There Was a Bomb at the Beach...

Our car was broken into at our hotel. We tried to drive the last 6 hours with plastic on the windows as it stormed outside (the sound was deafening and we had to yell to speak to one another, pulling over every half hour to readjust plastic with a baby and toddler). At the bottom of the grape vine (L.A. mountain pass), we were in a parking lot for 3 hours as they closed the pass and turned us around. We had to get a hotel in Bakersfield, unable to make the last leg home without a 4 hour detour. And you know what, that stupid lay over in a Doubletree hotel on new years in Bakersfield was the most relaxing and close time I had with my family our whole vacation, it was a blessing in disguise.

I know it's not the point of our question, but I have to ask: what were you doing leaving your money and phones in the car, plus the food/drink when you have a diabetic individual with you? If someone had broken into your car, you would have been without them for a lot longer than three hours.

Now my vacation horror story - I took an already challenging 2 year old to Italy to be in a wedding. 'Nuff said. :)

On a trip to England about four years ago there was an evacuation in the hotel in the middle of the night...super, super LOUD alarm after a night at a pub.

Same trip there was something suspicious found on the train during a late night out after we saw Phantom of the Opera. We had to bumble around on the streets for a couple of hours until it re-opened (couldn't find a taxi).

I guess you will probably re-think where you keep your necessary items. We always seem to be able to keep some things in a small back pack if we are mobile or someone is with our possessions.

WOW. Stupid bomb. I'm impressed they actually diffused it and controlled the situation in only 3 hours... when there was a 'suspicious package' in our neighborhood a few weeks ago, the cops/bomb squad were out here for like 6 hours!! And it turned out to be nothing!

Other than that, hope your trip went well :)

We were forced to evacuate Emerald Isle when Hurricane Irene was coming. Have your ever tried to leave an island during tourist season with a freaking hurricane chasing you? And then when it hit, back at home, we didn't have power for TEN DAYS. The kids were like 'yay it's like camping'... and I'm thinking 'I need a shower to bad!!'

Sorry this happened. I was just there a couple of weeks ago but spent most of our time in town not at the beach. I am glad no one in your family got hurt, I would gladly give up a few hours of being uncomfortable then to lose my life (what if it were a real bomb).

The only bad experience we have had was a car accident on our way home from the airport (years ago). Someone was stopped and didn't have the hazard lights on, we stopped before hitting that car but the guy behind us did not and rear ended us.

I am just glad to hear stuff like that doesn't just happen to me. :)

J. - what beach? My parents, siblings, nieces/nephews are all in central Florida right now!