to create tail fins. My friend Suzanne made some similar ones out of towels for her daughter’s mermaid birthday party, and they were adorable.
Tops are clearance tank tops from Target with yarn and felt shells glued to it. And the moment we walked into the park and pulled out the tails to get the girls all mermaided up? Holy precious enthusiasm. It was special. Four little girls who might as well just have been crowned Miss America.
I wasn’t sure if Nella would get the whole thing, but she might have been more excited than anyone else. She can say “mermaid” perfectly. With a smile. And a swish of her tail fin.
Weeki Wachee Springs is a state park with a theater built under the spring waters. Built in 1947, the theater and park still maintain the charm of the past–the highlight, of course, being the mermaids who perform underwater shows. After I went there as a kid, I wanted to be a Weeki Wachee mermaid when I grew up and now, after returning years later, I’m kind of sorry I strayed from that goal.
I got a little teary when the curtain raised, watching the girls completely entranced. For a moment that bridge between my childhood and theirs was nonexistent, and we were all just wide-eyed kids–them moved by the magic of mermaids, me by the magic of them.
“Mermaid!” Nella pointed. “Mama, look! Mermaid!” followed by this awkward giggle–a little unsure, a little ecstatic, a little hold-me-closer. And because I’m a big sap, I got all emotional when the mermaids did a synchronized dance to *cough*Enya*cough*. It was moving, okay? And my girls were loving it. For the record, the mermaids sang the same song they sang years ago when I came as a kid, and I was mouthing the words, shocked that I remembered. We’re the sisters of the ocean, and we’ve got the world at our tail. And not that I know this from experience or anything, but if you sing this while waddling around with your legs jammed into one leg of your yoga pants, you will feel just like a Weeki Wachee mermaid. And your kids will be amused. And your husband won’t be.
So yes. Weeki Wachee was worth the drive.
The deal was sweetened though when we decided to stay overnight in St. Pete Beach. We brought overnight bags just in case, but it was far more fun not having anything reserved. Along with forecasting the weather and predicting flight routes, Brett prides himself on finding the coolest hotels. So he was texting us destinations, promising we’d like the Thunderbird, nestled right along the coast of Treasure Island. When we saw the sign, it was a done deal.
We spent the evening volleying between beach and pool, slayed by both the size of the beach in St. Petersburg (HUGE! Like ten of Naples beaches lined up) and the charm of the hotel’s pool area.
And every time Brett called with “Do you like it? Did I do good? It’s cool, huh?”, I smiled and answered, “Yes, yes, we love it. You done good, babe.”
A few Paint the Town Yellow moments from our little trip:
When a family released sky lanterns on the beach, and we got to enjoy them too.
Late night beach yoga.
The heat lightning show that evening, courtesy of God. I felt like I needed to pay someone for tickets.
Live poolside music. Hearing the chorus of “Sweet Caroline” and turning to see this sweet couple who took it as their cue to dance. They were the only ones dancing, confined to the small open space between their room and their pool chairs, but they didn’t care. I loved this little moment.
Nella’s face when I let her hold Dash in the stroller for a little while.
The drive home.
Kids passed out, stale Happy Meals smooshed between carseats, steady rain dancing across the windshield, Pandora streaming, friends talking about life. And then finally arriving home to hear the girls replay the series of events to Brett–Lainey’s in long sentences, Nella’s in choppy phrases. “Mermaid, Daddy. Pool. I swim. I dancin’.”
So, the moral of the story?
Mermaids are out there. Keep your eyes peeled.
We went to the Mermaid place April 2012…my girls (7 and 11 at the time) LOVED it…they were so fascinated and still talk about it!!!
My mom took me to see the mermaids when I was little. I can’t wait to take my daughter! I am also trying to justify the cost of doing their mermaid camp!
-Emily
11shakes.com
THAT’S WHERE I STAYED MY WHOLE LIFE GROWING UP!!! I was so excited when I saw the Thunderbird. It’s such an old old stretch of beach and the hotels are old. We’re actually in the postcard for advertising “The Sands” when I’m like…3. I love that stretch of beach. If you exit the Thunderbird and walk along the beach to the right, you’ll eventually get to John’s Pass. Next time you go to St. Pete you’ve got to check out the boardwalk on John’s Pass – see the pelicans, go into the overpriced shops, it’s awesome. I’m so geeked right now! haha. The Sands is probably only ten hotels down (toward John’s Pass). It’s old and crusty but I spent two weeks there every year growing up and it just holds such great memories 🙂 Nella holding Dash, love that smile – DASH looking just like Christopher, and you, and Carin all rolled up in one…Lainey just in the prime of “kid life” and soaking everything in. Finally she’s at an age where she won’t forget these trips – so much fun, and I love mermaids! <3
My father lives in Florida and we have been going to Weeki Watchi since I was a child. It’s become a tradition for all of my sisters to go as well. I got the chance to to take my 3yr old and it was so magical! She still talks about it to this day
My girl is 10, I 41. We totally believe in mermaids.
ps I gotta get some yoga pants.
