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The Palm Beaches Travel Guide

April 25, 2023

We went back to The Palm Beaches for our kids spring break last week and this was our second time to the area! This time, the weather was rainy, but we were still able to enjoy the hotel and plenty of indoor activities. Below are all my recommendations for the area!

How to get there:

  • Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is the closest airport. The other options are to fly into FLL or Miami Airport which are between 45-60 minutes away.
  • We flew from Wilmington NC and Avelo Airlines just started offering nonstop flights to West Palm & FLL!

Where to stay:

  • EAU Palm Beach: Forbes 5-star resort in Manalapan FL. This resort screams luxury and Palm Beach! It was our second time staying on property and they have updated so much in the last two years around the resort. Below is everything we loved about the hotel:
  • On site you can find a newly renovated kids camp with an entire teen area. The staff let me know you can also rent this space out for birthday parties. There is a gaming station, art drawing station, and 24 hour arcade area! Make sure to sign the kids up in advance before your stay as well!
  • Two pools and hot tubs
  • Ping pong table, and tennis court area
  • Amazing restaurants on site
  • Walk out balcony room options
  • Spa on site
  • Watersports on site, non-motorized and motorized.
  • Direct beach access and cabanas for booking.

    Family Activity Recommendations: 
  • Paddle & Snorkel – Complimentary watersport rentals are available to all guests, just inquire with the Our Pool & Beach team beforehand. 
  • Loggers Kids Club – Immersive experience that lets kids tap into their creativity featuring games, crafts, and other fun activities.  
  • April Resort Happenings – see more events and things to do
  • Instagram/Facebook: @PalmBeachesFL @EauPalmBeach 

    Click HERE for more suggestions to get the most out of your trip to The Palm Beaches

What to do:

Explore Palm Beach Island: Steps from the ocean, Palm Beach Island is a town of dreams. Discover the romance of Worth Avenue’s enchanting “Vias” located off the main street where you’ll find one of a kind luxury boutiques and fabulous outdoor dining. 
Most Instagrammable Spots:

  • The Lake Trail – This 5.5 mile long trail runs alongside the western edge of Palm Beach, with a dramatic view of Downtown West Palm Beach and the mansions along the Lake Worth Lagoon.  
  • Worth Avenue Clock Tower – The clock sits right at the entrance of Worth Avenue. It is facing both the avenue and the beautiful Atlantic Ocean that lies beneath. 
  • Via Amore – Second only to Via Mizner in name recognition, Via Amore sports three entrances and a plethora of eye candy. 
  • Via Mizner – Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Via Mizner was once home to Addison Mizner, who designed the five‑story apartment that anchors the Via.
  • Via Parigi – The closest via to Coconut Row, Via Parigi welcomes passersby with a lush archway that leads to a Mediterranean-inspired oasis.  

    Useful Resources:
  • The Lake Trail Map
  • Worth Avenue Directory & Map
  • Full List of Vias
  • Instagram/Facebook: @PalmBeachesFL 

    Experience The Square in West Palm Beach: At The Square, visitors can unleash their own creativity, while interacting with international and local artists through large-scale installations, murals, pop-up galleries and more. 
    Activity Recommendations
  • The Wishing Tree – Take a selfie with the new 32-feet-tall LED banyan tree pushing the boundaries of art and technology. Located in the heart of The Square.
  • The Garden Shoppe – The Garden Shoppe is retail garden destination that offers locally grown produce, indoor & outdoor plants, herbs, and artwork.  
  • True Food Kitchen – This award-winning, seasonally-inspired restaurant features a variety of chef-driven dishes, hand-crafted cocktails, and natural refreshers including seasonal ingredients that are at their peak of freshness and flavor. 
  • Copper Blues – Copper Blues is a unique concept that has successfully combined three elements near and dear to their heart and soul: Beer, live music, and food!  

    Visit the Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach
  • Serving Palm Beach County since 1961, the Cox Science Center revolves around a simple premise: science is exciting! There is an outdoor playground interactive area for the kids and a planetarium exhibit. We enjoyed learning about the planets and stars during the 30 minute show.

    More Family-Friendly Activities in The Palm Beaches
  • Visit Rapids Waterpark.
  • Visit Lion Country Safari Drive thru Zoo!
  • Take the kids to Shark Wake Park!

