Earlier this summer Leo and I took a quick one day trip into the mountains to meet with some friends from Chicago. The cabin we stayed in was perfect. A family cabin built by the family in the 1970s was the perfect backdrop for s’mores by the fire and watching the moon come up over the evergreens. Absolutely wonderful for a quick run out of the city.
After we got in, we grilled up burgers, hot dogs and corn while sipping on ice cold beers and laughing with old friends. A needed taste of something slower for sure. Until the next time I’m in the mountains, this is what’ll I’ll be thinking of.
Pretty skies over a pretty, but ice cold lakeSide of the road sign scenery.Driving out of Grand LakeTaking in the views on Grand Lake!
Stopping on the beach in Oceanside, Ca. for a quick photo. Just north of San Diego and magically cloudy in early May! My love affair with the ocean continues.
Following dinner at the delicious Havana 1957, we headed to meet with a friend of Leo’s from high school and his girlfriend. We went to their apartment complex – equal to a resort in my eyes, with the views and the pools (yes, plural) of the nicest resorts – and partied late into the night. Meeting folks I can only describe as classic Miami – models (yes, really) and entrepreneurs – was a blast and relaxing on a patio overlooking the beautiful city and the water couldn’t be beat!
While we were leaving, our friends suggested heading back to the beach to enjoy the sunrise and breakfast back on the side of the island where our hotel was. We had a romantic morning goofing around on the beach, watching the sun come up, wading into the ocean and watching as the city slowly woke up before we’d even gone to bed!
This is South Beach Miami.
A quiet South Beach bright and early in the morning.I’m not one to stay up all night, so I requested proof in the form of a photograph….Which turned into a little photoshoot!Leo managed to capture me at my best angle despite being up still at 7 am!Trying to keep the purse dry, but hardly caring because the water was so warm.Love him and love Miami. Just lots of love.Cell phone in hand about to be a photographer.Watching the sun come up with the love of my life. Amazing.This sums up the whole trip – relaxing.
While this place was on the beaten path of South Beach’s popular Espanola Way, the flavors and impeccable service did not disappoint.
I dream of one day going to Cuba, but due to some, ahem, restrictions, it isn’t happening anytime soon. My May visit to Miami, almost a celebration of our engagement, only fueled that desire even more!
One of my favorite evenings of the trip started on Espanola Way on South Beach. The strip of restaurants has everything you can imagine, but we landed at Havana 1957 at the suggestion of our wonderful hotel staff. Our wish was for authentic Cuban cuisine without venturing too far from where we were staying.
They suggested reservations. We ignored, not wanting to commit without scoping the place first. But the enormous smile of the hostess and her warm welcome pulled us right into this open air Cuban restaurant. All the wait staff, dressed in white and red, sauntered around the crowded, though not overly so, restaurant, bar and patio with a rhythm that my Anglo ancestry will never afford me. Bummer.
The staff humored me with the assumption that I spoke Spanish (my recently colored dark brown hair and hispanic fiance may have helped my case, but I think they were just being kind) and Juan Carlo, our waiter, charmed us completely. At his suggestion, we each ordered a standard Cuba Libre with a selected rum. With real Coke in a glass bottle poured over a tasty rum, I was sold before even eating dinner!
Alas, we were there to eat. I was craving seafood being so close to the ocean from land-locked Denver, but Leo wanted red meat. I ordered the Pescada a la Plancha, again at Juan Carlo’s suggestion, and was not disappointed. Fresh food with light flavors absolutely hit the spot on a hot evening on South Beach. The dish comes with a side salad, but I recommend swapping it for the black beans which are absolutely incredible.
Leo chose the Churrasco a la Cubana, a flank steak with grilled onions, white rice and black beans. It is amazing what the chef makes white rice and black beans taste like. Words would fail me, and disappoint the chef so I won’t try.
Anyways, the restaurant was a perfect dinner out, and we finished it with a walk up and down Espanola Way before heading out on the town for a Friday in South Beach.
Located right on the corner of Washington and Espanola Way, this is a perfect place for a romantic dinner with a uniquely Cuban flair.At night, this lights up with all the restaurants and bustle of visitors to South Beach.Leo and I so happy after dinner and a walk along Espanola Way.
We sat along this street and watched people for hours.
Back in May, I had the chance to visit Miami with the love of my life for a luxurious three day weekend. What a treat!
I flew in to Ft. Lauderdale on Thursday night, Leo scooped me up and we stayed downtown (in the Brickell neighborhood).
Friday, I was on my own to explore the downtown area for a few hours, walk around the business district and explore a harbor on Biscayne Bay. I started the morning with my first shellac mani (amazing!) at a little french/spanish salon. Then, it was all wandering, saying hi to the creatures on the fire hydrants and dreaming about living on the ocean.
We spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday on South Beach and it was an absolute dream! A few snapshots below, but highlights included a dinner at Havana 1957 (top ten meal and cocktail memories of my life, more to come on this one), afternoons on South Beach looking at beautiful, exotic people and fashion, and our amazing art deco boutique hotel — the Hotel of South Beach.
More pictures to come this week, but just going through these gives me butterflies. Miami is one of the most incredible places I’ve been, and hearing multiple different languages, trying different ethnic foods and lounging at the pool – doesn’t get much better! Throw in fresh mojitos and I’d call Miami a ten.
Miami Beach PatrolA quick walk along the beach before heading for the airport.
Versace’s house on South Beach.Walking around the business district (Brickell) admiring palm trees and beautiful people.Oh the colors of Art Deco in South Beach!Awesome mural on the street. Feels like Miami, right?Hi little guy! Met along my walk in the neighborhood around Brickell.A marina in Miami – great for people watching and dreaming about living on the ocean.If I lived in Miami, this would be my view walking to work. A girl can dream.
“It’s not unheard of for visitors in a foreign country to spend so much time with other like-minded vacationers at top tourist destinations that they never uncover the more underground, local attractions.”
This article explores, “how can a culturally curious tourist find genuine local experiences in a world of sanitized tourist traps?”
Love it. Haven’t been to any of these places, but I wouldn’t mind it. Add these destinations to the honeymoon roster.
Five days in the wide open space, relaxing with my family, getting in touch with what matters. I really couldn’t have experienced a better quick holiday.
Part of the process of grounding myself in priorities has been to write them down. New notebooks with pretty details always help that! Here’s to prioritizing what matters – all that I love and cherish. This especially includes my family who all too often fall to the back burner amongst other obligations.
There is something magical about the fog rolling in off the ocean in the afternoon. The damp air, the smell of the seaweed and salt water, the crashing waves and the color of the turbulent waters below. A stop on Pebble Beach, home of the famed golf course and beautiful homes, gave me just the taste of the ocean I was missing after driving north following all of SoCal’s sun.
The ocean will always a piece of my heart, even though I live in a mountainous land-locked state. Some people hate the fog in Northern California, but it is just so pretty and matches the jagged landscape so nicely. What do you love about the ocean? The smell? The creatures? The sound?
My brother and I kicking the sand around.Creatures in the tide pools.I wish I could end everyday reflecting with this as my backdrop.Just me pretending to the be queen of the world.Waves crashing on the rocks – can you imagine trying to get to land hundreds of years ago from this coastline?A dark and dreary bench overlooking the foggy coast.Pools of water moving with the tides.Fog rolling in on Pebble Beach, California.
Oh Malibu, how much I love you. I can’t get the ocean out of my head! And fresh, steamed seafood with the ocean breeze coming across Highway 1 — the Pacific Coast Highway? Dreaming as I look through these pictures from last year. We stopped in Malibu after a morning spent exploring Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California. A late lunch at Neptune’s Net was a favorite memory from the whole trip. Highly recommend stopping here and ordering from the steamed side of the restaurant, not fried, for a really wonderful meal.
We drove back down to LA through the Topanga Canyon, which is a beautiful drive! But the whole time, all I could think of was the beach, the sunset and the food.
A little shopping on Rodeo Drive. The staff here were wonderful and incredibly accommodating.Freshest streamed seafood and veggies from Neptune’s Net in Malibu.Shooting oysters in the sun.Overlooking Malibu Beach from Highway 1.Neptune’s Net, which you may remember from an appearance in the Fast and Furious movie.Sun starting to set in Malibu.Surfer’s silhouette in the setting sun.I’m no Malibu Barbie, but when you’re here, you’ll feel just like her!Sea creatures for exploring on the beach.This place is heaven.Back up on the PCH looking down on Malibu Beach.On this bench, I could sit writing for the rest of my life and be happy as can be.
Loteria in Hollywood, California was introduced to me at the recommendation of a good friend and traveler. We stopped in on their outdoor patio for homemade guacamole, superb micheladas and fresh Mexican food. This place is nicer than street fare Mexican, but not so nice we couldn’t rest our tired feet after our first day in California.
Highly recommend it for an early evening dinner before walking the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which in itself, isn’t much to see. Chinese Theater and the people watching are great – but make it a walk after a great meal – and not much more than that.
Hollywood CaliforniaLoteria in Hollywood California is a great place for upscale Mexican dining. The black beans are phenomenal!Enjoying the menu of fresh, authentic with a twist Mexican food.Daily specials are good – but be sure to ask your server what they reco! You won’t be disappointed.
I love simple foods and a relaxed atmosphere on my first day traveling. What’s your favorite food to recharge with on the first day?
Eliza Grey in Love 