Today we took a long trip in the Wonder Wagon to Mosi science center and well I wish I had a better review. Our last trip to Mosi was years ago and the youngest of our crew has not been before. We were honestly pretty excited as our last trip to Mosi was amazing. Today however was wildly disappointing and I think they may have hit a point of no return.
There were definitely opportunities to learn new things however the environment felt dingy and underwhelming. Honestly if you were to take the kids to a decent children’s museum it would have been better.
I truly wish i was able to give you a more uplifting post but today was rough. On our way there we stopped at a burger king in Brandon and ended up in the middle of a situation that escalated quickly and became dangerous. No worries, praise GOD we are ok but it did not start the trip well and needless to say we are all just happy to be home tonight.
On the bright side we get to try again next week. So if you have any suggestions on new places for us to adventure to we would enjoy the feedback.
I know usually when we see words like “winter Reset” it’s easy to imagine a woman on a mission to get her house in order for the quickly approaching holiday season. This however is not that post.
As a homeschooling momma to six, farm owner and entrepreneur, this momma gets tired and with the holiday season and multiple birthdays approaching at light speed the only reset we truly needed had nothing to do with a picture perfect living room filled with lights and pine (that will come soon enough) . What we needed was time to pause and just be. So for today’s field trip that is exactly what we did.
No big lessons, no school supplies needed just a bag of sandwiches, sunshine and some vitamin sea.
While myself, Sunny and the littles went to the ocean side, the big guys went fishing with Dad.It was exactly what we needed. What salt air and a cool breeze can do for the spirit is incredible. I am grateful to God for moments like these with no expectations or schedules to follow and time to just exist in this beautiful world he created surrounded with the sympathy of my kids laughing and chatting and fully engrossed in the masterpiece in each gorgeous smile.
We ended our evening with sandy toes, sun kissed noses, a lovely dinner and a brisk walk to see the Christmas tree that the city was putting up today.
My hope for all of you is that you too can take some time before the holiday rush to just breathe .
As we drive home in the dark (thank you time change) the Wonder Wagon is buzzing with chatter and the smell of a Costco pizza. Tired and ready for the comfort of home, we reflect on today’s field trip. The John and Mabel Ringling Museum. That’s right we ran away and joined the circus ( as though we are not one all on our own)
We left the house at 8:30 a.m., that felt like a miracle considering how deliriously off schedule we have been since the time changed last week. After a two hour drive, several bouts of “are we there yet” and a bag of snacks we arrived at the museum. It was radiant with 1920s grandeur from the beginning.
The kiddos LOVED the full scale model of the original circus and we were all blown away by the size and quality of the original circus
They even got to walk a tight rope and enjoyed trying to see how many of them could fit in a clown car.
What stole the show for Sunny and I was the family home that was on the property. It was absolutely breathtaking ( head up, you have to buy an extra ticket to go inside) the balcony over the bay is a must see
Then we went to the art museum and WOW! It is massive with more exhibits that you could imagine and architecture that would make you swoon but ….. With a group of kids that is half 17 and over and another half under 11 there were some extremely interesting conversations coupled with giggles from the older kids as I tried to explain the art behind giant nude statues to elementary students.
The kids and I enjoyed the museums and gardens . There were many lessons learned about art and life and the luxurious history of the circus. It is a great trip especially if you have little artists on your hands.
Nestled in the rolling hills of Lake Wales, Florida, Bok Tower Gardens has a way of slowing time down — and for our homeschooling family, that’s exactly what we needed. With kids at every stage of learning and a full calendar of events and birthdays while balancing our new farm business, we’re always looking for places where curiosity can blossom naturally. Bok Tower turned out to be one of those rare places where nature, art, and peace all come together.
The moment we stepped onto the winding pathways, the air felt different — perfumed with blooming camellias and alive with the songs of cardinals and mockingbirds. The younger kids turned the visit into a scavenger hunt, spotting butterflies and flowers for their nature journals. Our older kids dove into the North Trail, where there is currently an art installation that sparked discussions of history, culture and the meaning behind each piece of art that was brilliantly incorporated into the landscape.
