My Epic Summer 2025 Road Trip – Highlights Beyond the Hotels
This summer was all about the open road, new adventures, and discovering some seriously cool spots along the way. Over 20 days, my family and I stayed at 14 different hotels while traveling through Pennsylvania, Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Along the way, we hit new destinations, revisited a few favorites, and created memories I’ll never forget.
This post is meant to be a bit of a teaser — so you can start guessing which hotel reviews are coming up on my blog and YouTube channel. From milkshakes in Pittsburgh to rocket launches on Florida’s Space Coast, here’s a look at the highlights of my Summer 2025 Road Trip.
Watch the Journey Unfold
Want to see the full adventure in action? Check out my Epic Summer 2025 Road Trip playlist on YouTube below!
Every week, I’m adding a new hotel review and travel highlight — so hit play and follow along as the series grows.
Pittsburgh, PA – Outlets, Penguins & Milkshakes
We kicked off the trip bright and early. Our first pit stop on the way to Pittsburgh was at Grove City Premium Outlets, which is always a solid shopping stop. Once we finally made it to the hotel in Pittsburgh, we took it easy — it was really hot that day. We tried checking out the Pittsburgh Penguins shop inside PPG Paints Arena, but unfortunately it had closed early. Later, when things cooled down, we went for a walk and ended up at The Milkshake Factory. The milkshakes there were so good and made the stop worthwhile.
👉 [Pittsburgh Marriott City Center]
Alexandria / Fort Belvoir, VA – Exploring the U.S. Army Museum
My parents planned this stop on purpose. Last time we were in Alexandria, we didn’t get a chance to visit the National Museum of the United States Army, so this time we made it happen. The museum itself was awesome — and we got lucky because a special exhibit was running while we were there: CALL TO Arms: The Soldier and the Revolutionary War. This exhibit commemorates the U.S. Army’s 250th Birthday and the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Inside, we saw rare Revolutionary War artifacts up close. The whole museum was really well put together, and I’d definitely suggest visiting if you’re in the area.
👉 [TownePlace Suites by Marriott Alexandria Fort Belvoir]
Lumberton, NC – Pizza Night & Road Trip Rest Stop
Lumberton was the perfect place for a road trip stop — great to fuel up and rest before continuing the journey the next day. We turned it into pizza night thanks to Your Pie Pizza, which was just a 30-second walk from the hotel doors. The pizza was excellent, and my sister and I had gelato with our meals, which made it even better. Honestly, I was really impressed with this stop overall and can’t wait to share the hotel review with you soon.
👉 [SpringHill Suites by Marriott Lumberton]
Brunswick, GA – Buc-ee’s & Outlet Shopping
What’s better than visiting one Buc-ee’s in a day? Visiting two Buc-ee’s locations in a single day. Our morning started with a stop at the Florence, SC Buc-ee’s — which was perfect since it was only about 45 minutes from our Lumberton hotel. I’ve only been to a Buc-ee’s in the morning once before, so I was hyped to try the Buc-ee’s breakfast items again. Totally worth it.
On the way to Brunswick, we also stopped at Tanger Outlets Hilton Head for some shopping. Fun fact: this outlet is split into two locations that are only about a mile apart, which makes it even better for variety.
By the time we checked in to our recently renovated Fairfield room in Brunswick (spoiler alert: can’t wait to show you the new room design in my review), it was dinner time. And yes, Buc-ee’s came through again. The brand new Brunswick Buc-ee’s — open for only about a month — was less than 10 minutes from our hotel, so of course we went. And as always, the food at Buc-ee’s hit the spot.
👉 [Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Brunswick]
Titusville, FL – Dolphins, Rockets & Space Coast Fun
On our way to Titusville, we drove through St. Augustine, where we somehow discovered Magnolia Avenue and its beautifully lined oak trees that create a natural archway over the road. While we were there, I spotted a peacock drinking from a puddle — such a random but awesome sight. We also took advantage of trying Whataburger for the first time, and honestly, it was one of the best fast-food burgers I’ve ever had.
After about an hour and a half drive, we arrived at our hotel — one of my favorite Courtyard hotels ever (and in my opinion, the best Courtyard I’ve stayed at so far). We spent three nights here on the other side of the Indian River, with amazing views facing Kennedy Space Center. Even though we didn’t visit KSC this trip, we still got a space experience: a night rocket launch at 4 a.m. on our first night, watched right from the hotel’s rooftop Space Bar. It was an incredible view.
Other highlights from this stop included:
- Chow’s Country Buffet – hands down the best buffet I’ve ever been to, with a huge selection of Chinese and American food. Bonus: unlimited rocket pops for dessert.
- Space Shirts – the ultimate stop for affordable NASA shirts, mission patches, stickers, and unique space souvenirs you don’t find everywhere else. A must-visit for space fans.
- Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach – massive and packed with cool stuff. Every time we go, time just flies while we shop.
- Cocoa Beach Pier – great ocean views and fun shops to explore.
- Tastee Donuts – my parents woke up at 5 a.m. to grab these, and I’m glad they did. Some of the best donuts I’ve ever had. (Tip: get there early before they sell out!)
- And maybe the coolest surprise: we could see dolphins right from our hotel window.
(Full hotel review coming soon!)
Daytona Beach, FL – Speedway Hats, Games & Bingo Nights
Another three-night stay at another one of my favorite hotels.
Highlights included:
- Scoring a Daytona 500 hat at the Pit Shop inside Daytona International Speedway.
- Visiting Bass Pro Shops, where I spent most of my time just watching the fish while my parents shopped 😂.
- Cooling off at Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, which is always a family favorite.