Where to eat:

  • Polpo– Located at EAU Palm Beach Resort:
    Experience the tastes of Southern Italy at Polpo Palm Beach, the second outpost of the legendary Greenwich, Connecticut restaurant. Enjoy upscale fare inspired by regional dishes, an Italian-influenced wine selection, handcrafted cocktails, and classic aperitifs and digestives. Dine inside or outside, within sight of the ocean and their terrace firepit.  
  • City Cellar Wine & Bar:
    Executive Chef Rolando Anoceto leads the kitchen with his contemporary outlook on favored classics including dry-aged steaks, fish from the grill, hearth-baked pizzas and fresh pastas. House-cured charcuterie, cheese boards, artisanal breads, and desserts are all made in-house daily in City Cellar’s scratch kitchen.
lainsnow,travel

US Virgin Islands Travel Guide

February 2, 2023

We just got back from a week in the USVIs and I am already planning a trip back! (Which says a lot because we are bougee on where we go). We also spent the second half of our trip exploring the British Virgin Islands (but I will do a second post on that trip.) The main reason we headed down there was for my swimline’s LainSnow’s newest collab with Salt Deck! They are a local boat charter company that does half or full days on the water, and it is nothing but fun! We took the boat out a few days to shoot around the islands and even swam with dolphins. The family that owns the company is so sweet and you now can rock matching swimsuits with their boats starting tomorrow at noon est when the site launches here! Below is everything you need to know to help plan your next trip to the USVIS :). Also all of these amazing underwater shots and boat day pictures were taken by Sarah Swan, book her here!

How to get there:

  • Fly into STT (St Thomas Airport). This is the main hub with all the best flight options. You do not need a passport if just visiting the US Virgin Islands. If you decide to hop over to BVIS, bring it. Also I recommend bringing it because leaving the USVIs their is an expedited line for passport holders.
  • Take a Ferry to St John (Cruz Bay): Book your ferry tickets ahead of time! There are two options here. You can take a 5 minute taxi to Crown Bay Ferry, which then leaves a 45 minute boat ride over to St. John. Or you can take a 45 minute taxi from the airport to Red Hook Ferry, which leaves a 15 minute ferry ride over to St. John. We took the Crown Bay Ferry so we could be in the fresh air immediately following the travel day, but check times on site for both ferry schedules. Red Hook tends to leave every hour, while Crown Bay stops its last ferry around 3pm. If you are going to Lovango Resort, They are their own ferry schedule as well.
  • Rent a Jeep: Book these months in advance during high season! We started calling places a month our and almost everywhere was sold out of jeeps. You definitely need a jeep to cruise the island. We ended up renting with St John Jeeps and had a great experience! They are a short walk from the ferry once you arrive in Cruz Bay.

Where to stay:

  • Coral Bay: This is one of the more secluded sides of St John and we were lucky enough to stay in an amazing property Villa Circe that shows views of BVIS and the Bay! Villa Circe is a 6 bedroom, 4 bath house that has hot tub, pool, game areas, and the most amazing views! The owners were so nice and accommodating. Also, the property management team at Antares was in constant communication for our arrival and met us in a jeep to guide us to the property. It is a little tricky finding it the first time, but after a few drives solo you quickly remember how to get back to the house. It sits high up on the mountain and has wrap around decks!
  • Cruz Bay: This is where all the restaurants and action are if you choose to stay in this area. It is about 20 minutes from Coral Bay.

What to do:

  • Book a boat day with Salty Daze Charters! They have various options, half days and full days. The slides on the boats were game changers for kids and we loved going to Lime Out to grab tacos daily. Its only accessible by boat and have floats and tables in the water to dine!
  • Explore the Beaches: Our favorites were Cinnamon Bay & Trunk Bay. Only a few food truck options at both, so be prepared or pack a lunch!
  • Go on a hike to the national parks (We didnt have time to do this with young kids but everyone recommended it)
  • Go shopping in Cruz Bay! Loved Salt & Strand, it is owned by an NC gal :).

Where to Eat:
(Cruz Bay)

  • High Tide: This is another NC owned business by the sweetest couple. It is located right by the ferry dock and sits on the beach overlooking the water. Perfect place to drink/eat before or after getting on the ferry!
  • ZoZo’s: We dined here one night and got a babysitter, and it was breathtaking. It says a 3 course meal and 3 hours, but we let them know we preferred to eat faster and got out of there in 2 hours!
  • Extra Virgin Bistro: Highly recommended but didn’t have a chance to go.

