Home Cooked Thoughts

Jacksonville, Florida’s riverfront became a 1700′s battlefield this weekend as many huge vessels came to town for the Sail Jax 2009 festivities.  It was awesome!  The ships began rolling in on Thursday and towered over the riverwalk through the weekend, allowing people to come aboard for self-guided tours.  There were even pirates hanging out of some of the ships, drinking at the local bars, and sharing their booty with the locals.

The battle began mid afternoon Sunday and we were there with front row spots, kids in tow.  The babies acted as if there was nothing going on, but the cannons and muskets were a bit much for the older kids.  I have to be honest, it was really cool and with the right imagination you could block out the skyscrapers in the background and picture yourself watching one of many battles from the 18th and 19th centuries. 

There were activities for the kids too (older kids).  There were booths teaching kids the proper way to tie nautical knots, promoting free sailing lessons, and more.  The real learning came when you went aboard these vessels and were able to ask questions of the crew.  There was live music being performed throughout the weekend at the Landing and most restaurants opened their outdoor bars.  There were things for every member of the family to enjoy.

Please enjoy the pictures and mark your calendars for next year’s event . . .