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The Long Trek Back Home

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. We’ve made it to Part 7 of my 7-part blog series on my recent trip to and from Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. It was my first trip back to the area in exactly a decade (to the date).

So my family’s Southwest flight back to Dallas Texas (#DAL) was cancelled due to weather. And my American Airlines (#AA) flight back to Tampa Florida (#TPA) was also cancelled. My family was on their way to northwestern Ohio in the very same Avis rental SUV that we drove in all around Northern Virginia. I took the Avis shuttle to the airport to determine my next move.

I soon received a text notification from #AA stating that I was rebooked on the very same flight 24 hours later (on Monday night). So my next move was to book a night at the very same Hampton near Reagan National Airport (U.S. 1 in Crystal City) that I pointed out to my family as we drove by it on our way to Avis. The hotel shuttle picked me up from the airport, and I checked in for the night.

Hotel Room View Of U.S. 1 In Crystal City Virginia

Fun Fact: I paid for 2 Hampton rooms for the same night (including the one outside #TPA that was non-refundable within 5 nights prior). I’ve never done that before. At least I got the Hilton Honors points for both rooms. I think next time I have a flight scheduled to arrive late in Tampa I won’t book that hotel room in advance in the event that the flight back is cancelled. I’ll just hope that a hotel room is available, or if not – then I’ll just drive 2½ hours home.

After I checked-in to my cozy hotel room I decided to get smart with the #AA app. I really did not want to hang around the hotel until checkout time the next day (12 Noon) and then hang out at the airport for 7 to 8 hours after that waiting to board my early-evening flight back to Tampa that has a long history of departing late (or not at all). I soon rebooked a flight back to Tampa for earlier in the day (mid-afternoon), and then a little while later I discovered even earlier flights available – so I rebooked yet again for a late-morning flight. As it turns out – at least with #AA – if your flight is cancelled – then you can rebook as many times as you wish using their app as long as seats are available on the flight of your choice. There is no charge to do so. (I don’t know if other airlines have the same policy, but I’m glad that #AA does since I fly them almost exclusively.)

My packed flight back to #TPA departed and arrived early. I called the hotel (where my car was parked at) to have them send their shuttle my way to pick me up, and there was a bit of confusion on the telephone. After a bit of waiting for the receptionist and hotel manager to get their act together – they finally requested an Uber to be sent to pick me up, as their shuttle was either out of commission, on another assignment, or the driver was out to lunch. The Uber arrived in a white Kia SUV, and the driver was courteous and friendly. He couldn’t figure out why his GPS kept saying that he should go to the hotel when he was requested to go to the airport at a specific location to pick up a customer (me). I explained what happened – that the hotel contacted Uber on my behalf. We talked about Ubers and Kias all the way to the hotel.

I got in my car (a Kia), and I drove home on that Monday afternoon. My 122-hour adventure was complete !

What a wonderful trip this was with my family – brother, sister-in-law, and two nieces. Me and my brother enjoyed our trip down memory lane in Langley, McLean, Tysons, Falls Church, Vienna, and into Annandale. It was fun to take the Metro into D.C., take a 2-hour tour, and then visit a Smithsonian museum. And then there’s all of the good food that we enjoyed together. And finally – the main reason for this trip – to place our Mom’s urn next to our Dad’s urn inside the niche at the columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery.

As I hinted in a previous installment of this blog series – me and my brother have already discussed a future trip back to the Washington D.C. area (both Maryland and Virginia) to do a “deep-dive” into our roots there from the late-’60s (me) to the mid-’90s (my brother). Maybe we’ll get back there as early as later next year in conjunction with a Washington Capitals or Washington Commanders game. Maybe we’ll just talk about it for years to come. (We still haven’t returned to Las Vegas, and we’ve been talking about that off-and-on since our last visit over 20 years ago !)

Later this morning I’ll be at #TPA on my way to my next destination, and so next #TravelThursday – I’ll begin a brand-new multi-part blog series to and from and all about that next destination out west. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2025 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

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McLean & Tysons

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. It’s Part 6 of my 7-part blog series on my recent trip to and from Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. It was my first trip back to the area in exactly a decade (to the date).

It’s Sunday July 27TH 2025 – our 4TH and final day of me and my brother’s trip down memory lane from our childhoods. And of course – my brother’s wife and their two daughters were along for the ride – which was seemingly a boring ride at times since they had no roots in the area.

Me and my brother have already discussed a trip back to the Washington D.C. area (maybe as early as late next year) to do a “deep dive” into our childhoods (and include Maryland as well) – without the girls. More on that in Part 7 next #TravelThursday.

