2020-sept 27- Oct 1 Destin, Fl. 4 night vacation

 

 Angie and Josh decided it was time to go back to a beach, so back in Aug. she started looking for availability at a Wyndham on the beach.  She didn't really want to go back to Panama City Beach, so she concentrated on Destin and Edisto.  Destin had a 3 bedroom unit available for 4 nights---Sunday-Thursday, so she booked it.  A couple weeks later she noticed the unit was upgraded to a 4 bedroom unit.  So for half the price of the 3 bedroom unit, she got the 4 bedroom (about 90,000 points).  I love our VIP privileges with Wyndham!

They wanted us to join them, so for the next month, I wondered if Ken and I would really go.  I know he wasn't tickled with the idea.  But he told Angie we would try to go.  Then came a hurricane that damaged the Pensacola area.  So I had no idea until the day before the trip if we would really go.  

After some investigating, it appeared that the area was doing ok and Layla asked him again; he couldn't turn her down.  Love having that little persuader around!

Sept. 27, 2020  drive to Destin

Sept. 28, 2020 pool and Beasley Park 

Sept. 29, 2020  Angie and Josh's 13th anniversary

Sept. 30, 2020 Private beach and Beasley Park 

Oct. 1, 2020  time to go home

Wyndham Emerald Green  4 bedroom unit

We only had to gas up once each way, so I figure that was a great vacation for about $30 each way.  The condo was "free", since we have a bunch of timeshare points.  The beach was fantastic.  

 I had been here a couple times before, but they were about 50 years ago, so I really don't remember much about it.  I didn't get to stay in high end resorts then.   The first trip was with my brother and sister in law and their infant.  We camped and my brother took the car every day to go to work, I assume somewhere in Eglin AFB.  I do remember water skiing in the Gulf with some people I met in the camp ground.  The 2nd trip was with Ken when I was pregnant with Tim.  I don't remember why we were there, but I remember getting sunburnt feet.   Wonder why we didn't go back there more often?!  

Wyndham Emerald Green-Destin 2020 4 bedroom unit

 Another drive to resort we've never been to---Destin.  In fact, I hadn't been to Destin in about 45 years.  Then I was camping.  I find staying in a 3 bedroom unit in a resort to be more enjoyable.  

Took us about 7 hours to drive there from NW Atlanta.  Check in went easily.  They took, "no" pretty well when I told them we weren't doing the owner update.  

I tend to neglect the inside pictures when we have a place with great views.  This resort even had a shopping mall below us.

Sunsets were fantastic.

right from our lanai

Maybe not the views like Panama City Beach, but still not bad.

And I kind of liked having the mall below us, even though we didn't do much but walk through it.  With Covid running rampant, we weren't going out to eat or doing much shopping.

But the unit was large, clean and comfortable. 

the 4th bedroom---bunkbeds with bathroom attached. 

odd room, but nice to have if you have more kids with you.

the master bedroom

Layla's bathroom.  Connected to her own room.

the resort from the mall

They even have their own beach. 

but it was looking like a tea party was going on at the time.

But we sat there and enjoyed the sand and free loungers and umbrellas for awhile.

We also enjoyed the free resort shuttle to/from the beach.

heading back into the mall with the resort behind it.

we even hit the pool for awhile.  Surprisingly it was a bit chilly, though.   We were there in Sept, but we had some cool days.

Layla didn't seem to mind the water temp

they have an indoor pool, too, so we went to check it out.  Much warmer, and noone was there but us.

We had a great time in Destin.  Love all the white beaches.  They even had some with handicap accessible boardwalks overlooking the beach.  I believe we will be back.
 

2020-6 Panama City Beach trip

2020-6  Panama City Beach trip

Sometime shortly after Ken's radiation and chemo treatments, Angie mentioned we should all go to a beach for a couple days.  That sounded like an excellent idea to me!  Between Ken's cancer and treatments, the Coronavirus pandemic, and the racial protests, I was ready to get away!!!!

So I hit the Wyndham site and looked to see where we might be able to drive to for a few nights and enjoy the beach.  Edisto wasn't available; neither was Charleston or Clearwater.  But for June 17-21st, Panama City Beach was available!  I'd never been there.  Angie and Josh had been there a year ago and said it was beautiful, so I didn't hesitate to book it.  I was even able to get a studio unit with a free upgrade to a 1 bedroom lower level.  Then I booked the studio for Ken and me and requested an upgrade if one came available.  Didn't take long before I noticed we were upgraded to a 1 bedroom upper unit!  I hoped I'd be able to change the kids' unit to a 2 bedroom unit, but they actually cut out reservations for about a month due to what was suppose to be a limited availability of rooms available as the resort was reopened slowly after being closed down because of the pandemic for awhile.  Wyndham was even canceling guest reservations---good thing I reserved both units in our names.