-Angie
Reliving the moment!! Loved that place growing up… and The Thunderbird. It’s Treasure Island? What’s not to love?!
I Believe in marmaids and the dress is lovely 😉
I Believe in marmaids and the dress is lovely 😉
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So sweet! Love the little mermaids – they’re all adorable! Giving your children unforgettable, spur-of-the-moment memories……….sooooooooo cool!
Thanks for sharing……..Rosemary
Awesomeness! I look forward in each post for a picture of my girl Nella and her ice cream!
i love this soooo much
I got to enjoy the WW mermaids back in the 60’s and we stayed at the Thunderbird! great times, for sure. so glad you got to share it with your kids 😉
The spontaneous trips are the most amazing! Loved reading this.
I went there as a child and I still remember it! That is so cool that it’s still around!! 🙂 I was probably 8 or 9 when we visited Florida and my parents took us. Thanks for bringing back a great memory. My girls would LOVE it. They are mermaid fanatics. They even got swimable tails from Mermagica for Christmas a couple years ago.
I would totally take my girls there. SO COOL. I wanted to live with Ariel when I was younger.
Weeki Wachee was a part of my childhood and my childrens’!
It’s a magical place.
You do the coolest things! Those mermaid costumes are so precious! Reading your blog is a part of my daily routine. Your words & beautiful pictures always make me smile! (and often laugh out loud!)
I love everything about your trip to see the mermaids! How magical! If I lived on the East Coast I would have taken my daughter when she was a child and my granddaughter when she was little.
You are the coolest mom ever!
You are creating the most awesome memories for your kids. When all is said and done that is what they will remember. Their little mermaid outfits are beyond adorable!
This is just plain fantastic!!!
Oh my goodness – this made me gasp out loud as I remember that place from my childhood!! And the Thunderbird hotel – drove past it a million times when we visited Florida from Britain. Thank you for reminding me! Honestly – just fab seeing this again. There are unicorns! L x
I have this on my bucket list for living in Florida! We are a military family stationed near Destin and I have told my husband we.are.going.there! I have three girls who believe wholeheartedly that there are mermaids and I am dying for them to see this. So you glad you posted this! Thank you!
Kelle, you inspire me to get out and make memories with my kids. It’s not easy for you to cart 3 kids around on special outings, and yet you make it happen (with enthusiasm!). I’m a homebody and it’s easy for me to just hang around the house. My kids are still small, but as they get older, I want to be more like you and make the effort to get out of the house for special outings with them.
Love this post. So magical, going to show my girl these pics. And with your description of the car journey, I was there. Sounds like perfection x
adding this to my bucket list !
Love this. The costumes were icing on the cake and the visual of singing the mermaid song in one leg of yoga pants made me laugh out loud. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for this whimsical post reminding me of childhood and to never forget the magic of Neverland or mermaids.
This post totally took me for a blast from the past. I remember going to Weeki Wachee when I was little with my grandparents. They have now passed. It’s nice to remember a time I spent with them.
And the Thunderbird. Ugh, I felt nostalgia wash over me with that pic. We frequented St. Pete Beach a lot as a child. I remember seeing that motel every time we drove up and down that street. I’m not sure if we have ever stayed there though. It’s on my bucket list now. Thanks for the trip. ;o)
South Seas on Captiva does a mermaid makeover where they get the little girl all dolled up in a mermaid costume and then then do a photo shoot in and out of the pool. My daughter loved it and the pics are awesome.
It sounds wonderful, but then you have the ability to make everything sound that way. There’s a nice (really) bar here in Sacramento called Dive that has mermaids swimming in a huge tank. I’m too old to go bar-hopping, but I can imagine how cool it is. I could use Brett to help me find a place to stay in Monterey. Oh, lordie, it’s hard this time of year. Almost $300 for a TraveLodge? Seriously?
OMG! Precious! Would Ellie be old enough? (And would Matt want to run away from sparkle mermaids?? Probably. Nevermind him. It’s for my kid, not for me, right?)
My mom’s best friend (and my second mama) was a mermaid at a place like that when she was young. She still swims like a fish. And we have a Thunderbird just like that in a town on the way to our beach. I thought you were in SC for a minute!
The girls outfits are adorable! We live just around the corner from Weeki Wachee, it is a pretty neat little place.
I never knew mermaid were real until today! Thank you Kelle, Lainey and Nella!
Magical.
