Chasing Summer
Rana Soka and her two children on one of their Florida vacations visiting Universal Studios.
Family trips, Florida sun, and Michigan shores
By Jenna Abroo
Summertime always feels like the season of fun and adventure. As children, we wait for the end of the school year and impatiently look forward to days spent playing outside, swimming, and enjoying homework-free fun. As adults, many of us are simply looking forward to a break from the cold, relentless Michigan winters. Summer also brings time off work, family reunions, and, best of all—vacations.
Summer is consistently the busiest time to travel, driven by tourist season and great weather. Beating the crowds is often worth it for the chance to spend quality time with family, relaxing and unwinding in a new place. Fun trips can include road trips up north, flights to tropical destinations, or even overseas travel. The possibilities are endless with a plan and a packed suitcase.
Heading South for the Summer
Rana Soka of Sterling Heights shared details about her upcoming summer trip. After the school year ends in mid-June, she and her two children, Melania, 13, and Roman, 15, will fly to Tampa, Florida, for a week with two other families. Soka said she loves traveling to Florida for the weather and chose Tampa specifically because it is a safe, family-oriented place to vacation. In years past, the family has taken six trips to various parts of the state but continues to return to Tampa.
“Tampa is a great city where I feel comfortable and familiar going all around with my kids,” Soka said. “When we travel, our comfort and my kids’ safety in the area we are staying in is the most important part of the planning.”
She also selected a resort featuring a large water park, golf course, state-of-the-art gym, and five restaurants. Her children are especially excited for the trip and the week of planned activities. The itinerary includes visits to Busch Gardens, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and Discovery Cove, where guests can interact with marine life, snorkel in the Grand Reef, swim with dolphins in Dolphin Lagoon, and explore an immersive rainforest setting. The family will also spend a day shopping at outlet malls, along with time relaxing at the beach and swimming in the ocean.
Soka said that while the excursions, shopping, and sightseeing are exciting, she is especially looking forward to relaxing by the water.
“I am ready to sit at the beach with my kids and work on getting the perfect tan,” she said. “Our olive skin gets so pale in the winter, and I can’t wait to come back feeling relaxed and refreshed after a week in the sunshine with a sun-kissed glow.”
She added that these trips are an important part of family life.
“Each trip we take is genuine, quality time with each other,” Soka said. “I have great kids, and I love taking them to do new and exciting things in a new place. Everyone needs time to reset and recharge, and these memories are ones our family will cherish for the rest of our lives.”
Closer to Home
One of the best parts of living in Michigan is being a short drive from some of the most beautiful lakefront towns in the United States. Yara Shadda of Shelby Township, 25, said she will be visiting St. Joseph, Michigan, in early June for work and is excited to spend time there. She previously spent a 10-day work trip in the city last summer and loved it.
St. Joseph is roughly a 189-mile, three-hour drive from Metro Detroit and is nicknamed the “Riviera of the Midwest” for its scenic views, sandy beaches, lighthouse attractions, and location along Lake Michigan. The city features landmarks such as the St. Joseph North Pier Inner Lighthouse, the Silver Beach Carousel, local parks, the Curious Kids’ Museum, and a charming downtown district. It is also known for its sunsets, boating, and relaxed lake town atmosphere.
Shadda recalled her previous visit.
“I spent evenings and weekends exploring the shops, trying new restaurants, and spending time at the beach,” she said. “The town was so cute, cozy, and charming, and I am so excited to go back. I highly recommend it.”
Each year, many people travel to the Great Lakes to enjoy Michigan summers. A road trip to St. Joseph makes for an easy and worthwhile summer getaway.
Summer has a way of drawing families out in every direction—whether it’s a flight to Florida for sun and theme parks, a short drive up to Michigan’s lakefront towns like St. Joseph, or a longer journey across the country or overseas. For many Chaldean families, these trips are more than vacations; they are traditions built around togetherness, shared meals, and time away from the pace of everyday life.
From beach days along Lake Michigan to resort stays in Tampa and even visits to relatives abroad or new destinations across the U.S., summer travel reflects both familiarity and exploration. Each trip—big or small—becomes part of a larger story of connection, where culture, family, and adventure meet.
In the end, whether it’s the Gulf Coast, the Great Lakes, or somewhere entirely new, summer remains a season of making memories that travel home with you long after the suitcases are unpacked.