California Road Trip: Wichita Falls, Texas

by Rob | Apr 25, 2026 | Road Trips

From Forney to Wichita Falls: Storms, Long Miles, and a Relaxing Texas Evening

After attending Saturday Vigil Mass at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, we got back on the road and continued our journey west toward Wichita Falls. What started as a fairly normal evening drive quickly turned into one of the most intense weather experiences of our entire road trip.

Leaving Forney, we worked our way through the busy Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex traffic. Even on a weekend evening, there was still plenty of congestion, construction, and constant lane changes to keep us alert behind the wheel of the Jeep Gladiator. Once we finally cleared the city, the drive became much more open and peaceful as we headed northwest through smaller Texas towns.

That peaceful drive did not last forever.

Somewhere between Bowie and Wichita Falls, the weather suddenly turned severe. Dark clouds rolled in fast, heavy rain started pounding the windshield, and Tornado Warnings began appearing directly on the Jeep Gladiator dashboard. Seeing tornado alerts pop up while driving through rural Texas at night definitely gets your attention.

The storm became intense with lightning flashing across the sky and visibility dropping quickly at times. It turned into one of those drives where both hands stay locked on the steering wheel and your full attention never leaves the road. Thankfully, traffic was fairly light, and we carefully pushed through the worst of it safely.

By the time we arrived in Wichita Falls, we were more than ready to stop for the night. We checked into the Best Western Plus University Inn & Suites, and it turned out to be a great choice after such a stressful drive. The hotel was clean, comfortable, and very welcoming after hours on the road and driving through severe weather.

One of the best parts was being able to simply walk over to McBride’s Steakhouse for dinner instead of getting back into the Jeep again. We enjoyed a Chicken Caesar Salad and a Blue Cheese Burger, both of which hit the spot after the long drive through the storm.

The evening also marked a small but meaningful moment for me personally. I had my first Michelob Ultra Zero since becoming alcohol free almost a year ago. I honestly did not know what to expect, but it was surprisingly good and felt like a nice way to relax and celebrate making it safely through another memorable day on the road.

McBride’s Steakhouse

McBride’s Steakhouse Inside

McBride’s Steakhouse Menu One Side

McBride’s Steakhouse Menu Other Side

Looking back, the drive from Forney to Wichita Falls had a little bit of everything — peaceful moments after Mass, big city traffic, dangerous Texas storms, and finally a quiet evening with good food and a comfortable hotel at the end of the night.

California Road Trip: Forney, Texas

by Rob | Apr 25, 2026 | Road Trips

From Biloxi Beach to Forney, Texas: A Peaceful Stop for Saturday Vigil Mass

After enjoying our time along the beautiful shores of Biloxi, we continued west on our cross-country road trip toward Forney. This stretch of the drive gave us a mix of long highway miles, changing scenery, and one especially meaningful stop along the way.

Driving across Louisiana and into Texas always feels like a major milestone on a road trip. The miles seemed to fly by as we crossed state lines and watched the landscape slowly change heading farther west. The Jeep Gladiator continued to handle the long drive comfortably, making it easy to settle into the rhythm of the road.

Our destination for the evening was St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church for Saturday Vigil Mass. After spending most of the day driving, it was nice to slow down and take a break for worship before continuing the journey. The church was beautiful, peaceful, and welcoming, providing a much-needed moment to recharge during a busy travel schedule.

St Martin of Tours Outside

St Martin of Tours Inside

St Martin of Tours Divine Mercy

St Martin of Tours, St. Michael

St Martin of Tours Inside 2

One of the things we have enjoyed most about this road trip has been finding meaningful stops along the way instead of simply rushing from one destination to the next. Taking time for Mass in Forney became one of those memorable moments that helped make the trip feel more personal and grounded.

As the sun began to set over Texas, we left Forney grateful for safe travels, a peaceful evening, and the opportunity to experience another special stop on our adventure across the country.

California Road Trip: Biloxi Beach, Mississippi

by Rob | Apr 24, 2026 | Road Trips

Biloxi Beach, Mississippi: Our First Stop on the Road to California

Our first major stop on our road trip from Florida to San Jose, California was the beautiful beach town of Biloxi. After a long day of driving west on I-10, it was the perfect place to relax, stretch our legs, and officially kick off the adventure.

Biloxi Beach has a completely different vibe compared to the beaches back home in Florida. The shoreline is wide and peaceful with soft white sand, calm water, and rows of palm trees lining Beach Boulevard. The views of the Gulf were beautiful, especially in the evening when the sun started setting across the water. It felt laid back and welcoming, which made it a great first overnight stop before continuing the long drive west.

