• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Dirty Floor Diaries

The honest life isn't always pretty

  • Home
  • Recipe Box
    • Low Carb
    • Grain- & Gluten Free
    • Main Course
    • Dessert
    • Munchies
    • Cocktails
    • Ice Pops
  • Travel Diaries
  • Disney Diaries
  • Fitness Diaries
  • Collaborate
    • About Summer
    • Photo & Content Sharing Policy
    • Work With Me
  • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Travel / The Kia Optima has a Name & Here are our Road Trip Plans!

The Kia Optima has a Name & Here are our Road Trip Plans!

By Summer

Share
Pin
Tweet
26 Shares

I always thought a car should have a girl’s name, and when this gorgeous Kia Optima was delivered to my house, I thought for sure we’d have a new girl in the family.

I mean, all cars are a “she”, right? As soon as I sat in the cushy Nappa leather seat of the Kia Optima SXL, I knew that it wasn’t a she at all.

It’s a He.

Beautiful Kia Optima SXL in Santa Rosa Beach Florida

This is going to sound completely crazy, but I’m used to that. The car spoke to me the first time I drove it, and what it said to me was,

“Yo, what’s up? My name is Gus”.

I was confused at first, and Madilyn wanted its name to be Silverberry, but the car’s name is very clearly Gus.

Beautiful Kia Optima SXL in Santa Rosa Beach Florida

Gus and I have gotten to know one another really well over the course of the last 8 days we’ve had together. Gus drove me to New Orleans last week so that I could attend Dad 2.0 Summit. We left Destin after I had my hair done and my out of place rib pushed back into place by my chiropractor.

Kia Family Shelley VanWitzenberg Summer Len Davis

We pretty immediately hit traffic, and it took me a hot minute to figure out how to use the NAV system while also listening to Rolling Papers by Wiz Khalifa on full bump. I kept missing my cues to turn before I finally realized that NAV has its own volume and that it was on absolute low while Wiz and I were rolling at absolute high.

Beautiful Kia Optima SXL in Santa Rosa Beach Florida

Once we hit the open road, Gus and I let loose.

At one point, I looked down and was cruising right along at 99 MPH. I realized at that point, I should probably put the cruise control to the test so I backed off and set my speed to 79MPH. I’m not about getting speeding tickets or points on my license, no matter how exhilarating it is to drive 100MPH.

Beautiful Kia Optima SXL in Santa Rosa Beach Florida

The cruise control in the Kia Optima is ridiculous.

And by ridiculous, I mean basically my favorite thing ever. I love that I set a speed but when I get behind someone who is going slower than I am, it slows down to their rate of speed and stays 1, 2, 3, or 4 car lengths behind them.

Four car lengths is a little long, especially if you’re trying to pass people in the right lane, but three car lengths is great. I basically don’t have to touch the gas or the break once cruise control is set to ON, and aside from steering, the car drives itself.

Beautiful Kia Optima SXL in Santa Rosa Beach Florida

This car is so sleek and so sexy, I just can’t get enough of it.

Beautiful Kia Optima SXL in Seaside, Florida

Gus is so spacious and comfortable that we’ve decided we are going to begin taking family day trips in him. Look how cozy all three kids are in the back seat!

Beautiful Kia Optima SXL backseat

Northwest Florida and southern Alabama have so much to explore and we haven’t done much exploring. On the itinerary are the following locations:

  • Mariana Caverns
  • Falling Water State Park
  • Ponce de Leon Springs
  • USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
  • Port St Joe
  • Gulf Breeze Zoo
  • Auburn University

Let us know if there are any other locations you want to see!

 

Related Posts

  • 5 Tips for Relocating to a New City5 Tips for Relocating to a New City
  • Coping With The Challenges of Women’s Health IssuesCoping With The Challenges of Women’s Health Issues

Filed Under: Travel

About Summer

*You can reach Summer at [email protected]* Born in Orlando, FL and raised in Juneau, Alaska; Summer prefers being outdoors hiking, skiing, or just livin' over being inside doing anything. She has a weakness for cheap red wine and good conversation and can always be counted on for a laugh. You won't find perfection here, just a big ole' mess and a few laughs. Feeling frustrated with your life? Visit The Dirty Floor Diaries and you'll leave feeling just a smidge better - Guaranteed or your visit's free.

Previous Post: « Freshca – a Fresh Grapefruit & Gin Cocktail
Next Post: My Teenager Could be a Victim in the Next School Shooting. So Could Yours. »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Clarissa says

    February 15, 2018 at 7:10 AM

    I love Gus and glad you welcomed him with open arms into your family!

    Reply
    • Summer says

      February 20, 2018 at 12:17 PM

      Thank you! I love him too, even though I can’t handle driving slowly in him 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Have some time to kill?

Everywhere
Copyright © 2022 The Dirty Floor Diaries - Privacy Policy - Hosted by StrataByte