• Five people who earn more than $100,000 annually shared how they're spending their money.
• They're trying to balance spending on big purchases with saving for future goals.
• Some have spent money on a new car or travel, while others have invested in a home or startup.

For some, earning a six-figure income can facilitate a big splurge. For others, it's an opportunity to establish additional income streams or financial security.

Abid Salahi earns about $140,000 a year from his software engineering job. The 26-year-old, based in Vancouver, said his biggest purchase over the past year was a new car that cost roughly $37,000. Additionally, Salahi said he upgraded his home workspace.

Despite his earnings, one thing has been out of his reach: owning a home. The houses in his area that check his boxes cost more than $500,000. To afford a down payment, Salahi said he's saving and being more judicious about how much he spends dining out and at the grocery store.

Reaching a six-figure salary can be a challenge for some employees. The average annual salary for US-based full-time workers was about $82,000 as of November, the latest data available, per a New York Fed survey. Some workers who earn more than six figures have used the opportunity to set themselves up for potential future success.

Business Insider asked five people who've made more than $100,000 annually what they've spent their money on in recent years. BI has verified their six-figure earnings.

Balancing spending now and saving for the future

Earning a six-figure income has also created new opportunities for John, who's on track to earn roughly $250,000 this year by balancing a full-time and part-time remote IT role.

The millennial, who's based in California, said one of his biggest expenses over the past year was his sister's medical bills, which were about $30,000, he said.

When he spends money on himself, he focuses on fun and health. He hired a personal trainer, who charges about $130 weekly for a one-hour session. Last year, he spent about $9,000 on a three-week honeymoon in Asia.

While he's trying to take advantage of his money in the present, John said he's also prioritized saving for the future.

"I follow a concept of 'pay yourself first' — where I put money into retirement and savings first, and then the rest is disposable," said John. His identity is known to BI, but he asked to use a pseudonym due to fears of professional repercussions.

Looking forward, John said he's saving money for the children he hopes to have one day, a bigger car, and a home.

Corritta Lewis is also balancing spending now while saving for the future. Last year, Lewis earned roughly $280,000 from her consulting job and a travel blog she runs as a side hustle. The 35-year-old, who's based in Orlando, said she and her wife spend most of their disposable income on travel.

"We've been digital nomads for four years, so most of our money was used to travel the world and have amazing experiences," she said.

Despite her travel expenses, Lewis said she doesn't live a luxurious lifestyle and is focused on long-term saving. She aims to work part-time hours by her 40th birthday.

"Right now, we are prioritizing savings and investments," she said.

Investing in themselves and real estate

Margaret Pattillo took home around $128,000 last year from her digital marketing and PR business. The 27-year-old, who's based in Florida, said she's on track to earn more than $160,000 this year.

Pattillo used her earnings to buy a home earlier this year and has plans to buy a second home as an investment property. She tries to use her money to create additional income streams that will set her up for future financial success.

"I don't place much value in material items and I'm lucky that I get to travel for work frequently," she said. "I'd say my biggest goal is to build up as many cash-flowing assets as I can in the next 10 years."

Christopher Stroup has put his earnings toward a different type of investment: a new business.

Stroup earned roughly $130,000 last year working as a financial advisor. The 33-year-old, who's based in California, said his income has helped him improve his relationships with friends and family by giving him the budget to go out to eat and on trips. He said his goal is to travel to Europe at least once a year.

Over the past year, Stroup said the biggest thing he's spent his money on is the financial planning business he launched in September. He said his startup costs have included marketing expenses and hiring a team. However, he hopes the investment in his business will put him in an even better financial position.

"If it works out well, achieving my financial goals on my desired timeline has a much higher probability of happening," he said, adding that two of his main goals are owning a home and starting a family.

Are you making over $100,000 a year? Are you willing to share your story and the impact this income has had on your life? If so, contact this reporter at [email protected].

Lara Trump, President-elect Trump’s daughter-in-law, said Saturday she is removing herself from consideration for Florida Republican Marco Rubio’s seat in the U.S. Senate. 

"After an incredible amount of thought, contemplation, and encouragement from so many, I have decided to remove my name from consideration for the United States Senate," she wrote on X Saturday. 

The president-elect has nominated Rubio to be secretary of state. 

"I could not have been more honored to serve as RNC co-chair during the most high-stakes election of our lifetime and I’m truly humbled by the unbelievable support shown to me by the people of our country, and here in the great state of Florida," Lara Trump added.

TRUMP SAYS HE DOESN'T EXPECT DESANTIS TO NAME DAUGHTER-IN-LAW LARA TRUMP AS RUBIO'S SENATE REPLACEMENT

Trump, the wife of Eric Trump, the president-elect’s son, stepped down as co-chair of the Republican National Committee earlier this month.

" I have read so many of your kind messages and I cannot thank you enough," Lara Trump said, adding she has a "big announcement that I’m excited to share in January."

She said she remains "incredibly passionate about public service and (looks) forward to serving our country again sometime in the future. In the meantime, I wish Governor DeSantis the best of luck with this appointment."

The president-elect had previously pressed DeSantis to name Lara as Rubio's replacement, a source in his political orbit told Fox News Digital, but he later told reporters he didn't necessarily expect him to select her. 

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING ON THE TRUMP TRANSITION

"That's his choice," the president-elect added. 

Rubio’s senate replacement will be appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and will serve the remaining two years of Rubio's term. 

In 2026, the seat will be open for a full six-year term. 

Lara Trump had previously said she was "seriously considering" the position, although she wasn’t sure it was right for her. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

DeSantis previously said he would make an appointment by early January. 

Lara Trump did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

• Realtor Patti DiMarco, 76, moved to Babcock Ranch after increasing concerns over hurricane damage.
• She purchased a $480,000 three-bedroom home and moved in two weeks after her first visit.
• DiMarco says she felt safe during the most recent hurricane season.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Patti DiMarco, a 76-year-old Realtor who splits her time between New Jersey and Florida. After increasing concerns over hurricane damage and rising insurance costs, DiMarco moved to the 'hurricane-resistant' community of Babcock Ranch.

Located 20 minutes north of Fort Myers, Babcock Ranch was built on land 30 feet above sea level. Developers took precautions for extreme weather events, like designing smart lakes to combat flooding and burying utilities underground. Babcock Ranch's field house, designed to withstand 150 mph wind gusts, also serves as an evacuation shelter for surrounding areas during a hurricane.

I used to live in a gated community in Naples, Florida, about three miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The homes were of various types, including condos with carports, condos with garages, and single-family homes. I lived in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom home that I purchased for $238,000.

My concerns started with the 2018 Surfside building collapse. After that tragedy, the Florida legislature required all condominium and homeowners associations to modify their accounting. They needed more cash for replacement costs, which would impact owners. I believed I would eventually get hit with a big assessment.

Then, there were the hurricanes. I was on the condominium association board, so I dealt with all the issues and the damage. I started to feel like it was becoming too much to manage. During Hurricane Irma in 2017, seven of our homes lost their roofs, and several people lost their cars. During Hurricane Ian in 2022, 18 garages were damaged.

I started to think, 'Where else do I want to live?' I wanted to stay in Florida but find a better situation. One of my grandchildren studied Babcock Ranch as part of a college course on sustainability. It inspired me to visit.

I visited Babcock Ranch for the first time in December 2023. I moved in two weeks later.

Last December, I visited Babcock Ranch, Florida. I toured it, returned the next day, bought the house, and moved in two weeks later.

I've been a Realtor for almost 50 years. When it's right, you just know.

Purchased for $480,000, it has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a den, and a two-car garage. Although I'm in a golf course community and don't play golf, I like the open space.

Settling into Babcock was easy. I unpacked my stuff and went to the pool the next day. The facilities and each of the different neighborhoods are very welcoming, and the people in the neighborhoods are also nice.

There's so much attention to detail in the community. With the utilities being underground, the smart lakes absorbing water, and even the lakes' overflow designed to flow into the street instead of houses, I feel very safe in the event of a hurricane.

My flood insurance costs around $600 per year, and neighbors have told me that I may even be able to abandon it once the final elevation readings are completed.

For the past hurricane season, I didn't worry at all. I was still in New Jersey and hadn't come down yet. Still, there was a Ring camera on my doorbell, and during the storm all I saw in the video was a little palm tree blow. It was just very reassuring.

I was speaking with my neighbors here, and one of them, in particular, was very nervous. She had just moved and hadn't been through a hurricane season. I kept telling her, 'If they didn't think you were safe here, they would be telling you to leave,' but it's the reverse. They're bringing people to Babcock for shelter.

I miss some of the shopping in Naples, but I don't mind zipping around in my golf cart

The people here are a total variety. There are young families, retired folks, people working remotely, and people working in Cape Coral, about an hour away.

The geographic areas where people are coming from are also very diverse. I've met many people from the Midwest, but I've also met people from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Massachusetts.

I don't miss being closer to the shoreline, but I miss some of the restaurants and shopping I had in Naples. New stores are coming here, though. We have a larger shopping district opening next year.

On the other hand, I drive my golf cart everywhere. I do my errands and then flip back to the pool and restaurants. It's like living in a little village from a Hallmark movie.

Former NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater may ride the high of winning a state title back to the league.

Bridgewater coached Miami Northwestern to a Florida state title over the weekend. He suggested in an interview with the NFL Network that he hoped to get back to the professional ranks.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"That's the plan. My team knows that's the plan," he said Tuesday. "We wanted to win a state championship and then coach goes back to the league, see what happens, and then come back February in the offseason, continue coaching high school football. We'll see how it plays out."

