We thought long and hard about the amphibs, all right. In the end, though, we don't have a place to keep a straight-float airplane, and we need to land on the water. So amphibs it was, and accept the longer takeoff slides. And without the wheels, that long crosscountry would have been a bit more challenging.
It was some 28 flying hours from Winter Haven to Seattle. We took some of the wash out of the wing to fly slower for local flying, which gives a cruise of around 92 mph. Still stalls gracefully, and MN to FL to WA gives you time to reflect, enjoy scenery, pay bills, etc.