Florida to California PCS: The Road Trip

3,100 miles, 11 days, 8 different stops, and 7 hotel stays. 

#FLtoCaliRoadTrip 

T-10 days till go time! 

So, there it is...that's the route we'll take on our 11-day journey across the good 'ol US of A. This Northern route approach will have us logging almost 50 hours of driving. FIFTY. I know, kill me now. But, we've got enough stops planned to break it up quite a bit. Here's a better breakdown of our plan:

STOP #1: Atlanta, Georgia - Here we'll be logging in another sure to be FABULOUS stay at Towneplace Suites (this hotel chain is perfect for road trip stays for couples AND families alike) and hopefully enjoying some iconic burgers & shakes at The Varsity. We've been to Atlanta before so we're not gonna go too crazy exploring, especially since we've only got maybe 13-16 hours in the city. Plus, the drive from our starting point in Florida to Hotlanta will be the second longest leg of our trip (clocking in at an annoying 7 hours). I'm sure by the time I get to the hotel, I'll want to kick my feet up and chill.

STOP #2: Nashville, Tennessee - Even though we've also been to Nashville before, we were young (hello, 11th grade!), so we're excited to get to explore a little more. We'll have a good chunk of time here in Nashvegas...roughly 24 hours, but who's counting (me, I am--we've got a schedule to keep, unfortunately!). We're still undecided on whether we just wander the city or if we should hit up a backstage tour at the Grand Ole Opry or a couple hours at the Country Music Hall of Fame (thoughts?). We know FOR SURE that we want some good southern food (biscuits, preferably) and to buy Heidi some baby cowgirl boots. Because when in Tennessee, am I right?

STOP #3: St. Louis, Missouri - Another city I've visited once at a young age, so we're not spending a whole heck of a lot of time here either. But, I do want to show D the Gateway Arch (not that you could miss it) and we'll probably hit up Delmar Loop for some shopping/eating. I would LOVE to do the City Museum, but thanks to being pregnant, it wouldn't be nearly as fun. Next time!

STOP #4: Kansas City, Kansas- This may be the stop I'm most excited about. Not because I've never been here (hint: I have...like 5 times), but because we get to spend 3 days staying with my Kansas cousins! After a few days cooped up in a car, we'll be SO thrilled to have some quality time with some super familiar faces. Plus, KC is a really fun city and D has never been! Hoping to share the goodness of KC BBQ and Boulevard Brewery Beer with him. We've also got a date with a swimming pool. Can. Not. Wait.

STOP #5: Denver, Colorado - This will be our longest, most boring drive of the whole trip (8.5 whopping hours of midwest nothingness, yay!). So once we get to Denver...a city I HAVEN'T been to before (but D has, whomp whomp), I have a feeling we'll grab a bite to eat and pass the heck out. Not much time for sightseeing, but we did get a hotel with a view of the Rockies, so at least we're looking forward to that.

STOP #6: Moab, Utah - I'm super excited to make a stop here in Moab. We'll be staying at an fun motel just outside of Arches National Park and will get to spend a decent amount of time exploring the gorgeous rock formations inside the park. No hiking for us (thank you, Heidi), but we'll still drive through & stop at all the scenic pull-offs for a good taste of one of Utah's most treasured natural attractions.

STOP #7: Salt Lake City, Utah - Salt Lake will be another fairly quick stop, but that's alright with us. Aside from eating at some cute local eateries, the only thing I really want to do is explore Temple Square. Our hotel is just around the corner from it to make visiting super easy on my sure to be exhausted body. I wish we did have a little bit more time here just so I could meet up with some fun bloggers I've gotten to know. Hopefully this won't be our only time in town!

STOP #8: Reno, Nevada - the "Biggest Little City in the World"...if you would have told me we'd be making a pit stop here, I would have laughed at you (Vegas AND Reno in one pregnancy? You gotta be kidding me!). But we had an extra day and instead of facing a third 8-9 hour drive straight from SLC to Cali, I decided we'd stop and see how Reno compares to Vegas. We're staying right on the Reno "strip" at a casino/spa resort, so while D tries his luck with the roulette wheel, I might cash in on a prenatal massage. I'll have earned it by then, right? ;)

FINAL DESTINATION: Sacramento/Roseville, California area - At this point, I'll calmly get out of the car and kiss the ground. We aren't 100% sure yet where we'll be laying our heads when we FINALLY arrive to the Golden State, but I do know I'll be so darn thankful...and ready to hit the ground running on the house-hunting front (UPDATE: staying at another fabulous Towneplace Suites for the next 8 days!! HELLO, FREE HOT BREAKFAST AND COFFEE!). We aren't buying a house in Cali (I wish I had that kind of cash flow, plus we'll only be here 2 years), so a rental it will be. Fingers, toes and eyes crossed we find something perfect for our little family of 3.

