Day 5 didn’t start out as planned. Even though we went to bed feeling accomplished, (we did our laundry, organized our groceries, and found a cozy airbnb), we woke up feeling like we shouldn’t have pushed so hard. You’ll come to see this is an ongoing realization throughout the Southern Series, since we didn’t think moving around everyday would take such a toll on our bodies (and minds). Read on to hear about our super simple day (which was ironically New Years Eve!)🥳 and how we would have structured it a little differently if we were to do the same trip again.

 

But First, Waffle House

Life doesn’t always go as planned, so on this trip, we decided to have no plan at all! We wanted to find out how good we could “wing it,” and therefore encountered a lot of fun, random spots (but also ran into a lot of, “maybe we should have slowed down some,” moments as well.👀

Once we got up this day, feeling sick, tired, and run down, we decided to stay in Panama City at the same airbnb again…but unfortunately it wasn’t available. 🤦‍♀️ Therefore, we casually decided to keep going to a warmer climate and some sunshine to hopefully start feeling better, and ended up in the small town of Sanford, FL, not too far from Orlando.

But first, Waffle House.🙂
Because when did greasy bacon and loads of butter not make you feel better, am I right?

 

We talked on the way about how moving on was probably for the best, since the crowds would be coming into Panama City anyway, making it hard to get around and overwhelming…but looking back, we should have gotten a hotel and just walked to the beach celebration at night!

We were adamant on keeping out of hotels this trip, trying to steer clear of normal stops like these and relying more on the last minute airbnb or camping adventures. (Unfortunately we didn’t get to do any camping despite bringing *all* of our camping gear, since camping in Florida is much more complicated than just setting up a spot in BLM land out west).

Therefore, hotels were frowned upon, and we set our sights further south.

 

Biloxi and New Year’s Eve Steaks

We also heard talk while in the outskirts of New Orleans, about the town of Biloxi, MS, that was supposedly a fun stop for NYE if we were passing through anyway. After browsing some online, we decided it wouldn’t be super fun since a lot of this celebration was taking place outdoors and it was still so cold outside. (Silly, since we are from PGH and probably would have done just fine!)😃

Biloxi now is on our “must go” list, since we’d still like to see it shine in the warmer weather. As we made our way south, we stopped to shop for more groceries, water, and essentials, and grabbed our fancy sparkling water to use for our NYE steak dinners we’d be making.✨

It was a long driving day, but we enjoyed the changing landscape again as we crossed further into Florida along the way. Our new airbnb was super cute as well, even offering a bottle of wine for the night (we don’t drink anymore, so we left it for the next person!), but it was a nice touch to an already great place. (They even had a dishwasher!)

Day 3 of Our Southern Road Trip: Mississippi History and Louisiana Charm

 

There was a pretty patio as well, but unfortunately it was still chilly so we decided to stay inside. We caught the sunset right as we were unloading for the night, and checked out a few nearby local fireworks down the sidewalk from our place. (We’ve read it’s a pretty fun spot to spend NYE if you’re feeling up to walking to the local bars and restaurants, so don’t discount this place for an exciting, small town time!)

Once we got unpacked and settled, I made steak, mac and cheese, and asparagus. It was a delicious fulfilling meal after road snacks all day, a chill evening on the couch getting some work done, and an early bedtime around 9pm since we were still feeling a little off. (We of course set our alarm for midnight so we could see the ball drop on live stream!) This is something we typically do each year if we know we won’t make it up. 😂

 

 

Don’t Forget to Recharge on Road Trips

It was definitely a different New Years Eve than I’d imagined we’d have on this trip, but it was perfect nonetheless. We got to recharge some, putting our physical and mental health first, and I think that made a positive overall impact on our moods in the days to come. Sometimes a small sacrifice is worth keeping yourself healthy so you can enjoy your entire trip and not just one evening! 💁‍♀️

As the years go by, this is something we’ve come to realize a lot more. Not just during trips, but in everyday life as well. This is what Habitual Balance is all about, after all. Finding ways to have comfort when needed, but enjoying adventures when your mind and body are refreshed.

What is your favorite way to recharge on road trips?

Day 4 of Our Southern Road Trip: Ghost Vibes, Bourbon Street, and Burnout

 

 

Day Five Road Trip Expenses Breakdown

As promised, I’ll be sharing our budget for the day again, so check it out below and drop any questions or comments down below! Thanks for following along, (even on the boring days!), and for your support along the way. See you next week, friends! ✌️🌼

Southern States Road Trip Expenses for Day 5:

• Airbnb: $181.61
• Breakfast: $15 (had gift card from xmas, thanks dad!)
• Fuel: ~$70
• Publix (Groceries restock): $141.79
  • Total: $408.40

 

Thank You For Reading Our About Our Florida Road Trip Day

For everyone who has stuck around for this road trip, I just want to say thank you.  Things don’t always go as planned but there is always opportunities to experience things in new and different ways.  Until next time.