We took off from Orlando for a quick four-day getaway to Birmingham, Alabama — Tiffany, Porter and Bailey seeing it all for the first time. The flight was smooth, barely an hour and a half, and just long enough for Tiffany and me to squeeze in a Christmas rom-com. I insisted I didn’t cry… I did. I blamed it on the altitude and refused further comment.

Settling into Bluff Park and Family Time

When we got to my parents’ place in Bluff Park, we settled right in — unpacked, let the kids explore the property, and eased back into that comfortable rhythm you only get when you’re home. Most of the first day was just reconnecting: talking, catching up, sitting around the kitchen and remembering exactly why these trips matter.

My parents rescued a Great Pyrenees named Ryder who, for reasons known only to him, didn’t fall for my charm. Porter, of course, became his best friend almost immediately, playing catch in their picturesque backyard.

Exploring The Summit

Then we headed out for a scenic drive and lunch at The Summit — great food, plenty of shops and the kind of place where you suddenly realize you’ve been “just looking” for an hour. We enjoyed a delicious meal at Culinary Dropout, watched some football and laughed together.

Tiffany made a special trip to my parents’ local Piggly Wiggly just to score some merch to bring home. She spent 20 minutes picking out “the perfect shirt,” only to mysteriously lose it once she got home.

Urban Air Adventures

The next day we took the kids to Urban Air, where they jumped, jousted, climbed and did every activity designed to drain them of all remaining energy. Tiffany and I made the wise decision to get 30-minute chair massages — a solid reminder that sometimes the grown-ups deserve the fun too.

Getting the chance to see my good friend Roe and meet his girlfriend, Natalie, was definitely a bonus to our trip. We caught up on the front porch by the fire and even snuck away for a couple hours to a local dive bar that was right up our alley — a well-deserved getaway for a bit.

Downtown Homewood: Shops, Strolls, and Small Moments

Later we wandered through downtown Homewood, a great little strip with shops and restaurants on both sides. It gave off a bit of a Flagler Avenue vibe — walkable, easy and full of spots you want to duck into “just for a second.” Bailey got to do her favorite thing in the world, shop, and decided to drop all her dough on a vintage porcelain doll and Pokémon figurine.

The trip wasn’t long, but it hit exactly the way it needed to — time with family, good food and the kind of small moments you actually remember later.

And if anyone has clues about the sudden disappearance of Tiffany’s Piggly Wiggly shirt, our investigation remains wide open.

Bobby G, out!

Photos by Tiffany Sudakis