Snapshots from Alys Beach, Florida
📍 Alys Beach, Florida

Tennis Dress || Sneakers || Similar Hat || Straw Handbag || Bracelet

Even though I’ve lived in Sunshine State nearly my entire life, I’m always blown away when I get to visit (and revisit) the best that Florida has to offer. While I’m a Gulf Coast girl, I typically stay towards the state’s southern end: St. Pete, Boca Grande, Palm Beach. That’s why it’s such a treat to have an excuse to vacation along 30A, particularly on Alys Beach. With its pristine streets and even prettier facades, the design comes straight from my imagination. On New Years Day, I wandered through this charming town. Trust me, it was the perfect way to relax after a late night of ringing in 2022. Here are a few snapshots that will make you want to book a vacation rental ASAP!

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Coffee at Raw and Juicy

Every great day starts with a strong coffee and croissant at the local coffee shop. For Alys Beach, that means making a stop at Raw & Juicy. Along with a complete list of coffee and tea drinks, you can find a menu of smoothies to help you begin the day on a healthy note. They also have a full breakfast menu if you need something just a little more filling. Don’t fret if you see a long line out the door. It goes by in a flash, and there’s plenty of seating in their courtyard. Better still, bring your coffee and treats to-go for the next crucial activity.

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Explore the Stunning Town

Now that you’re full of caffeine and subsistence, it’s time to wander through the town. Seriously, don’t let any side street go unexplored. You’ll find avenue after avenue of pristine white stucco with expertly placed splashes of color. While great boutiques are on their way, the town is still relatively quiet. The one shop to visit is Alys Shoppe. I’m such a sucker for buying golf hats at my favorite destinations, and Alys Beach was no exception. On top of that, they have an incredible collection of resort wear for you to throw on during your next beach vacation. You may even end up wearing it straight out of the store. 

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Cocktails and Dinner at Citizen

We happened to visit Citizen for a New Years Day brunch, but wow, is this restaurant incredible! I was in sheer awe of the perfect nautical decor with a healthy dose of navy, gold, and rattan. A way to my heart is always great branding, and Citizen just knocks it out of the park! More importantly, their menu is a treat from start to finish. Start with a cocktail from their seasonally rotating drink menu. While you truly can’t go wrong, their frozen Piña Colada will always be my top pick! From their food menu, it’s such a great range of dishes, including vegetarian and vegan. Wash it all down with a slice of their Atlantic Beach Pie to round out your meal. 

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Make Your Way Towards Rosemary Beach

After you’ve had your fun in Alys Beach, be sure to sneak over to the very next town. Rosemary Beach has an entirely different aesthetic but is just as unique and beautiful in its own right. The designers for the town actually took inspiration from the French Quarter in New Orleans. Because it’s more developed, you’ll find a whole slew of dining and shopping options. If you simply fall in love and want to stay here on your next trip, then the best place in town would be The Pearl Hotel. I somehow know that I could easily convince David to stay here the next time we find ourselves on 30A.

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Even for me, having a beach holiday is always such a treat! Pair that with good weather, great friends, and there’s truly nothing better. I hope these pictures serve as a bit of inspiration for your Monday morning. Let me know if you’ve ever been to 30A and, if you have, what you loved most about it.

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

A Taste of Greece from Florida
📍 Tarpon Springs, Florida

Dress (Similar) || Sandals ($50 off with code SARAHFLINT-BAKATIE) || Clutch || Earrings || Bracelet

As much as I want to travel to Europe this summer, I’ll most likely be postponing the big trips until next year. The hiatus is giving plenty of time to research and study up on the Romance languages. One of the top destinations I hope to visit in the year 2022 is Greece. Since I was a kid, it has been at the top of my bucket list, pouring over books on Greek mythology. The fasciation also comes, in a big part, from where I grew up. One town over from my parent’s home is the quaint Tarpon Springs. It has the percentage of Greek ancestry in the country, which has greatly shaped its culture. Travel with me to experience a taste of Greece right here in Florida. 