(Coral Bay)

  • Salty Mongoose Pizza: Ordered from here a few times and kids loved it. The hours are on island time, so typically afternoon is when we found them open.
  • Personal Chef Service: I love doing this on vacations after a long beach or boat day, so you don’t have to worry about anything! We had food catered by Coral Bay Catering one afternoon buffet style. Another night we had Chef Vincent prepare an incredible sit-down meal! Both were amazing and catered to my GF/DF allergies easily.

    Follow us on Instagram & Tiktok to see the highlight videos of the trip as well! <3
travel

Curacao Travel Guide

November 17, 2021

We just got back from Curacao last week and it was our first time to this little island! We flew with the CheapCaribbean team and everything is easily booked through their site for an all inclusive stay at the dreams resort. Curacao is considered the “C” of the “ABC” islands in the Caribbean island. Curacao is located in the southern Caribbean Sea and is located between the islands of Aruba and Bonaire, and is 40 miles north of Venezuela. Things change constantly traveling during Covid, so always check the Country’s site you are traveling to for the most up to date info. Below is everything you need to know before you go.


COVID-19 Information

Curacao has in place a handful of COVID-19 precautions you can find on their website here: https://www.curacao.com/en/article/travel-updates

You will need to:

  1. Complete the digital immigration card online before departure.
  2. Digitally fill out the Passenger Locator Card (PLC) 48 hours prior to your departure and carry a printed or digital document of proof with you.
  3. Visitors will need to show a negative result of a certified COVID-19 PCR test taken 48 hours before your flight to Curaçao or a negative test result of an antigen test taken at most 24 hours before your flight to Curaçao. Each traveler must be in possession of a printed or digital certificate. You will be required to upload the negative test results of the COVID-19 test on dicardcuracao.com before departure.
  4. 3rd day on-island Antigen test. All passengers departing from these countries are required to undergo an Antigen test at a local laboratory on the 3rd day in Curaçao. The reservation and payment of the 3rd day antigen test is part of the PLC process. Please click here for more information.
    Visitors from high-risk EU countries who have been fully vaccinated more than 2 weeks prior to departure and can prove this with the EU Digital Corona Certificate are exempt from the antigen test on the 3rd day after arrival in Curaçao. These visitors should upload the QR code before departure via dicardcuracao.com.

Where we stayed:

Dreams Resort Curacao: Located only about 10 minutes from the Curacao Airport, we felt very safe staying here and thought the resort was in a great location. Here are some of the highlights of the resort we loved.

  • All Inclusive: Since it was gated resort, they didn’t make you constantly give your room number for drinks like other all inclusive properties we stayed at. It was easy to grab buffet food and drinks whenever you needed. We never did room service so I am not sure on how that works.
  • Kids Club: The kids loved staying here a few hours a day and doing arts and crafts. There were not many kids on the property so they had the play areas to themselves. There is a nice movie theater/game room and an entire outdoor playground too.
  • Spa: Right beside the kids club, we got two massages and they were amazing. Availability was wide open so anytime I felt like a massage I was able to walk up and go right in.
  • Pools and beaches: Several infinity pools and walk out beaches with caves surrounding the sand. We found more sea glass then we ever have in our lives right out front!

What to do:

  • Visit the Dolphin Academy: The Curacao Tourism board scheduled this Dolphin Experience with us and I am so glad we did it with the kids. We spent 30 minutes in the water with the dolphins and they took pictures for memories. After that you are able to explore the museum and see other animals on the property. We also reserved a time and experience the “Ocean Lens” which is a deep chamber peak into the ocean life 17 ft below surface.
  • Go Seabobing: We booked with Bearded Butlers and the owner was amazing! This was on my bucket list and it did not disappoint. The kids loved it and even rode the seabobs around on their own some.
  • Explore Willemstad, Downtown: Check out the colorful buildings and street art.
  • Boat trip to Knip Beach: We didn’t have time to do this but I heard this was one of the prettiest beaches to boat to.
  • Explore all the beaches, after much research these were the ones that were most popular: Playa Piskado, Kenepa beach, Cas Abao Beach, Playa Porto Mari, Blue Bay Beach, Mambo Beach, Jan Theil, Tugboat Beach.

