I found my home. Not just a place on the map but a feeling deep inside. Sometimes you just know.

Who knew that just 42 minutes from Orlando, hugging the east coast and a smidge north of Cocoa Beach was a hidden gem?

I live 1.3 miles from the Indian River, tucked into a quaint gated neighborhood and directly across from the infamous Kennedy Space Center. Are you kidding me?

In October 2016, I got the opportunity to lead the Titusville YMCA and immediately took my mom out looking for houses on my birthday weekend. We visited 2 nice neighborhoods but I wasn’t sold on the actual house layouts. We then got lost looking for a different listing and ended up stopping by the model house of another neighborhood. I walked in and knew immediately that was it. Done deal. With only 6 lots left in the entire neighborhood, I had to decide on the spot and took the leap of faith. I truly believe things happen for a reason.

Choice #1 – outside lot backing up to a football field, 7 months to build, all options available

Choice #2 – inside premium lot w/o any future backside development, only 3 months to build since the foundation was already poured, most features available

I spent the extra money, still secured every feature I wanted and couldn’t have been happier! Stopping by every few days during construction was always a thrill to see my new dream coming to life.

What an overwhelming dose of mayhem!

In the interim, my first ever house I built in Orlando 14 years prior sold for full price within 2 days on the market (I actually got the news while on vacation in Iceland). I had less than 3 weeks to vacate, so that was a whirlwind while trying to balance both jobs and a recent car crash (rear ended at Disney Springs) repairs. When it rains, it absolutely pours.

My actual first day in Titusville I’ll never forget… I had slept on the floor of my old house (just one last time) since all the furniture had been moved out and had to leave at 3:55am to make it for the Y’s 5:15am opening to work out with our current board chair. After a 15 hour day, I had no where to sleep so crashed at the local hotel and then miraculously was hooked up with a 2 bedroom condo on the local golf course for the next 3 months. I slept on a mattress on the floor again and barely took advantage of the balcony overlooking the 5th green, but I couldn’t have had anything fall into place any better. It was meant to be.

And exactly to the day 3 months later, I had the keys in hand. Of course in my crazy life, it happened to be the night prior to our Disney Princess Half Marathon Race with our biker call time at 3:30am. So I just moved the mattress in and once again had a memorable, quiet night. Nothing compares to sleeping in your brand new house on night #1!

So after almost 6 years….. I still enjoying riding my bike up to the river to marvel at every rocket launch regardless of time of day, can make it to the movie theatre door to door in 4 mins flat, never have to drive more than 5 mins to reach anything in town, can hook up the jetski to be on the water in 10 mins, see at least 1 sunset every week from my fav spot on the docks over the bridge, catch a bite and waiving at the departing cruises at Port Canaveral, bike 10 mins to workout or swim at the Y, grab my fav coconut shrimp bowl to eat dinner overlooking Kennedy Space Center, sneak in a beach afternoon whenever I want on the pristine Playalinda Beach, go for a short hike on the preserve when I need a quick fix, kayak near Haulover canal with the natural wonder of bioluminescence, hit a few tennis or racquetballs, take in a show at the Playhouse theatre, bike the major trailheads along the coast & stop off for some ice cream, take off one of my crazy adventures only 24 mins from the airport, snack at a waterfront bar or visit 3 major cities within 30-45 mins.

Simply perfect!

I am one of the few lucky ones.

Typically planning an adventure is very last minute for me, as I will take any long weekend and find a new area to explore. So I never even contemplated making the effort to submit a request for The Wave online lottery four months in advance. Therefore, my only chance of securing this highly contested permit is via the walk-in lottery held each morning at 9am sharp at the Kanab Civic Center.

I’ve never been a gambler, but I would kick myself if I didn’t at least try to beat the odds.

So here is the scoop: doors open at 8:30am and only one person from your party can enter the gym to fill out your application. Every applicant is assigned a number in the order you arrived and the waiting begins. The ranger will pick a maximum of four groups or 16 people, whichever comes first. (This is in addition to the 12 permits already granted online to the travelers who actually do plan ahead.)

Minutes inch by as you read through brochures of other local hikes as a backup plan in the event you don’t win. You also cringe as any new person enters the room, as your odds continue to dwindle.

