Peta Murgatroyd has shared that her family, including husband Maksim Chmerkovskiy, is thriving in Florida’s “great lifestyle” after relocating from Los Angeles.
In a recent Instagram Stories post, the “Dancing With the Stars” veteran expressed their fondness for Florida, a sentiment reported by Us Weekly. She noted that their love for the state’s lifestyle had always been strong.
The accomplished dancer, now 40, explained their affection for Boca Raton, highlighting its all-encompassing appeal. With proximity to Miami and convenient beach access, the area offers the best of everything for her family.
Originally from New Zealand and raised in Australia, Murgatroyd also pointed out the excellent educational opportunities and sports activities available for their sons Shai, 9, Rio, 3, and Milan, 2.
Despite initial concerns about Florida’s heat, the two-time Mirrorball champion confessed she anticipated having a “bigger problem” acclimating. Friends even teased her, suggesting she’d soon return to California.
Still, she’s happy with the cross-country move, noting, “Cali will always be a home of ours because we lived there for 20 years but, right now, I think this is what our fam needs and we are loving every second.”
“It’s the best,” she divulged.
Murgatroyd also gushed over the “very sweet, very nice, very accommodating” neighbors she’s encountered, claiming “this never happened over there” in LA and that the Florida “mothers are all really nice.”
“I wanted Shai to have the childhood that I had and I can see it happening. He has playdates, he has boys knocking on our door, saying ‘Hey come play, let’s go ride our bikes,’” she said. “It’s the best thing for me, and it’s all I want. I’m so happy.”
Not only that, but she noted the convenience of having nearby friends for her children and “a CVS or Walgreens on every corner,” saying, “I love it; I feel like at this stage of my life with three boys, I’m about convenience.”
Murgatroyd and Chmerkovskiy, 46, detailed their move in an emotional YouTube video in June, saying at the time that it was “the best decision” for their young family.
“There are tears you don’t expect, goodbyes that hit harder than you imagined, and moments where you wonder if you’re making the right decision,” she wrote in an Instagram post at the time. “But sometimes you have to leave what’s comfortable to find what’s meant for you.”
In a separate Instagram post, Murgatroyd reflected on the “fun ride” of living in LA in their $18K-a-month home but said “we have to move on to new things, new life and new adventures, and make new memories.
The “DWTS” couple married in July 2017 and have since moved on from the long-running competition show.
Murgatroyd last competed on Season 32 in 2023 and Chmerkovskiy — a one-time winner — last competed on Season 25 in 2017.