Where to eat: (We love exploring off resorts and checking out the town to dine when traveling)

  • Bijblauw: This restaurant made me feel like I was in Greece! Go right at sunset. The service did take a long time it seemed but everything tasted well.
  • Kome: We ate here one night after a local recommended it and loved the food! The service and atmosphere was awesome.
  • Zanzibar Beach Restaurant: This was on my list to check out when exploring beaches but we never made it.
  • Cana Bar and Kitchen: Another place I kept hearing good things but we didn’t make it!

All and all we felt very safe on this island. We felt it had a great community and multiple beaches to explore! Thanks to the CheapCaribbean team for hosting us on this trip at Dreams Resort! The opinions are all my own 🙂 More behind the scenes videos on my instagram here!

travel

Disney World Travel Tips

October 20, 2021

We just got back from a long weekend in Disney World for their 50th anniversary and if you were following along on my instagram stories you know it was anything but smooth! Our direct flights from Raleigh/Durham Airport into Orlando on Southwest were canceled after being delayed for 6 hours, and then we scrambled to even find flights the next day. As you know Disney planning takes months to perfect with all the dining reservations and accommodations etc. I did not want to miss another full day of plans, so we luckily found a company to drive us through the night to Orlando. Shout out to Raleigh Taxi services, you made my kids Disney dreams a reality! We arrived at 4am on Saturday morning, and had 3 hours of sleep until our Character breakfast with Mickey. We did make it, two exhausted parents and two excited kids that didn’t even notice. Here is everything I know right now going to Disney World during these crazy world times. PS* I am cohosting a giveaway for a free 3 night stay to Disney + LainSnow swimsuits for an entire family over on instagram! It closes on 10/24, go tag friends!

Where to Stay:

Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek:
We have loved staying off Disney property resorts several years now. The Wyndham was in the perfect location to take a quick ride 10 minutes to the park. The resort also offers free shuttle rides for various times. They also have an amazing buffet breakfast on site which made it seamless to eat and hurry the kids to the parks. They have several pools to choose from, including a lazy river and beach front entry for the kids. One of my favorite meals of our trip was at their onsite restaurant Deep Blu Seafood and Grille. You can see all they have to offer on dining here as well. The giveaway I posted is for a free 3 night stay to this hotel + daily breakfast for two. Enter here on this post for instructions!


Tips for Planning a smooth Disney World Trip:

  • Sign up on Mouse Watcher app for all the dining reservations you need to make! It will send you an alert the second one becomes available. We were able to get all our desired dining this way.
  • Order Magic Bands to link all your hotel reservations, wallet and park tickets to your wrist for easy access.
  • Plan your days by the parks, there is no fast pass system in place right now so that might things a little hectic with young kids, but I heard they were releasing a new Disney Genie pass soon to replace it!
  • Reserve a stroller for the kids to be dropped off at your hotel for arrival. This was a game changer for us, we used Scooter Bug!
  • Order outfits and mickey ears ahead of time on Amazon. You can shop all our outfits here.
  • Have some downtown at the hotels for just lounging between parks.
  • Pack extra Masks, they are requiring them when waiting in indoor lines and all restaurants walking to tables.
travel

Cabo Bachelorette Guide

August 4, 2021

I had the pleasure of hosting my best friends bachelorette last week in CABO, so here is our entire itinerary below for easy planning! This was one of the smoothest and no drama trips I have ever taken with 11 girls. I believe it went so smooth by staying extremely organized and having a plan each day so everyone was on time! I downloaded this itinerary template from Etsy, and made all the girls little hangover kits for the weekend. Below are all the details!



Arrival:
You don’t need a Covid test to enter Mexico, so we all flew in around the same time to SJD airport. We had Vivolx Luxury transportation waiting for us with a sign for pick up! This was key to not be frantically trying to look for a taxi and a great welcoming for the bride on arrival with champagne! You can use code BECCAINGLE for a discount on your next trip with them!


Where we Stayed:
We started the trip at Waldorf Pedregal and got a 3 bedroom luxury suite. We stayed here last year with the kids and fell in love with the resort, you can see that blog post here. It was much more doable when split between 11 girls!


