DWTS Stars Maks and Peta Trade LA for Florida: The Move That Changed Everything

Dancing With the Stars veterans Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Peta Murgatroyd just made a decision that’s reshaping their entire life—and they’re not shy about the emotional whirlwind that comes with it. The couple, married since 2017, packed up their Los Angeles home and relocated to Florida with their three sons: Shai, Rio, and Milan. What makes this move worth paying attention to isn’t just the logistics of uprooting a family—it’s what it signals about where these two are placing their priorities in this stage of their lives.

In a travel vlog posted on Monday, June 29, Murgatroyd, 39, opened up about the raw reality of leaving behind a life she and Chmerkovskiy, 46, had built in California. She wrote,“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.”But here’s the thing: even amid those tears, she owned the bigger picture.“Sometimes you have to leave what’s comfortable to find what’s meant for you.”That’s not the language of a rash decision—that’s the language of people who’ve thought hard about what they actually want.

What stands out is how the couple framed this publicly. They didn’t hide the emotional toll. Both Chmerkovskiy and Murgatroyd got visibly emotional in their moving video, shedding tears as they drove away from their California home. Yet the narrative wasn’t one of loss—it was one of gain. Murgatroyd told fans they were gearing up for“new beginnings”and showed clips of their sons helping pack the L.A. house. The kids weren’t just along for the ride; they were part of the decision-making and the transition, which speaks to how intentional this move appears to be.

The couple released a second, sunnier video from their new Florida backyard, the whole family dancing around with a sign reading“We moved to Florida!!!”Murgatroyd’s caption this time carried a different energy:“Leaving behind the place we’d called home for so many years wasn’t easy, but sometimes the biggest leaps lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.”She went on to highlight what they’re getting out of it—the happiness, the slower pace, the sunshine, and most importantly, watching their boys thrive.“It’s everything we hoped for and more. Worth every box. Every goodbye. Every unknown.”

Chmerkovskiy added his own take, sharing a video of Rio walking the family dog and playing in a sprinkler, captioning it with pure pride:“The feeling of accomplishment I’m feeling is insane!”It’s a telling moment. Here’s someone who spent decades performing on one of the most high-profile stages in television, and what’s moving him now is watching his kid enjoy simple Florida pleasures. That’s not a pivot—that’s clarity.

What this move really represents is a quiet but undeniable shift in how high-profile entertainers are rebalancing their lives. The LA grind—the auditions, the red carpets, the relentless pace—still has its place, but it’s no longer the gravitational center for everyone. For Murgatroyd and Chmerkovskiy, the decision to head east, to slow down, and to prioritize their family’s happiness over career proximity tells us something about where their values have settled. That’s worth watching.