When your “baby” turns 11, you want to make his birthday special. This year, per his request, instead of throwing a traditional party for my son, we decided on a weekend staycation in St. Augustine. We made this weekend extra special and unforgettable by turning it into a whole birthday adventure — complete with a surprise scavenger hunt!
St. Augustine is just 45 minutes from home, but it’s always been one of our favorite spots to relax, explore, and recharge. With school back in full swing and family birthdays stacking up, we were all ready for a little escape. This trip became the perfect excuse to sneak in some family fun while celebrating Khai’s big day in a creative and playful way.
The Scavenger Hunt Plan
I designed a beautiful, custom birthday scavenger hunt map (shoutout to ChatGPT for the assist!) filled with clues that led Khai from one surprise to the next. Each stop on our weekend itinerary was part of the game — from an early school pickup on Friday, to the drive to the hotel, etc., turning the ordinary moments into mini-adventures.
Even better? Every stop reflected something Khai loves — fun food, animals, and quirky new experiences. At each location, he unwrapped a small gift that added to the excitement and kept the birthday magic going strong. Here’s how the weekend unfolded:
The Food: Oddbirds
Dinner! After we picked Khai up early from school and headed down to check in to our hotel, we were hungry! The next clue on our map brought us to Oddbirds, a vibrant, quirky restaurant with Latin-inspired flavors. The vibes were fun and trendy, the food and cocktails were incredible, and the birthday boy even got a special Shirley Temple with extra cherries (his favorite!). The whole place ended up singing happy birthday, and Khai was absolutely beaming. I highly recommend the Churros for dessert — you can thank me later. 200 Anastasia Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080
Capybara Café
The next stop was the most anticipated of all — meeting capybaras at the Capybara Café! Watching Khai’s face light up as he got to snuggle these gentle, adorable animals was the absolute highlight. With only two Capybara Cafés currently in the entire U.S., it was a truly rare and memorable experience. Highly recommend if you have any animal lovers in your crew! 1860 N Ponce De Leon Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32084
The Experience: Florida Water Tours
The following morning, after breakfast at the hotel and a lovely beach walk, the final clue led Khai to a dolphin and wildlife boat excursion with Florida Water Tours. He was thrilled to spot dolphins, ospreys, pelicans, and even learned how to spot manatees! The ride along the Intracoastal was beautiful and peaceful, and the crew was so knowledgeable and engaging. They made learning about our local marine life fun for all of us — and this stop quickly became a favorite. 107 Yacht Club Dr, Dock A-19, St. Augustine, FL 32084
The scavenger hunt aspect added an extra layer of excitement and mystery to the trip. Instead of just jumping from one activity to the next, Khai got to discover each surprise, making the whole weekend feel like an unfolding story crafted just for him.
And let’s be honest — while it was definitely his birthday celebration, his dad, brother, and I had just as much fun along the way.
At the end of the day, this birthday wasn’t about big gifts or a fancy party — it was about connecting with family, some creativity, and a little bit of magic. It’s a memory I hope Khai will carry with him: the time we turned a family weekend into a real-life treasure map of birthday surprises. Honestly, I had such a blast — although, pro tip: Next time I will label the gifts because, yeah, even I forgot what was in some of them.
‘Til next time, St Augustine!
