COASTAL DRIVE TO CORAL SPRINGS: December 19-20, 2011

After spending much of Monday at Downtown Disney in Orlando, we prepare for the 180-mile drive to Kristen's home in Coral Springs. Instead of taking the usual route south on Florida's Turnpike, we decide to take an extra day to drive down the Atlantic coast, beach hopping along the way. Rhonda's father, Ron Millett, flies into Orlando from Salt Lake City late Monday afternoon to also spend the holidays with the Buhlers. We plan to stop in Vero Beach for the night, where Ron will visit briefly with an old Army buddy, Rene Julien.

When the Buhlers leave Downtown Disney, Kristen and boys drive straight to Vero Beach, where they check into the SpringHill Suites before dark. Gary and Rhonda stop at the airport in Orlando to pick up Ron, then trail Kristen to Vero Beach (arriving in the dark of night). Ron meets the Juliens for dinner. Kristen and boys meet Gary and Rhonda for dinner. Surprisingly, everyone (Ron with the Juliens -- Gary and Rhonda with the Buhlers) ends up eating at the same Steak & Shake just off I-95 in Vero Beach. After dinner, we enjoy a restful night at the SpringHill Suites near the beach.

Following a nice, hot breakfast at the hotel on Tuesday, we actually see and walk along Vero Beach. Then we head down the coastal highway, also enjoying strolls along Jupiter Beach and Palm Beach. We spot Donald Trump's beautiful complex at Mar-a-Lago, along with what we can glimpse of many other out-of-this-world Palm Beach estates. This beach route is slow and takes most of the day. How wonderful to finally get out of the car in Coral Springs, almost within view of Kristen's house. We are famished, so stop first for dinner at Koto Hibachi Steak House. Then we reach our final destination, Kristen's beautifully decorated home. Kristen is such a great hostess. What a fun place to spend the holidays!