While, the older kids were drawn to the architecture ,art and culture.The littles were busy making music in the gardens and climbing through spiderwebs of wonderment. We have been to many gardens over the years but Bok just is a step ahead and does an amazing job of giving you the opportunity to be still and enjoy the small but radiant things in life.
With places to picnic from some of the highest viewpoints in all of Florida in the shade of the oak trees, laying in hammocks sharing what we’d each learned. We found inspiration in tiny frogs and butterfly’s and blooms today. The weather was beautiful and this kids were smiling and this momma was so happy.
Driving home, worn from a day in the sun and some miles of walking but happy, we realized this was more than a field trip. It was a reminder that learning doesn’t always happen at a desk — sometimes it happens among wildflowers, under the sound of distant bells and a brilliant blue sky.
If you get the chance please take a field trip to Bok.
🍊 Fall in Florida: Where the Leaves Don’t Change, but the Oranges Do 🍊
There’s nothing quite like a fall field trip in Florida — mostly because it still feels like summer with a pumpkin spice filter. So, when our family decided to visit Maxwell Groves in Avon Park, we traded our imaginary sweaters for sunscreen and hit the road with the AC blasting.
The air smelled like fresh citrus and nostalgia the second we arrived. Maxwell Groves has that “old Florida” charm — creaky porch, rocking chairs, and free samples of liquid sunshine (also known as fresh orange juice). The kids immediately found the ice cream freezer, and suddenly the “educational” part of our trip took a backseat to who could get a brain freeze first.
We took photos in front of orange crates like real influencers — sweaty, sticky, and smiling way too hard. We checked out marmalade “for the pantry” (translation: for toast tomorrow). I tried the famous orange ice cream and declared it “Revolutionary ,” which is high praise from someone that does not like ice cream.
By the end of the visit, our bags were full of citrus goodies, our hearts were full of joy, and our shirts… well, full of orange drips. Fall in Florida may not bring crunchy leaves or cozy scarves, but at Maxwell Groves, it brings laughter, sunshine, and the best OJ around town.
Moral of the story: Who needs apple cider when you’ve got orange ice cream? 🍊☀️
Coming to you from the backseat of the “Wonder Wagon” yet again, as our 19 year old navigator argues with the g.p.s. (glad it’s not me). Finn is the copilot today and Sunny and I are on snack duty with the youngest three monkeys in the rear in charge of bringing the ruckus and giggles.
It’s another early morning on the road. See we live in the center of Florida and so even though that is amazing because we are in the middle of all the wonders of Florida while simultaneously being in the middle of nowhere it also means most trips require a 1-3 hour road trip and we are scheduled to go on field trips once a week this school year.
So today I am going to share with you our latest field trip to the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne FL. , this one got 5 stars from our wild bunch in all categories. We will be rating our field trips this year by price, educational value, accessibility and family friendliness.
Let me paint you a picture: seven people. One Wonder Wagon. A box of snacks and sandwiches. And the combined energy of a small solar flare. That, dear reader, is how our homeschooling family rolled out to the Brevard Zoo Wednesday before last— 10 minutes behind schedule and exactly 37 seconds away from a mutiny over who got to sit next to the window.
Now, you may think a zoo field trip sounds simple. Wholesome. Educational. A calm, structured excursion into the wonders of biology and conservation.
You would be wrong.
Chapter 1: The Bathroom Gauntlet
Our adventure began not at the giraffe feeding platform or the meerkat exhibit — no, it began at the restrooms, where three children suddenly realized they might have to pee. After 20 minutes of rotating bathroom visits, kinder negotiations, and a brief hostage situation involving a hand dryer, we finally passed through the entrance. The animals weren’t even the main attraction at that point — we were.
The birds contemplating what kind of wild species they were looking at!
Chapter 2: The Map Disagreement (a.k.a. the Cartography Crisis of 2025)
I gave the kids a map to make it feel more educational. Rookie mistake. Within seconds, our 11 year-old declared himself “Head Zoological Navigator,” while his 8-year-old sister launched a full coup, yelling, “YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING, EMYRIC!”
The map was eventually confiscated and replaced with mom-powered navigation, which is really just guessing where the loudest animal noises are coming from and heading that way.