As much as I want to hit this road trip hard and make the most out of our first big move cross-country, being preggo comes with more restrictions and less fun. My sole goal is to make it across without giving birth, ya know? My doc has been on top of that and so far, baby girl and I are healthy as can be. Even so, we're going to try to make this trip one to remember. How many times does one get to road trip across America? If you're military, often...but we like to think this will be our only chance. I hope I don't eat those words later.

Because the travel blogger in me can't let this opportunity go to waste, I'll be documenting the whole crazy adventure via Instagram and Snapchat (username: Caseadilla1016), so feel free to follow along! There will be exciting sights to see along the way and likely a whole lot of delirious car chat (and singing--consider yourselves warned), so help keep us entertained! Also, if you have any suggestions for great restaurants for us to try in any of the cities above, shout 'em out! We're always down for recommendations from past travelers. It's how the travel world goes 'round.

And as always, if you've got some spare good vibes and prayers hanging around...we could still use them! We're getting closer to that light at the end of the tunnel feeling, but we've still got 3,100 miles and a few questionable hurdles jump before we can breathe again. It ain't over until I'm surrounded by my belongings in a nice home in California, amen? AMEN! Oh, and baby girl...stay nice and comfy in there for at least 10 more weeks, mmmkay? Peace out, East Coast!

**Cool road trip map itinerary planner via Roadtrippers**

Sanibel Island: Babymoon

The last 2.5 months have been a total whirlwind of change. With a pending cross-country move, a house to sell (it's SOLD, thank goodness!), and an entire life to pack up and restart in a new state 3,000 miles away, it was safe to say D and I needed some time away from all the chaos. Even amidst the the busyness that is this military life, we wanted to take a moment to relax, recharge, and celebrate our baby girl in a way that we both love...on vacation! Since writing about our Florida Bucket List the end of last year (and thinking we'd have 2 more years to try and check things off that list), I knew our babymoon destination would have to come from that short list. It wasn't long before reservations were booked and off we went to Sanibel Island for 4 sweet days of sand, sea, and celebrating our little Heidi.

Sanibel is just about as dreamy as islands come. Palm trees and lush tropical greenery line all 33 miles of this gulf coast town and the water...oh, that GORGEOUS turquoise water...was so blue & clear that it sparkled in the sunlight. Everything about Sanibel was quaint, from the colorful beach shops and non-chain restaurants to the charming B&B's and 25 miles of scenic bike trails, the island felt like our own secluded slice of paradise those 4 bliss-filled days. Instead of staying at a large resort, we opted for a small inn on the Eastern part of the island called Song of the Sea. It was perfectly beachy, came with a continental breakfast each morning (hello, fresh Florida fruit!), complimentary bike rentals, and swoon-worthy views of the coast that kept me starry-eyed each day. There's nothing like waking up to salty sea air in the morning. Heaven must be a beach...MUST be.

Our Sanibel days were spent waking up early for sunrise walks on the beach, lounging by the pool, searching for shells on the beach, exploring the island by bike, and chowing down on local seafood by night. We talked about our days in Florida and how we felt we didn't fully appreciate our time in the state until it was being cut short. We reminisced about the last 5 years of our lives together...from Germany to now...and how crazy our journey has been. We tried to picture what our lives in California might be like with a baby and a whole new set of responsibilities on the horizon. And we prayed for our sweet girl, our move, and our marriage. There were some tears (mostly mine), but a whole lot of clarity and time to make peace with the big changes we both were still trying to wrap our heads around. Those moments, just the two of us, remain in the forefront of my mind as we continue to navigate our way through this move. I fondly look back and take solace in the words we said and plans we made every time I feel overwhelmed with all the tasks still before us. Thank goodness for the inception of the "babymoon"...trendy as it may be, it was too good for our souls. Two babymoon believers right here. 