Then at 9am, the old fashioned bingo ball wheel spins and it’s go time. Here was my timeline:

Tuesday – day 1 – #21 of 24 applicants, 16% chance – not chosen

Wednesday – day 2 – unlucky #13 of 23 applicants, 17% chance – no dices

Thursday – day 3 – my lucky #25 of 29 applicants, 13% chance – still didn’t win

Friday – day 4 – #40 of 68 applicants, 5% chance (this last day of the work week is always bigger as permits are granted not only for Sat but also Sun & Mon) – OMFG!!!!

My golden ticket was the second number called and I inadvertently yelled out “holy sh$&”, completely dumbfounded. The kicker is that if my number had been called later on in the drawing, I would have had to forfeit as I had a flight Saturday night back in Vegas to catch for the second leg of my trip to the coveted Hawaii.

After a few tears of joy welled up in the corners of my eyes, I couldn’t shake the big smile off my face for the next 48 hours. It was time to cross this hike off the top of my bucket list and enjoy every single step along this 6.4 mile trek to the incomparable Wave.

And……. it was freakin’ incredible!!!!!

****Update 4/22 – the lottery has now gone all online – best of luck as it is soooooo worth it****

Every year prior to busy summer season, our Disney Sports “Shake & Bake” team would enter in the C. R. O. W. (Canoes Races of the World) held on the Tom Sawyer waterway in the Magic Kingdom. Expectations were always very high, as obviously sporty individuals peppered our highly competitive team.

And we only would get 2 practice run days prior to “game time”, which was at an eye popping 5am. Why? Because we had to park backstage, ride the bus to a hidden park entrance near the carousel then walk a quarter mile to the launch area just past the big ferry. AND we had to have all runs completed prior to the regular park daily opening. Regular guests had no idea all this activity had already taken place….. the magic of Disney!

A mix of 5 females and 5 males alternated spots in the massive outrigger canoes that weighed a ton (literally a concrete bar in the bottom for stability in transporting guests all day long). The key to a good run was unison and plunging paddles deep in the water for maximum pull.

I took the bow and was responsible for setting the pace over the hardest 5 minute and 18 second workout you could ever imagine. We would slide up to the start flags draped over the water and then punch a quick, shallow paddle to get us started and eventually gliding into a groove. A strict 10 paddle stroke preceded a ready, set, go… signifying a slick change in paddle side for all players. At our best, it was a beauty to behold and propelled us down the “U” shaped course in a flash. The rear steerer was critical in knowing how and when to cut the corners to shave off valuable seconds. I really don’t remember much else but head down, 100% effort and being hoarse from yelling!

We had numerous close calls literally missing the championship by hundreds of a second (which we still think is totally human error as in the old days staff volunteer timers used simple stopwatches). During my 8 years on the crew, we hoisted two paddle trophies and were treated to an amazing buffet breakfast in the magnificent Horseshoe Saloon.

These little, extra experiences made for such a memorable 15 years of service! #shakeandbake

Little did I know that this spur of the moment long weekend trip would occur only 1 week prior to the world shutting down due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

To end cap a chill weekend, I booked a sunset river cruise and enjoyed the upper deck of the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen almost to myself. Under the spotlight showcasing the safety buoy, I had an overwhelming sense of happiness flood over me and truly have “NO REGRETS”. Every day it docks overlooking the Riverwalk and lures in the masses of tourists passing by hoping to inspire a few to keep dreaming, exploring and looking forward to what comes next in this crazy thing called life.

This “Nawlins” first timer got swept up in the jazz, parades, history and beignets around every corner. I walked the entire downtown area seeing the Mardi Gras bar scene (even watching my favorite Duke Blue Devils beat their big UNC rival), listening to street side artists play jazz, rode the old time cable car, touring the massive float warehouse and now “get it”. The vibe in this city is 🔥.

I’ll be back New Orleans! #nola #noregrets

Breck is a magical experience in both winter and summer, which few destinations can boast. While Vail usually draws the bigger crowds (and it is downright mind blowing to experience), I love and prefer this hidden gem.

Mountain towns are so inviting and I can’t get enough. Experiencing the snowy wonderland of Breck is a treat that you don’t want to ever end. The quaint downtown is lit up in white lights and beckons you to stay for a while. I am partial to fondue and pizza on my ski trips, and here it is plentiful. Microbrews line the streets, along with outdoorsy apparel and equipment that you don’t need but inevitably buy way too much of.

