This summer, I had the joy of experiencing a road trip. My
father, son and I set off on a 10 day trip across 14 states. The only planned
stay for the trip was a hotel in the French Quarter for 2 nights, the rest were
spontaneous stays wherever we ended up at dusk. From my travels, I picked my
top 5 favorite spots we stayed or explored, and the reasons why I would visit
them again!
5. Ormond Beach, Florida
Outside of Florida’s amusement parks and party spots, there
are places like Ormond Beach. The northern neighbor of the well-known Daytona
Beach, Ormond Beach is a quiet suburban, yet touristy, area with a beautiful view
of the Atlantic. Ormond Beach reminded me of everything I remembered Florida
being as a kid: lovely beaches, amazing wildlife and the quiet neighborhood
feeling of home. While in Ormond, we stayed at a hotel on the ocean, with a
breathtaking view. The area we stayed in was quiet, while just up the road
there were plenty of great restaurants and shops to enjoy. Ormond Beach is a
great family spot that will have you feeling at home while keeping you on
vacation!
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| Ormond Beach, Florida |
4. Land between the Lakes, Tennessee/Kentucky
The Land between the Lakes is an amazing adventure with so
much beauty and scenery to offer. While driving through this area, we
encountered everything from buffalo to butterflies along with lovely scenic
views. While passing through we were able to stop at information centers and
learn more about the area we were in. The history in this area was awesome to
learn about, considering my grandmother (father’s mother) had family from the
area. However, anyone can enjoy the beauty of nature from hiking and bike
trails to fishing and parks, The Land between the Lakes is a wonderful place to
visit.
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| A bush covered in butterflies in the park. |
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3. Galveston, Texas
Galveston is an awesome tourist oriented island filled with
everything from haunted mansions to boardwalks. This area of Texas is a great
place to spend time with the family. The streets of Galveston seem to always be
filled with smiling faces at least that is what I remember most from my visit!
Friendly locals loved to chat, while the beaches and sidewalks were filled with
people enjoying their visit. Galveston’s board walks, beaches and swim up bars
made this city an all-around fun place to be for people of all ages.
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| The view from our deck at the Commodore Hotel in Galveston, TX. |
2. St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine, also known as the oldest city in the U.S, is
an awesome place for anyone to visit! From history tours through Castillo de
San Marcos to a fun visit at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, there is so much
to see and do in this historic city. People of all ages can enjoy the amazing
history of St. Augustine and the awesome attractions it has to offer. Fine
dining, beautiful beaches and history at every turn, St. Augustine is a city I
would gladly go back and visit again. |
| Alligator at the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine, FL. |
1. New Orleans, Louisiana
The good ole Big Easy! New Orleans offered so much fun and history to our trip. From taking a tour of the Mississippi on a steam boat, to walking the famous Bourbon Street, New Orleans was an adventure for everyone in our family. I loved the fine dining offered by so many restaurants in the French Quarter, and of course the energy of the streets that never seemed to sleep. New Orleans was an experience that I hope everyone gets to enjoy in life. The locals were so friendly and the neighborhoods were full of beauty, I cannot wait to go back again!
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| A snapshot of Bourbon St. New Orleans, LA. |
While my trip lead us to many more adventures then the above mentioned, these spots will forever stick out to me and I truly hope to revisit them all someday!