Bridgewater didn’t say whether he had been in touch with any teams.

He was in his first season as head coach at Miami Northwestern – his alma mater. He led the school to the Florida Class 3A title on Saturday, defeating Jacksonville Raines High School 41-0.

"It’s great to be back on top," he said.

FOX NEWS DIGITAL SPORTS NFL POWER RANKINGS AFTER WEEK 15 OF THE 2024 SEASON

The 32-year-old was a first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings out of Louisville in 2014. He was a Pro Bowler in his second season. But tragedy struck in 2016 when he suffered a near-career-ending knee injury.

He had a slow process to returning to 100%, playing in 15 games from 2017 to 2019. He got a starting role with the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, but failed to stick with another team.

He was last seen with the Detroit Lions in 2023.

Bridgewater has 15,120 passing yards and 75 touchdown passes in 79 career NFL games.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

President-elect Trump says he doesn't think Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will name his daughter-in-law Lara Trump to succeed Sen. Marco Rubio in the Senate.

"No, I don’t. I probably don't. But I don’t know," Trump said Monday as he took questions from reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. "Ron’s doing a good job. That’s his choice – nothing to do with me."

Trump last month announced that he would nominate Rubio, the three-term senator from Florida and a senior Republican member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence committees, to serve as secretary of state in his incoming administration.

TRUMP PRESSES DESANTIS TO NAME DAUGHTER-IN-LAW TO SUCCEED RUBIO IN SENATE

Since then, the president-elect and some top Trump allies have recommended that Lara Trump, who from March until a week ago served as Republican National Committee co-chair, fill the next two years of Rubio's term in the Senate.

DeSantis has said he'll make a decision on the Rubio Senate replacement by early next month.

DESANTIS SETS TIMETABLE TO NAME RUBIO SENATE SUCCESSOR

Trump on Monday praised his daughter-in-law, saying, "Lara's unbelievable. She was incredible. The job she did at the RNC…. she is so highly respected."

And he added that Lara Trump is highly sought after.

"I also know that Lara got so many other things. I mean she's got so many other things. People want her to be on television. They want to give her contracts," Trump said. "She's got so many other things that she's talking about."

The president-elect also praised Rubio, but added, "He leaves a vacancy in Florida and Ron's going to have to make that decision. And he'll make the right decision."

Sources have confirmed to Fox News that Trump told DeSantis that he would like to see his daughter-in-law succeed Rubio. But Republican sources in Florida suggest that DeSantis is more likely to name someone who's held public office in the Sunshine State.

And Lara Trump, in interviews with Fox News and the AP, has said she would "seriously consider" serving Florida in the Senate.

DeSantis, a one-time Trump ally who clashed with the former president last year and early this year during a very contentious 2024 GOP presidential nomination race, mended relations a bit with the former president after the primary season, as he endorsed Trump and helped raise money for the Republican nominee's general election campaign.

"Florida deserves a senator who will help President Trump deliver on his election mandate, be strong on immigration and border security, take on the entrenched bureaucracy and administrative state, reverse the nation’s fiscal decline, be animated by conservative principles, and has a proven record of results," DeSantis said last month.

And he noted at the time that "we have already received strong interest from several possible candidates, and we continue to gather names of additional candidates and conduct preliminary vetting. More extensive vetting and candidate interviews will be conducted over the next few weeks, with a selection likely made by the beginning of January."

The formal confirmation process for Rubio by his fellow senators won’t kick off until after Trump is sworn into office on Jan. 20.

• Karla Cobreiro, 33, lived with her parents for nearly 10 years to save up enough to buy a home.
• In 2022, she bought her first home in South Florida without the help of a partner or spouse.
• Cobreiro said solo homeownership can be challenging, but she likes not having to compromise.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Karla Cobreiro, a 33-year-old vice president at global PR firm Quinn who purchased a home on her own in 2022.

The National Association of Realtors found that from July 2023 to June 2024, single female buyers made up 20% of all homebuyers, outpacing single male buyers, who made up only 8%.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

I'm originally from Cuba. My parents moved to the US when I was four, and I grew up in Miami.

I left at 18 for college, then moved back home after graduation to save money for my future. I'm grateful for that time, and I know many would love the chance to do the same.

Still, I didn't want to live with my parents forever.

Living at home meant sacrificing some privacy. There was commentary about what I was doing, why I was doing it, and how. It wasn't ill-intended, but it could feel like a lot at times.

By my 30s, the decision to move out really came to a head. I asked myself: "Does it make sense to keep living at home to save money, or should I take the leap and buy my own place?"

In the end, I decided to buy a home. I'd never truly lived alone, and I wanted my own space and control over my future. Most importantly, I was ready to start a new chapter.

I didn't have a partner then, but I didn't think that should stop me. So I went for it.

I was financially prepared to buy a home alone

For many immigrants, homeownership is a big part of the American dream. It was never a question of whether I would own a home, but when.

Knowing I'd be doing it all on my own, I approached homeownership with a methodical mindset.

I didn't want to be house-poor or struggle financially. I waited for the right moment — when I had a higher-paying job, had saved up a large down payment, and had built a solid emergency fund.

I lived with my parents for almost 10 years after college to save and set myself up for the expenses of homeownership: a down payment, mortgage, HOA fees, utilities, and insurance.

In November 2022, at 31, I bought a 900-square-foot condo in Downtown Doral, a suburb of Miami, for about $400,000.

Sometimes, I wish I hadn't overthought it or waited so long.

House hunting was a challenging experience

My homebuying journey started during the COVID-19 pandemic, when home prices and mortgage rates were much higher than before. By 2022, the South Florida real-estate market was incredibly hot.

Although I was financially ready, it was a tough time to be a buyer.

I found myself in bidding wars for homes, often walking away because properties were selling for $30,000 or more over the asking price, especially with so many cash offers.

I cried more about real estate than anything else. My twin sister, a real-estate attorney, helped me navigate the process. I would call her, frustrated, asking, "What's going on? This is insane! I didn't realize buying a house would be this hard."

I felt I had done everything right: I graduated from college, got a job, earned a master's degree, paid off my student loans and car, and saved 25% for a down payment. I had an 800 credit score and liquid assets — all on my own, without help from my parents.

I had checked the boxes and followed the appropriate steps in life. But despite all of that, I was met with rejection after rejection from sellers.

For a while, I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel and thought I would be stuck in my parents' house forever. But after a year of searching, my offer was finally accepted on the third home I bid on.

My condo is an investment in my future

I live in a one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo with a den, and my HOA fees are about $1,000 a month.

I have a 30-year mortgage with an interest rate of around 5%, and my mortgage payment is about $2,500.

The unit is smaller than if I were a DINK — someone in a dual-income household with no kids — but I think it's the perfect size for me.

The condo has a work-from-home space and enough room to entertain, plus a stunning, unobstructed sunset view.

I renovated everything except the floors, so I now have a brand-new bathroom and kitchen. My dad, who works in construction, helped with the renovations (and is always on speed dial for anything I can't handle myself).

I'm not sure how long I'll stay here, but I hope it's for a while. Maybe one day, I'll find a partner, and we'll buy a home together, and turn this place into an investment property.

I specifically wanted to live in a condo because didn't want to deal with yard work and, as a single woman, I felt it would be safer.

My building has concierge services, security, and a gated garage. The ground floor also has shops, cafés, gyms, and other stores.

When I lived with my parents, I was in a very suburban, family-oriented area where I had to drive everywhere — even just to get to the supermarket. There were no cafés or anything nearby. It wasn't the lifestyle I wanted.

Now, my place is very central, with easy highway access to anywhere I need to go in about 10 minutes. The neighborhood has a downtown vibe, is walkable, and offers plenty to do.

Buying a home alone was the right decision

Owning a home as a single woman is like a roller coaster — there are ups and downs.

Though I live comfortably, If I get laid off, break a leg, or face an emergency, I'm on my own. I always joke to my friends, "It's just me and this mortgage."

Still, I'm glad I didn't wait until I was in a relationship or married to buy a home. Owning a home with someone you're not committed to can get tricky, especially if you break up. There's no prenup and if you disagree about selling, that can get messy.

I enjoy owning alone because I can selfishly make decisions without having to compromise. I get to decorate my home however I like —and have the entire closet to myself.

Looking back, it was the right time for my parents and me to branch off and live our lives — me as a single woman in my 30s, and my parents as empty nesters.

We all have different paces and lifestyles now, but occasionally, I do miss living with them. It was nice hanging out, having my laundry done, or enjoying one of their home-cooked meals.

I love them to pieces, and I'm truly grateful for their support and encouragement.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis — who was urged by President-elect Donald Trump to run in the special election to replace former Rep. Matt Gaetz in Florida's 1st Congressional District — hopes to win so he can support the incoming commander-in-chief's agenda.

Patronis told Fox News Digital during an interview on Thursday that he is eager to run and "support President Trump's agenda about" eliminating "wokeness" which has "infiltrated" government and society.

"We need common sense," he said, asserting that it is not currently "very common" in the U.S.

WITH TRUMP PLEDGING ENDORSEMENT, FLORIDA CFO WILL RUN FOR MATT GAETZ'S FORMER HOUSE SEAT

Asked whether he would be interested in joining the House Freedom Caucus if he wins the House seat, Patronis indicated that he would "love to know what they're all about," and said that many of the things he is familiar with the group participating in "make sense to" him.

