I wanted to share a little bit about our trip to Florida last month—it was such a mix of adventure, family time, and, well… a little motion sickness (for me at least!).
We started with a 5-hour drive from Pittsburgh to Virginia to catch the Amtrak Auto Train to Florida. My husband and daughter loved it! It was so spacious, and there were so few passengers in each car that we each had two seats to ourselves. If you’ve ever flown business class, imagine those seats—huge, reclining nearly flat, with a leg rest that comes up. Super comfy! You can move between cars, use the WiFi, and there's even a dining car. Unfortunately, I got so motion sick that I didn’t sleep at all. It was a really, really long 16-hour ride through the night. In the end, we decided to drive home instead of taking the train back. Lesson learned!
The main reason for our trip was to visit my mom and celebrate my grandpa’s 90th birthday! He’s doing so well, and it was so special to be there for him. We took him to our favorite Italian restaurant, Joey’s, for a birthday dinner. And let me tell you—watching him dig into his chocolate cake like he was absolutely starving was the highlight of the night. It made my heart so happy to see him enjoying himself.
Even though it was a little too cold to swim, we made sure to get in some beach time! We caught hermit crabs, hunted for seashells, built sandcastles, and soaked in a few stunning sunsets. There’s something about being by the ocean, even when it’s chilly, that just feels like magic.
One of our favorite little spots in Florida is the sponge docks in Tarpon Springs. It’s such a unique place to walk around, and of course, we had to take our daughter to our go-to lunch spot—Captain Jack’s! There’s nothing like sitting on the dock in the sun, enjoying some deliciously greasy bar food. It’s one of those meals that just hits the spot every time.
We also spent some quality time just hanging out with family. My husband and daughter braved the pool—even though the heater was broken, so it was freezing! Meanwhile, I stayed warm in the hot tub and got some remote work done. Not a bad way to check off a few tasks!
All in all, it was such a fun trip. A little chilly, sure, but totally worth it. There’s something about Florida that always feels like a breath of fresh air, and I’m already looking forward to the next visit!
No comments