Treasure Bay Casino and Hotel

Biloxi Beach

Biloxi Beach and Boat Ramp

We stayed at Treasure Bay Casino and Hotel, which turned out to be a convenient and comfortable place to stay. One thing that stood out immediately was that bell hop service for luggage is mandatory when checking in. The staff handled everything smoothly and were very friendly. The hotel also has a massive parking lot, so parking was never an issue. They offer both free self-parking and valet service, which was nice after spending all day on the road.

Another thing we liked about the property was that there were plenty of food options without having to leave the hotel. The casino and hotel has five different restaurants, and for dinner we decided to try The Den.

At The Den, we ordered the Fried Oyster Salad and the Fried Catfish Po’boy, and both were delicious. The oysters were crispy and flavorful, and the catfish was perfectly cooked with great seasoning. After driving all day, it was exactly the kind of comfort food we were hoping for.

Fried Catfish Po’Boy

Fried Oyster Salad

Us

Biloxi ended up being a great first stop on our cross-country road trip. Between the relaxing beach atmosphere, the convenient hotel stay, and the excellent seafood, it was a memorable way to begin the journey to California.

From Florida to California and Back: 6,169 Miles of Adventure in Our Jeep Gladiator

by Rob | Apr 24, 2026 | Road Trips

From Florida to California and Back:
6,169 Miles of Adventure in Our Jeep Gladiator

There is something special about packing up the Jeep, pointing it west, and watching America unfold mile by mile through the windshield. What started as a road trip from Florida to California quickly turned into an unforgettable 15-day adventure covering 6,169 miles across beaches, deserts, mountains, casinos, historic towns, and some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.

Our trusty Jeep Gladiator handled every mile of the journey as we crossed multiple states, explored famous landmarks, and made memories we will never forget.

Our first stop was beautiful Biloxi along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. After leaving Florida, Biloxi Beach was the perfect place to relax and officially begin the adventure. The calm water, white sand, and palm trees gave us a chance to slow down after a long day on I-10. We stayed at Treasure Bay Casino and Hotel and enjoyed some excellent seafood at The Den before getting back on the road the next morning.

From there, we pushed west through Louisiana and Texas with overnight stops in Forney and Wichita Falls. Texas roads seemed endless at times, especially while driving through severe weather and tornado warnings, but the open highways and changing scenery kept things exciting.

One of the most unforgettable roadside attractions of the trip was the massive cross in Groom. The Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ stands 190 feet tall and is impossible to miss from the highway. Seeing it in person was incredible and made for one of the most memorable stops of the journey.

As we crossed into the Southwest, the scenery completely changed. The landscapes around Gallup brought classic desert views, red rock formations, and long stretches of open road that felt straight out of a old western movie.

The next major highlight was arriving at the Grand Canyon National Park. No matter how many pictures you have seen, nothing compares to standing on the rim and seeing the Grand Canyon in person. The size, colors, and depth are almost impossible to describe. It was easily one of the most breathtaking moments of the entire trip.

After leaving the canyon, we continued through Kingman before stopping at the legendary Hoover Dam. Standing above the Colorado River and seeing the engineering masterpiece up close was incredible.

Soon after, the bright lights of Las Vegas appeared in the distance. Las Vegas was a complete contrast to the quiet desert roads we had just traveled. The casinos, lights, crowds, and nonstop energy made for an exciting stop before continuing toward California.

Finally, we reached California with stops in Nevada City and Campbell. One of the most memorable parts of the journey was visiting Nevada City, a charming Gold Rush town that also served as the filming location for the movie “The Christmas Card,” which added a special sense of familiarity while walking through its historic streets. We also spent time in Campbell, where we attended Sunday morning Mass at St. Lucy’s before beginning our journey back home.

A major highlight of the entire trip was attending our nephew’s wedding at Testarossa Winery. The winery setting in Northern California was beautiful, with rolling vineyards and a perfect backdrop for a celebration, making the long drive completely worth it.

After spending time in California, it was time to begin the long drive home. We crossed the desert once again with stops in Blythe and El Paso before continuing east across Texas to Columbus.

The final major stop before returning home was New Orleans. After days of driving through deserts and highways, the French Quarter felt alive with music, history, incredible food, and nonstop energy. We stayed at Hotel St. Marie, which was perfectly located just steps away from Bourbon Street while still offering a relaxing place to unwind after long days of exploring. Walking through Bourbon Street, visiting St. Louis Cathedral, and enjoying amazing Cajun food throughout the French Quarter was the perfect ending to the adventure.