Chapter 3: Giraffes, Drool, and Existential Questions
The giraffe feeding deck was a highlight. Beautiful, majestic creatures — and I’m not just talking about my kids covered in twinkle eyed wonder.(Honestly I was too). I mean seeing them be so inspired by the world they are charged to care for. These animals truly inspired my kiddos
“Mom, why are their tongues BLUE?”
“Mom, do giraffes have neck bones?”
“Mom, what if giraffes were short and had wings?”
All valid questions. No time to Google. I gave my standard homeschool mom answer: “That’s a great question. Let’s research it when we get home!” (Translation: I have no idea, please stop asking me things while I’m holding a bag of lettuce and dodging giraffe spit.)
Chapter 4: The lorikeet Room
Seriously, the best part of the zoo for most of my children, except….. The youngest! He loves birds but apparently if you place him face to face with a group of hungry lorikeets all that love goes straight out the window.
This was the sweet millisecond before the others showed up and the crying began and Sunny had to come to the rescue and take him out of there You can practically feel the condescending look of this toad mouthed bird as Sunny rushed our panicked 5 year old out of the aviary
Chapter 5: The Gift Shop Gauntlet
You haven’t known true fear until you’ve taken children into a gift shop with $3.57 in combined allowance and big dreams. Negotiations became intense. There was weeping. There were bribes. I may have offered someone a trip to Target card to leave without buying a plush sloth.
Eventually, everyone walked out with a sticker and a deeper understanding of capitalism.
Final Tally:
Number of times someone asked, “Can we get a lorikeet as a pet?”: 5
Animal facts actually learned: endless
Snacks consumed: All of them
Sanity level: Somewhere between “feral” and “functioning”
Memories made: A million
Conclusion:
Homeschooling isn’t always tidy. It’s loud, unpredictable, and often sticky. But it’s also full of moments like watching your kids gape at a jaguar walking above their heads on a cat walk, seeing them bond with a baby spider monkey or explain to a stranger that zebras are not actually white with black stripes, thankyouverymuch.
Would I do it again?
Absolutely. Right after coffee! In all seriousness though we lovedthis zoo! in 15 years of homeschooling we have traveled to many a zoo and never felt as close and connected to the animals as we did here.The volunteers here were amongst the most knowledgeable and kind hearted people we have encountered at any of the zoos we have visited.There were also countless encounters and excursions at extremely reasonable prices that we are excited to do on our next trip here and there will be a next trip.
Us in real time after we got home from 6 hours in the wonder Wagon
PS: If you’re a homeschool parent planning your own trip to the Brevard Zoo, here are my tips:
Bring snacks, wipes, and a well-rested attitude.
Assign a “Snack Sherpa” — someone to carry the food and wield it as a peace offering.
Always double-check your child hasn’t packed a frog in their backpack before leaving.
SEA You There: A Day of Adventure with the Crew at Mote SEA
Sunlight danced off the windows of the wagon as we wound our way down country roads from Central Florida toward the seaside, the eight of us packed in with backpacks, big expectations, high hopes—and more than a few waves of “Are we there yet?” We were finally going to explore Mote SEA —the sparkling, brand new Science Education Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida.
Arrival: The First Impressions
Pulling into the lot, we spotted it instantly: glass and steel, curves, and sunshine. The architecture already felt alive. It is elevated and still kid friendly and approachable. Traffic is on the busy side compared to their last location but the aquarium is stunning and at every turn visually appealing
The Adventure Begins: Exhibits & Encounters
Here are the highlights through our family’s eyes:
1. The Gulf of Mexico Habitat This is the show‑stopper. A massive, multi‑floor habitat with a see‑through acrylic window nearly 30 feet long so you can watch sharks, rays, fish, and corals going about their business.We hovered there for ages, noses pressed to glass. The sharks glided by so close you could imagine being one of them—silent, powerful.
2. Manatees, Turtles & More There’s a dedicated manatee habitat that feels both grand and gentle. Great for kids, they ask countless questions about what happened to the ones that were injured (this led to open discussions on the importance of taking care of these sea animals and their environment) but the one that really stole the show for me was a tiny diamond back terrapin .
