Carolina Beach, NC

August 3 - 11, 2018

I FINALLY GET A VACATION!!!

Ever since I obtained my current full-time "adult" job back in January, I haven't been traveling like I used to. I'm always stuck at home after work, getting ready for the next day in society. Earning an honest living is so boring. Not that i'll be making a dishonest living anytime soon, I just hate the idea of wasting over half of my life working away my time to see new places and do new things. All for money. I hate money. BUT I need it to travel, which is why I have a job. Travel money.

ANYWAY, I requested some time off. It got approved, and now I'm writing about my time on vacation!

I went with my mom (who broke her leg just days before the trip) and my grandma (who hates the beach, but loves a good time). I was pretty much by myself the entire time. I do wish I could have done more with mom & Gma, but I can only sit inside the house for so long!

The only thing we really did that I absolutely fell in love with, was of course, the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher!

They had a wide variety of exotic species, and even a rehab tank for sea turtles until they can be released again. I believe they intended for the things to climb on and children, but come on, don’t force me to grow up!

Horseshoe Crabs are my favorite crustacean, they've been around for millions of years, and remain unchanged! They have looked and acted the same for millions of years, no evolution at all. MIND BLOWING!

The stingrays were trying to jump out of the tank at us!

(I really think they thought we had food or something)

My favorite one is the spotted one below!

These are the tiniest jellyfish I've personally seen, no bigger than a half dollar coin! They were almost transparent with little white spots.

This one was with one other jelly just like him. I call him "String Bean" because he has long stringy tentacles. I wouldn't wanna swim up on this little fellow.

These Jellyfish were much bigger, and in one of those cylindrical tanks you can walk around! (please free the animals though, it made me sad after a while seeing them all locked up in tanks)

EEL!

These little cuties are some kind of Triglidae I believe. They use their fins to crawl around on the sand.

This freaking lobster was HUGE! It could have easily sat in the passenger seat and strapped on a seat belt. It had to have been AT LEAST 2 ft long!

THIS ONE IS DEADLY DON'T TOUCH!!!! (Dragon Fish)

Now, for my absolute favorite part!

FROGS!

I've been obsessed with frogs ever since I could say frog! Poison Dart Frogs though, I have never been so blessed as to see them in person...UNTIL NOW!!!

I will say, I did cry a little after that picture, I was so happy!

I got to pet a Dogfish! There was one swimming around the tank, and when I went to pet the one that was awake, the guy said, "I wouldn't touch the swimming one if I was you! He might bite!"

.........I touched the swimming one.

NOTHING HAPPENED but the kid looked a little mad at me lol. It's ok, he doesn't know I will and have touched almost every animal I see.

Megaladon Jaw! I would definitely be dead, almost immediately, if attacked by this prehistoric monster!

Once we got outside, we saw DINOSAURS! I was not expecting this at all to be honest. It was a nice surprise! I was touching this one because a little girl started crying because she got scared. i was trying to show her that they are friendly! (although, if they still existed, I would not be around touching dinos)

Now for the Butterflies!

I was the chosen one!

And yup, I climbed onto something...

The next day, I decided I was going to go crabbing that night.

Boy am I glad I did! I caught the lucky blue Speckled Crab! I googled it, and I did not see ONE SINGLE PHOTO of a blue Speckled Crab.....Biological Discovery? I HOPE SO!!! NatGeo, email me directly @: laurenbexplorin@gmail.com

This one had eggs once I picked her up! I immediately released her once I noticed it, I didn't mean to interrupt the incubation/egg laying process.

THE LUCKY BLUE SPECKLED CRAB!

He got into a fight with another speckled crab, but it's ok, the legs grow back!

This is my new friend I met on the Kure Beach Pier. His name is "Pella", like the windows. Not because he's a Pelican, but because birds fly into windows. (insert laugh here)