The Birthplace of Volusia County: A Hidden Story Beside the St. Johns River

Historic bronze marker identifying the Birthplace of Volusia County mounted beneath a weathered oak tree beside the St. Johns River in Volusia, Florida.

Sometimes the best discoveries aren’t on the itinerary—they’re the ones you almost drive past. I almost missed this stop. Just after crossing the St. Johns River, a small green historical marker caught the corner of my eye. By the time I realized what I’d seen, I was already past it. If you’ve followed Travel Made … Read more

Lake City Road Trip #1

Historic house in North Florida featured on the Lake City road trip overview, with the words “Lake City Trip – For Business and Pleasure” overlaid on the image.

A three-day North Florida journey built from one simple errand, a lot of extra time, and more detours than expected Some road trips begin with a carefully chosen destination. Others begin because somebody needs paperwork signed. This was definitely the second kind. What started as a simple weekend trip to Lake City, Florida, quickly turned … Read more

Fort Butler: The Forgotten Seminole War Fort I Found by Accident

Historic Florida marker for Fort Butler, a Seminole War fort built in 1838 along the St. Johns River near Astor, Florida.

There are two kinds of road trips. The ones where you stick to the itinerary… …and the ones where a random historical marker sends you down a rabbit hole you never expected. This was definitely the second kind. I was on my way to visit Bulow Plantation Ruins when I spotted a historical marker along … Read more

Orlando to Alabama Road Trip #1

Orlando skyline at sunset reflecting on Lake Eola, representing the starting point for an Orlando to Alabama road trip.

A four-day journey through history, heart, and the unexpected Some road trips are planned down to the minute.Others leave room for detours, discoveries, and the quiet moments that stay with you long after the bags are unpacked. This was one of those. Our first Alabama road trip began in Orlando and unfolded over four days … Read more

Orlando to Alabama Road Trip #1  – Day Four Itinerary

Roadtrippers map showing the full Alabama Road Trip #1 route from Orlando, Florida through Alabama and Georgia, with all 25 stops marked before returning to Orlando.

The long goodbye. The final day of a road trip always has its own personality. There’s less talking. More staring out the window. A soft, shared understanding that something good is ending and reality is waiting patiently down the road. Day Four of our first Alabama road trip was exactly that—simple, meaningful, and intentionally slow. … Read more

Florida Caverns State Park: Florida’s Hidden Underground Gem

Purple-lit cave at Florida Caverns State Park, a hidden gem in the South

If you ever find yourself traveling through the Florida Panhandle, Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna is one of those stops that lingers long after the road trip ends. The first time Dusty and I visited, we weren’t really sure what to expect. Caves in Florida? It felt out of place. But after taking a … Read more

Ghosts in the Mist: Bellamy Bridge, Florida’s Haunted Heartbeat

Haunted Bellamy Bridge

May 26, 2025 by Ki There’s a place just outside Marianna, Florida, where the woods grow quiet… too quiet. Where the moss hangs heavier, the air thickens, and stories refuse to stay buried. That place is Bellamy Bridge Historic Site—a stretch of haunted trail and weathered iron where the line between folklore and history blurs … Read more