Zach and I spent the long weekend in Tulum, Mexico for my girlfriend Roxie, and, her now husband, Michael's wedding. It was truly amazing. Beautiful and special describes everything from Roxie's traditional Mayan wedding ceremony on the beach (no pics allowed, sorry!), to the taco welcome party that started the weekend off with family, friends, laughter, and chorizo tacos under the starry sky. Tulum beams with Mexican culture and colorful character, the perfect place for riding bicycles along the roadside edge. The jungle lined curbside led to bungalows serving sweet mojitos and savory guacamole, and shops offering unique local handmade finds. A must see adventure in Tulum, is the ancient ruins; both magical and rich in history. The laid back vibe is nothing short of relaxing, and the bright ambiance and fashionable beach crowd gives the eye everything desirable. Dare I say, too many perfect snapshot spots to remember the vacay - an Instagramer's dream! We stayed beachside at Coco Tulum (totally recommend!!) and found our favorite dining spot just a four minute walk away, Posada Margherita. Yes, it is an Italian restaurant, but worth the break from traditional Mexican food for one night, because the authentic Italian cuisine is divine. A top 5 pasta pick, of all time - who knew, in Tulum!? And, if you are lucky enough to reserve a spot at Hartwood, make reservations a month in advance. You will also be VERY far from disappointed, and have a chance to savor the fresh local seafood catch of the day . We will be back to Tulum, but for now, we are headed home to the Atlantic! xo RCN
More Is More At The Wolfsonian
I enjoy going to a museum. Depending upon what type, art mostly, I can get very caught up in my surroundings and spend a bit' of time wandering an exhibit. My latest visit was to The Wolfsonian, here in South Beach. I visited with my museum guru cousin, Sara, who works as a Curatorial Associate at a museum in NYC.
This particular visit to the Wolfsonian was in perfect timing, as one of the temporary exhibits, was one I was most interested in seeing, More Is More: An Installation by Christie van der Haak. Literally, this exhibit is eye opening. For any textile and print pattern obsessors out there (like me!), well this is our dream come true! The astounding tapestry and batik inspired pattern work is busy and intricate in the most interesting ways. The colorful and detailed design is displayed by covering the exterior facade of the musuem building, and the interior floors and walls of the lobby. Amazing! Talk about a great spot for some fun Insta photos. The artwork will be on display through June 11th, so catch it if you can! The museum itself is quite manageable, with only a few floors of temporary and permanent collections. It's a perfect stop for a couple hours, if that is all you have to spare.
I'm hoping to be off to The PAMM this weekend for another artful weekend to view some new exhibits I have yet to see on the other side of the bridge. xo RCN
Cheeca Lodge & Spa, Islamorada
Zach surprised me for my 30th birthday. I am not surprised he planned a beautiful getaway for us, but I was surprised about what he planned. I LOVED it.
Islamorada in the Florida Keys is less than two hours from our home in South Beach, which is a perfect distance for a night away. Zach arranged with my girlfriend about watching Ethel for the night. THANK YOU Col!! Colleen, her husband Steve, and sweet boy Hudson, joined us for brunch at Yardbird on my birthday morning before we ventured off to The Keys. Also, a surprise! Oh, and Yardbird is one of the best restaurants in SOBE. Check it out HERE. The Eggs Benedict and pretty much everything else on the menu is to die for.
We checked into Cheeca Lodge early afternoon with champagne in hand and more awaiting in the room - good move Z. I slipped on my new favorite swimsuit from PacSun and we headed out paddle boarding on the still ocean. Kayaking, snorkeling, fishing excursions, golfing etc. are all available at the resort. They even have clear canoes! We spent majority of the afternoon just chilling by the water sipping on daiquiris and munching on Grouper ceviche, yum! Early evening, we took a quick trip off the resort to Morada Bay (very close to Cheeca) to see the sunset on the bay. Upon return to Cheeca, we ordered take out from Nikai, the sushi restaurant on property, and ate dinner at the tiki bar right off the beach. The sushi was wonderful. I love a unique roll option, which they had! My favorite rolls were the Big Kahuna: tuna & avocado topped with lobster salad, pineapple ginger glaze & toasted macadamia, and the Dirty Vegas: tempura shrimp & escolar tartar topped with spicy hamachi, sweet chili garlic sauce, tempura crunchies & black sesame seeds. So, so good!
The backdrop and beauty of Cheeca is perfect for a romantic and celebratory weekend in both daylight and darkness. The long dock is a perfect little stroll under the stars before bedtime. We closed off the night with a toast on our private balcony. I will never forget my 30th birthday or Cheeca Lodge. We will be back! xo RCN
Source: cheeca.com