Who drives 18 hours, two of those hours being in the opposite direction, instead of flying? I do, obviously. I knew right away that I would not be flying for a few different reasons - safety and comfort being the two most important. I, also, knew that my family would be tagging along. My parents actually lived in Florida for six years during the 1980s and early 1990s. Naturally, my brother and I grew up vacationing in Florida. So, when I have the opportunity to visit, you know I’m going!


Once I found out that I would be in Jacksonville, Florida for a wedding, (see the lovely photos here) I, immediately, started planning what I could do! You know, due to the current state of the world, my options were limited. (rightfully so!) I decided last minute to stay in Orlando - two hours south of Jacksonville - for more choices.


However, when I think of Florida, I think of the beach! My favorite beach I’ve ever visited is Daytona Beach! I love everything about that beach - the compact sand, the option to drive onto it, the boardwalk, EVERYTHING!! That being said, my second favorite beach is Fort Pierce beach. It is a private beach that allows dogs. So, basically, my dream. It also has some of the prettiest blue water you’ll see in the States.

Tropical beach landscape with lush palm trees and coastal vegetation.
Row of tall palm trees with fan-shaped fronds against vibrant blue sky.
Panoramic view of a pristine beach with turquoise waters and white sand under blue skies.
Sunny beach scene with sand dunes and coastal buildings in the background.
Sweeping coastal landscape with waves rolling onto an empty beach under bright blue sky.
Sandy beach setting with blue skies and white puffy clouds.

The weather in Fort Pierce was lovely! When we were there, it was about 85 degrees with a breeze... in FEBRUARY. I mean, it doesn’t get much better than that! I honestly didn’t want to leave but Fort Pierce is about a two hour drive from Orlando. After a few hours in the sun, we headed back to go to downtown Disney, what is known as Disney Springs now.


I haven’t been to Disney Springs for a few years. I was so surprised at the renovations made to it. If you’ve never been before, it is a shopping/food area that is free to get into. It was in such a popular location before that would people circle parking lots for hours trying to park. Especially, in the evening. Now, there are several parking garages and the park is twice as large. If you’re in or visiting the Orlando area, I highly recommend it!


After a few hours at Disney Springs, we headed back towards our apartment in Downtown Orlando. If you are looking for a nice stay in downtown, I would highly recommend the Sonder Airbnb at Steelhouse. It’s beautifully decorated, in a safe area, and has plenty of natural light! My favorite part of the apartment were they earplugs and the white noise machine. As a light sleeper, it made the stay that much more enjoyable!

Modern apartment interior with pendant lights and dark wood cabinets in an open concept space.
Contemporary dining area with turquoise chairs and pendant lighting in a minimalist setting.
Living room interior with white walls, window blinds, and modern furniture arrangement.
Modern living space with wall art, mounted TV, and wooden accent furniture.
Bright room with multiple windows featuring horizontal blinds and natural light streaming in.
Urban parking lot view from a balcony with brick buildings and cloudy sky in the background.

The weekend went by so fast in this little apartment that I already miss it! I loved the natural light, especially, in the kitchen. Being in this nice apartment inspired us to cook while we were there. That being said, we Postmated A LOT of food. A lot. Orlando has more variety to choose from and that means I indulged! My favorite local restaurant (that we have tried before) is Teak Neighborhood Grill!


Teak has the best burgers in Orlando. I know a lot of places claim that but, this time, it’s true. They’re so good at burgers that they offer 21 different options... yeah, 21! I don’t gravitate towards burgers very often but when I do, it’s at Teak Neighborhood Grill. My favorite is “The Pig”. It’s pulled pork topped with white cheddar cheese, onions, and herb mayonnaise served on a pretzel bun. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any photos because I ate mine in 3 seconds. However, my brother took a few photos of his glazed donut burger!

Glazed donut burger served with crispy french fries on a white takeout container.
Close-up of a glazed donut burger with bacon and cheese on a white plate.
Glazed donuts with bacon filling arranged on white plates.

He said it was better than his photos make it look! It smelled amazing, too! I can’t wait to go back! I love Orlando and Florida... until next time!