We ended the trip our last 3 nights at Hilton Los Cabos! I was blown away by the hotel when we arrived. Make sure to book a ground floor walk out pool room way ahead of time if staying there, the rooms go fast since limited availability. They have one of the only beachfront swimmable beaches in Cabo and we spend a few afternoons on the beach just floating in the waves! They also have options to ride horses on the beach, rent surfboards, and various cabanas. We spent one afternoon at Enclave Beach club in a Oceanfront Bungalow and it was my favorite day. They have several infinity pools, an entire kids area, slide, park, and beach entry by one side of the hotel too. You can book any Cabana rentals here and also use code SOCIAL for 25% off a stay of two nights or more!

Where to eat:

  • Brunch: Flora Farms or Malibu Cafe
  • Dinner: El Farallon, Cocina Del Mar, The Office ( for a laid back/fun night out), Acre Baja, Nobu Los Cabos, Nido at Viceroy.

What to do:

  • Boat Day: We booked Pelican Cabo and we all agreed it was our favorite day!! They had a chef on site, provided alcohol, and you can customize the trip to stop by the beaches and just float on the mat. 10/10 all around!
  • Day Excursions: Cabo Adventures has an entire list on site. We did the Camels & Atv tours!
  • Pool Party: Omnia Los Cabos, we booked a cabana and this was another epic day just partying from 1-5pm!
  • Themed Nights: We did a color theme night and a wig night, and both made our pictures pop! highly recommend to make the bride stand out! We also did matching swimsuits from LainSnow! Restocking this friday at noon est!
travel

Bahamas Travel Guide

July 1, 2021

We went on a last minute trip for my best friends Courtney’s birthday and we chose the Bahamas since it is a short flight from the east coast! We also have been to both of these islands we visited so it was super easy to pull it together quickly (you can see previous blog post on Nassau here and Exuma here)! Traveling requirements for entry to the Bahamas can be found here. You will need to fill out the travel application form the week of travel, include Covid Testing results or Vaccine card details. To get back to the US the hotel does onsite testing the day before!


Our trip Itinerary: We flew directly into Nassau Airport
Where we stayed: Grand Hyatt Baha Mar

What we loved about the Hotel:.

  • Amenities: The property is huge and you have access to all 7 pools! They are all so different, adults vibes, family friendly, and aquarium/cave pools. Also Baha Bay Oceanfront waterpark is opening July 2nd weekend! They have a lazy river, wave rider, and tons of water slides for all ages. You can read all the resort has to offer here.
  • The Rooms: Are so chic and nice, we stayed in a king room ocean front with balcony!
  • The Casino: The bottom floor reminded me of vegas/miami feel and it kept the guys entertained!
  • The Restaurants: The food here is so good! I think thats a reason we keep coming back. Our favorites were Katsuya, Carna, and Cleo!
  • Kids Camp: There is an interactive kids camp on site and a program to feed turtles, nurse sharks, and sting rays!

We then took a hopper flight with Bahamas Air over to Exuma to round the trip out!
Where we stayed: Grand Isle Resort
What we loved about the hotel:

  • Luxury villas: 1-3 bedroom villas and penthouse suites! All the accomodations are well taken care of and within minute walks to the ocean. Each Villa comes with its own personal golfcart!
  • Adults only area: 23 North Beach Club was opened in the last few years and is a brand new adults only addition to the resort!
  • Golf Course: Designed by Greg Norman, right on the water.
  • Secluded areas: Every time we come to this resort we seem to have the whole beach to ourselves. Exuma is still developing but I love visiting here because it feels untouched!

Excursions we did:
We lucked out and found Coastline Excursions Exuma last minute and chose to do the Moriah Harbour Cay full day tour! It was the best day on the water, we saw stingrays, turtles, and floated around islands all day!

What I packed:
Everything I wore on the trip is from Shopbop and all swimsuits were from our line LainSnow!

travel

Turks & Caicos Travel Guide

May 18, 2021

We have been coming to Turks & Caicos since our honeymoon almost 9 years ago! We fell in love with the island then, and we fall more in love with it every time we visit. This trip made it our 6 time visiting the island, and third time for the kids. It is the perfect family luxury island vacation in my opinion, and we have been all around the world! You can see my first ever turks and caicos blog post here, and another one we did a few years ago here. I feel like this time we finally got to explore the other side of the island more, but already dying to go back!