This eastern girl grew up with very small mountains, so to be able to ski for hours on end without flying into the village at the bottom is mind blowing.

Snowmobiling is a highlight, along with endless winter activities to choose from. Since I go so infrequently, my first day on the slopes is typically a trial and error game getting back into the groove of making big “S” curves and fine tuning smooth stops. I prefer snowboarding to skiing these days, and always forget how taxing it is to carve through the white powder all day long and get up after a massive face-plant (or two or three).

And don’t forget how amazing it is to end the day in a heated cabin, with a scalding cup of hot chocolate, toasty shower and bubbling hot tub overlooking the mountain to reminisce about a glorious day on the slopes.

BUT…..

I have to admit summer in the Colorado foothills is equally as soothing. Taking the ski lifts up to the cliff tops for some stunning hikes or starting a downhill mountain bike ride are so thrilling. The fresh mountain air is so addictive and beckons you to not waste a single minute of daylight out exploring. The small towns come alive with tourists and locals alike enjoying outdoor festivals galore. A scenic drive is always on the agenda, which can lead to even more paths you just have to plan a return to in a few years down the road to get your fix.

Bottom line…… don’t make me choose!

From Kaboom playground builds, to serving meals every 3rd Monday of the month at Give Kids the World, to building houses with Habitat for Humanity, to yearly Toys for Tots distributions, to bringing up the rear of every runDisney race, to annual Canoe Races of the World, we were deeply involved in our local community.

Over my 15 years as a cast member, I participated in +75 events or programs. We had a highly engaged group of amazing individuals who gave generously of their time, even amongst our own very grueling event schedules.

These events always made us appreciate our part in bringing the intangible Disney magic to life. Our extended families all jumped in to help out too, as I even remember my parents and I scheduling extra weekly shifts at Give Kids the World making pizzas and then driving them to visiting Make A Wish Families courtesy of the restaurant chain Perkins. A truly uplifting experience!

Still to this day, even after leaving the Disney family almost 8 years ago, these continue to be some of my fondest memories and truly making a difference!

I should be used to a 3:15 wake up call by now after working the runDisney races for 22 years……

This day was one of those long standing bucket list adventures I was crawling out of my skin to start. So I popped right up and made the easy 15 min drive to the bike shop for a tourist briefing.

After a 45 min drive to the summit along the Guinness Book of World Records shortest road to reach over 10k feet, we jumped outside to below freezing temps. OMG. My wardrobe was seriously lacking in the warmth department, so I suffered for 64 excruciating minutes BUT the payoff…… completely mesmerizing and worth it!!

As twilight eased out from its slumber, the clouds radiated with colors I didn’t even know were possible. There are no words!

After frequenting a few overlooks and taking the obligatory jumping pictures, we were fitted for our bikes and I took off on my own 23 mile downhill race. What a rush! I opted for the self guided tour and took full advantage of the freedom of the open road ahead. The radar gun clocked me at 44mph and I had no problem navigating the twists and turns all the way back to the bike shop, even after a must stop in the cute town of Makawao for fresh mini donuts on a stick.

No injuries to report, so after docking my bike, I was off to the next adventure.

If you haven’t immersed yourself into the very chilly waterways in western Florida to swim amongst the manatees, what are you waiting for?

Swimming amongst these gentle giants is very special. They migrate into the springs areas to escape the bitter cold ocean waters.

Needless to say, I wasn’t very thrilled at the thought of a 4am wake up call in order to get to the docks in time for the first tour boat. But I got over it quickly, as our small group of 6 donned our wetsuits in preparation for our arrival at the extraction area. As soon as we plopped in the water, the manatees were swarming as they fell in line to exit the narrow inlet. I assume they know how massive of a surface area they cover, because they could have cared less that we were all there gawking. A few sweet ones literally swam within inches of our masks and absolutely loved being caressed and doted over. Most of these grand specimens just floated below our dancing feet, while we snapped numerous pictures and tried not to disturb their daily routine.

An absolutely fascinating experience that I recommend for everyone to make time for. These creatures are beautiful!

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