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Sunshine Travelers Podcast

Sunshine Travelers Podcast

By: Scott and Melissa Barronton
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Real Travel Tips, Bucket List Inspiration, and the Confidence to Book the Trip and Go! Ready to travel more and better? The Sunshine Travelers Podcast is your go-to travel podcast for real-world travel tips, inspiring stories, and expert guidance to help you plan extraordinary trips, with less stress and more joy. Hosted by real travelers Scott and Melissa Barronton, this podcast is built for midlife travelers and couples looking to finally take that dream trip—whether it’s a luxury safari in Kenya, a scenic train journey or walk through Europe, a coastal road trip in the US, or that dream cruise. Each weekly episode features: • Bucket list destination guides (think places like Italy, Iceland, South Africa, Greece, & more) • Practical tips on packing, planning, and using points & miles • Curated itineraries with hidden gems & local insights • Interviews with experienced travelers and travel pros • Travel hacks that save you time, money, and overwhelm • Travel Deals that are too good to pass up From avoiding overtourism, finding the best-value travel deals, traveling to new places and in new ways, this podcast helps you navigate every stage of your journey. They believe travel should be meaningful, memorable, and attainable, no matter where you’re starting from and they help you do just that. Follow the show and join them each week as they help you stop dreaming and start booking.© 2026 Sunshine Travelers Personal Development Personal Success Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • St Augustine: Hidden Gems, State Parks, and What Surprised Us in America's Oldest City - Ep190

    St Augustine: Hidden Gems, State Parks, and What Surprised Us in America's Oldest City - Ep190
    29 Oct 2026
    We lived about an hour from St. Augustine for over four years and only ever took day trips. So after we sold our house and moved into our RV full-time, we spent a full week in America's oldest city with our doodles, Lottie and Rupert. Find out why we made the Fountain of Youth our first stop. Welcome to Season 2 of the Sunshine Travelers Podcast. Same travel, new home. IN THIS EPISODEWe share what surprised us about St. Augustine's history, from the Fountain of Youth to Fort Mose, the first legally sanctioned free Black settlement in what is now the US. We talk about where we parked the RV and what it cost, the three very different sides of St. Augustine, where to stay if you're not camping, and the places we go back to every time. Plus, the dog-friendly state parks we found just outside of town, including a garden in Palatka built during the Great Depression that turned out to be a real hidden gem. KEY TAKEAWAYS* St. Augustine came before Jamestown and Plymouth, and the Fountain of Youth is much more than a fountain: a planetarium, a blacksmith demonstration, and the story of the Timucua, the local Native people.* Stagecoach RV Park cost us $479 for the week with full hookups. It's 15 to 20 minutes from downtown and has a dog park with separate areas for big and little dogs.* Anastasia State Park has a maximum camper length, and our rig was too long. Dogs aren't allowed on Florida state park beaches.* St. Augustine has three sides: the touristy downtown, the historic district, and the beaches. They're all worth exploring.* Not camping? Stay downtown near the historic area, at a B&B, or across the bridge closer to the beach. Fly into Jacksonville or Daytona and rent a car.* Bring bug spray and wear loose long sleeves on the trails. The mosquitoes are real.* Flagler College's rotunda is free to walk into, and it's stunning.* Our Florida State Parks annual pass paid for itself in one week. CHAPTERS00:00 Why St. Augustine was our first stop01:14 America's oldest city and what we learned at the Fountain of Youth03:30 Our RV and truck costs are coming to YouTube04:17 Where we stayed: Stagecoach RV Park (and the turkeys)05:48 The three sides of St. Augustine: downtown, historic and the beaches07:44 Anastasia State Park, big rigs and dogs on state park beaches09:58 Flying in: Jacksonville or Daytona10:25 A day trip from Orlando, and what Stagecoach cost us11:26 The dog park and why we stay a week12:23 Bug spray, long sleeves and the mosquitoes13:12 Castillo de San Marcos13:57 Fort Mose Historic State Park16:57 Flagler College18:51 The St. Augustine Lighthouse19:20 Nights of Lights19:48 The Old Town Trolley, the distillery and more to do21:10 First Friday Art Walk and Scott's Jensen Pottery mug21:49 Where we eat: Treylor Park, Kilwins, Mayday Ice Cream, Cap's on the Water and Kookaburra25:14 Faver-Dykes State Park26:51 Palatka and Ravine Gardens State Park29:45 Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, and our next stop: Orlando and Mount Dora YOUR HOSTSScott and Melissa are the Sunshine Travelers. After years of exploring the world and leading group trips, they went full-time RVing across North America in October 2026 with their doodles, Lottie and Rupert. RESOURCES MENTIONED* Read our full St. Augustine guide with photos and links: https://www.sunshinetravelers.com/blog/st-augustine-florida-hidden-gems-state-parks-and-what-surprised-us-in-america-s-oldest-city* What we paid for our RV and truck: our bonus video is coming to YouTube * Places we mention: Stagecoach RV Park, Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, Castillo de San Marcos, Fort Mose Historic State Park, Flagler College, the St. Augustine Lighthouse, Nights of Lights, First Friday Art Walk and Jensen Pottery, Treylor Park, Tootsy's Footsies, Kilwins, Mayday Ice Cream, Cap's on the Water, Kookaburra, Faver-Dykes State Park, Ravine Gardens State Park and Washington Oaks Gardens State Park* Germany Christmas Markets group trip (Dec 2027), join the interest list: https://www.sunshinetravelers.com/christmas-markets* Want us to plan your next trip? https://www.sunshinetravelersexperiences.com* RV gear we use: https://a.co/d/0fj6ObAU* Missed last week? Episode 189, Our First Week Full-Time RVing: https://youtu.be/gRsDLGSyL_Q* Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bDLakFY6EuE Some links in these show notes are affiliate links. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.Disclosure: https://www.sunshinetravelers.com/disclosure-and-disclaimer SHARE YOUR FAVORITE ORLANDO STOPSWe're spending the next three weeks in the Orlando area, including Mount Dora and Winter Park. Have a favorite state park, local restaurant or unexpected stop? Leave your suggestions in the comments. We'd love to add them to our list! SUBSCRIBE FOR THE RV SERIESOur bonus video on what we invested in our RV and truck is coming to YouTube. Coming up: monthly RV living costs, memberships we're trying, a full RV...
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    32 min
  • Our First Week Full-Time RVing: 6 Questions Everyone’s Asking | Episode 189

