Pancakes That Weren’t, Tiki Nights That Were & One Last Week at Wekiva Falls
- Apr 13
- 4 min read
Well, folks… the final chapter of our Winter Wekiva Falls era has been written—and it turns out it’s equal parts “this is amazing” and “well that didn’t go as planned.” Honestly, pretty on-brand for us.
Sunday: Renaissance Hangovers & Road Trips
Sunday rolled in like a medieval hangover we absolutely earned. After saying goodbye to our favorite partners-in-crime, Alex & Bruce, we did what all emotionally fragile travelers do… we hit the road. Saying goodbye never gets easier—but the thought of future full-time adventures together softens the blow.
Before heading back, we made a little side quest through Palm Beach—because why not lean all the way into coastal curiosity? The drive along the water was absolutely stunning, with bright blue ocean views on one side and jaw-dropping, massive mansions lining the other. We’re talking gates, hedges, and homes that look like they come with their own zip code.
At one point, we just looked at each other like… what do these people DO?! CEO? Oil tycoon? Secret superhero? There’s no way to know—but we’re fairly certain our “drive around and critique campgrounds” career path isn’t quite funding that lifestyle anytime soon. Also… not sure we’d even want the upkeep on those places. Can you imagine the cleaning alone? Hard pass. We’ll stick with our 5th wheel and a good view any day.
Eventually, we made our way back to Wekiva Falls RV Resort—with a few strategic campground drive-bys along the way. You know… just casually scouting for future oceanfront dreams that are maybe a tiny bit more within reach (and preferably warmer than what Florida has been serving us lately… rude).
Monday: Pancake Dreams = Crushed. Yard Art = Therapy
Ah yes, Monday… also known as “Pay Your Doctor to Tell You What You Already Know Day.” My shoulder check-up confirmed I’m improving—shocking news considering I have, in fact, been improving. The prescription? Keep doing what I’m doing. Groundbreaking.
Next up: PANCAKES. Or so we thought.
We piled in with Dan & Stacey and headed to Old Sugar Mill Pancake House—a magical place where you make your own pancakes right at your table. Darren was basically a kid on Christmas morning… until we were hit with a 3–3.5 hour wait.
On a chilly, overcast day.
Yeah… no.
So naturally, we pivoted to something equally iconic (in a totally different way): roadside yard art. Enter The Yard Art Emporium—a delightfully weird wonderland of metal sculptures, funky critters, and “Do we need this? Absolutely not. Do we want it? Also, yes.”
By this point, we were deep into hangry territory, so we rolled into DeLand and landed at The Half Wall Beer House for redemption. Fish & chips? Solid. Bleu Burger? Demolished. Beer flight? Critical to survival.
We waddled our way through downtown, grabbed chocolates at Pat & Toni’s Sweet Things (because clearly we hadn’t eaten enough), and almost stopped at Persimmon Hollow Brewing Company… but even we have limits. Occasionally.
Tuesday: Tattoos, Training & Questionable Life Choices
Big wins all around! My final PT session went great—cue cautious optimism and me pretending I’ll continue all these exercises forever.
After a quick stop at Chipotle Mexican Grill (because nothing says “pre-tattoo fuel” like a burrito bowl the size of your head), we headed to Trinity Tattoo Co. to see Mason for the grand finale of my birthday ink.
Five hours later… I emerged with a gorgeous new tattoo and the personality of someone who’s been sitting still for way too long.
But wait—no rest for the mildly sore. I jumped straight into my first workout with my new coach, Mandy (who we met at a rally in Colorado—because of course we did). She’s got a full fitness app with training, nutrition, and habit tracking… so basically, she’s about to get very familiar with my inner negotiations.
Wednesday: Birthday Vibes & Secret Tiki Magic
Birthday mode: fully activated.
Darren and I kicked things off with a bike ride along the Seminole Wekiva Trail—because nothing says “treat yourself” like starting the day with cardio.
Then came a fun surprise: Darren’s (5th oldest) sister Denise and her husband Bill were in town! Totally unplanned birthday bonus.
Dan & Stacey met us all in downtown Sanford, where the evening took us to Tuffy’s Music Box & Lounge—which looks like your average cool beer garden… until you discover the hidden passage to
A full-on tiki speakeasy with immersive vibes and dangerously good cocktails. It’s been a local favorite since 2019—but it’s closing in April 2026 before moving to Orlando, so we felt extra lucky to sneak in one last visit.
Dinner was at The Old Jailhouse—a beautifully restored historic jail turned upscale dining spot. Yes, we were seated in an actual jail cell. No, we did not attempt a jailbreak… but we did absolutely destroy our meals and cocktails.
After dinner, we took a stroll through Sanford to work off at least a tiny portion of what we just consumed. With Valentine’s Day right behind us, the streets were decked out in festive decorations—so of course we leaned all the way in and grabbed some fun photo ops.
We wrapped up the night the best way possible—back at Dan & Stacey’s, sipping bourbon-based cocktails, swapping stories, and laughing way too hard about absolutely everything. The perfect ending to a full, fun, slightly over-the-top birthday.
Thursday: Small Town Charm & Ice Cream Priorities
We took Bill & Denise to the charming town of Mount Dora—basically a Hallmark movie set with better snacks.
Of course, we had to show off Lakeside Inn—Florida’s oldest continuously operating hotel, complete with wraparound porches, lake views, and all the historic charm.
We wandered, window-shopped, and honored Bill’s deep commitment to ice cream sampling at Mystic Ice Cream before passing through Wolf Branch Brewing Company for a casual smell of some local brews.
Friday: One Last Tiki Goodbye
And just like that… it was time.
I snapped one last photo of the Wekiva Falls tiki hut—the scene of many karaoke nights, bold song choices, and unforgettable memories—before we hit the road.
Next stop? Stay tuned… because the adventure is far from over.
Wekiva Falls, you’ve been a blast. From pancakes-that-never-were to tiki nights we’ll never forget, this week was the perfect mix of chaos, celebration, and classic “well… that escalated quickly” moments.
Exactly how we like it.
Cheers!
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