Happy three-day weekend! Hopefully you have today off...and if not, fingers-crossed you have uninterrupted blog-reading time to make the day pass quickly! If you follow me on Instagram, then you know Mr. SP and I slipped away for the Valentine weekend. #lastminutefaresaremybae We are, quite literally, freezing our patooties off...but still having the best time. That man makes the DMV fun though.
It's pretty much the exact opposite weather from our last trip, which reminded me I never recapped it here! You may recall I was lucky enough to go cruising with the Property Brothers last year...a trip Mr. SP decided wasn't for him, so I went with friends. But we're never ones to let travel opportunities pass, so when the ship returned to port in Miami on Friday, Mr. SP was waiting, and we had the perfect weekend getaway in Miami Beach!

You likely already know this (I didn't before I planned this trip though!)...but Miami Beach is actually it's own city, and part of the barrier island that runs parallel to Florida's mainland, and the city of Miami. South Beach is a 2 mile neighborhood on the southern tip of Miami Beach, full of original Art Deco buildings, nightclubs, and small hotels.
The rest of Miami Beach is lined with top-notch resorts and boutique hotels, with nothing separating them from the white sand beaches and turquoise waters, except a lovely pedestrian/bike path, which runs the length of the island. We went in November and the weather was extraordinary...warm sun and crisp breezes, with short bouts of rain showers.
Bag (loooove this one!) | Hat | Sunglasses | Swimsuit | Flip Flops

Miami Beach is a lively city and anything goes style-wise. I took that as an opportunity to get a little sassier than usual, and brought this bold cobalt number for a night out. (Dress is on sale now!)
Asymmetrical Crepe Dress (on sale!) | Earrings | Cuff | Sandals | Sunglasses
The rest of the time I was in swimsuits and my go-to travel dress...worn as both a sundress with sandals, and a coverup with flip-flops.
Hat | Sunglasses | Hoop Earrings | Racerback Dress | Lace Bralette


We fell into an easy routine...mornings at the beach, afternoons exploring parts of Miami, and evenings riding bikes up and down the island. With lots of Cuban food in between! When storms hit, we ducked under awnings or trees until they passed, then continued on. Hence why I'm always wearing a hat!

The neighborhood of South Beach is colorful in both design and personalities, and there's always a party going somewhere. The boutique hotels are smaller, and set further back from the beach than the main resorts of Miami Beach, so not my first choice to stay, but definitely worth exploring.


Hat | Sunglasses | Hoop Earrings | Racerback Dress | Lace Bralette | Sandals

Asymmetrical Crepe Dress (on sale!) | Earrings | Cuff | Sandals | Sunglasses
{Where We Stayed}
// Royal Palm South Beach //This hotel had everything we wanted and was perfect for a couples quick getaway!Superb location & within walking distance of most everything on Miami Beach.Chair service at both the pool & beach, where you're welcomed with a basket of water & fruit every day (along with full food & bar service!) Great restaurant onsite, perfect for a quick breakfast, casual lunch outside & evening drinks.Stylish hotel with private nooks tucked all around.
Room Tip: Go for the beachfront if you can, you'll get a small balcony and this view!




{Where We Ate}
// Florida Cookery ~ Miami Beach //The restaurant of the Royal Palm, it was great for a Cuban sandwich by the pool
& mojitos & guacamole on the beach #mylovelanguage, but I wouldn't
seek it out if I weren't staying at the hotel.
// Versailles ~ Miami //This Little Havana institution in a historic setting is packed with local Cuban exiles & tourists, and is finger-licking good. We went on Sunday afternoon, and it seemedall of Little Havana was gathered there for their weekly family feast.
Travel Tip: Drive through the small block of Little Havana while you're there, but it's not worth exploring on foot, or seeking out unless you're eating at Versailles. #IMHO
// Front Porch Cafe //Very popular breakfast spot that's always busy, has an extensive menu & great people watching.
// Havana 1957 //A few blocks from our hotel, this bustling Cuban restaurant sits on a pedestrianblock lined with busy eateries. We squeezed in the tiny bar & feasted on the most amazingCuban food, barely stopping to talk. And the mojitos!! #sigh It's the kind of place youtry to go back to the next night, but it's so busy you can't get in.
Travel Tip: The food portions are huge at many of the Cuban restaurants, so consider sharing. That will help your bill, too, because nothing in Miami Beach is cheap!


{What's Fun}
// Lincoln Road ~ Miami Beach //
This pleasant outdoor pedestrian mall is lined with restaurants,
shops, & street performers, along with some charming book stores & jazz clubs.
// Wynwood Art District ~ Miami //
Besides the beaches, Wynwood Walls are probably the most Instagrammed
areas of Miami. It's a small neighborhood of art galleries, with bold, graphic murals
covering the outside of most every building.
// Biking ~ Miami Beach //
A beautiful paved, palm tree-lined path runs the length of the island, with the beach on one side,
and resorts on the other. There are bike rental stands every few blocks and available 24-hours a day.
// South Pointe Park ~ Miami Beach //
At the tip of Miami Beach, this lovely spot is a great place to watch the massive
cruise ships head out towards the Caribbean directly alongside the park. There's also
a walking pier & rows of yachts to gape over.
Hat | Sunglasses | Denim Shorts | Favorite White Tee | Flip Flops


Travel Tip: For just a long weekend, a rental car isn't necessary (and would be expensive to park!). We walked and rode bikes all over Miami Beach, and took Uber when we went to the city of Miami, and to and from the airport.
Miami Beach can be whatever you want it to be...laid back or energetic, active or relaxing, gay or straight, rowdy or quiet, family or singles, American or Latino...but that's what makes it such an effortless weekend getaway. We found it the perfect mix of everything, and utterly captivating.

I think instead of one big trip this year (see them all here), Mr. SP and I are going to take a series of long weekend getaways that are a bit closer to home. What are your favorite long-weekend getaway spots within North America and the Caribbean?
It wouldn't be an American holiday without sales, so here are a few worth checking out today!
Nordstrom // Winter Clearance starts now with 40% off
Anthropologie // Extra 40% off sale with code EXTRA40
J.Crew Factory // Up to 60% off everything
GAP // Up to 40% off with code PRESDAY
Old Navy // 15% off everything, no code needed
J.Crew // Extra 40% off sale with code SHOPSALE
Pottery Barn // Friends & Family event, 20% off everything with code FRIENDS
Loft // 40% off Wear Now styles, & extra 50% off sale