Before the 17th rolled around, I noticed that Providence Canyon State park in Georgia was right along the way.  So I suggested we stop there for a break.  Angie and Josh liked that idea, too.  In fact, that's where they finally caught up to us.

After a couple hours in the canyon, we continued on our way.  The trip took us about 8 or 9 hours to get there.  Check in was the usual routine---check in, then go to the "concierge/sales center" for our keys, parking pass, and "owners' update spiel".  After turning them down many times, they finally gave us our keys and it was time to find the parking garage and figure out how to get to our room.

They certainly didn't do a good job planning out the complex!  It's bad enough that parking is across a busy street.  Then you have to take an elevator down to the sky bridge to go to another set of elevators to go down to the ground level, then over to another set of elevators to go up to the rooms!  It made for a long trek from the garage to the room everytime we had to go anywhere in the cars.  I made 2 rts to the grocery store 3 miles away and it took over 2 hours to complete the trip---not to mention having to go over to the hotel building to get a rolling caddy to haul the groceries up to the room on!

 Oh yeah---they also had problems with Angie and Josh's room.  The ceiling fan wasn't working and maintenance was having trouble getting it to work.  They needed to work on it 2 days while we were there.  So they gave us 2 $25 gift cards and a little box of candy.  I also noticed our fridge wasn't cold, but hoped it would be ok for the short time we were there.  But by check out day, the milk and fruit had spoiled. 

June 17, 2020---drive to Panama City Beach by way of Providence Canyon

June 18, 2020---Panama City Beach beach! Duchesne house on the market

June 19, 2020---Panama City Beach and Duchesne house SOLD

 June 20, 2020---45th wedding anniversary!!!

June 21, 2020---drive back to Georgia

Wyndham Panama City Beach

I loved the views from our room, but don't know if it's worth the hassle to go there a lot.   But I had a great time.  I think the kids did, too.   I think Ken was anxious a good part of the time and before we went, but hopefully he enjoyed the little get away, too.

Wyndham Panama City Beach--2020-6 1 bedroom deluxe

 When Angie said it was time to go to the beach again, and she found 2 1 bedroom units here, we agreed to go , too.  They had a regular 1 bedroom, we had a deluxe.  The only difference was they were on a lower level (up to level 10), and we were on an upper level (level 20, I think).

Check in was terrible.  They had some of the pushiest people for the "owner update".  We were there during COVID and hubby has cancer.  I told them we were not going to the update, but they persisted until I actually got mad.  After driving 7 hours, I didn't feel like fighting for my parking pass.

But the units were really nice---at least ours was.  The kids had a unit that needed repairs on the ceiling fan.  Took over a day to get it done.  They even replaced it and couldn't get it to work.  At least they tried and gave us a couple $25 gift cards as compensation.  

I liked that even though this was a 1 bedroom unit, it had bunk beds in the hallway. 

Nice size rooms.  Being so high, we didn't hear much of the street noise.  The kids on level 10 said the street noise was bad. 

the views were outstanding!

Even saw sunset from our lanai

The resort parking lot was very inconvenient, especially if you were handicapped.  Had to make it to the Sky Bridge level, then if you had luggage or a wheelchair, there was one elevator that went down to the main level.  Then you had to go to another area to get an elevator to the floor you need.

Layla enjoying the views as much as I did.

I could look at this all day.  We did see sting rays one morning.  When the kids were there before, they watched sharks not far from the swimmers.

The table easily sat all 5 of us, even in the 1 bedroom unit.

The beach was beautiful and the water was great.

We also enjoyed the pools.  This one was not used much, being across the street by the parking garage.

A view of the Wyndham from the water.

It was a well needed break from everything going on. 
 

2020-Feb 1-4 Orlando

 

Well, if that wasn't a trip to remember----but not for good reasons!!!  It started out great!  The drive to Orlando was great.  Even Layla was super for the such a long ride.  Next couple days were great, too.  Then came the middle of the night calls and Ken ending up in the hospital back in Marietta.  

 

 2-1-20 on to Orlando with Angie, Josh, and Layla

 

2-2-20  Animal Kingdom!!!!

 

2-3-20 Disney Springs and Port Orleans:  

 

2-4-20  Emergency flight back home!!!!!!

 

2020-feb. Orange Lake Resort West Village 2 bedroom golf villa

 

 

Next day came the diagnosis that Ken has Glioblastoma!  We were told he had 12-18 months to live if he has brain surgery, then SOC (standard of care: 6 weeks of radiation and chemo).   After the kids heard the diagnosis, they cut their trip short and headed back home, too.  Thus the start of some very hard times---not just from cancer, but we were also about to be hit with the Covid pandemic!hard times---not just from cancer, but we were also about to be hit with the Covid pandemic!