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Take a Sponge History Boat Tour

It’s not often you get to visit the Sponge Capital of the World. While the sponging industry began in the late 1800s, Tarpon Springs is still the world’s largest producer of natural sponges. As you walk along the Anclote River, you can see hundreds of sponges baking in the sun. Soon, they’ll be for sale in the countless shops that line Dodecanese Blvd. To learn even more about the history that brought immigrants from the Greek islands, take a boat tour with St. Nicholas. Chat with the sponge divers who are still working and see the entire process in action.

Have the Best of Greek Cuisine

Whenever I visit Tarpon Springs, my first order of business is to eat my weight in delicious Greek food. It just tastes and feels like home here. While there are several Greek restaurants along the sponge docks in Tarpon Springs, my family has been eating at Hellas for as long as I can remember. As soon as I walk in, I feel a wave of nostalgia. The decor is a little kitschy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. As far as what to order, you honestly can’t go wrong. The crowd-pleaser is always the Gyro, but for a culinary experience, go for splitting the Combination Platter. Also, don’t leave without splitting a salad for the table. In Tarpon Springs, you have two options: the traditional Horiatiki Salad or the Original Greek Salad. The local rendition includes a healthy scoop of potato salad. While the reason is a little bit fuzzy, I’ve learned that no Greek Salad is complete without it! 

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Bring Home A Bottle of Greek Wine

As much as I want to visit Greek vineyards, I know that will have to wait until next year. Don’t worry because I’m doing some extensive research and may have to add Santorini to the list for that very reason! In the meantime, I’m more than happy to bring home a bottle of wine from Tarpon Springs. One store, in particular, Greek Town Imports, has a wide range of whites and reds to try. This little shop also sells other pantry items like olives, chocolate, and honey. Just add some fresh feta cheese, and you have the perfect Greece-inspired cheese board.

Listen to Yiayias at the Bakery

Along with the incredible restaurants, there are just as many bakeries where you can indulge in a Greek treat. The last time I visited Hellas Bakery, I was immediately drawn to a table of sweet yiayias (Greek for grandma). They were enjoying an afternoon coffee and pastry, gabbing away in Greek. Could I understand what they were saying? Absolutely not! But I loved their energy and realized that they had life figured out. So, I ordered a frappe coffee and slice of baklava to watch the world pass by. Tuck away your phone to make the most of this incredible experience.

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Shop with Hellenic Aesthetic

While not specifically in Tarpon Springs, there’s a way for you to add a little piece of Greece, no matter where you live. Originally from the St. Pete area, I went to high school went with Hellenic Aesthetic owner, Marianthi. She has always had an incredible eye for style and fashion. Now her boutique brings Greece-based designers and artists to the United States. There’s so much for you to explore, from jewelry to clothing, housewares, and a new pantry shop. I absolutely love the custom Nameplate Necklaces (available in Greek or English) and the Greek Key-styled Meandros Ring. If you’re based in NYC, be sure to visit her stunning brick-and-mortar store, located in Astoria. 

Celebrate the Epiphany

The Epiphany on January 6th, following the Greek Orthodox Church, is one of the town’s largest festivals. To protect the local fishermen and the Anclote River, a priest blesses the water, throwing a cross into the middle of the river. Many young men who live in the area then dive for the cross, and whoever retrieves it is treated as a hero, receiving good luck for the rest of the year. On this day growing up, my school was almost empty because everyone was out celebrating. After the ceremony, the Glendi Festival boasts enough Greek dancing, music, and food until your heart’s content. If you want to experience Tarpon Springs at its absolute best, this is the event!

While my passport is waiting patiently for the next international destination, it’s so lovely to have the same feeling right in my own backyard. Wherever you are in Florida or beyond, this quaint seaside town on the Gulf Coast is the perfect taste of Greece. For an even more complete look, be sure to visit my Tarpon Springs Guide blog post!

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.