He said, "the citizens of the United States, or in this case District 1, spend their money better than Washington D.C. does."

Patronis wants the Sunshine State to adopt gold and silver as legal tender and has called for a study on the issue.

HOUSE GOP LEADERS ENDORSE TRUMP-BACKED CANDIDATE JIMMY PATRONIS FOR MATT GAETZ'S OLD SEAT

"Gold and silver have been trusted assets for thousands of years, and it makes perfect sense to use them as legal tender. I'm launching this study to determine the best way to get it done," Patronis said in a statement included in a press release earlier this week. 

He indicated to Fox News Digital that he hopes the study will pave the way for the state legislature to approve legislation "to allow this type of economic freedom right here in the state of Florida."

In addition to Trump's backing, Patronis also has scored endorsements from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn.

FLORIDA CFO REQUESTS REPORT ON POTENTIAL FOR INVESTING SOME STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM FUNDS INTO DIGITAL ASSETS

Election Day for the special election is set for April 1, but Patronis will first face the special Republican primary contest next month.

• I've been visiting Universal and Disney World during the holidays for almost a decade.
• Both destinations offer festive activities at different price points.
• Right now, Universal seems to offer the best overall value.

Since moving to Florida with my family eight years ago, we've spent every holiday season visiting Disney World and Universal Orlando.

Both offer theme parks, resorts, and entertainment districts filled with holiday activities and events. There's truly something for every budget, whether you want to walk around Disney Springs' Christmas trees for free or purchase a VIP holiday tour at Universal.

This year, I spent nights at the resorts' movie-themed parks, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Universal Studios Florida, to compare their holiday offerings.

I attended Jollywood Nights, an after-hours holiday party at Hollywood Studios.

Disney World is known for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, a ticketed event at Magic Kingdom, but this is the second year for Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios.

The after-hours event runs for five hours on select nights and includes perks like short ride times, party-exclusive food, and the opportunity to meet rare Disney characters.

It also requires a separate ticket, but it can be slightly more affordable — Magic Kingdom's event costs between $180 and $220 for adults, and Jollywood Nights goes for $160 to $180.

This is all separate from daytime park admission. One-day, single-park tickets for this month start at about $150.

At Universal, I spent time on my own and did a holiday tour.

Universal's holiday tour is a must-do for me every season.

My $100 ticket included five hours with a tour guide, special meet-and-greets, dinner, dessert, and more. It's the only way to meet Santa at Universal Orlando, although he does appear nightly in a holiday parade.

The tour is less expensive than the Disney events, but unlike those, it requires a park ticket — a one-day, single-park ticket costs about $120 right now. Luckily, I have an annual pass, so I was able to use that and skip this added cost.

I also spent time at Universal before check-in to explore some of the holiday offerings on my own.

At Disney, characters were dressed in their holiday best.

Getting photos with characters is one of my favorite parts of visiting theme parks, so I was sure to line up for some of the party-exclusive meet-and-greets at Jollywood Nights, like Disney's Duffy Bear dressed as Santa.

However, you don't have to have an event ticket to meet holiday-themed characters. Some characters, like Chip and Dale and Woody, are out in their holiday best all day at Hollywood Studios.

At Universal, Grinchmas was in full swing.

Universal goes full Grinch during the holiday season, with offerings like a Grinch meet-and-greet, a character breakfast with the mean one himself, and the "Grinchmas Who-Liday Spectacular" show.

From sweet treats to merchandise, you'll see the green guy all over the park.

Earl the Squirrel, a Universal character inspired by a real-life squirrel who used to live in the park's Christmas tree, is also a main figure of the season.

Hollywood Studios guests can see a Christmassy version of "Frozen."

There were Jollywood Nights-specific entertainment offerings at my event — like a "Nightmare Before Christmas" sing-along — there are also holiday happenings for daytime park guests.

The popular "Frozen Sing-a-long Celebration" show gets a special holiday revamp, and Santa also greets guests at It's A Wonderful Shop.

Universal's Grinch show is pure holiday joy.

There's no greater holiday joy for me than watching the "Grinchmas Who-Liday Spectacular" show, starring the Grinch, every Who down in Whoville, and a real-life version of Max (the dog).

Anyone with a regular park admission can see the Broadway-quality performance, which features songs by Mannheim Steamroller. It runs several times every day throughout the holiday season.

The park also has a special holiday parade that features Dreamworks characters, floats, entertainers, and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons.

Disney scored high marks for its festive menus.

The holiday food at Disney truly can't be rivaled.

I noshed on lots of things you can only get during Jollywood Nights, like kimchi-pimento-cheese dip and tot poutine, but festive foods are available at the park during the day as well.

From a red-velvet holiday shake to a winter-spiced whoopie pie, Disney has plenty of only-seen-at-Christmas foods to try.

If you're looking for worthwhile treats, try another Universal festival.

Universal has some holiday-themed treats, like Max-shaped cookies and a roasted-turkey-dinner crepe, but I didn't think there were too many options.

If you're looking to really experience delicious festival food at Universal, you'll want to visit during Mardi Gras or Halloween Horror Nights, when the park is filled with stands selling tasty themed bites.

It's so much fun to shop for holiday merchandise.

Choosing a theme-park souvenir is tough on any vacation, but it's even harder for me during the holidays.

Almost every Hollywood Studios' giftshop was taken over by Mickey ornaments and cozy holiday sweatshirts. There were also special pop-up areas selling even more festive items.

Universal's holiday cheer is also clear in its shops.

Like Disney World, Universal goes all out with holiday-themed merch.

This is especially true for the themed lands, like Seuss Landing and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Both "Grinchmas" and "Holidays at Hogsmeade" release fun limited-time offerings this time of year.

There's stunning holiday decor at Disney.

Disney goes all out, adorning Hollywood Studios with vintage Hollywood-glam decorations like star-lit lamp posts and sparkly ornaments and lights.

You'll even find fake snow made of soap, dubbed "snoap." It's really beautiful to watch it fall over the decorated theme park without having to feel freezing cold — a win-win.

Universal also goes all out with decor.

From the 80-foot tree in the New York area to its Holiday Tribute Store filled with limited-time merchandise, Universal's Christmas decor is truly something to behold.

It also produces plenty of snoap, so you don't have to worry about missing out on that magic.

Overall, I think Universal is a better value around he holidays.

Disney and Universal hold special places in my heart after years of building family memories in both.

Still, I think Universal is a better value during the holidays since a regular park ticket gets guests way more seasonal activities for their money.

Although I added on the VIP tour and recommend it, it's not actually necessary. Everyone can meet characters like the Grinch and Earl the Squirrel, watch the "Grinchmas Who-Liday Spectacular," and catch the parade.

Disney keeps many of its best holiday activities in its separate, ticketed events, which can be costly, especially if you're also planning on spending the day at the parks.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that state workers will get three extra days off this month.

"In addition to Christmas Day and New Years Day, our state workers will get three extra days off—December 23, 24 and 31—to spend more time with their families and loved ones this holiday season," the governor declared in a post on X.

State offices will be closed on all five of those days, according to a press release from the governor's office.

DESANTIS WELCOMES FLORIDA STATE LAWMAKER TO REPUBLICAN PARTY AS SHE DITCHES DEMOCRATS

"Florida is in great shape, and we want to reward our state employees," DeSantis said, according to the press release. "After a full year—including three costly hurricanes—we hope these extra days off allow for state workers to spend more time with their families and loved ones during this holiday season."

Last month, "state workers were given off for November 27," the day before Thanksgiving, Dan Barrow of the Florida Department of Management Services confirmed to Fox News Digital via email on Wednesday.

The department's website lists nine dates "observed as paid holidays by state agencies" in 2024, including New Year's Day, Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Friday following Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

TRUMP PRESSING DESANTIS TO NAME LARA TRUMP AS RUBIO'S SENATE SUCCESSOR: SOURCE

"Full-time employees are entitled to one personal holiday each year," the site also notes.

Last year, DeSantis announced that state offices would be closed Nov. 22, Dec. 26, December 29 and Jan. 2, on top of regular closures during the holidays, according to a November 2023 press release.

FLORIDA LAWMAKER INTRODUCES BILL TO REQUIRE DACA STUDENTS TO PAY OUT-OF-STATE TUITION

"Our state employees have worked tirelessly throughout the year to aid and assist Florida families," DeSantis said, according to the release. "Over the past few months, they have selflessly responded to Hurricane Idalia and the State of Florida’s Israel Rescue Operation. Closing state offices on these additional days will provide state employees with some much-deserved time with their families and loved ones while enjoying the holiday season."

Florida state Sen. Randy Fine, a Republican, proposed a bill to require high school graduates with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, status to pay out-of-state tuition for college.

Fine claims the state cannot afford to subsidize tuition for students who are not in the country legally and says the policy passed in 2014 offering them in-state tuition costs Florida $45 million a year.

Under S.B. 90, DACA students would no longer qualify for in-state tuition, which costs an average of $6,143 for the 2024-2025 academic year, according to the State University System of Florida. The University of Florida, for example, is $6,381 for in-state tuition but $28,658 for out-of-state tuition, according to US News & World Report.

DESANTIS WELCOMES FLORIDA STATE LAWMAKER TO REPUBLICAN PARTY AS SHE DITCHES DEMOCRATS

"While blue-collar Floridians are struggling to make ends meet, it is not fair to require them to pay $45 million a year to subsidize sweetheart deals for college degrees to those who should not even be here," Fine said in a statement.