- Playing games at GameTime Daytona and taking advantage of their Play Your Way Thursday promo — $15 for five hours of unlimited play on select games. The only trade-off was no ticket collecting for prizes, but honestly, I didn’t mind.
- Trying my hand at Bingo Bash @ ONE DAYTONA. It was a high-energy, music-filled event with a DJ, a fun host, and bonus mini-games for extra tickets. I won plenty of mini-games, but lost every single round of bingo (yes, I’m still salty about it).
- A father-son stop at Hooters for BOGO wing night — we ordered way too many wings, but it was totally worth it.
👉 [The Daytona, Autograph Collection]
Lake Mary, FL – Hidden Gem with Great Staff
At this stop, we met some of the friendliest hotel staff I’ve ever experienced. The hotel and staff were so good that my only disappointment was not staying longer — we really found a hidden gem in Lake Mary.
We mostly chilled here, but the on-site restaurant 1501 Kitchen and Bar was really good. Sometimes staying put is the best move, and this hotel made it easy. I can’t wait to share not one but two hotel room tours, plus what turned out to be one of the best Marriott Lounge breakfasts I’ve had in a long time.
(Full hotel review coming soon!)
Orlando / Winter Garden, FL – Skyline Chili & Disney Springs
This two-night stop gave us a chance to catch our breath at a Flamingo Crossings Town Center hotel. Every morning started with Mickey waffles, which is always a win.
We also tried Skyline Chili for the first time, which was just three minutes from our hotel. We’d always planned to try it on a future Ohio trip since there are so many locations there, but this Winter Garden spot was actually the first Skyline Chili to open in Florida. Their coneys and “ways” lived up to the hype.
Of course, no Florida road trip is complete without some Disney magic. We went to Disney Springs (not the parks this time), and I picked up a Grogu shoulder buddy — aka Baby Yoda that sits on your shoulder.
(Full hotel review coming soon!)
Jekyll Island, GA – Sea Turtles, Beaches & Sand Dollars
This stop was a fun mix of nature and food:
- We visited the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, where the staff does an incredible job rescuing turtles and other reptiles. While there, we got to watch a green sea turtle being fed and even saw staff tending to an alligator.
- Later, we tried appetizers at Founders Social (my dad loved happy hour here and called it an “oasis”).
- We also hit the beach, where I saved two live sand dollars by tossing them back into the ocean. I found a dead one I could keep… until it shattered into pieces. At least I still have those pieces.
- On the drive north, we grabbed Cook-Out in Pooler, GA — always a road trip win.
- Along the way, we also learned about the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler, which I’ll definitely be adding to my list for next time.
(Full hotel review coming soon!)
Augusta, GA – James Brown’s Hometown & River Views
Augusta is James Brown’s hometown, so he’s everywhere — murals, art, even mailboxes. My hunt for the James Brown statue brought us to the Augusta Museum of History, since we heard a rumor it might be there. Sadly, we learned it was in storage during the downtown construction.
Because it was August, museum admission was only $1 each! Inside, we saw a full James Brown exhibit with some of his iconic outfits, plus a giant locomotive indoors.
Other highlights included:
- FarmHaus Burgers – amazing burgers.
- Riverwalk – great river views (minus the bug bites).
- 5th Street Bridge – we walked from Georgia to South Carolina with cool statues along the way.
I also got to stay at another unique Marriott property here, where the staff was super welcoming. Augusta left me wishing for an extra day — there’s so much to see, eat, and do just on Broad Street alone.
(Full hotel review coming soon!)
Charlotte, NC – Rooftop Views & SouthPark Eats
In Charlotte, I finally got to stay at a new Marriott brand I’d been wanting to try, and it didn’t disappoint. The staff was awesome, and the rooftop bar was incredible. A couple of staff members were fans of my reviews and even left some surprises in my room, which was really cool.
We spent some time at SouthPark Mall, and had dinner at Duckworth’s Grill and TapHouse, where everything was excellent (the burgers especially). On the way out of town, we hit up a brand-new Jeremiah’s Italian Ice in Statesville — it had only been open five days! What a surprise, since I thought Daytona would be my last Jeremiah’s stop of the trip.
(Full hotel review coming soon!)
Clarksburg, WV – Sandwiches & a Time Capsule Hotel
This was a quick road trip stop since we arrived late in the evening. We grabbed dinner at Primanti Bros., which never disappoints — those sandwiches stacked with fries are perfection. Our hotel for the night was a Courtyard by Marriott that honestly felt like it was stuck in time.
👉 [Courtyard by Marriott Bridgeport Clarksburg]
Erie, PA – Two Hotels, Views & Reflection
Our final stop gave us the chance to experience two different hotels in Erie, which made it even more memorable. One of them had a pool design I’d never seen before (something I’ll reveal in the review 😉), and I also got to try a unique piece of hotel furniture I hadn’t come across in over 135 hotel stays.
We had great views from both rooms, and Erie turned out to be the perfect place not just to explore, but also to reflect on the journey. This stop really gave me time to think about all the new memories and experiences we shared together as a family during the past 20 days.
👉 [Courtyard by Marriott Erie Bayfront]
Final Thoughts
This summer road trip had everything — iconic food stops, random roadside finds (shoutout to the peacock and dolphins), beaches, museums, arcades, and even a rocket launch. It was packed with fun and adventure, but it was also a chance to pause and appreciate how lucky I am to travel with my family.
So a huge thank you to my parents, my sister, and all the incredible staff members we met along the way. I’m truly blessed to have had this experience, to make new memories, and to explore so many new places together.
Until the next adventure,
Mateo – This Teen Travelz