About Florida Road Trip

Florida Road Trip: Explore the Sunshine State's History and Culture

Ready to see Florida in a new way? Florida Road Trip takes you beyond the familiar to explore the history, culture, and people that shape communities across the Sunshine State. The show started with a simple idea: help viewers connect with their local communities. It all began in Sanford, Florida, with the premiere episode airing on October 5, 2017. Back then, it was called Central Florida Roadtrip, but in 2022, the journey expanded to cover the entire state.

From historic landmarks and local traditions to fascinating people and unforgettable experiences, Florida Road Trip is your guide to discovering the heart and soul of Florida. Come along for the ride and discover the stories that connect us all.

Discover the path traveled by Florida Road Trip as we journey through the Sunshine State's diverse landscapes and communities. Our interactive map showcases the locations we've visited, providing a visual representation of our adventures and the stories we've uncovered along the way. Join us as we navigate Florida's rich tapestry, one destination at a time.

Florida Road Trip host Scott Fais is no stranger to The Sunshine State's unique communities, fascinating history, and warm culture. 

Prior to joining Florida Road Trip, Scott spent two decades covering hurricanes, space shuttle launches, and Florida's dynamic tapestry of characters and personalities as a television reporter, producer, and director. As the host of Florida on a Tankful for a decade, Scott earned the reputation as a master storyteller on News 13 in Orlando and Bay News 9 in Tampa, the Spectrum news channels in Florida with a combined audience of more than 2 million households. 

Scott has earned a dozen Associated Press Awards and 16 honors from The Society of Professional Journalists. Following more than 20 Emmy nominations for reporting, editing and writing, Scott finally won a golden statue in 2009. He now has six sitting on his parents' shelves.  

The Society of Professional Journalists honored Fais with the Green Eyeshade Award as the Leading Travel Writer on Television in the Southeast United States.  

A believer in the power of television as a medium, Scott worked at the Ohio News Network (ONN-TV) as the state-wide news channel's political and public affairs producer. He also spent time at WSYX-TV in college and later as an overnight newsource anchor at WBNS-TV, both in Columbus, Ohio. Scott's career got an early start when he became a production assistant at WTTE-TV in Columbus during high school.  

Always traveling, Scott earned his college degree by way of London, England, at Roehampton University; American University in Washington, D.C.; and finally, Otterbein University in his native Westerville, Ohio. In 2012, Otterbein honored Scott with the school’s Young Alumni Award.  

When at home in Orlando, Scott spends time volunteering with Give Kids The World, a non-profit organization in Kissimmee granting children with life-threatening illnesses and their families a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Central Florida. 

Heather Bailey is the Executive Producer of Florida Road Trip, WUCF’s statewide PBS series highlighting the history and culture of communities across Florida.  A seasoned journalist with more than two decades of experience, Heather’s career spans public media, investigative reporting, and local newsrooms across the state. Heather served communities across Florida by working in newsrooms such as WESH, Central Florida News 13, First Coast News, 10 Tampa Bay, and Orange TV bringing important stories to life and amplifying voices that matter.

Before joining PBS, Heather worked as an Investigative Producer, where her award-winning journalism earned recognition from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Associated Press, and the Society of Professional Journalists. While she’s grateful for the accolades, she’s most proud of the policy changes her investigations helped bring about at both the local and state level.

Heather holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri, where her thesis examined how the internet influences editorial decisions in broadcast news. She also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Radio and Television from the University of Central Florida.

A native of St. Augustine, Heather now calls Central Florida her second home. She is an active member of the Cocktails and Caregivers Foundation and a member of Kappa Tau Alpha, the national honor society for journalism and mass communication. Her invitation to join the society recognizes distinguished academic achievement and a commitment to the principles of knowledge, truth, and accuracy that define excellence in the communications profession.

A proud godmother and aunt, Heather loves spending time with her nieces and nephews. When she's not researching, producing, or volunteering, she enjoys cheering on her favorite sports teams and following a wide range of professional and collegiate athletics.