Ahh, we decided it was time for our third day trip, and I had a feeling the morning weather would be just right. It turned out to be exactly that—an absolutely beautiful day. I chose "Bok in Bloom" at Bok Tower Gardens, and it felt like the perfect destination. Ace knew the right away we were going somewhere. The moment I packed his dinner—just in case the tour bus ran into any delays—he picked up on it. I always have a plan for him, and somehow, he always knows when it is a day trip. That's the ace-mazing part—seeing his personality come alive with excitement before we even leave.
The drive took about an hour and a half down to Polk County, and along the way, memories started coming back. That area felt familiar. I used to live in Polk County before heading to New York in the early 2000s, and I had also visited Bok Tower Gardens a few weeks after PK's passing. Returning this time with Ace made the experience even more meaningful.
When we arrived, I was honestly surprised by how much everything had grown. The trees were towering—it felt like stepping into a jungle. We explored on our own, taking the rainforest route for over two miles. We made our way to the Singing Tower, paused for photos, and took in the surroundings. I even brought Ace to the area where Edward W. Bok is laid to rest. It did not faze him at all. He simply relaxed on the unpaved ground, completely at ease.
After all that walking, we headed back to the Visitor Center to cool down. I was sweating, and Ace deserved a break too. We browsed the exhibits, stopped by the gift shop, and then settled in to eat at Blue Palmetto Cafe, where the air conditioning felt phenomenal.
Of course, there were plenty of dog distractions throughout the day. There was one moment Ace did not appreciate, but he handled it well and quickly got back on track. Overall, we had such a wonderful time together.
Now we are taking a short pause from day trips until May, when we will plan something indoors. But not for long—we already have our twelfth and thirteenth road trips coming up in just a few weeks.
Here's a video that features a few photos woven throughout the clip.