Windward has been home to the Flach family for more than three decades. 

Doug and Katie Flach, married for 31 years, raised their two children, Adeline and Bennett, first in The Landings and now in Creekside Place. Both attended Rivers Academy before heading off to college. Adeline played tennis at Auburn University and is now pursuing graduate studies at St. Louis University, while Bennett is a rising junior at the University of Georgia.

What they enjoy most about living in Windward is the strong sense of community and access to the neighborhood’s outstanding amenities, especially the tennis and golf club. That same spirit of connection and adventure carried over into the trip of a lifetime they took in August 2025.

The family’s passion for Formula 1 began with the Netflix series Formula 1: Drive to Survive. Ever since first watching the show, the Flachs had dreamed of attending a race in Europe, where the sport carries deep history and tradition.

The Hungarian Grand Prix gave them the perfect opportunity to combine that passion with a chance to explore several beautiful European cities. Together as a family, they spent 10 days traveling through Budapest, Vienna, and Bratislava, weaving sightseeing, history, and culture around the main event.

Attending the Hungarian Grand Prix turned out to be everything they had hoped for, and more. The family secured incredible seats located between the start/finish line and the first turn, putting them right in the heart of the action.

Watching the cars accelerate at incredible speeds just feet in front of them was a moment that will stay with the family for a long time, and it remains their favorite memory of the trip.

Beyond the racetrack, the trip was a blend of sightseeing and culture. In Vienna, the family attended an opera performance and visited several museums, soaking in the city’s storied artistic and historical legacy. They also explored castles and historic landmarks throughout the region, each one offering a new window into Central European heritage.

In Budapest, they made time to visit the city’s famous thermal baths, a uniquely Hungarian tradition that proved to be one of the most relaxing and memorable experiences of the journey. 

One of the biggest surprises of the trip came in Bratislava, Slovakia. The Flachs spent a single night there while traveling between Vienna and Budapest, but the city quickly stole their hearts. “The city center was very charming, walkable, and full of character with great architecture, restaurants, and atmosphere,” they recalled. 

The Flachs are seasoned travelers. The family lived in France during 2017 and 2018, an experience that allowed them to take their children to 15 different countries. Even so, this trip marked their very first time visiting Hungary and Slovakia, which made it especially exciting.

“Exploring new places, learning about their history, and experiencing different cultures continues to be very important to our family,” Katie shared. “This trip definitely inspired us to plan even more adventures in the future.”