We recently took a little hiatus from the Left Coast and hopped over (and by hopped I mean traveled all day) to visit my parents in Southwest Florida. They winter in Naples these days, and sometimes we get to benefit…and it’s always warm there. Yay! We’ve been a few times over the years now, so this time, Pinky and I wanted to mix it up a bit with a little day trip to Miami. We found ourselves kiddo-free one day and ready to explore! So, we headed out on the road (it’s a couple of hours away), across the Everglades (read: gators) and arrived in the city just before lunch time.
Lunch on Española Way
Though it’s a small little street in South Beach, Española Way is a quaint spot, perfect for lunch. It’s located a short walk from the beach, and offers a variety of restaurants ranging from Italian to Cuban. We opted for Cuban because, of course, and it was fabulous. We got a great table outside along the pedestrian street. It was called Havana 1957 and had a touristy-looking menu, but the food was seriously amazing and the location was fabulous. I highly recommend it. Get the guava mojito and the tostones rellenos.
Walking & Shopping on Lincoln Road
After lunch we strolled up the rest of Española Way and headed on a short walk up to Lincoln Road. It’s a very Southern European-feeling outdoor shopping area. Perusing the stores and cafes is a nice way to spend an hour or so. We snagged some candies for Sienna at the colorful Dylan’s Candy Bar, and sat outside one of the shops near a very Art Deco fountain to people-watch.
The Historic Art Deco District
My favorite part of South Beach, besides the sun, was seeing the amazing art deco hotels. We strolled up and down Collins Avenue south of Lincoln Road where they sit one right after another. They’re so gorgeous against the bright blue sky; it feels like you’re stepping back in time. Barbara Baer Capitman fought to get the area designated as a historic district in 1979, and over 800 preserved buildings have made this spot a revered destination for all Art Deco lovers. It’s definitely worth a visit and some photos if you’re into architecture and design or Old Hollywood.
Snacks & Coffee On Collins Avenue
Of course an afternoon with me in a new area isn’t complete without baked goods, coffee and ice cream. My friend recommended Rosetta Bakery and it did not disappoint. They had rows of insanely beautiful pastries, sandwiches and focaccia. And I had the best cappuccino of my ENTIRE LIFE there.
Before strolling the beach (of which I only seemed to photograph the Wes Anderson-esque lifeguard stand), we grabbed delicious gelato at Gelato-Go. This is a pre-beach MUST in my opinion. Go for the mint because even in February it’s hot there, y’all.
Outfit Details
Tee – James Perse Deep V Neck tee – All white tees are not created equally. While this is a bit to spend on a tee, I’m realizing it’s worth it. It’s a cool slub cotton with a flattering, not-too-long sleeve length, perfect drape, and it’s super soft. Wearing Size 1. TTS.
Skirt – Abercrombie Button-front Leopard Midi – I love this. It was a go-to on my trip. It also looks cute with an oversized cropped sweater and ankle boots. Or with OTK boots for more warmth. TTS. Wearing a Small.
Sandals – Dr. Scholl’s Pisces Slide – So comfy and great for your beach trip. They are wearable right out of the box. The upper is so soft. Love. TTS.
Bag (similar) J.Crew STATE Bag
Sunglasses – Warby Parker Haskell
Bra – True&Co. Bralette – Favorite ever. So comfy and it was great in the heat. I seriously wear this thing almost every day RN.
We had a blast visiting South Beach and would love to return to see more of Miami. If you have a chance to pop over for a visit, I highly recommend it! It was the perfect day trip and a nice sized area to take on in our short visit. Day trips are kind of our jam lately in Oregon, and when we travel too, to see more of an area while still having a home-base for the majority of the trip. What’s your favorite daytrip spot in your area?
Stay tuned for a packing post based on my trip (what worked and what I forgot!)
Until then…
xo,
L
P.S. Hi to reader Erin from Wisconsin who came up to say hi in Naples! It was so nice to meet you!
Hop on over to follow me on Instagram @laurajansenstyle to see more of what I’m up to in Portland, Oregon. And don’t forget about LikeToKnow.It for easy peasy shopping of the looks I’m loving!