#ButFirst – We all checked out of our hotel rooms on that Sunday morning, and we headed over to McLean Family Restaurant for Brunch. It was a Jewish deli in the ’50s and ’60s, and then it became what it is today in 1969. I don’t remember ever eating there during the early-to-mid-’80s when I lived there, but my brother had eaten there a few times. It is essentially your classic diner in a longtime (70-year-old) strip shopping center in downtown McLean.

We drove by the old neighborhood public library and recreation center. They still look the same as they did 40+ years ago.

Next we hit Tysons Corner Center – built in 1968 – and now one of the busiest and largest traditional shopping malls in the U.S.A. Back in the early-to-mid-’80s it was much smaller and more of a neighborhood shopping mall – where you were likely to see your neighbors and classmates and teachers walking around. Nowadays it’s a regional destination where people from all over the Washington D.C. area take the Metro, get off at the station adjacent to the mall, and spend an entire day there. We spent several hours there, and the place was packed and steadily becoming even more packed. My brother pointed out what stores used to be at specific locations. (Very few stores remain from 40+ years ago.)

We ate a late-lunch at The Cheesecake Factory – by request of my brother. I personally think that they are overrated and overpriced, but I won’t turn down an opportunity to eat there about every 7 years or so.

While getting ready to pull out of the mall parking lot – my sister-in-law received the disturbing news that their Southwest flight back to Dallas Texas (#DAL) was cancelled due to weather. My American Airlines flight was very delayed – by several hours – due to the same reason. My brother and sister-in-law then quickly put a plan into motion where they would drive from there to Ohio (450 miles) – where they would have flown to the very next day (from #DFW).

We drove back to the Avis rental agency near Reagan National Airport (#DCA), and I got in line for their airport shuttle. My brother and sister-in-law headed inside to see if they could drive their existing rental SUV (Ford Explorer) from there to Ohio and then turn it in the next day at the Avis rental agency at the Columbus airport (#CMH). (They could, and they did. They arrived at their destination right around 12:30 AM.)

As I was waiting for their airport shuttle to arrive – I got the text message notification that I dreaded – my American Airlines flight to Tampa (#TPA) was also cancelled. And so I headed to the airport not really knowing what I would do once I got there. I’ll explain what I did – next #TravelThursday. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2025 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

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Tampa International Airport

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. At the end of last week’s edition I teased that I was heading somewhere – outside of Florida – that I haven’t been to in exactly 10 years, and that I would write about it for the next 3 weeks. Well – it’ll actually be a 6-part (possibly 7-part) blog series starting with this edition and continuing through this month and next month. This vacation was so much fun that I plan to reenact it in words until I run out of material to write about.

So – if you’re ready to go traveling together (virtually) – then let’s get started on this new adventure.

The fun started 3 weeks and 1 day ago when I departed my home with my very durable and somewhat attractive American Tourister Moonlight Carry-On Stardust – along with a personal item bag that fits underneath the seat in front of me. Can you tell that I’m getting ready to fly somewhere ?

It’s on to the Tampa International Airport (#TPA) area on a Wednesday afternoon during the rush hour – oh – and also during a driving downpour. There wasn’t much lightning and thunder, but there was an abundance of ominous dark clouds overhead and a plethora of rain falling from them. As I drove further west the brighter skies to the west filled-in with the darker and rain-soaked clouds from the east. (I was driving in the same direction – westward – as the squall line of downpours.)

2 hours and 38 minutes and 82½ miles later – I had arrived at my destination for the night – a hotel near #TPA. They have a plan where you spend the night, and you can leave your car parked in their parking lot for up to 7 days as you fly away somewhere. Their shuttle will take you to the airport, and it will also pick you up from the airport upon your return. That’s what I did. I essentially paid less than $3 extra per day to leave my car parked there – well – sort of. When we get to Part 6 (or 7) you’ll see why it was actually a bit more expensive than that – due to more bad weather.

The hotel was nice. It was an older hotel – built in 1988. I believe that it was the very first one in the area for my favorite hotel brand – the brand that I’ve stayed at far more than any other. The hotel was much newer when I actually lived and worked a few miles down the road in Tampa for about 7 months in 1993 into 1994. I probably drove right by it a few times back then.

The next morning I took the hotel shuttle to the airport. I was the only rider for the 8 AM run. I got to sightsee along the way to the departures drop-off zone 2½ miles away.

