Trips, Tan Lines, and the Vacation Friends You Never Saw Coming

It’s that magical time of year again, vacation countdown season. The sunscreen’s been restocked, flights are getting booked, and the Amazon cart is overflowing - IYKYK. This year, we’ve already made our way through Cancun, Arizona, and Atlantis in the Bahamas, each one hitting different, but always in the best way.

Atlantis is usually the big one, the full-on family reunion energy. Every other year, we roll in deep, with 15 to 20 of us strong. It’s chaos, comedy, and core memories all wrapped in SPF 70. From airport antics (5am airport shots ARE a mandatory tradition) to breakfast beers that feel like a strategy session, it’s a whole thing… and we love it. On the off years, it’s just me and my husband. And those trips? Just the two of us catching our breath, relaxing, and sitting pool or beachside for hours doing absolutely nothing.

But let’s rewind to Cancun earlier this year, because that trip for my husband’s birthday was one for the books. He’s wildly extroverted (the type that had the entire pool taking shots and chanting his name by noon), while I’m very much the quiet one, happy to observe from behind oversized sunglasses. However, I am forever the extroverted introvert and somehow find myself engaged in full conversations with amazing people from all over the world....each and everytime and

Sunrise at The Marriott Cancun

somehow, we balance each other perfectly. A little backstory - we met in high school, stayed friends for over 25 years, and eventually realized the universe had been dropping hints all along. (Fun fact: we also still have the same group of besties too!) Getting to travel together now, whether it’s just us or the whole fam, is one of my favorite parts of our story. But back to that birthday trip -  I got the bonus of meeting two incredible women, total strangers at the start of the trip who quickly became vacation friends turned real friends. You know the kind - instant vibe, effortless connection, and conversations that go way deeper than expected, all while sipping tequila poolside. We recently reunited IRL, and it felt like no time had passed. That’s the kind of magic you can’t plan for but when it happens, you hold onto it tight. And while we also met some pretty amazing people on this year's Atlantis trip (shoutout to the new crew at The Cove!), nothing compares to my Cancun girlies. We’ll actually be heading back to Cancun in just three short weeks, and while I know it’ll be fun, I can’t help but feel like it won’t quite be the same. That trip set the bar high but I’m still ready for all the sunshine, drinks, and spontaneous pool moments to come.

So yes, vacation is about the tan lines, the travel-size drama, and the resort robes that never quite fit right. But more than that? It’s about the people, the ones you bring, the ones you meet, and the ones who turn a getaway into something you’ll talk about for years - over IG, text and yes even IRL.

Kaycee

XoXo