Dear Friends,

This fall, we drove down to Florida to leave a car there and figured we'd share the details of our journey with you. We spent 11 days on the road, traveling through scenic spots, enjoying family visits, and exploring new destinations.

Planning the Trip

The fun of a road trip starts with the planning, right? We had our starting and final destinations locked in—Hudson Valley to Space Coast—but needed to figure out where to stop along the way. A road atlas from Barnes & Noble (yes, we went old school!) and Google Maps helped us map out some cool stops. I usually drive for about 4 hours a day—anything more and I get a bit tired!

First Stop: Hudson Valley to Harrisburg, PA

Drive time: 4 hours 48 minutes
We stayed with family in Harrisburg, which was perfect for a relaxing break. We explored Lake Tobias Wildlife Park, had dinner at Mangia Mangia, and even squeezed in a ghost hunt in Gettysburg (though, fair warning, the ghost hunt didn’t live up to expectations). A highlight was spending one-on-one time with each of my brothers.

Next: Harrisburg to Luray, VA

Drive time: 5 hours 23 minutes
We made our way to Skyline Drive, where I’d visited as a child and was eager to revisit. The views were stunning, and we stayed at Skyland Resort. A peaceful (even if chilly) evening of walking trails, dinner at the Tavern, and watching the sunset from our motel room rounded out our visit.

Onward: Luray to Mt. Airy, NC

Drive time: 5 hours 29 minutes
A fun stop in Mt. Airy, the hometown of Andy Griffith, was a treat for my husband (a fan of the classic TV show). We stayed at the Mayberry Motor Inn and dined at the locals’ favorite, 13 Bones.

Next Stop: Mt. Airy to Charleston, SC

Drive time: 5 hours 14 minutes
Charleston greeted us with a charming historic district, perfect for an afternoon of exploring. We stayed at the Mills House and enjoyed drinks at the Blind Tiger Pub. Dinner at Magnolias was delicious, and I even found time to visit the Gibbes Museum of Art. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure.

Charleston to Savannah, GA

Drive time: 2 hours 18 minutes
Both Charleston and Savannah have their own unique charm, and we loved getting a taste of both. We stayed at The Cotton Sail Hotel and explored the City Market. A visit to the Wormsloe Historic Site with its stunning oak-lined avenue was a photo op I’ll never forget.

Final Leg: Savannah to Jacksonville Beach/Amelia Island, FL

Drive time: 3 hours 2 minutes
Spending time with family in Jacksonville was the perfect ending to our trip. We spent a day exploring Amelia Island and enjoying local favorites like The Patio at 5th and Ash Restaurant. We’ll definitely be back to explore some more.

Final Stretch: Jacksonville Beach to Space Coast, FL

Drive time: 3 hours 8 minutes
After a whirlwind road trip, we finally made it back to our Space Coast home. We were excited to settle in and reconnect with friends here.

Looking Ahead: Changes for the Return Trip

As with all road trips, hindsight is 20/20. Here’s what I’ll be doing differently next time:

1. Spend more time at each stop. I feel like we rushed through the middle part of the trip. I’ll aim for two-night stays next time to explore more.

2. Pack warmer clothes. We had some unexpected chilly weather, so I’ll be more prepared next time.

3. Stay at privately owned inns. We enjoyed the small motel in Mt. Airy—clean and affordable. I’m excited to find more like it.

Got Suggestions?

We’ll be making this trip a couple of times a year, and I'd love to hear your recommendations for places to stay, eat, or shop along the way. Drop us a DM on Instagram.

Want the 411 on this trip?

If you want to read more details of this trip, check out the full blog. 😄 

Happy road-tripping!
Kathleen