"This is a no-brainer way to reduce the size of government and free up resources to help Floridians in need," he continued. "We must put Floridians first, and I am proud to do my part to rebalance the scales for our citizens."

The bill would not modify the admission policies of Florida’s 12 state universities and 28 state colleges.

State Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat, has expressed strong opposition to the bill, arguing that the proposed change would create significant financial barriers for students who have lived in Florida most of their lives.

"These are students who have only known the United States as home," Eskamani said, according to Fox 13.

Eskamani also noted that many DACA students do not qualify for scholarships and are already at a financial disadvantage.

The legislation, Fine argues, is about "ensuring people who shouldn't be in the country aren't getting discounted educations," according to Fox 13.

TRUMP PRESSING DESANTIS TO NAME LARA TRUMP AS RUBIO'S SENATE SUCCESSOR: SOURCE

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Fine’s previous attempts to pass similar legislation have come up short, but Democrats worry that increased national focus on immigration issues, such as President-elect Trump promising mass deportations in his second term, could give the bill momentum this time around.

"I am concerned this policy may have legs this year," Eskamani said.

Fine, who joined the state Senate last month, is resigning from the legislature, effective March 31, so he can run for the U.S. House seat that is expected to be vacated by U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., who was nominated by Trump to be his White House national security advisor.

President-elect Trump is pressing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to name his daughter-in-law Lara Trump to fill Sen. Marco Rubio's seat in the Sunshine State, Fox Digital has learned. 

President-elect Trump named Rubio as his pick for secretary of state last month, leaving DeSantis the decision to name a successor to the position. DeSantis said last month that he will likely name his pick for the seat by early January. 

Speculation has mounted in recent weeks that Lara Trump is a likely choice for the role, as Republican lawmakers such as Sens. Rick Scott, Lindsey Graham, Katie Britt and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida voiced support for her filling Rubio's Senate shoes. Lara Trump is married to the 45th president's son, Eric Trump, and co-chaired the RNC amid the 2024 presidential campaign. 

A source in President-elect Trump's political orbit said Tuesday that the former and upcoming president is pressing DeSantis to name Lara Trump. The comment comes as DeSantis and Trump are expected to attend the annual Army-Navy college football game this coming weekend, Fox Digital previously reported. 

'DOING VERY WELL': TRUMP RALLIES BEHIND DEFENSE SECRETARY PICK HEGSETH BUT INVITES DESANTIS TO ARMY-NAVY GAME

If Rubio is confirmed as the U.S.' next secretary of state, his successor would serve in the Senate for two years before the seat is up for election again in 2026. 

LARA TRUMP ANNOUNCES SHE IS STEPPING DOWN AS RNC CO-CHAIR AMIDST TALK SHE MAY BE UP FOR FLORIDA SENATE SEAT

Amid speculation over Rubio's potential replacement, Lara Trump announced this week that she will step down as co-chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) after serving in the position throughout the presidential campaign. She explained in a social media post that she fulfilled three goals she sought as GOP co-chair, and would "formally step down from the RNC at our next meeting." 

LARA TRUMP SAYS SHE'D 'LOVE TO CONSIDER' FILLING RUBIO'S SENATE SEAT IF ASKED BY DESANTIS

Lara Trump has publicly spoken favorably of potentially filling the Florida Senate seat, saying she would "100% consider" taking the job if offered by DeSantis. 

LARA TRUMP SAYS SHE WOULD 'ABSOLUTELY' CONSIDER BECOMING SEN. RUBIO'S REPLACEMENT: 'WOULD BE AN HONOR' | FOX NEWS VIDEO

"It is something I would seriously consider," she told The Associated Press. "If I’m being completely transparent, I don’t know exactly what that would look like. And I certainly want to get all of the information possible if that is something that’s real for me. But yeah, I would 100% consider it."

She additionally told Fox News' Sean Hannity last month that she "would love to serve the people of Florida" and "would love to consider" filling the seat if asked.

This is not the first time Lara Trump has been in the midst of Senate speculation. Following the 2020 presidential election, rumors spread across Washington, D.C., that the Trump daughter-in-law was considering a Senate run in her home state of North Carolina. She ultimately decided against a run, endorsing now-Sen. Ted Budd. 

Fox News Digital's Christina Shaw and Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report. 

Florida state Rep. Susan Valdés, who was just re-elected as a Democrat last month, announced that she's switching her party affiliation to Republican.

"I will not waste my final two years in the Florida Legislature being ignored in a caucus whose leadership expects me to ignore the needs of my community," the newly-minted Republican said in a statement. 

"Effective immediately, I will change my registration from a Democrat to Republican and will join the Republican Conference in the Florida House of Representatives," she noted. "I know that I won't agree with my fellow Republican House members on every issue, but I know that in their caucus, I will be welcomed and treated with respect."

LONGTIME DEMOCRAT TEXAS JUDGE SWITCHES PARTIES IN MONUMENTAL MOVE

Her switch comes on the heels of a bid for the role of Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee chair.

"While it remains disturbingly unclear whether she was entertaining the switch to become a Republican even as she was running to lead the local Party, ultimately it is her constituents in District 64 who have the most reason to be upset and betrayed," Hillsborough County Democratic Party chair Vanessa Lester said in a statement shared on the Hillsborough County Democratic Party's Facebook page. "They voted for a Democrat to fight for them and ended up with a political opportunist who abandoned them."

Sunshine State Gov. Ron DeSantis welcomed the congresswoman to the Republican Party, declaring in a post on X, "Welcome to the GOP, Rep. Valdes! Congrats to Speaker @Daniel_PerezFL on the biggest Republican majority in the history of the Florida House!" the governor added.

‘CANARY IN THE COAL MINE’: DALLAS MAYOR EXPLAINS TRUMP'S ‘GIFT’ TO GOP AFTER HE SWITCHED PARTIES

Valdés hailed former President Jimmy Carter as "My hero!" in a post on X earlier this year while wishing the 100-year-old Democrat a happy birthday.

"I’m only trying to make it to vote for Kamala Harris," the former president told his son Chip, according to grandson Jason Carter, The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported earlier this year.

In an October post on Facebook, Valdés wrote, "I pray you can see her inauguration, President Jimmy Carter."

FORMER CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT ON WHY SHE SWITCHED PARTIES: IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING

President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in for his second term next month after decisively defeating Harris in the 2024 presidential contest.

• I love many things about Florida, but after 11 years, I left to move back to the Midwest.
• My insurance costs in Florida were high and driving in our county felt dangerous and intense.
• I often let the state's many mosquitos, heat, and humidity deter me from going outside.

We first fell in love with Florida after visiting it on a family vacation in 1997.

After many more pleasant family vacations to the state, we left our hometown in Missouri and moved to Florida in early 2013.

We thought Jacksonville would be a good place to settle, as it was close to many Florida hot spots and great vacation cities in neighboring states.

It turns out, I'm much happier visiting Florida than living there full time. Here are a few things that led me to move back home to the Midwest after 11 years.

I didn't like driving in our county, and I often worried about my family's safety on the roads

Witnessing high-speed chases on the interstate, cars failing to yield, and trucks running red lights were part of our daily life in Jax.

Our county, in particular, has some of the deadliest roads in Florida.

I worried about my young daughter daily as she commuted to work on I-95. Although I trusted her as a driver, I was concerned about everyone else on the interstates and roads.

She'd often tell me about cars going well over the already high-speed limit and how drivers would regularly speed up instead of letting her over for her exit or lane merge.

A few months ago, she moved to a much smaller city in the Midwest, and I stopped worrying so much about her daily commute. I figure if she could manage in a place like Jax, she could drive anywhere.

Insurance felt like a huge part of my budget in Florida

No one likes to pay a monthly insurance premium, but the cost felt especially tough to stomach while I lived in Florida.

A MarketWatch analysis found that the average full-coverage car insurance cost in Florida was 42% higher than the national average.

The big kicker was finding out that I'd moved into a no-fault state. This means that no matter who's at fault in a collision, each driver has to rely on their own insurance to cover medical expenses and other financial losses.

Florida is also dealing with a home insurance crisis. Homeowners in many parts of the state struggle to keep up with sky-high premiums, especially after the recent hurricanes.

I'd often have to cut spending in other parts of my life just to cover my monthly high insurance costs. Now that I'm out of Florida, my monthly insurance expenses are lower, giving me breathing room to spend my money on more fun stuff.

I didn't love the high temperatures and humidity during the day

With sunlight beaming down most of the year, it's clear why Florida is known as the Sunshine State. During some summer months, Florida's average highs were above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

I struggled to deal with the heat. Some may love it, but I found it could feel draining. With high humidity, the heat felt even worse. Jacksonville's average annual percentage of humidity can be a sweaty 72% or higher.

Unfortunately, the heat and humidity kept me from fully enjoying all the beautiful outdoor activities and attractions throughout Florida.

My naturally curly hair turned into a pile of frizz each time I stepped out of the front door — sometimes, I'd feel so self-conscious about it I'd just stay home.

Instead of participating in outdoor adventures throughout the area, I often chose to stay home in the air conditioning.

Lastly, I missed experiencing the variety of the seasons and the temperature drops that come with some of them. The Midwest's changing weather is a much better fit for me.

