Our epic six-week road trip from Michigan to the Florida Keys was part adventure, part comedy show, and completely us. We loaded up Chris’s trusty Tahoe with way too much stuff (because obviously, you never know when you’ll need five extra pairs of shoes and half the pantry), tucked in our cat pillows of Roxy and Daisy like VIP passengers, and hit the road. We powered through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and the entirety of Florida—making our very first pit stop at Buc-ee’s in Kentucky, that place was huge and pretty cool. From Marathon Key’s turquoise waters to St. Pete’s beaches to Orlando’s chaos, we soaked up every bit of sunshine and fun before circling back toward the mitten, sneaking in a three-night adventure in downtown Louisville to explore bourbon, bites, and city lights. By the end, one thing was clear: Florida stole our hearts, so house hunting in paradise is officially on the horizon. Buckle up—chapter two of our adventure starts now!

Marathon Key, Florida – Our first stop for 3 weeks

Our first stop was beautiful Marathon Key, and the second we put the boat in the water, it felt like vacation mode was officially ON. The sun was shining, the drinks were cold, and we were ready for some serious fun. We fished, lounged by the pool, and spent plenty of time laughing and sipping at the tiki bar at Skipjack with our awesome crew—plus met a few new friends who fit right in with our Florida vibe. I finally got to see a Key deer at Pops when we went to eat (I may have squealed louder than I’d like to admit). Out on the boat, we caught grouper, snapper, and grunts, and even hooked a few feisty barracuda—though a few unlucky fish met their fate to sharks or barracuda before we could reel them in. Classic Keys chaos! When we weren’t fishing, we were floating in that perfect condo pool—though I definitely missed my pool buddy, Lana. Every night ended with a stunning sunset painting the sky in pinks and golds, amazing food, and that feeling you only get in Marathon—pure happiness, salty hair, and hearts completely full.

St. Pete Beach Florida- Our 2nd stop for 3 days

Our next stop was St. Pete Beach, and wow—talk about paradise with a side of fun! We checked into the gorgeous RumFish Resort, right on the Gulf of America, with a 6th-floor view that looked like something straight out of a postcard. The beach stretched for miles, the water sparkled like glass, and the sunsets were pure magic every single night. While Chris was busy with his FLAGFA work event (which was actually super cool), I made it my mission to soak up every ray of sunshine possible—beach time, tiki bar time, repeat! We sang karaoke under the stars, made new friends by the bar, and lived on island time the entire stay. Oh, and let’s not forget the banana wine I found at the local winery—absolute game changer. Between the laughter, the live music, the incredible views, and sunshine, St. Pete Beach quickly became a place id love to visit again!

Orlando, Florida- Our 3rd Stop For 11 Days

Our third stop took us to the Orlando/Davenport area, where we checked into pure vacation heaven—a 4-bedroom, 3-bath private pool home in the beautiful Solara Resort. Honestly, it was the best place ever. Waking up each morning to sunshine, palm trees, and our very own pool just steps away was pure magic—I don’t think I’ve ever felt so happy and relaxed. The gated community was gorgeous, and the resort itself was packed with fun: a huge clubhouse pool, tiki bar, pool tables, putt-putt golf, and tons of outdoor games. It felt like living in a dream.

During our 11 days there, our amazing friends John and Mazie from Marathon came up for the weekend, and that’s when the real comedy show began. The guys absolutely crushed karaoke night with their unforgettable renditions of Whitney Houston and Tina Turner (I’m still laughing about it). Meanwhile, Mazie and I did what we do best—relaxed by the pool, talked for hours, and laughed until our stomachs hurt. We even ventured into Orlando for a fun day at ICON Park, exploring the Museum of Illusions and Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, snapping a million pictures and laughing the entire time. It was the perfect way to wrap up our time in Florida—sun, laughter, friendship, and memories we’ll never forget—before beginning our journey back home to Michigan, hearts full and already dreaming of our next adventure.

The House

Icon Park with John and Mazie

Louisville, Kentucky- Our 4th stop for 3 days

Our final stop before heading home was Louisville, Kentucky, where Chris had to attend the big utility show for work—but of course, we found a way to turn it into one last mini adventure! We enjoyed our cozy hotel and spent an evening exploring downtown Louisville, soaking in the city’s mix of charm and nightlife. We hit up a couple of bourbon distilleries (because when in Kentucky, right?) and even wandered into a few creepy basement bars that gave us major haunted vibes but plenty of laughs. One of our favorite parts was cruising around on electric scooters, zipping through the streets like two big kids before ending up at 4th Street Live for an epic night of live music, delicious food, and a few drinks—just the way a road trip should end! As we packed up and made the final drive back to Michigan, we couldn’t help but smile at everything we’d experienced over those six amazing weeks. The memories, the laughter, the sunsets, and the freedom—it all led us to one big realization: Florida is calling our names, and the house hunting for our forever paradise has officially begun!