Entertainment
A Family Trip to the Florida Keys
Last week, my 11-year-old Anton, his friend Nick, and I were very excited to take a little jaunt to the Florida Keys…
A while back, Alex suggested that we each take a boy for February break, so we could enjoy some one-on-one time. He took Toby to visit family, and Anton BEGGED to go to Florida. (Whatever marketing Florida is doing is really working with preteen boys — along with Starbucks and cologne, as a concept.)
We decided on the Florida Keys and, after obsessively researching hotels (would anyone want a post about choosing hotels? I’ve developed a multi-pronged strategy at this point, and I’d love to hear your methods), I landed on Coconut Palm Inn in Key Largo.
The tiny bayside hotel wasn’t too splurgy, even for a one-bedroom suite with a sofa bed, and came with so many free surprises and delights once we arrived: breakfast muffins left outside our door, morning coffee, kayaks, fishing gear, ping pong, giant Jenga, cornhole, pool toys, bikes, hammocks, sunset wine, s’mores… You’re not staying at a super fancy place — there’s no on-site restaurant, for example, or long beach to walk on — but I LOVE a small hotel that feels like home once you arrive, versus a resort that changes a million hidden fees. (Two nearby hotels that seem to have similar vibes are the Atlantic Bay Resort and the Caribbean Resort.)
Kayaks and paddleboats were kept near the water, so we could walk up and jump in anytime. We went on adventures around the bay, and Anton, Nick and I would keep saying, “This is the life, you guys! Can you believe this?”
The hotel scene felt like summer camp, and we befriended another family, who gave us a clever mnemonic device to remember their names. “Peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” the dad told me. “Since we’re Peter, Bonnie, Jacob, and Samuel.” How brilliant is that? Do you have one for your family? Makes me want to figure one out for the boys and me.
Other than swimming, riding bikes, and asking me if they could drink more Coke, the boys spent most of their days fishing. The hotel gave them frozen shrimp, rods, and hooks, and the other hotel guests offered pointers. I didn’t know anything about fishing, so I happily sat in one of the Adirondack chairs on the pier and read my book.
We stayed only two nights, since they were booked up after that, but we loved every minute.
After checking out, we drove an hour south to Marathon, Florida, to our second hotel. En route, we stopped at Aquarium Encounters…
…where we could pet a baby alligator…
…and feed tortoises, stingrays, and tarpon. Don’t you love the patterns on tortoises? They look like works of art (sort of like Serena Mitnik-Miller’s paintings).
Later that afternoon, we checked into Isla Bella for our last two nights. It was fancier — with five pools and daily activities, like bingo and trivia — but I’m not sure I’d recommend it because a) you get charged lots of extras (resort fees, overnight parking fees, etc.) and b) we got a smaller room than the one we’d booked, but whenever I called the front desk or stopped by, they’d tell me the manager was out or on an important phone call.
I felt a little like this guy, haha.
But of course it was fine (I just gave up), and the beach was beautiful…
The boys played football in the pool for HOURS. We met a family from Dublin, and I loved the mom’s phrasing when she told me, “Your lads are good fun.”
Most important, on the drive back to the airport, we went through a drive-thru and found the world’s longest French fry!!! The whole trip was so much fun. I wasn’t sure if traveling solo with two 11-year-olds would be exhausting, but they’re such a great age and often played together in the pool while I read and kept an eye on them. They also still wanted to hang out with me a lot of the time, which I appreciated, and laughed at my dumb jokes (or at least said “lol,” pronounced “lohl”). Thank you, Florida — we were grateful for a blast of sunshine during this long winter!
What about you? Have you been to the Florida Keys? What vacation spots do you like or daydream about? I’d love to hear…
P.S. The weirdest best part of trips, more family vacation ideas, what’s your #1 travel tip?
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
Mashable Top Stories
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