Mosquitoes were a huge nuisance to me at night

I also struggled to deal with mosquitoes when I lived in the Sunshine State. Although the pesky insects can be found in every state, Florida has more than most and over 80 species of them.

I seemed to be allergic to their bites, which would stay swollen on my body for days. Because of this, I didn't journey outside too much without first coating myself in bug repellent.

The repellent wasn't always super effective, so I eventually stopped going outside in the evenings to avoid getting bit.

Overall, I'm happier in the Midwest

I get why so many springbreakers and snowbirds are drawn to Florida. It has a lot of sunshine, natural beauty, and fun outdoor activities.

Still, for many reasons, I found it tough to fully enjoy the state and its beauty.

The Midwest is a better fit for me, and I'm glad I moved back. These days, I enjoy my slower-paced life in a state where I can feel the seasons change — and I no longer mind going outside so much.

• National Geographic shared a list of best travel destinations for 2025.
• Cities like Bangkok, Thailand; Kanazawa, Japan; and Brasov, Romania, made the list.
• BI spoke with travel experts who shared their tips on how to best explore each of these spots.

The best trips are often a result of well-planned itineraries tailored to your tastes.

So when National Geographic published its annual Best Places to Travel report for 2025, unveiling 25 global destinations, we knew the ideal way to explore some of these spots would be to hear from experts.

Business Insider chose 10 places on the list and spoke to destination-specific travel experts to devise the best plan for each place, including what to do, where to stay, and what to eat.

Whether you enjoy exploring the ocean or prefer luxury train tours traversing through tiny towns, the guide incorporates a range of experiences across continents.

Here are some of the top spots to visit in 2025 and the best things to do there.

Antigua, Guatemala

With its storied past and vast natural beauty, Antigua offers activities for people of all ages. But the best way to explore the island is to opt for private guided walking tours, says Carolyn Weppler, the senior vice president at Goway Travel, a travel agency that helps curate travel itineraries.

What to do: Visit two 17th-century landmarks, the San José Cathedral Antigua and Convento Santa Clara, says Weppler, or make a photo stop at the yellow-hued Iglesia de La Merced.

For those who prefer to stroll and shop, the streets surrounding Arco de Santa Catalina, the famous archway, are filled with artisan boutiques offering handwoven goods, colorful tableware, and clothing.

Finally, Weppler advises you spend a full day visiting Lake Atitlán and the town of San Juan La Laguna.

"The town is essentially run by women, the weaving industry is thriving, and there is art everywhere—on buildings, in shops, and woven into the landscape," said Weppler.

Where to stay: Villa Bokéh, located on the outskirts of Antigua, is an upscale colonial-era hacienda perfect for families or large groups, says Weppler. However, if you prefer a boutique hotel, Posada Del Angel, which Weppler says is "known for its charm and hospitality," is another option.

Where to eat: The best place to experience local cuisine is at the outdoor food markets, which Weppler says are "thriving, colorful, and a maze worth exploring." Her favorite local dishes to sample at the market include stews like hilachas and pepián, tamales called chuchitos, and sweets like canillitas de leche.

Por Qué No, a small family-run restaurant six blocks from the main square in Antigua, is another one to add to your list. "It's delicious and offers vegan options for travelers with dietary restrictions," said Weppler.

When to go: While the island enjoys tropical weather all year round, the best way to experience it is during late winter and early spring, from December to April, when there's little to no rainfall. For those who enjoy experiencing festivals, the annual Antigua Sailing Week and International Kite Festival both take place in April.

Ocala National Forest, Florida

Spanning nearly 385,000 acres, Ocala National Forest highlights a unique side of Florida in contrast to its famous beaches and theme parks.

Jessica Heller, a marketing and communications supervisor at Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau, says the forest's remote location makes it ideal for those looking to skip overcrowded tourist spots next year.

What to do: Swim or snorkel in one of the forest's four natural springs fed by the Florida aquifer that stay at 72°F year-round. Heller recommends checking out each spring — Silver Glen, Juniper, Alexander, and Salt Springs — to experience their "distinct personalities."

Hiking enthusiasts can take various trails, such as the Florida Trail or the Cross Florida Greenway, which cuts across the forest.

If you visit during the holiday season, between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve, you can cut your own Florida sand pine to take home.

Where to stay: While most people prefer to camp in the forest — Salt and Juniper Springs being the top camping spots — those who prefer hotels to tents and RVs can opt to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn in the downtown square.

For a more upscale experience, The Equestrian Hotel, a 60-minute drive away, offers a great escape and easy access to the World Equestrian Center.

Where to eat: Downtown Ocala has many dining options, but Heller recommends trying out La Cuisine for French-inspired fine dining or District Bar & Kitchen if you prefer a more relaxed vibe.

Closer to the forest, Lena's, located on the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway (open from October to June), is a local favorite for seafood.

When to go: According to Heller, January through March is the best time to visit if you'd like to watch horse shows. However, that's also when hotels are most expensive.

But if you're looking to bike, hike, or enjoy any water activities, Heller suggests planning your trip around wintertime. The end of summer — when it's not too hot — is most popular for springs.

"We even have a tubing season," said Heller, adding that their natural version of lazy river tubing is open from April through September.

Bangkok, Thailand

From floating markets and temples to food tours, Bangkok offers a range of exciting activities.

Jack Tydeman, a Southeast Asia specialist at Audley, a travel agency, has visited Thailand over 20 times and has firsthand experience living and working there. He told BI that his suggestions for visitors usually include a mix of cultural and outdoor activities focusing on sustainability and support for local businesses wherever possible.

What to do: Most people prefer hopping on tuk-tuks to navigate the city, but for an off-beat experience, Tydeman recommends taking an eco-friendly Khlong tour. He says the boat tour will make you "feel like you're suddenly in rural Bangkok even though you're in the heart of the city" as you cruise past wooden shops, temples, and floating street food vendors.

The tour with Audley begins after breakfast and lasts about six hours, ending with lunch at Poomjai Garden, a 100-year-old family-run restaurant.

For street food enthusiasts, Tydeman suggests exploring Banthat Thong Road, where you can try everything from spicy soup and Thai-style castellas to fluffy omelets.

But if outdoor adventure appeals to you, Tydeman suggests driving out of town to the Khao Yai National Park, where, apart from trekking, wildlife spotting, and jungle hiking, you could also spend the day at a nearby local vineyard or mango farm.

Where to stay: The Siam Hotel, designed by landscape architect Bill Bensley, is set on the banks of the Chao Phraya River and offers private pool villas as well as curated workshops such as sak yant tattoo — a traditional Thai tattoo design — or wet plate photography for its guests. It's a standout alternative to the typical 5-star properties, says Tydeman.

For a beachfront escape, consider The Six Senses Yao Noi, which Tydeman described as "a destination experience." Guests on-site can enjoy cinema screenings on the beach, private yacht charters, and a holistic spa with personalized wellness plans.

Another unique option is the transparent Jungle Bubbles experience at Anantara Golden Triangle, where guests can stargaze among elephants at night from their bubbles.

Where to eat: From a 10-course Michelin tasting menu at Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin to a touring local establishment for pad Thai and other specialties, there's no shortage of food options in this city.

Tydeman recommends Ann Guay Tiew Kua Gai for its egg noodles and Pad Thai Fai Talu for its standout pad Thai. To end your evening, he suggests soaking in city views with Thai beer at the Above Riva bar.

For something adventurous, consider reserving a table at Dine in the Dark, where you'll enjoy local and international food items in — you guessed it — complete darkness.

When to go: November to February is the best time to visit the city.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia

If your idea of a holiday is to escape the daily hustle and explore life underwater, then Raja Ampat offers the most diverse aquatic experience.

"The waters around Raja Ampat are like no other," said Ellie Khoury, a senior travel designer for Asia Pacific at Jacada Travel.

What to do: Raja Ampat is home to vibrant coral reefs, jellyfish lakes, majestic manta rays, and various other colorful sea animals. The best way to explore this rich habitat, says Khoury, is by deep-sea diving or snorkeling.

Above the surface, Khoury says you can enjoy spotting "rare birds of paradise," hike up to viewpoints for panoramic views of the archipelago, swim in the turquoise waters of river Kali Biru — home to monkeys, birds, and butterflies — and visit the oyster pearl farm in Aljui Bay to see how pearls are cultivated.

Where to stay: For the most immersive experience, Khoury recommends chartering a luxury boat, which allows you to customize your itinerary.

"One of my favorite private charters," said Khoury, "is the Alexa Luxury Yacht, an old Phinisi-style sailing boat that was once a vessel shipping spice between the Indonesian Islands." It is a good option for couples and honeymooners.

For those who prefer to join a small shared yacht, Khoury recommends the AquaBlu, a former British Naval Explorer transformed into an intimate 15-cabin vessel.

Where to eat: From traditional Indonesian cuisine to seafood staples, the archipelago offers a variety of options to choose from; the most popular dishes include fried fish, satay (grilled meat skewers), and fried banana.

When to go: The best time to sail is between November and early April, says Khoury, but for peak marine encounters, including whales and manta rays, she recommends planning your visit between December and February.

Cenobitic monasteries, Italy

Italy is a top tourist spot known for its beaches, architectural splendor, and fresh food.

But in 2025, the year of the jubilee in Rome — a religious event that happens once every 25 years in which all four of its papal Basilicas open their doors — it's also set to become popular for its spiritual activations.

"It's a massive year for pilgrimage," said Grace Harrex, the lead travel writer at Monasteries.com, adding that the city will host around 40 million pilgrims.