So #TPA. I think I’ve flown in and out of it at least once – possibly twice – back in 1993. But then again – I could be wrong. I just don’t remember my mid-20s all that much. It was a crazy and hectic time of my life.

I thought that #TPA was a very strange airport to experience as a first-timer (possibly) – at least for the first time in over 30 years. From the Main Terminal you scan your boarding pass in order to enter the secure area and board the SkyConnect train to your respective airside concourse. (All of the concourses are detached from the Main Terminal.) Once you arrive at your concourse you immediately begin the TSA security process by checking-in with your REAL ID driver’s license or passport. You then walk through security before heading towards your gate. I probably didn’t explain the process as good as I could, but it was very different for me. I’ve never experienced any other airport like it. Also – most of the concourse gates shared one huge area that sort of resembled an aircraft hangar. Small walk-up restaurants were in the middle of it all.

#TPA just seems so much more modern and efficient than any other airport I’ve been to. Perhaps it’s the airport of the future ?

My American Airlines flight departed for its destination on time (even a few minutes early), and next #TravelThursday I’ll reveal that location. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2025 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

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Nokomis Beach Florida

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Last week I wrote about my Wednesday morning and afternoon in June along narrow and winding Casey Key Road, and then onto Siesta Key. I wrote about my ride on the Breeze Siesta Islander (Route 77) trolley from Siesta Key to and from downtown Sarasota. I wrote about Bayfront Park and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens – my first visit to both in nearly 11½ years. And the trek continues.

From the underwhelming Siesta Beach I drove back to my hotel, and then shortly after I went for a late-lunch / early-dinner (I call it #LuDinner) at a popular and highly-rated restaurant dockside called Pelican Alley. When by the sea I must enjoy seafood, and so I did. I enjoyed the deep-fried Grouper Tempura with fries and slaw while enjoying beautiful scenery out the window. It was all good !

Due to the threat of thunderstorms late in the day and into the night I decided to check out Nokomis Beach for the first time. It’s actually Sarasota County’s oldest public beach. At 3:30 PM the beach was busy, but not unbearably packed. I hear sunsets can bring out the crowds, and they occasionally do some organized ceremonies just before sunset there at the “Drum Circle”. That’s something that I need to experience in the future, and in hindsight I should have experienced it on this Wednesday evening.

I really liked my short time walking on Nokomis Beach. It was a good family crowd. I definitely want to return sooner than later. I can imagine checking out a pre-6 PM sunset against a cloudless deep-blue winter sky in November, December, or January. I didn’t get to view the sunset on either night because of weather.

After an early hot breakfast the next morning at the hotel I checked-out and got on the road again – up U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail) and onto Florida State Road 681 – which served as the final 4 miles of I-75 from 1980 to 1986 before construction was finished extending the Interstate southward to Naples (and across the Everglades to Broward County).

I thought about taking Florida State Road 681 to I-75, and then 5½ miles of I-75 to Florida State Road 72, but at the last minute I decided that I didn’t need the 5½ miles of anxiety that would come with that. (I rarely drive on Interstates, Expressways, Turnpikes, etc. due to a disorder I have called “being terrified”.) Instead – I made a left onto Honore Avenue (signaled intersection on the pseudo-freeway), and that runs parallel to I-75 on the west side.

Last week I mentioned Sarasota County Road 72 – which is the far-western extension of Florida State Road 72 that continues on to Siesta Key (from U.S. 41). Eastward it continues on for 41½ miles to just west of downtown Arcadia (which I wrote about in Part 1 of this blog series). I didn’t stop this time in downtown Arcadia. I continued on – northward on U.S. 17, eastward on Florida State Road 64, and southward on U.S. 27 to my neighborhood.

This (almost exactly) 48-hour road-trip to and from the Gulf Beaches was a lot of fun, and definitely worth it. I got to revisit places that I hadn’t seen in nearly 11½ years, as well as places that I had never seen before. I discovered a new favorite beach named Nokomis, and I rediscovered an old favorite named Venice. I visited a couple of nice museums and a few nice parks. I enjoyed two great dinners where locals love to eat. I drove 229 miles on that Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. (I also walked 6 miles on that Wednesday.) It was a lot of fun looking back at this trip and then converting those great memories into words via these last 4 weeks of #TravelThursday blog posts. That’s what this is all about. I’m truly embracing my life as a travel blogger. I love to travel and tell !

Next #TravelThursday I’ll write about my 37TH and final trip to Homestead Florida a little over a month ago to close on the sale of my longtime home, and to close that chapter in my life. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2025 Christopher M. Day, CountUp