If you're interested in making Sanibel your babymoon destination (or just a super fun vacation, for those not expecting), here's a few places you should try hard to not miss:

• Sanibel Lighthouse
• Pinocchio's Italian Ice Cream Shop -- love their signature animal cracker topping & the Dirty Sand Dollar flavor is delish
• Over Easy Cafe -- order the cinnamon roll to split!
• The Island Cow Restaurant -- go early as the wait times can be outrageous in peak summer months.
• Matzaluna Craft Beer and Pasta -- ate the best meatballs OF MY LIFE here. If you get sick of seafood easily, Matzaluna is a wonderful reprieve.
• Periwinkle Way Shops
• The Bubble Room -- located on Captiva side of island
• If your hotel doesn't offer bike rentals, you can rent some at Finnimore's Cycle Shop
• Sunrise along the Eastern coast of the island or at Lighthouse Beach
• Sunset at Blind Pass or Turner Beach

If you need help planning or booking your Sanibel getaway, I know a good travel agent! A little shameless plug, I had to. Email me at Casey@destinationstoexplore.com ;)

A few tips for planning the perfect babymoon:

• Travel before you're 30 weeks! We only had a free long weekend around the time I was 22 weeks and it turned out to be just perfect. I wasn't too big to enjoy lots of activities, but still pregnant enough to be offered free ice cream and prime sunning spots. ;)
• Minimize your travel time. Drive no more than 6 hours and stop every two hours to stretch your legs.
• If you're a maternity body pillow lover (I'm obsessed with my Leachco Snoogle Body Pillow), bring it along with you! And grab a king-size bedroom reservation to add extra comfort.
• Don't forget to pack pregnancy-friendly sunscreen (I LOVE this kind from Kiss My Face) and all your vitamins, belly creams (big fan of Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter), bug spray (I use Cutter All Family 7% DEET Bug Spray), comfy breathable clothes/shoes, healthy snacks, and a water bottle to keep hydrated.
• Is your destination safe from Zika Virus? Sanibel is! Avoid any babymoon destinations with Zika Virus travel restrictions. For more info on the virus and it's affected locations, click here.
• Check with your OB before you travel! Typical recommendations are to not fly after 36 weeks and most cruise lines won't allow you to cruise after the 24th week of pregnancy.
• Make time for naps or ample down-time between activities. Be active, but know your body's limits while pregnant. Don't overdo it!
• Document it all! We brought along our FujiFilm Instax Mini and took loads of fun Polaroid photos to put in Heidi's baby book. We also Snapchatted (find me at Caseadilla1016) much of the trip, so now we have little videos to share with her when she's older.

"Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory"

-Dr. Seuss

A Florida Bucket List

With sunshine and good times on high almost everyday, there are few things not to love about the great state of Florida. When D and I got orders to the Sunshine State in 2014, we knew we were in for loads of beach days, Disney trips, and experiencing unlimited days of summer. So far, we've done all that and more, but there's still so much to see and do here! As much as we traveled around Europe those 3 years living abroad, we've had high hopes to keep our travel bug well fed. Thankfully Florida has no shortage of incredible destinations fit for exploring. One interesting observation we've made our short 1.5 years living here thus far...this state is HUGE. 65,755 sq miles sort of huge. Crazy, right? Living in Germany, we were able to drive 2.5 hours and be in Belgium, or France, or the Netherlands. Drive 2 more hours and we were in Switzerland or Italy. If we drive 3 hours North, South, or West from our current...we're still in Florida. With so much land to cover, we figured it was time to jot down the Sunshine State sights we just have to see. Without further adieu...here's our Florida Bucket List!

So far we've already visited: St. Augustine, Orlando, Tampa, St. Pete, Destin, Cocoa Beach, and Daytona Beach. That's primairly why you won't find any of those places on our current bucket list. We've already hit 'em! But you should, too. And I swear I'll blog about them...someday. ;)

The first time I ever heard of Sanibel Island was from my German landlord's wife, Tanya. No kidding. She and her family visited the states a few years back and spent a week on the Florida gulf coast and said Sanibel was one of the most beautiful beaches she'd ever seen. Which is a big deal considering she's traveled all over the world! From that moment on, I knew if we ever got stationed in Florida, Sanibel would HAVE to be on our "must-see" list. Sanibel Island is most known for having beaches covered in millions of colorful shells making it one of the best beachs in Florida for shelling. The vibe of this island is seclusion, so rest and relaxation are the only two modes you'll need to set your watch on.

