We left Grand Rapids for Spring Break with a simple plan: point the car south and make our way to Gulf Shores, Alabama, for the week. Eight-plus hours of driving on Friday, another long stretch on Saturday, and somewhere along the way, we’d settle into vacation mode.
What we didn’t expect was that one of the most memorable moments of the trip would involve downtown Birmingham, a missed highway split, and Ethan disappearing into a set of bushes at a red light.
But we’ll get to that.
Day 1: Leaving Grand Rapids and Hitting the Road
The alarm went off at 6:00 am after a late night of packing. Short work week, short school week, and now it was go time. It’s Susie and me, along with all three kids…Ethan, Eli, and Elena.
We ended up leaving right at 10:00 am on the dot. Not bad, all things considered. Susie, as usual, was overpacked and overprepared. It takes longer in the moment, and it can be a little frustrating, but it never goes unnoticed that we’re never without something we might need.
We loaded everything into Susie’s 2019 Ford Expedition. Between the roof topper and the hitch-mounted storage box, we had plenty of room inside. From the outside, though, we looked like the Griswolds heading out on an epic National Lampoon’s vacation.
Choosing the Route (and Why It Matters More Than You’d Think)
Google Maps gave us two options to get to Franklin, Tennessee, for the first night. The more direct route was I-196 to US 31, taking 31 all the way to Indianapolis before picking up I-65. The other option was I-96 to I-69 through Lansing, then I-69 all the way down to Indy.
The US 31 route is shorter and a bit faster, but I’ve never loved that stretch…especially between South Bend and Indianapolis. Too many cross streets, traffic lights, and changing speed limits.
We took it anyway. It saved us about 20 minutes and a little bit of gas, but it’s still not my favorite drive.
Settling Into the Drive
I drove the first four hours while Ethan rode shotgun. Normally, Susie would be up front, but she was fighting a cold and took advantage of the back seat to get some rest.
We pulled into a Love’s Travel Stop for fuel and bathrooms. Love’s is about as reliable as it gets on a road trip. Clean restrooms, plenty of space, and everything you need.
It was a good first stop and a chance to reset before the next stretch.
Eli Takes the Wheel (and Everyone Feels It)
After Love’s, Eli took over driving. He’s 15, turning 16 soon, and this was his first extended stretch of highway driving. I moved to the passenger seat to ride along with him, since he needs an adult up front with his Michigan driving permit.
I thought he did a solid job overall, especially for his first real extended highway experience. Susie and Ethan were a little less impressed. Lane changes were a bit jerky, and he was driving faster than they were comfortable with…though that was by my instruction to keep up with the flow of traffic.
At one point, traffic in front of us slowed quickly, and I had to yell, “BRAKE, BRAKE, BRAKE!” He hit them hard and avoided rear-ending the car in front of us. That moment didn’t help anyone’s nerves.
Still, he drove for about three hours. We survived, and no one crashed.
The Buc-ee’s Experience (Stop #1)
Not long after leaving Love’s, we started seeing them…the Buc-ee’s billboards. And they don’t stop. You see them from over 100 miles away, one after another, building anticipation the whole way.
We stopped at Buc-ee’s in Smiths Grove, Kentucky, and of course, we were going in. Our family loves Buc-ee’s, and we don’t care if people say it’s a cult.
The place is massive. Over 200 gas pumps, spotless restrooms, and more food and shopping options than most stores. We topped off the tank, even though we didn’t really need to, and I went looking for a squeegee to clean the windshield.
There weren’t any at the pumps. That was the one annoyance. I had to track one down near the air station after asking an employee.
Inside, everyone did their thing. Elena found a Buc-ee’s bikini top, Ethan grabbed a hat, Eli picked out a long-sleeve shirt, and we loaded up on food…wraps, burritos, chips, drinks, and a variety box of fudge.
I grabbed an iced coffee and a banana pudding cup for later. We walked out spending just over $150, which honestly felt normal.
The highlight? The Buc-ee mascot was there, and the kids got pictures with him.
The Final Stretch to Franklin, TN
I took over driving for the last hour and a half. We cruised down I-65, passed through Nashville, and made our way to Franklin.
We checked into a SpringHill Suites by Marriott. Just a place to sleep, shower, and reset for the next day. Clean, modern, exactly what you expect from a newer Marriott property.
Ethan wanted to find a local course and throw some glow discs, but by the time we got settled, it was already around 9:00 pm. No one had the energy to go back out.
We called it a night. I had my banana pudding from Buc-ee’s, and it was even better than expected.
Day 2: A Slower Start and a Long Road Ahead
I woke up before everyone else, made some in-room coffee, and sat down with my Chromebook to start journaling. Quiet start, no rush.
One thing worth noting…because of a family discount we have with Marriott, we can often book rooms for $50 to $70 per night. When all five of us travel, we’ll sometimes book two rooms just for the extra space and second shower.
It makes a huge difference.
By the time we enjoyed the complimentary hotel breakfast, got ready, and packed up, it was about 10:00 am when we hit the road again. The goal was simple: get to Gulf Shores in time to get settled before the Michigan vs. Arizona Final Four game.
