20th Anniversary Adventures
Amy and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary this past December with a last-minute getaway to one of our favorite spots: Florida’s Gulf Coast. Though our trip got off to a dramatically bumpy start, literally.
Our flight from Philadelphia couldn't land initially because of thick, stubborn fog. The pilot made a valiant attempt, getting so close we could almost see the runway... then aborted at the last second. Visions of air traffic controller shortages danced in my head. What if we couldn’t land in Tampa, where would they divert us? Luckily, after circling for another 20-30 minutes, we finally touched down safely. By then, our 3 a.m. wake-up call felt like ancient history.
But the day quickly turned around. We picked up our rental car: a bright red Mustang convertible. For as much as I love cars, I’ve never driven a convertible, so another new experience for me (Amy had a VW Cabrio for a bit when we were dating). As we pulled out of the airport, the sun finally broke through the clouds, and the temperature hit a perfect 65 degrees. With the top down, the warm sunshine felt gloriously therapeutic.
To kill time before check-in, we hit up Aldi and Target for groceries (perishables included—big mistake, as you'll see). When we finally arrived at our beachfront VRBO rental, the view was... obstructed. A major beach nourishment project was underway right in front of the house, blocking our ocean view with heavy equipment, shipping containers, huge pipes and piles of sand.
Inside wasn't much better: it clearly hadn't been cleaned properly. We found dirt, crumbs, a rogue French fry under the counter, and a large dead water bug (or cockroach—take your pick) lurking nearby. As if that weren't enough, when Amy went to open the balcony door, the handle literally broke off in her hand. We looked at each other and knew instantly: we couldn't spend multiple days in a "beachfront" home where we couldn't actually enjoy the beach, the view, or the pool.
So, back into our trusty red steed we climbed, and we started driving north up the coast. Thankfully, this was our third trip to the area, so we had some local knowledge to lean on. Priority one: find a hotel with a real refrigerator. Those tiny mini-fridges in most rooms weren't going to cut it with the groceries we'd already bought.
Here's where fate (and a bit of nostalgia) stepped in. Amy had always loved the "big pink hotel" in Clearwater Beach and had mentioned multiple times over the years how she'd love to stay there someday. Well, now was apparently the day! She called, spoke with an incredibly sweet and understanding representative, and confirmed they had rooms that would work for us. By this point, it was almost 6:30 p.m., what felt like an eternity after our early-morning flight. We arrived at the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa, and the staff couldn't have been more welcoming. The place is stunning, and when they learned this trip was for our 20th wedding anniversary (the whole reason we were here!), they upgraded us to a beautiful oceanfront suite. It was exactly what we needed after a day that felt like one challenge after the next.
While still driving to the hotel, Amy was already hunting on VRBO for options for the next couple of nights. She found a promising house in Indian Shores, comparable to our original spot, but it was a brand-new listing with zero reviews. Total crapshoot. We messaged the owner anyway, explaining our situation. To our surprise, she responded within minutes (thankfully not a faceless management company!). She was at the store but said she'd be available soon to chat and felt confident we could work something out.
The biggest hurdle? The hotel's 11 a.m. checkout versus the typical 3-4 p.m. house check-in. We didn't want to lose another precious day of our short getaway, especially not on our actual anniversary. Turns out the property had only become available two days earlier because the original renters had to cancel due to a family health emergency. It's hard to reconcile the universe's sense of timing: something that saved our trip only happened because of someone else's misfortune. 😔
Flash forward to the end of the trip, and I'm happy to report…it all worked out beautifully in the end. The new house in Indian Shores was perfect for us. Direct beachfront access, stunning Gulf views, and that peaceful, laid-back vibe we were craving.
The weather was gorgeous during the day, sunny and warm enough to soak it all in, though mornings and evenings had a refreshing chill. Compared to the actual cold back in Pennsylvania, it felt like heaven. We even got to explore another gem on the Gulf Coast: Indian Shores. With our short timeframe, we only sampled a couple of restaurants, but wow, they delivered.
One standout? Forchetta, a small Italian spot tucked in a strip mall. Looks can be deceiving, but the Google reviews were spot-on. I’ve been thinking about that pasta since we’ve been home—it was the best I've ever had. Cozy, authentic, and exactly the kind of hidden treasure that makes a trip special.
All's well that ends well, I suppose. What began with panic turned into a couple of truly great days, plus a brand-new favorite spot. Now we have another future destination to bring the girls on a family vacation—hopefully sooner rather than later! Here's to more unexpected detours that lead exactly where you're meant to be 🥂
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