Is it weird to say I'd love to watch alligators from the comfort of the seat of an air boat? Truly a sentence I'd never thought I type out...but it's true! And I feel like the coolest place to do that would be in the Florida Everglades. Spanning 1.5 million acres in Southern Florida, the Everglades wetlands preserve is full of beautiful mangroves, sawgrass marshes, pinewood forests, and is home to hundreds of different animal species. Who wouldn't want to explore the world's largest remaining subtropical wilderness? And the whole air boat fascination? Well, let's just say I have a need for speed. ;)

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"Named for Princess Amelia, daughter of George II of Great Britain, Amelia Island is the only place in the United States to have been under the dominion of eight different flags. It’s been home to an array of cultures and colorful characters: Timucuan Indians, European explorers, pirates, bootleggers, Gilded Age millionaires, and shrimpers all make up the colorful tapestry of this treasured island’s rich history. They’ve left behind a legendary legacy (and much to explore.)"  -- AmeilaIsland.com

Not much else to say except, when do we leave?

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I'm sure you aren't surprised that a beer fest is high on our list of things to do while living in Florida. D's a major beer snob and well, I'm along for the ride! After living in the land of beer for 3 years, D and I both grew to love frequenting all of the German (and Belgian) beer festivals that seemed to happen more often than not. In moving back to America, we were pleased to learn that Florida has a strong craft beer scene and loves festivaling just as much as any German would. Not only is Key West an incredible vacation destination (we got a nice taste of it during our Disney cruise this past spring), but it's also holds one of Florida's coolest beerfests of the year. Key West Brewfest is held every Labor Day weekend and draws in thousands of island-going visitors from all around the USA. With over 150 beers to sample, it's easy to see why we've got to get our festival on at least once while we're Florida residents!

So, we're laying in bed one night flipping through the channels and D stops on the Travel Channel and this gorgeous scene of a couple canoeing down a palm tree-lined river. The commentator mentioned it being a "best-kept secret," a "secluded paradise," a "unsuspecting gem in the middle of the state." Well, I was hooked. Turns out this secluded paradise is in the middle of Central Florida! Wekiva Island is a favorite local gathering spot on the Weikva River and just outside the Wekiwa Springs State Park. This natural area is chock-full of outdoor activities like canoeing, kayaking, fishing, paddleboarding, swimming, and volleyball. Or you can spend the day sunbathing and vegging out on their "river-banas" (river cabanas in case you were confused) and festive Adirondack chairs lining the Sweetwater Canal. Visit in Florida's cooler months and you can enjoy S'mores at their riverside fire pit. Sounds dreamy doesn't it? I'm already planning a post-holiday de-stress session around that fire pit. Thanks for the recommendation, Travel Channel!

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Operated as a SCUBA dive training and recreational facility, Devil's Den Springs in Williston, Florida has quickly become a popular place for nature lovers and divers alike. Devil's Den is a subterranean river thats roof has collapsed, leaving a cave-like den formed by the exposed body of water. Not only is it known as a wonderful place to dive, but it's also quite the snorkeling gem. While not quite a cave, it could be the closest thing to a cave dive (or snorkel) you can get in Central Florida...so why not?! Plus, it's such a natural beauty! Reminds me of Mexican cenotes. Feel free to Google away.

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Will Smith said it best "Party in the city where the heat is on...all night on the beach till the break of dawn"...yeah, Miami, you're on our list! Miami is one of those vibrant cities that you are just drawn to. The beaches, the nightlife, the Cuban influences, the art deco buildings...I'm getting psyched just typing about it. D is originally from a town outside of Miami, so he loves to tell me about all the cool things this iconic Florida city has to offer. South Beach is what I've got my eye on. I can just see myself on the beach in front of a luxurious surfside hotel, cocktail in hand. Can't you see yourself there too? Let's just go, ok?

Basically any place with "nap" in the name, I'm on board. Doesn't hurt that this is also ranked one of Florida's most beautiful beaches and that it's only a few hours drive from our home here in FL. While I love living a 10 minute drive from our own beach here on the East Coast...there's just something about the Gulf Coast that is totally swoon-worthy in its own rite. Turquoise waters and a white sand beaches have a lot to do with the swooning, to be honest. While we're here, we'll probably venture inland to Sarasota and see trouble we can get into there. We hear there's lots of fab restaurants to be found. Beach and then food...sign me up!

How cute is he?!?! Located in Marathon, FL in the Florida Keys, The Turtle Hospital is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of endangered sea turtles. Once they're back in tip-top shape, they're released back into their natural habitat. In addition to helping rehab these beautiful sea creatures, the hospital also aims to educate people about sea and beach pollution while also doing research with local universities on how to aid turtles in their ocean homes. Visitors to the Turtle Hospital can take educational tours of the hospital facilities & rehab center, as well as feed the turtles! 

Have you ever been to any of these Florida destinations? 

Share your experiences! Any Florida sights we should add to the list?