Ethan Drives and I Finally Relax
Ethan took the first stretch on Saturday, and I was more than happy to ride shotgun without playing driving instructor.
I spent the time reading, working through blackjack basic strategy on my phone, and messing around with a deck of cards I keep in my bag.
It was a much more relaxed start compared to the day before.
A Random Detour Into Edge Sorting (and a 20-Year-Old Surprise)
In the book I was reading, Advantage Players by Michael Kaplan, I came across a section about edge sorting…something I had never heard of before.
It’s a strategy used by Phil Ivey and Kelly Sun to win millions from casinos by spotting tiny asymmetries on the backs of cards.
I didn’t fully understand it at first, so I pulled up ChatGPT and had it explain it in detail.
Then I grabbed the deck of cards I had with me in the car. A casino deck from Treasure Island in Las Vegas, probably over 20 years old.
And sure enough… the pattern on the back was asymmetrical.
Once I knew what to look for, I saw it immediately. One edge had slightly larger shapes than the other. I couldn’t believe it. A deck I’ve had for years, and I never noticed.
It was one of those random, unexpected moments that made the drive more interesting.
Birmingham, Alabama: One Wrong Turn and One Emergency Stop
As we approached Birmingham, we started looking for a place to stop for lunch. Ethan had been drinking iced coffee and was getting to the point where he really needed a bathroom.
We picked a Whataburger just south of downtown and kept moving.
Then the highway split.
The main lanes continued on I-65, while the left lanes peeled off onto I-20. Ethan was running with the faster traffic on the left and assumed those were the main lanes.
They weren’t.
Suddenly, we were heading the wrong direction, and I was scrambling on Google Maps to get us turned around.
We exited into downtown streets, hit a red light… then another… then another. Every block was a stop.
Ethan said, “Does this city not know how to time their lights?”
At this point, the situation had escalated.
He REALLY had to go.
No gas stations. No restrooms. Just college buildings everywhere and nowhere to stop. The GPS said we were still 12 minutes from Whataburger.
That wasn’t going to work.
We stopped at another red light. Ethan looked at me and said, “Can you take over?”
Before I could say anything, he opened the door and jumped out of the car.
I scrambled over the center console into the driver’s seat as he slammed the door…right into my head.
The light turned green.
I waited for traffic, made a quick turn, and followed him toward a patch of bushes near a brick building. He disappeared for a minute or two and came back with a huge smile on his face.
We were all dying laughing.
Crisis avoided.
Whataburger and a Taste of Southern Hospitality
We made it to Whataburger and grabbed lunch. Nothing spectacular, just a solid fast food meal you can’t get back home in Michigan.
The highlight was a friendly conversation with another customer, an older black gentleman, who noticed our Michigan gear. He struck up a conversation about the game, wished us well, and sent us on our way.
That’s southern hospitality.
Snacks, Gas, and One More Buc-ee’s
I drove the next stretch before we stopped again at a Speedway for gas and bathrooms. We raided the $1 table…protein cookies, Corn Nuts, a pecan Snickers. Solid finds.
With about three hours left, we knew we’d need one more stop.
Behold, there was one more Buc-ee’s before our final destination!
This time, we kept it simple. Bathrooms and food only. We spent about $50, and I joked with the cashier that it was the least we’ve ever spent at a Buc-ee’s.
First Impressions of Gulf Shores
As we got closer, the vibe changed fast.
Traffic picked up. Music got louder. People were everywhere.
Gulf Shores was absolutely packed.
High-rise condos lined the beach, cars filled the roads, and the whole place felt more like a full-blown spring break destination than we expected. It had a Miami Beach kind of energy…at least how I imagine it.
It caught all of us off guard.
Checking In and Just Making Tip-Off
We found our way to the Seawind Condominiums and checked into our place on the 7th floor of a 19-story building.
We barely took time to look around before turning on the TV and getting the Michigan game on.
By the time we got settled, it was just starting.
Michigan jumped out to a 10…1 lead and never looked back. They dominated Arizona and punched their ticket to the national championship game.
Perfect timing.
Ending the Day: Settling In
We unpacked, settled into the condo, and finally relaxed.
After two long days of driving, we had made it.
Easter Morning Reflections
The next morning, I sat out on the balcony with my Chromebook, looking out over the Gulf. It was raining at first, then it slowly started to clear. People began trickling back onto the beach.
We didn’t have any real plans for the day. Just groceries at some point and whatever else came up.
It’s easy to get caught up in the trip itself…the drive, the destination, the experience. But sitting there on Easter morning, it was a good reminder of what the day actually represents.
Jesus died on a Friday and rose again on Sunday. Over 2,000 years later, we’re still talking about it, still celebrating it, and still trying to understand what it means in our own lives.
We drove across the country to enjoy a week at the beach. A small slice of paradise.
And yet, as Christians, we believe something far greater is waiting beyond this life.
Just something to think about.
And Just Like That…
The road trip was over.
The week in Gulf Shores was just beginning.