Last year, Dad generously gifted me a week at his condo in Orlando. I booked my trip for mid October and reached out to my dear friend and travel companion, Patsy. I met Patsy at the bank, and we developed our friendship during my brief stint as a teller. From Peru, Patsy studied translation and came to the U.S. as an exchange student. Now a full time resident, she hasn't lost her wanderlust.

After much excitement and counting down, we made it to Florida. We were surprised when the rental car company upgraded us to a brand new Kia Soul, which we loving referred to as The Canary" due to its obnoxiously fabulous color.

We first took The Canary on a road trip to St. Augustine, the oldest settlement in the U.S. The view atop the Castillo de San Marcos was gorgeous, and I couldn't resist capturing it from the above angles.

There are many churches in town, each with their own character and architecture. I'd love to re-visit St. Augustine to learn more of its vast and rich history, and to take in more of the sites.

As cooler temperatures were taking ahold of New England, Patsy and I dedicated a few days to beach hopping. We visited the Gulf Coast and took the ferry to Caladesi Island, renown for its beaches.

We made time for a few glamour shots as well!

At sunset we took a stroll down Clearwater Beach and admired the color. The beaches around Tampa are gorgeous, and we could plan a week just in that area.

Along with swimming and sun bathing we explored Epcot and Magic Kingdom, because Patsy's never had a Disney experience and she needed one. I think her favorite ride was the carousel.

Our final day was spent on the East Coast where we visited Melbourne Beach. An after sunset tour of Cocoa Beach concluded our trip, leaving us thirsty for the next adventure!

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