What to do: Cenobitic monasteries are religious communities where monks or nuns live together, focusing on prayer, work, and spiritual growth.

"You can join in morning prayers, help with daily chores, and share meals with the community," said Harrex, emphasizing that these visits are often treated as spiritual experiences rather than vacations.

Other noteworthy sites include Monte Cassino Abbey, a key pilgrimage site founded by St. Benedict, just two hours from Rome, and the Abbey of San Paolo Fuori le Mura in Rome, one of the city's most important religious sites.

If you prefer a coastal city to Rome, the Foresteria Monastero Santissimo in Agrigento is a cenobitic community known for its architecture and proximity to the sea. "It's a bit more flexible than some other monastic stays but still offers an authentic spiritual experience," said Harrex.

Where to stay: Whether you're on tour to explore the spiritual side of Italy or prefer the more popular touristy spots, Harrex recommends checking into monastic guesthouses run by nuns for a new experience. If you're looking for affordable stays, the Casa Il Rosario, located in the center of Rome, is a great option, as is the San Giuseppe House, which offers easy access to major religious sites.

Where to eat: According to Harrex, cenobitic monasteries in Agrigento, Sicily, are known for their local produce and sweets like cannoli and granita. They also offer communal meals, which include simple, farm-sourced dishes representing their lifestyle.

When to go: Spring and fall — March through May or early September through November — are the best times to escape the scorching summer heat, said Harrex, adding that it is best to avoid summer and especially August since that's when most people in Italy take time off, and many local businesses remain closed.

Los Angeles, California

Fashion designer Isabel Marant once said, "In Los Angeles, you can have the city life and feel like you're on holiday at the same time."

Kelly Miller, the president and CEO of Visit Huntington Beach, attests to the city's laidback yet outgoing lifestyle.

What to do: Whether you enjoy surfing, shopping, or just strolling past streets, LA has something for everyone.

Explore the iconic Rodeo Drive, lined with luxury shops, public art, and upscale restaurants, or relax at one of the city's many beaches.

If you prefer to immerse yourself in art and culture, the Miracle Mile, home to several well known museums, is worth a day trip.

Where to stay: Miller says the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa is ideal for couples and families. If you prefer something closer to downtown or the heart of the city, The Hoxton is just a few miles away from key travel hubs and attractions.

Where to eat: One perk of visiting LA is being able to sample a multitude of cuisines all in one place. You could begin with Italian staples at Dan Tana's or enjoy a plate of tacos at Mírate.

For couples looking to escape the city, Miller recommends the newly launched Lōrea restaurant in Huntington Beach. Here, diners can enjoy a meal while taking in views of the Pacific.

When to go: September through November is the best time to visit, per Miller. This way, visitors can avoid peak season but still experience amazing weather.

Greenland

"This year, we've seen Greenland and Scandinavia become some of the most popular destinations for what we're calling 'cool-cations,'" Duncan Greenfield-Turk, CEO of Global Travel Moments, told BI.

Now, with United offering direct flights from Newark to Nuuk, Greenland, starting June 2025, it is predicted to amass the same popularity as some of its neighboring destinations, like Spain and Iceland, The Wall Street Journal reported.

What to do: The Ilulissat ice fjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers some of the country's most beautiful views. Visitors can travel to it by boat or helicopter.

Those who enjoy outdoor activities can hike to Sermermiut Valley, where you can see ancient Inuit settlements and views of the ice fjord's edge.

Traveling to see the northern lights? Take a Kangerlussuaq northern lights Safari tour for the best viewing chance. Greenfield-Turk says it is an ideal spot for viewing the Aurora Borealis, especially from October to April.

But amid the array of nature experiences, don't forget to explore the country's capital city, Nuuk, which, according to Greenfield-Turk, "offers a unique glimpse into modern Greenlandic life." Nuuk is also home to a rising tech and innovation scene focused on sustainability.

Where to stay: Would you enjoy living in igloo-style cabins? Hotel Arctic, an upscale hotel based in Ilulissat, offers this experience alongside incredible views of Disko Bay and the ice fjord.

For those who prefer budget-friendly finds, the HHE Express in Nuuk offers a clean and minimalist space and is steps away from the National Museum and several local cafés.

Another pocket-friendly alternative is to stay at community-run guesthouses, which allow visitors to interact with locals.

Where to eat: Ulo at the Hotel Arctic serves dishes such as Arctic burgers made using reindeer meat, Arctic char, and musk ox, highlighting regional ingredients and culinary traditions with a contemporary twist.

But if you prefer to sample some of the street food, then Greenfield-Turk suggests heading to Kalaaliaraq Market, where you can try everything from dried fish and whale meat to seal blubber.

When to go: According to Greenfield-Turk, summer (between June and September) is perfect for outdoor activities like hiking, sailing, and exploring ice fjords. However, October to April is ideal for seeing the northern lights or experiencing winter activities like dog sledding.

Kanazawa, Japan

What to do: Start at the renowned Kenroku-en Garden and nearby Kanazawa Castle, a quintessential Japanese feudal fortress, or, if you're an art enthusiast, watch the ancient art of Yuzen silk painting at Kaga Yuzen Kaikan, ending the day with a visit to Nagamachi Samurai District.

Travel experts at Enchanting Travels recommend stopping by the Nomura Samurai House, a historic home that features a traditional Kanazawa-style tea room, courtyard garden, and Edo-period artifacts.

In the Higashi Chaya District, Kanazawa's geisha quarter, explore cafés and shops, especially those that sell gold leaf products, a specialty of Kanazawa. End the day with green tea at the Shima Teahouse or experience a traditional tea ceremony hosted by a sado expert in a tearoom.

Where to stay: Kanazawa Chaya Ryokan, located five minutes from JR Kanazawa Station, offers a luxurious spin on traditional Japanese-style inns. During your stay, you'll be provided a yukata — a cotton kimono — slippers, access to a relaxing onsen (hot springs), and kaiseki meals made from fresh local ingredients.

Closer to Omicho Market, there's Hotel Nikko Kanazawa, which has a more modern appearance but offers spacious rooms with incredible city views.

Where to eat: Enchanting Travels experts say Tsubajin, which was established in 1752, is a "legend in Kanazawa," most popular for its refined Kaga cuisine. Another top spot they recommended is Kagura, which they said serves excellent ramen.

When to go: To enjoy cherry blossoms in full bloom at Kenroku-en Garden and around Ishikawa Gate, a picturesque corner of Kanazawa Castle, mid-April is the best time to visit, per experts at Enchanting Travels. Late December to March is ideal for a visit to Shirakawa-go, a village that's about an hour from Kanazawa and, in winter, is home to several snow-covered gassho-zukuri farmhouses.

Eastern and Oriental Express, Malaysia

Angela Walker, the vice president of operations at The Society of International Railway Travelers, first experienced Belmond's Eastern & Oriental Express in 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Back then, the train began its journey in Bangkok and ended in Singapore. Then, its services were shut down during the pandemic.

But since its reintroduction earlier this year, the luxury train's itinerary has been updated. Its round trips from Singapore travels through Malaysia. Recalling her experience from 2019, Walker told BI that she had an exceptional experience all around.

What to do: During the four-day journey, passengers can participate in excursions, from arts-focused tours to cooking classes, or, if you prefer, relax in the open-air observation car at the back of the train. "Sitting there with a cocktail, watching the scenery go by," was Walker's favorite part of her trip.

The train also features a luxury spa suite in collaboration with Dior, an experience Walker said only a few trains in the world offer.

Where to stay: You can select from three types of cabins, depending on your preferences and budget.

Walker said the state cabins are best for couples. They feature twin beds that convert into sofas during the day, an ensuite bathroom, and ample storage.

If you're celebrating a special occasion or prefer a more upscale experience, the presidential suites offer free-flowing Champagne and caviar and a 24-hour butler service, among other luxury amenities. The rooms and bathrooms are also much more spacious.

The most budget-friendly option is the Pullman cabin, which fits two people in one room on upper and lower berths. While they're cozy, Walker does not recommend them for travelers with mobility restrictions.

Where to eat: Two restaurant cars are on board, serving regionally inspired dishes with a modern twist as part of a menu created by chef André Chiang.

When to go: Walker recommends visiting between November and April, when the weather is more likely to be dry and slightly less humid.

Brasov, Romania

Corina Leslie, a PR manager at email-services company ZeroBounce, is a native of Vulcan, a village 20 minutes from Brasov. Although she lives in the US now, she grew up in Romania and has personal, off-beat recommendations for those planning to visit this European nation.

What to do: Stroll through the streets of Republicii and Mureșenilor to explore the city's local shops and cafés, especially Piața Sfatului, which Leslie described as the "vibrant heart" of the old town.

Next, visit one of Romania's largest Gothic churches, the Black Church. For a scenic, relaxing spot, head to Piața George Enescu.

Vulcan, a quaint village, and Holbav, which is a 10-minute drive away, make for a perfect half-day outing, offering an authentic taste of Transylvania.

Where to eat: Leslie recommends trying the "Deliciu" cake, homemade fudge bars, and cookies at Vatra Ardealului bakery, opposite the Black Church.

For lunch or dinner, she recommends the Domeniul Valea Merilor in Râșnov, which serves local dishes and offers great views of the town.

When to go: For a cozy, snow-covered experience, Leslie recommends planning your trip around wintertime, between December and February. If you prefer milder weather, then May to September is ideal.