    Our First Week Full-Time RVing: 6 Questions Everyone’s Asking | Episode 189
    22 Oct 2026

    One week into full-time RV living, do we miss our house? Can we really share 400 square feet without driving each other crazy? And where are we going first? We’re answering six of the questions we’ve heard most since selling our Florida home and hitting the road with our doodles, Lottie and Rupert.

    Welcome to Season 2 of the Sunshine Travelers Podcast. Same travel, new home.

    IN THIS EPISODE
    We share what our first week of full-time RV living has been like, what we kept in storage, and why we’re still finding things to donate. We talk about sharing a small space as a couple, dividing campground setup responsibilities, and the hitching challenge that tested our communication. Plus, we explain our holiday plans, what happens to the dogs and RV when we travel internationally, and why our first stops are close to home in Florida.

    KEY TAKEAWAYS

    • One week in, we don’t miss the house—and we’re still downsizing.

    • Our storage unit holds a few sentimental items, travel mementos, golf clubs and family belongings. We already think we could use a smaller one.

    • We don’t have an end date for full-time RV life. We’ll keep going as long as it works for us.

    • Sharing 400 square feet feels familiar after years of working from home and traveling together. Outdoor space helps, too.

    • Dividing inside and outside tasks makes moving days easier, but clear communication matters when hitching up.

    • Setup and teardown take us about an hour or more each move, so we’re choosing slower travel.

    • When we travel internationally, the dogs will stay with friends and family, with boarding as a backup.

    • Give yourself breathing room after selling a house and downsizing. You don’t have to begin RV life with a cross-country drive.

    CHAPTERS
    00:05 Our first week of full-time RV living
    00:45 Do we miss the house, and how long will we do this?
    03:47 What we got rid of—and what we’re still donating
    05:35 What did we keep, and did we get a storage unit?
    11:33 How RV life changes our holiday plans
    12:07 Germany Christmas markets and a future group trip
    13:30 What happens to the dogs and RV when we travel abroad?
    16:02 Living together in 400 square feet
    18:32 Splitting setup and teardown responsibilities
    20:48 Our biggest hitching challenge so far
    21:56 Where are we going first?
    23:35 Why we’re starting slowly in Florida
    24:40 Exploring St. Augustine and meeting other RVers
    25:51 Help us find Florida stops beyond the theme parks
    27:01 Coming next: what our RV and truck cost

    YOUR HOSTS
    Scott and Melissa are the Sunshine Travelers. After years of exploring the world and leading group trips, they went full-time RVing across the USA and Canada in October 2026 with their doodles, Lottie and Rupert.