Documents Required for Entry into Island:

1. A negative COVID-19 PCR test result from an accredited laboratory (antigen and antibody tests will not be accepted). Anyone above the age of 10years+
2. Medical/Travel insurance that covers COVID-19 medical costs, full hospitalization, doctors’ visits, prescriptions and air ambulance/medevac.
3. Completed a health screening questionnaire and Travel Authorization Form see link : TCI || Dashboard (turksandcaicostourism.com) 

On the TCI Assured Portal a traveler may begin the application process 5 days prior to arrival in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Each applicant will be provided with a username and password to access the application so that it can be completed in multiple sessions. Once all of the required documents are uploaded, the application can be submitted for review. The information is then verified and a TCI Assured Travel Authorization sticker will be issued to the traveler.

Documents Required to return to the US:

1. A negative COVID-19 PCR test result from an accredited laboratory (antigen and antibody tests will not be accepted). Anyone above the age of 2 years+ has to complete.
*All the resorts we stayed at have onsite covid testing you schedule your appointment upon arrival a day in advance before departing!

Where to stay:

Grace Bay Beach: We love this side of the beach if visiting the island for the first time. It was voted as #1 beach in the world in 2016 by TripAdvisor. The sand is white and the water is so calm and clear! There are no waves and it is the perfect place for young kids to play in the ocean.

  • Seven Stars Grace Bay: This resort has several buildings and you can’t go wrong with any room, they all face the ocean. We stayed in a two bedroom ocean suite which included a full kitchen and walk out balcony. They have several pools onsite, coconuts to order, and complimentary yoga every morning. They also keep a water trampoline right out front of the hotel and complimentary non-motorized watersports.
  • Point Grace Resort: This is a secluded quiet resort with poolside cottages that are one-two bedrooms with huge balconies and full kitchens. We enjoyed letting the kids nap in the rooms when we swam in the pools since it was in eye sight, it was very convenient for young kids!
  • The Palms: Sister property to the Shore Club, they have a kids camp on site, one large ocean front pool, and beautiful location on grace bay beach.


Long Bay Beach:

  • The Shore Club TC: On the other side of the island, this ocean area is a little windier but very shallow for a mile out. You will see kit surfers right outside your bedroom and jetskis are able to pull up right on shore. We had a one bedroom walk out room and felt like we were at our own private beach house. There is also a kids camp on site here, several restaurants, amazing spa, and adults only pool area.

What to do:

Where to eat:

travel

Florida Keys Road Trip with Mazda

March 22, 2021

We headed to the Florida keys over the last few weeks to drive the coast before the kids go back into school full time! We partnered with Mazda again and the car ride was so smooth! The exact car rental was the Mazda CX-9 linked here. The weather was perfect, around 80s, and the water was so clear! We started in Palm Beach, drove down the coast to Florida Keys, Key west, back up to Marathon and ended in Ft. Lauderdale. Here is our trip route and details for you to easily plan your next Florida road trip 🙂

How to get there:

  • We flew into FLL because the flights from NC were so cheap! FLL airport is just 40 minutes to Palm Beach where we picked up our Mazda Car and started the trip. Other airport options if road trip the Florida keys: Miami, West Palm Beach, Ft. Myers, Key west.

Florida Keys Trip Route Map:



  • Palm Beach Florida: We started our trip here to celebrate one of our friends birthdays for the weekend!



    Places to stay:
    –EAU Palm Beach: If you’re looking for a 5 star luxury resort that is not packed, this is your place! We had the walk out ocean front Lanai Suite and it was perfect for kids to hop back and forth from the pool. They also have a kids camp onsite my children loved! 4 hours is complimentary a day in your stay 🙂


    –The Ambassador Palm Beach: If you are looking for more of a short term or long term rental with full kitchen, this place is perfect for a small family or friends traveling. Its two bedroom, rooftop, and oceanfront!


    Where to eat:
    -Cucina, Angle Restaurant, Avocado Grill, Restoration Hardware rooftop, Buccan, Galley, Breakers.


  • Islamorada Florida: This was our next stop on the roadtrip. It took about 2.5 hour drive down the florida coast to arrive here.