Correction — December 19, 2024: An earlier version of this story misstated the route taken by Belmond's Eastern & Oriental Express. It starts and ends in Singapore and travels through Malaysia; it does not start in Malaysia and end in Singapore.

President-elect Trump is considering nominating Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida as defense secretary to replace Pete Hegseth, Trump's embattled current pick to steer the Pentagon, multiple sources confirm to Fox News.

DeSantis, a bitter Trump rival last year and early this year during the GOP presidential nomination battle, made peace with Trump after the primaries and helped raise funds for Trump during the general election. 

The popular conservative governor, a Navy veteran who served in the Iraq War, was re-elected in a landslide in 2022 but is term-limited and cannot run for re-election in 2026.

HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING ON THE TRUMP TRANSITION

DeSantis is "very much" in contention to replace Hegseth, multiple sources told Fox News.

One source added that it was the president-elect himself who floated the governor's name, and that Trump and DeSantis discussed the idea as they met Tuesday while appearing together in Florida at a memorial service for fallen law enforcement officers in Palm Beach County.

GET TO KNOW DONALD TRUMP'S CABINET: WHO HAS THE PRESIDENT-ELECT PICKED SO FAR?

The reporting from Fox News and other organizations comes as Hegseth on Wednesday returns to Capitol Hill to continue meeting with Republican senators as he makes his case for confirmation as defense secretary.

Hegseth, an Army National Guard officer who deployed to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and who previously was a Fox News host, is facing a series of drinking and sexual misconduct allegations. 

WHY BIDEN'S PARDON OF HIS SON IS A POLITICAL GIFT FOR TRUMP

Hegseth has denied allegations that he mistreated women.

"I spoke with the President-elect this morning. He said keep going, keep fighting," Hegseth told reporters as he arrived on Capitol Hill. 

"Why would I back down? I have always been a fighter," he added.

Hegseth also made his case in a social media post on Wednesday morning, writing, "I'm doing this for the warfighters, not the warmongers."

But a top Trump ally in the Senate is concerned.

"He obviously has a chance to defend himself here. But some of this stuff is — it’s going to be difficult," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a longtime military veteran, told reporters on Tuesday.

Among the senators Hegseth was meeting with on Wednesday is Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a military veteran and sexual-assault victim whose support would be crucial to his Senate confirmation.

Ernst told reporters on the eve of the meeting that she would likely have a "frank and thorough conversation" with Hegseth.

Hegseth's mother, Penelope Hegseth, appeared Wednesday on "FOX and Friends" to defend her son and "set the record straight."

"I am here to tell the truth. To tell the truth to the American people and tell the truth to senators on the Hill, especially female senators. I really hope that you will not listen to the media and you will listen to Pete," she added.

If Trump moves ahead and nominates DeSantis and the governor is confirmed by the GOP-controlled Senate next year, it would lead to the ascension of Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez. She would make history as Florida's first female governor — and the first of Cuban descent.

The Wall Street Journal was first to report the news that Trump is considering DeSantis for defense secretary.

• Floridian homeowners face mounting uncertainties following hurricanes Helene and Milton.
• One resident is afraid of residents abandoning homes after storms if they can't pay to be fixed.
• An inland real-estate agent worries that some snowbirds won't return to buy new properties.

A destructive hurricane season has dealt a blow to Florida's housing market, which was already struggling with surging homeowners' association costs and a home insurance crisis.

In October, the five metropolitan areas nationwide with the biggest year-over-year drops in pending home sales were all located in the Sunshine State, according to a new report from real-estate site Redfin.

Over a four-week period ending November 10, pending home sales dropped 15.2% in Ft. Lauderdale, 14% in Miami, 13.8% in West Palm Beach, 9.5% in Jacksonville, and 7.2% in Tampa.

In Tampa, pending home sales actually fell as much as 32.2% during the month prior, when both Hurricanes Milton and Helene made landfall. The drop has leveled out at 7.2%, indicating the worst impacts may be over.

Pending home sales are deals where a contract is signed, but the sale has not closed. With a typical window of one to two months between the sales of homes and their closings, pending home sales can be an early indicator of market shifts.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton have exacerbated concerns about the future of property values and the cost of homeownership in Florida. After the storms, which made landfall in September and October, the state suffered an estimated $21 to $34 billion in damages, including uninsured properties.

At the same time, insurance experts have raised the alarm that an affordability crisis is likely to worsen. Some Florida cities, like Jacksonville and Cape Coral, saw average home insurance payments for mortgaged single-family residences jump at least 85% since 2019, according to financial services company Intercontinental Exchange.

"Florida represents an outsize amount of risk compared to other areas of the world," Kyle Ulrich, president and CEO of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents, told Business Insider in October.

For some residents, the mood on the ground is anxious.

Three Florida homeowners shared their concerns about the cost of rebuilding after hurricane damage, their home values, and the storms' impact on seasonal residents who are key drivers of the state economy.

Retirees couldn't afford to raise their home, then it was hit by a hurricane

In 2021, Jon and Lyn Drake purchased a home in Yankeetown, Florida, which is about two hours north of Tampa and less than 10 minutes from the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.

Their 800-square-foot house, located just feet away from a small riverbed, had belonged to a neighbor who died and cost them $190,000.

The dream home soon turned into a nightmare for the retired couple, aged 71 and 69. Last fall, Hurricane Idalia floodwaters reached within a foot of the house, the closest it had ever been, prompting Jon to look into services that could raise the home.

The Drakes said they were quoted prices to lift the house from around $130,000 to as high as $229,000, which they felt they couldn't afford.

"There's not a lot of companies that do it here, and it's just really price-gouging right now," Jon told BI.

Then Hurricane Helene barreled through Yankeetown. The couple lost their kitchen appliances, washer and dryer, and a new generator. The floors will have to be torn up.

For now, the couple is waiting to see how their insurance claims shake out to figure out their next steps. They want to rebuild, but are worried about how much of the cost they'll have to shoulder themselves.

"We're in a holding pattern right now," Jon said.

A coastal resident worries about his home value

John Adams, a retiree who lives near Yankeetown in Inglis, said his home was 15 inches away from taking on water during Hurricane Helene.

His home, raised 12 feet above ground, is the highest in his neighborhood, he said.

With the increasing power of storms coupled with skyrocketing insurance costs, Adams worries about homeowners in a pinch walking away from devastated homes. That could, in turn, lower the quality and value of the neighborhood. As Adam sees it, it's in his best interest to help pay for other peoples' homes to be raised.

"I'm in favor of paying for somebody else's fund to raise their homes. Because if we can solve that problem, it helps my values," he said.

Adams thinks either taxes could be raised or a new state agency could be created specifically to focus on raising low-lying homes that are most at risk. Currently, regional authorities like the Southwest Florida Water Management District are tasked with flood prevention and FEMA provides grants to some homeowners after a disaster.

"Nothing is ever going to fix or safeguard homes from flooding except 'elevate, elevate, elevate,'" he said "You can't outrun the water."

A real-estate agent thinks snowbirds could get scared away

In Ocala, located an hour from the Gulf of Mexico coastline, real-estate agent Emily White worries about how the severity of this year's storm will impact the snowbirds.

The annual migration of mostly elderly residents from cold-weather states who flock to the Florida sunshine to ride out the winter months plays a key role in the state's economy.

An estimated 1.5 million seasonal residents make up the snowbird flock, according to the Associated Press, representing a temporary 6.5% bump in the state's population.

"I'm praying the snowbirds come back this year. I need them to come back so I can get some of my listings sold, but we'll see how it's affected," White told Business Insider. "Will they come as hot and heavy as they did before these storms?"

White said a potential buyer from Arizona called her after seeing the devastation of Hurricane Milton, wondering if she might need to alter her plans to buy and how the storms would affect home-insurance costs.

Even if there's no immediate impact this winter, White expects the hurricane jitters to leave a lasting impact. Buyers who were looking at coastal properties might move more inland and some prospective buyers may choose to rent instead, she told BI.

"I think it'll deter people overall," White said.

President-elect Trump on Saturday nominated Florida sheriff Chad Chronister as administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

"For over 32 years, Sheriff Chad Chronister has served the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and received countless commendations and awards for keeping his community SAFE," Trump wrote in his announcement moments before he nominated Kash Patel to replace Christopher Wray as FBI director. 

"A proud graduate of the FBI National Academy's 260th Session, Chad is Co-Chairman of the Regional Domestic Security Task Force for Region IV Tampa Bay, Council Member of the Florida Attorney General’s Statewide Council on Human Trafficking, Chairman of the Criminal Justice Sub-Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Hillsborough County Public Safety Coordinating Council, and Vice-Chairman of the Hillsborough County Public Schools Citizen Oversight Committee," he continued.

TRUMP NOMINATES KASH PATEL TO SERVE AS FBI DIRECTOR: ‘ADVOCATE FOR TRUTH’

Trump said Chronister would work with Pam Bondi, his nominee for attorney general after Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew as nominee, to "secure the Border, stop the flow of Fentanyl, and other Illegal Drugs, across the Southern Border, and SAVE LIVES."

Congratulations to Chad, his wife Nikki, and two wonderful sons!" he added. 

Chronister called his nomination the "honor of a lifetime" in a statement posted to social media. 

"I am deeply humbled by this opportunity to serve our nation," he added. 

TRUMP NOMINATES CHARLES KUSHNER TO SERVE AS US AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE: 'STRONG ADVOCATE'

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Chronister was appointed by then-Florida Gov. Rick Scott to head the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in 2017, and has been re-elected twice. 