    RESOURCES MENTIONED

    • St. Augustine, Florida, including the Fountain of Youth

    • Florida destinations on our radar: Mount Dora, Winter Garden and springs near Orlando

    • Germany Christmas markets: we’re scouting a future small-group trip. Stay tuned for details.

    • Dog care options we’ve used: boarding, Rover and TrustedHousesitters

    SHARE YOUR FAVORITE FLORIDA STOPS
    Have a favorite state park, local restaurant, spring or unexpected stop around St. Augustine or Orlando? Leave your suggestions in the comments. We’d love to add them to our list!

    SUBSCRIBE FOR THE RV SERIES
    Next week, we’re sharing what we invested in our RV and truck, why we bought new, and more from our time in St. Augustine. Coming up: monthly RV living costs, memberships we’re trying, a full RV tour, and more destination guides as we explore. Follow on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and subscribe on YouTube so you don’t miss an episode. See you down the road!

    Keywords: full-time RV living, first week of RV life, RV living in retirement, RV living as a couple, living in 400 square feet, downsizing for RV life, full-time RV with dogs, slow RV travel, RV life in Florida
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    29 min
  • Why We Sold Our House to RV Full-Time with Our Dogs | Episode 188

    Why We Sold Our House to RV Full-Time with Our Dogs | Episode 188
    15 Oct 2026

    We sold our Florida house to RV full-time in retirement, and this is the honest story of why. After 32 years of homeownership, we traded a house for 400 square feet in a Brinkley 4100G toy hauler, towed by an F-350, with our doodles, Lottie and Rupert, along for the ride.

    Welcome to Season 2 of the Sunshine Travelers Podcast. Same travel, new home.

    IN THIS EPISODE
    Scott retired in March, and on a three-month trip through Europe and Africa, we realized the only thing we truly missed was our dogs. We share how we downsized 32 years of belongings and sold our house furnished, why we kept a 10x10 storage unit as a safety net, why we skipped renting an RV first, and how Melissa's Airstream dream turned into a toy hauler. We also cover the Florida homeownership costs we won't miss and why we decided not to wait.

    KEY TAKEAWAYS
    - Three months in small apartments showed us we could live happily in a small space.
    - We still had boxes we'd never opened from our last move, and we didn't miss what was in them.
    - Selling the house furnished made downsizing much faster.
    - Floor plan first, brand second. Ours had to have a half bath, room for a washer and dryer, and a patio for the dogs.
    - We wanted room for our kids and grandkids to visit, and that ruled out an Airstream.
    - Our shortlist: Brinkley 4100G, Jayco Pinnacle, and Grand Design Solitude.
    - An RV loses value over time, so talk to your financial advisor before you buy.
    - Don't wait for "someday." Retirement plans can change quickly.

    CHAPTERS
    00:00 Selling our house: 32 years of stuff into 400 sq ft
    01:21 Scott retires, and the dogs decide it
    03:30 Our 3-month trip: the only thing we missed
    05:22 Downsizing and selling our house furnished
    07:18 Our 10x10 storage unit safety net
    09:40 Could we really live in 400 square feet?
    11:14 The Brinkley videos that changed our minds
    13:50 Why we didn't rent an RV first
    15:56 Floor plans, and why we chose a toy hauler
    18:27 Brinkley vs. Jayco Pinnacle vs. Grand Design Solitude
    19:11 A depreciating asset, and what RV life will cost
    21:33 Why North America, and why now
    24:32 Slow travel, group trips and what's next
    27:05 Traveling full-time with dogs

    YOUR HOSTS
    Scott and Melissa are the Sunshine Travelers. After years of exploring the world and leading group trips, they went full-time RVing across the USA and Canada in October 2026 with their doodles, Lottie and Rupert.

    RESOURCES MENTIONED
    - Brinkley RV: brinkleyrv.com
    - Jayco Pinnacle: jayco.com
    - Grand Design Solitude: granddesignrv.com

    SEASON 1 RETIREMENT TRIP:

    - Start our 3-month retirement trip series with Episode 168: https://www.sunshinetravelers.com/podcasts/sunshine-travelers-podcast/episodes/2149189521

    - Follow Sunshine Travelers on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sunshinetravelerspodcast

    SUBSCRIBE FOR THE RV SERIES
    Coming up: what our RV and truck really cost, what RV life costs each month, and a full RV tour. Follow on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and subscribe on YouTube so you don't miss an episode. See you down the road!

    Watch our RV Videos on YouTube https://youtu.be/hqM0yIF1XAk

    Keywords: RV full-time in retirement, sell house to RV, full-time RV with dogs, toy hauler, Brinkley 4100G, downsizing for RV life, retire and RV
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    28 min
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