He might be small but, left a big impression
3. Penguin Chill Zone The penguins stole hearts. With an amazing opportunity to get eye to eye with these guys . The littles were awestruck.
4. STEM Labs & Learning Spaces What really separates Mote SEA from many aquariums is the interactive feel. Being able to see the labs behind the scenes is a truly unique feature at Mote. The only thing I would hope to see come about in the future is more interaction at the lab stations to help explain what was happening behind the glass.
Family Fun Moments & Challenges
Time to eat: There is no outside food or drinks allowed but there is a well situated cafe on the first floor. You also can walk to the university town center and pick from a host of dining choices there. We are a big crew and really love the option to pack a lunch so this was a bit of a negative for us.
Rest & Play: There were soft benches and small corners for the little kids to sit and sketch, or just stare in amazement. The teens and college crew really loved the new lab advancements.
Logistics & Lines: Because it’s new and shiny, lots of people showed up so be a bit patient with crowds
Awe & Discovery: There are lots of opportunities to learn new things as you might imagine but you should take it slow and read all the info stations ( bring a sketch book for some nature journaling also)
Reflections & What We Took Away
By the end of the day, our backs were tired, our phones full of photos, beaming with pride to hear our 5 year old spill facts about what he saw knowing that the day had inspired him.
Here are a few of the take‑homes:
Science can be magic. The way Mote SEA weaves research, conservation, and public education into an experience makes you care. It’s more than looking; it’s more than learning—it feels like participation in something bigger. We have loved Mote for years because of this.
Environment matters. This place is so engaging and accessible. My husband who is in a wheelchair had no difficulty navigating any part of the aquarium and there were a lot of sensory pleasing spots and hands on interactions for every age.
Is it worth the hype? yes, absolutely! Every detail has truly been thought through (even small things like the modern fish scale tiles in the restrooms)
Memories are built in moments. The loud “oohs” when a school of fish swarmed, the hush when a penguin swept past, the wide eyes at sharks gliding overhead, the quiet gasp when touching a star fish for the first time—these are the parts that linger. This is living education at its best.
Practical Tips for Families Planning to Visit
Buy tickets in advance if you can
Slow down: there’s a lot to see and explore, allow yourself and your kiddos to be immersed in the environment. I noticed many today rushing through in Grand Opening excitement but you don’t have to and I hope you allow your family time to dwell in this amazing place.
The cons: Even though we are huge fans of Mote, this location is in a much busier part of town and seems more distant from the ocean environment of the last facility.
Final Thoughts
As the sun set on our adventure today our wagon was filled with chatter realizing you don’t always leave feeling like you’ve lived something new. But we had: we saw science in action, we saw creatures we love in respectful habitats teaming with life. We were reminded how much our oceans matter.
If you homeschool,Mote SEA isn’t just another aquarium. It’s an invitation—to wonder, to learn, to protect. We’ll be back. And when we are, I expect even more surprises.
Good morning, from the backseat of our adventure wagon. The sun is on the horizon and my son is driving this crew of misfits to our next discovery station (AKA The new Mote Sea Aquarium) more on that coming soon….
I thought it might be a nice time to introduce our not so little family to the world stage so let me begin the introductions and explain what you can expect to see on this site.
Hi I’m Tiffany (Cookie) or Mom depending on who’s calling, known by my husband for being as expensive as the name implies.
Next up Mike or Dad to this Merry band of misfits.known for being the guy in the wheelchair with all those kids.
Aby (sunny) our magnificent oldest daughter. She makes the world a brighter place.
Brian (Beamer) our quick witted oldest son and total gear head.
Legend(yep that’s his real name) also goes by Finn our curious and bold second son
Emyric (Einstein) our bright 3rd son that only sees the truth in the world
Saylor (Bean) our adventurous second daughter known for her world class smile.
And the youngest of our crew Hobie (tater bug) our sweet little ball of energy that keeps us all on our toes
We welcome you to join our homeschooling family as we discover,rate and enjoy all this sun-drenched state has to offer. We are so happy you’re here.
Florida Field Trip Diaries 