We just went for the first time to Weeki Watchi… Like a couple of days before you did! We actually went to kayak the river and se manatees, but they didn’t have a life jacket small enough for our baby, so we found mermaids and the spring instead! Seriously, it was like striking gold with my kids, they loved it!! Wish we knew you are going and I would have joined, only 45 minutes from there! Oh! And that family with the lanterns?!!! My sweet friends were there and wee texting me pictures of the lanterns… It was them! My friend’s husband had passed away not too long ago and they were moving back north to be with family, this was their last visit to the beach and they were honoring Joe (her late husband) before they left.
Xoxo
~Tabitha
Next time you are in Montana, you must make a trip to Great Falls and stop in at the Sip N Dip. It is a hotel bar that shares a transparent wall with the swimming pool — they have mermaids that swim behind the bar. It’s like the mermaid (and merman) show for adults. Even better, there is a sweet old lady who plays the organ… in a bar! You HAVE to go. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JcHwN9Oc68
oh man, that is like the coolest thing EVER! i love st. petes and want to go back badly, this time with my three girls. knowing that this weekie wackie mermaid thingie is nearby seals the deal!!
so cute :)!
As a wee one in the 70s, the mermaids at Weeki Wachee were more real to me than Santa Claus. And St. Pete Beach…best sunsets anywhere. Beautiful post.
Oh my goodness I am sooooooo going to make these costumes! I am planning on having a mermaid party for my wee girls fifth birthday! Love love love it! I am so glad you had a great time, it looked like you had heaps of fun!
I love this Idea! If I would have a Girl I would totally make that right away 🙂
These Girls are so precious! <3
xoxo
Here in Te as we have a place like that that has mermaids and you go down in a submarine to watch the show. Also done in a spring. It’s called Aquarena Springs. And they had a swimming pig. Fun!
I totally get the enchanment about Weeki Wachee. When I was a teenager, one of our neighbors was a mermaid there. I thought she was a goddess!
I just looooove reading your blog as much as I loooooved reading Bloom! 😉 I’m sure it’s not always easy and fun, but you have an amazing and very blessed life. May it always be like that and better.
What a perfect trip. I am so glad you could go on this little adventure. All three of my kids would love to see mermaids. Kaishon was fascinated by them when he was younger. I am sure he would be mortified if I told any of his friends this now that he is 13.
I told the kids we could go on a road trip soon. I was thinking Poconos, but maybe we should come to Florida instead!
Super post! My sister just moved to Florida but it is so far from Thailand where we are. But maybe when our son gets older it will be easier to visit her and the mermaid park! Did Dash enjoy it?
xoxo
How do the mermaids hold their breath so long?!?!?!
St Petersburg was our family vacation spot when I was a kid. I remember being mesmerized at Weekee Wachee too. And, like you, the memories brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for warming my heart today.
I would love to take my daughter there someday. So magical. And who can beat a night at the beach too? What a great little trip! 🙂
You HAVE to read the book Swim to Me http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0385339771
It’s light reading fiction and about a girl who went there as a child and dreamed of becoming a mermaid there, and did!
Girlfriend you make me giggle. I can just see you as a kid…eyes wide, mouth agape….mesmerized by mermaids. You sure know how to have fun and create magic for your girls. Loved that pic of the older couple. Made me smile to my toes.
Thanks for sharing this little piece of heaven. The little pieces of family life are so beautiful as are your photos.
Oooh! I loved this little trip of yours!! I understand sap…I speak it 🙂
Nella in your glasses and her striped shirt and pigtails…straight out of the sixties. I love that look!
Carry on, Mermaids!
I enjoyed this so much, Kelle! Thank you for sharing 🙂
The Little Mermaid was hands down my favorite movie growing up, I would have went to Heaven if I saw that show 🙂
You’re great at making memories!
Aaaaw! Mermarids!
We need mermaids in our lives for sure. Too bad there aren’t any in the Netherlands. Should google for similar European mermaid experience. So cool!
Aww, love this post you were in my neck of the woods. (Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach) your post made me appreciate it more. I love your blog, I always think I wish I would of found it when my girls were still little (your ideas and stories inspire me) but then I remember when my girls were little you were still a teenager. LOL Thanks for sharing…
That ending? Always my favorite part. To hear the excitement in my sons voice when he re-tells our adventures. 🙂
the photo catch of the elderly couple dancing was magic to me. thanks for making my day kelle~ you are a mermaid in real people’s clothing girl. : )
Every time you post something new I get so excited! Yours is my very favorite blog!! I love this post and want to go see the mermaids- I would have died to see this as a little girl and even now!!