    Where to stay:
    –The Islander Resort: We loved this stop! The resort is beach front and very open-air spaced out. Our exact room was this “flats” Jr. Deluxe Two Queen Specialty Suite. The area has a splash park, several pools, hot tub, restaurant on site, and bikes to rent! Tons of games (ping pong, shuffle board, connect four) out side for the kids too. A great family spot for all ages!


  • Key west Florida: From Islamorada it was a quick hour and 15 minutes to key west! You can see my last Key west travel guide here.

    Where to Stay:
    –Kimpton Key west: We stayed in the Winslow Bungalows here. This hotel was so cute. The pools were surrounded by the bungalows and an outdoor bar. The rooms at their own little patio too.


    –Parrot Key Resort: This is a great place if you have a group of friends or family because all the rooms are two bedroom villas side by side! There are 4 different pools in the center of the resort, and all the villas are walk out to the beach area. You can’t get in the water here, but you can lay out on the sand or hammocks to watch boats pass by.


    Where we ate:
    -Latitudes (favorite spot, take the complimentary 7 min ferry to this unique dining experience!)
    -Santiagos- Cute tapas place!

    What to Do:
    -Sunset sailing tour with Blue Sail Charters was my favorite experience! We brought our own drinks and a pizza and cruised around for an hour or so with the kids to watch sunset.
    -Go Shopping & bar hopping on Duval St., try all the key lime pie.
    -Sandbar Boat tour: I wish we would of had time to do this! The sandbars are gorgeous around the florida keys and you can spend the entire day out on the water! Book a tour with Boat Rentals KW!



  • Marathon Florida: We traveled back of the Florida coast for our last stop to Marathon that is just an hour from Key West.

    Where to stay:
    –Tranquility Bay Resort: I am so glad we ended the trip here. The beach houses were adorable and perfect for our family. They have tons of properties that are beachfront or face the putting greens. It was so nice to have walk out rooms to let the kids easily play outside while I drank my coffee. The resort has a lagoon pool, beach volleyball, water sports on site (jet-skis, kayaks, etc), restaurants, pools, and famous Nicklaus Design putting green. You can see the full blog post on this place & area I did with Family Traveller here!

 

travel

Packing for Island Trips with Shopbop

February 28, 2021

We have been in Florida for a few days and are road tripping the coast with the kids to enjoy the warm weather right now! I wanted to go ahead and share everything I packed for this trip and link to shop.

First off, I live for some sun dresses that are quick to throw on. I am loving this brand Lost + Wonder here on the site! I have several of their dresses in various patterns and shades.

I also packed these tops to throw on with shorts or flowy pants!

Cover ups with Bikinis are key! I am loving all of these here.



I also have been living in this shirt dress cover up since we got on Vacay! Shop it here!



Comfy Sandals are key, I brought all these with me too! Shop Sandals here.

Follow along over on my instagram to see the rest of our road trip through the Florida Keys!

travel

Vail/Beaver Creek Travel Guide

February 16, 2021

We went to Vail for the first time last year with the kids (you can read that guide here) but loved it so much we decided to come again this year & bring our friends this time! When you travel with young kids its hard to experience all the town has to offer with dining and experiences most of the time. This year I took full experience in and made sure we at breakfast, lunch and dinner at new spots! Below is an updated guide on everything we loved this time around.



Things you need to know 2021:

  • Covid updates: The town does stop serving alcohol at 10pm and businesses shut down. The town of Vail Village is pretty quiet and masks required at all times. Regarding Ski reservations, you need to purchase your lift tickets in advance here and schedule your reservations. Boarding the chair lifts the employees will require you to have face masks for loading as well.
  • Getting there: Highly recommend flying into Eagle airport for the view and ease of being just 30 minutes from the town. Our plane actually got delayed so we had to fly into Denver, rent a car, and take the two hour drive into town which was a decent drive. Just don’t try leaving Vail to head back to Denver at peak times, there seemed to be a ton of traffic the other way around 4pm.

Where to Stay:

  • Four Seasons Vail: This is our second time staying at FS Vail and for good reason! The location is perfectly located in town, you can walk to vail village, the rooms have fireplaces, and the spa + pools are ideal! Make sure you get the famous hot chocolate from the Remedy Bar.
  • Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa Avon: We ventured over to check out Avon/Beaver Creek area our last two days and loved this area! The pools and hot tubs here have the most incredible views! The resort also has a gondola with direct access to the slopes which is perfect for families!