• Some Florida real-estate developers are building what they call hurricane-resistant communities.
• Techniques used include tying homes down with steel straps and reducing flooding with "smart lakes."
• While no home can be hurricane-proof, these strategies can minimize potential damage, experts said.

Hurricane Milton was barreling toward William Fulford's front door. The mayor of nearby Tampa, Florida, was pleading on television for area residents to leave or die. Still, Fulford, a 76-year-old retired homebuilder, was staying put.

"A lot of people would say I'm crazy," Fulford told Business Insider by phone on October 8, as the storm gained strength in the Gulf of Mexico. "But my house is great."

In 2022, Fulford bought a $1.25 million home in Hunters Point, a community in Cortez, Florida, where properties are raised 16 feet above the ground and tied together with steel straps. Fulford, whose home suffered minimal damage from Hurricane Milton, told Business Insider he believes his home is "hurricane-proof."

More than a few developers are betting on Florida's future by building hurricane-resistant communities like Fulford's. Hurricane season officially ends on November 30, but the movement toward resilient homes has increased as the climate crisis drives fiercer storms.

The prospect appeals to Florida homeowners grappling with stress and uncertainty as home insurance premiums and homeowners' association, or HOA, fees rise and the risk of severe storm damage mounts. After Hurricanes Helene and Milton in September and October, respectively, the state suffered an estimated $21 to $34 billion in damages to commercial and residential properties, including uninsured properties, according to real-estate analytics site Corelogic.

About two hours southeast of Hunters Point is a development called Babcock Ranch, which bills itself as "The Hometown of Tomorrow." Its builders made efforts to protect its 4,000 homes on about 17,000 acres from storms, including moving utilities underground and avoiding paths of natural water runoff.

A rep said that in the days before Hurricane Milton, Babcock Ranch saw a 390% increase in daily visits to its website. Hunters Point's developer said that two new homes have sold since last month's storm.

Three building experts told Business Insider that no home can be hurricane-proof. However, Leslie Chapman-Henderson, the president and CEO of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, said that Hunters Point and Babcock Ranch are good examples of what hurricane resiliency can look like.

Building entire resilient communities — instead of one home with beefed-up protections on a block with regular homes — can protect neighborhoods and property values against Florida's unsettled future, she added.

"Our wish is to see all developers do this because they're on the leading edge," Chapman-Henderson said.

Hunters Point homes are high off the ground and air-tight

Hunters Point is in Florida's last working fishing village an hour south of Tampa.

The resiliency of its homes begins with their height. Located on a peninsula jutting out into Sarasota Bay, the development is just feet away from the coastline and vulnerable to storm surges like those seen during Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which reached almost seven feet.

To counteract that risk, Hunters Point homes — which were developed and tested in a warehouse for 18 months — are built so that the bottom floor is a garage and storage, the middle floor is the home's first floor, and another level above has bedrooms — all connected by an elevator.

"You don't step into the house until you're 16 feet above the flood zone," developer Marshall Gobuty told Business Insider.

Currently, 31 of the 86 planned units at Hunter's Point have been built, with homes ranging in price from $1.45 million for nearly 1,700 square feet to $1.69 million for over 3,400 square feet.

Another feature of the homes is an extra-fortified base, in which the slab and foundation are poured together as one piece. The homes' walls are built with 2x6 beams instead of 2x4 beams to increase resiliency and allow for more insulation. The sides of the walls, the ceilings, and the roof are then filled in with closed foam to make the home airtight.

Every level is reinforced with metal straps all the way down to the foundation to hold the home together.

These connections — roof to walls, walls to each other, and walls to foundation — are fundamental to building a house that can withstand hurricane-force winds.

Chapman-Henderson said the real innovations built into these homes are the fortifications against the wind: the walls bolted into the foundation and the sturdier wood in the frames.

Any vulnerability in those structural connections could doom the whole house. When that happens, "usually roofs blow off first because they're not connected well to the walls, and then the walls don't have any lateral support, and they go, and you've lost the whole building," Mike O'Reilly, a licensed engineer and construction instructor at Colorado State University, told BI.

In Hunters Point homes, though, "everything is connected. There are no seams," Gobuty told BI. "Every house is built like a Yeti cooler."

Babcock Ranch uses "smart ponds" to manage flooding

Babcock Ranch in Punta Gorda, Florida, is built on land 30 feet above sea level, far from the coast.

So far, 3,752 homes have been built out of a planned 19,500 units. The development functions like a city, with an elementary school, a middle school, a high school, a shopping district, a recreation lodge, and dozens of hiking trails. Homes on the market range from a two-bedroom condo for $255,000 to a four-bedroom single-family home with its own pool for $1.695 million.

When developer Syd Kitson purchased the land in 2006, his team spent hours poring over maps dating back to the 1940s to find the property's natural flowways, which are how excess water naturally runs out of the area during flooding.

The team intentionally sacrificed building thousands of units to leave that land untouched.

"That's part of working with Mother Nature, rather than working against Mother Nature," Kitson told BI.

Babcock Ranch also has "smart lakes," or man-made bodies of water throughout the development. These lakes have solar-powered pumps with predictive analytics that raise and lower the lake's height when a storm nears. If the area expects major flooding, the smart lakes will lower to prepare for the increased rainfall.

"Our philosophy is to do everything in our power to be as resilient as we possibly can," Kitson said.

Babcock Ranch welcomed its first residents in 2018. It faced its first major test in 2021 when the eye of Category 4 storm Hurricane Ian brought 150 mph wind gusts to the development. The property only sustained minimal damage, including fallen trees and a few broken solar panels, Kitson said.

Downed power lines and dayslong blackouts often affect large swaths of the state following major hurricanes. Babcock Ranch placed all utilities, including water, electricity, and wastewater, underground to prevent that.

"You won't see a single utility pole in Babcock Ranch," Kitson said.

The submerged power poles are built in concrete tubes designed to withstand 165 mph wind gusts.

Chapman-Henderson, of the nonprofit that advocates for safe homes, called the smart lakes and buried utilities "innovative" and added that recent storms have proven these strategies are effective.

Babcock Ranch is so well regarded for its safety during a storm that the elementary school's fieldhouse serves as a state- and county-designated evacuation center. Built to withstand 150 mph wind gusts, the fieldhouse provided shelter for 1,300 Floridians during Hurricane Milton.

"We're not a place where you evacuate. We're a place where people being ordered to evacuate come," Kitson said.

Hurricane resistance is the future of Florida homebuilding

Hunter's Point and Babcock Ranch are part of a growing movement for more resilient homes.

Chapman-Henderson warned, however, that residents shouldn't let their home's sturdiness make them complacent. They should still evacuate if authorities call for it.

"We can build to withstand these events, but we should never say it's absolute without fail," she said.

Calling a house 100% hurricane-proof is "like calling the Titanic unsinkable," O'Reilly said.

Though there isn't a single national standard for hurricane-resistant buildings, Fortified — a program run by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, an industry-backed research group — evaluates one of the most critical structures for a home's resiliency: its roof. Fortified grants certifications to homeowners who strengthen their roofs through different methods, such as using grooved, ring-shank nails instead of traditionally smooth ones.

More homeowners are requesting to have their roofs certified as stronger-than-average, Fred Malik, managing director of Fortified, told BI. Fortified certifications have risen from less than 1,000 in 2016 to nearly 12,000 last year, bringing the grand total to nearly 70,000 over the program's lifetime, Malik added. The program anticipates adding another 17,000 by the end of this year.

Though Hunters Point and Babcock Ranch have not yet participated in Fortified, Malik said the measures their builders are taking seem effective.

"I get really nervous when anybody refers to anything as something 'proof,'" Malik told BI. "But they are making some really good decisions."

President-elect Trump on Sunday jokingly asked a child at his Florida golf club if he could buy "her hair" for "millions" of dollars. 

Trump was on a golf cart when he spotted the young fan with a fashionable hairdo at his West Palm Beach club. 

Wearing his trademark "Make America Great Again" cap and a red quarter-zip sweater, Trump said hello to other golfers before complimenting the child.

NYT ADVICE COLUMN PONDERS HOW DEMOCRATS SHOULD DEAL WITH TRUMP-SUPPORTING FAMILY MEMBERS

"Oh, I love that girl. I love that hair. I want her hair," Trump said as he drove up to the child. "Can I buy your hair? I’ll pay you millions for that."

The child is asked by someone: "What were you going to tell the president?"

"I voted for you," the child is heard saying. 

Trump then invited the child to sit with him on the cart to take a photo. The incoming president's trademark hairdo has sometimes been the subject of jokes and curiosity. 

During his first White House campaign in 2015, the then-Republican front-runner had a woman in the audience at a South Carolina rally touch his blonde locks to prove he didn't wear a toupee. 

NJ GOV SAYS HE'LL ‘FIGHT TO THE DEATH' AGAINST CERTAIN TRUMP ACTIONS

Before that, he also had Barbara Walters pull on his hair during a sit-down interview to prove he was not covering a bald spot. 

The golf course where Trump encountered the child is the same site of the second attempted assassination of the president-elect in September. 

Trump was also seen golfing with his granddaughter Kai, who has said she’s out to beat his "club championship" record, the New York Post reported.

The newspaper reported that the U.S. Secret Service has beefed up Trump's security detail following two failed attempts on his life — the first on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania.