Back to Florida: Birthday, Family & Funky Lifeguard Stands
Some trips feel less like vacations and more like homecomings. This one? Definitely both. I came back to Florida to celebrate my daughter’s birthday — a reminder that no matter how far I roam, this place always has a way of pulling me back.
The trip started the best way possible: hanging out with my parents. The kind of simple, grounding time you only appreciate more the older you get. We started with them taking me to Big Bear Brewing Co. in Coral Springs
From there, the energy shifted as I headed toward Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Fort Lauderdale Beach – Where Even the Lifeguard Stands Have Personality
If you’ve been to beaches around the world, you know lifeguard stands are usually… well, lifeguard stands. Functional. Predictable. Not here. In Fort Lauderdale, they’re characters of their own. Each stand has its own style, almost like the beach decided to dress up for the party too.
If you don’t know what to do when in Ft Lauderdale Beach.
Hollywood Beach – A Classic That Never Gets Old
From there, I drifted south to one of my all-time favorite spots: Hollywood Beach. There’s something timeless about the Broadwalk (yes, with a b), where rollerbladers, beachgoers, and musicians all seem to move in the same rhythm.
Checking into the Hollywood Marriott felt like a continuation of the beach life — laid-back but polished, with that easy access to the ocean that makes it feel like home.
Celebration at Opa Taverna in Hollywood Never Fails!
A Florida State of Mind
That’s what I love about coming back here. It’s never just one thing — it’s family, it’s fun, it’s funky lifeguard stands, and it’s the comfort of knowing your favorite spots will still be there, waiting. Florida doesn’t hesitate to amaze me, even when I already know the script.
💡 Travel Sidekick Tip: When you revisit a place, don’t just retrace your steps. Notice what’s new, quirky, or simply different this time. That’s where the magic hides.
And if you want a travel buddy that never misses those details? Check out Justo Hops – Your Chill Travel Sidekick.
“Florida, you never change — and that’s exactly why I keep coming back.”