Beautiful post, Kelle! Thank you for sharing this magical moment in time with us. You have an amazing way with words…
Blessings,
Dianne
http://www.sweetjourneyhome.com
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“For a moment that bridge between my childhood and theirs was nonexistent, and we were all just wide-eyed kids–them moved by the magic of mermaids, me by the magic of them.”
I love, love, love this. Their is nothing more amazing than finding joy in their joy and getting to experience their “firsts” with them so you feel like you are really seeing it for the first time with them as well.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Your mermaids are adorable . . . what great memories for you all. Great photos.
=)
Your girls will probably remember this trip for the rest of their lives. What a precious gift! High five mama =)
What a fun place! Looks like an adventure they won’t soon forget. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
http://www.wolfswinkelfam.blogspot.com
Awesome. Just awesome.
How fun! Bass Pro Shops by me has a mermaid that comes out to swim in the huge fish tank…it’s not a synchronized show, but it’s special enough! My girls love it!
this is so fun. we are in orlando and i had no idea about this place. so much to discover in florida. i’ll be taking my two mermaids there and likely ripping off your skirt idea.
Oh my gosh….the couple dancing. Totally made me tear up. Love it. Thanks for sharing your awesome adventure with us.
Favorite quote in this one: “I don’t sew, but I glue!” Amen!
What a fun trip!!! Love the pictures!
Joy!
Fantastic! The entire post made me smile. Well done!
This brings back so many memories for me. My grandparents use to take me to Weeki Wachee as a child. I grew up in Dunedin south of there and it was a special day spent with them. I thought they were so real. Thanks for the memories.
You have just answered a life-long mystery for me! In 1968, when I was four years old, my parents took us on vacation to visit my grandparents in Tampa, Florida. While there, we went to Busch Gardens, but my Mom and Dad did not mention any other touristy type attractions. However, I distinctly remembered a wonderful mermaid show – where mermaids were swimming in front of me, and one found a pearl in an oyster shell. Another mermaid sprinkled water on the audience from above. I loved it. I always assumed that it was part of Busch Gardens, as I also remembered a whale getting its teeth brushed with a giant red toothbrush. Today, after reading your blog, I called my Mom and asked if they had ever taken us to see the Weeki Wachee mermaids. “Why yes, we did!” she immediately replied. Finally, I could connect an actual place to one of my fondest childhood memories! I had no idea that a mermaid show like that actually really existed, much less that it was still going strong all these years later. Thanks for blogging about it! I hope to take my son to see this show one day too. 🙂
Oh. My. God. “The pope is Catholic, bears go potty in the woods and indeed I want to drive three hours to show my girls that there are mermaids…” HILARIOUS. If I had been drinking, I would have spat it out straight onto my poor, poor computer. You definitely have a way with words. And, while my husband and I aren’t having ANY success on the baby front [god help me], when he looked over to see what I was laughing at, he was all, “If we have girls, we’re taking them there. Can you imagine? It will blow their minds.”
Thank you. :]
I went there when I was little and loved it!!!
btw…I saw this and thought of dash
http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=98820&vid=1&pid=641418002
Absolutely Gorgeous! 🙂
I can’t believe I lived in Tampa for two years and DIDN’T GO HERE. Future family trip! Duly noted. Note to self: pack mermaid attire.
SO cool! Love the mermaid outfits!
Hi Kelle and readers!
I’m writing my college applications and the prompts that I get ask me what “my dreams and aspirations” are. As of right now, I have no idea.
How did you guys find out what you wanted to do, or even just your dreams and aspirations.
Please help me! My blog is amycarmichaelyoo.blogspot.com. I just posted more info on the pickle that I’m in.
I LOVE this post. I must go there one day. And the dancing couple??? swoon.
Holy happy tears! I love the pic of Nella holding her baby brother! Precious!
Kelle….
Oh dear, I have fallen behind on your Blog!! Well. I shall just have to do something about that!! 😉
I love, love, love mermaids!! I have ever since I was a little girl. All because of Walt Disney’s animated film, “The Little Mermaid”!! Ya gotta love Ariel!! ;-D
–Raelyn
Love the pictures and the girls look adorable 🙂
http://www.vindiebaby.com
Vintage Inspired Girls
Beautiful girls! And Nella is getting so grown up! Sometimes I think that happens when another little one arrives!
“Mermaid, Daddy. Pool. I swim. I dancin’.”
Especially love the vision of you in the yoga pant leg and Brett shaking his head as he walked by. I bet he loved it too. Wishing we could have made WW work when I was down there…next time. And I talked to the owner. I’m expecting your performance. x
Childhood is like living in heaven I must say. The girl in the picture looks very adorable. Thanks for posting.
Regards,
Kunik Goel
Surrogacy In India
Oh this post made me so happy! I love how you truly love life and you inspire me to appreciate the little things and life’s nostalgia. 🙂
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