Happy Places: Juno Beach

There are some places that make you feel instant contentment and happiness when you arrive. There's some places that just always feel like home. One of those places for me is Juno Beach. Juno Beach was always my family's favorite when we were in Florida visiting family friends. Though we don't spend numerous days of our vacations there now, we always make time for a quick stop at the beach on the way home from Thanksgiving in the Keys. Each time we stop is mostly the same; it has become quite the little tradition. Each time I remark about how the tunnel leading to the beach reminds me of the Harry Potter movies, we take a walk on the beach, collect a couple sea shells, check the waves and then head to see the turtles. The Loggerhead Marine Life Center is located right near the beach and is one of my all time favorite places. The center takes in and rehabilitates injured and sick sea turtles then releases them back to the ocean. We always take a walk through and visit the recovering turtles. My favorite are the baby hatchlings, though there were no babies this past time. From the beach, we head down the road for a quick surf shop stop and a bite to eat. We always go to Locals surf shop then walk over to Sol cafe which is in the same shopping complex. I think we have had the same waitress for lunch the last three or so times we've been there, we keep things very consistent. Depending on time we may stop at another surf shop, otherwise it is back on the road after lunch. I love how this little area that is so far away and visited just once a year can feel so familiar and like home each time.