Getaway- Puerto Rico

In January we took a much needed, relaxing- yet surprising and somewhat adventurous vacation to Puerto Rico. What was supposed to be a quick jaunt to Old San Juan turned into a week long stay which included some road tripping across the island.

Old San Juan is exactly as the pictures portray. Cobblestone streets and colorful architecture create a vibrant, old-world feel that charms you the minute you arrive. 

After considerable research I selected Casa Sol Bed and Breakfast located on Calle Sol in Old San Juan. How could you go wrong with an inn located on Sun Street? Again, the photos did not disappoint and we were even more enchanted with this place in person.  The 5 room inn with open courtyard and kitchen create an intimate vibe which was only magnified by the warmth and welcoming of the owners, husband and wife team, Eddie and Tisha.  Greg and I have done a fair amount of traveling and we really prefer unique locations where we can feel absorbed into the culture. We prefer not to stay at cookie cutter chain hotels which tend to lack a cultural vibe and personal feel that we've come to love.  Casa Sol met all these requirement and more.

 Courtyard inside Casa Sol 

Normally I like to plan some activities in advance of a trip but since this was to be such a short stay we flew down with no real agenda in place. All we were looking for was some sun, relaxation, great food and drinks. Eddie gave us a few restaurant recommendations and instructions on how to get to the beach. OSJ is a great walking city so we spent most of the first day exploring, eating and drinking. Drinks on the balcony at a nearby lounge and dinner at Verde Mesa made for a great first night. The mostly vegan menu at Verde Mesa was imaginative and delicious and equally matched by the lively atmosphere and knowledgable staff.

 The next day we decided to hop on a bus to explore the beaches near San Juan- this is the "newer" area where a lot of the big chain hotels are located. We had lunch at a great spot recommended by a friend called Casita Miramar where we enjoyed a refreshing pitcher of sangria before continuing on our journey.  

Here is where our trip took an interesting turn. We headed out that night for drinks and dinner- once again hitting up some great local spots. Around midnight I started feeling sick. I thought maybe I just ate something bad but it continued through the night. By morning I knew something was definitely wrong. The inn owners were super helpful, bringing me water, soda and crackers, but nothing would stay down and I felt weak and feverish. Finally after waiting it out all morning and afternoon we decided to visit an urgent care facility. They gave me a shot to stop the nausea and an IV as I was severely dehydrated. I finally started to feel better. 

I was pretty bummed because we missed out on the entire last day of our trip and were due to leave the following morning.  However, a major blizzard in New York added to the adventure of this trip. Our weekend getaway turned into a 6 night stay when the airline told us they could not get us out until 3 days later.

Finally feeling better, we decided to make the most of our extended stay. First we had to do laundry (we only packed for the weekend!) and then find somewhere to stay.  Eddie recommended we rent a car and explore another part of the island. So we did just that. We ended up booking the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar, a resort located right on the beach. Driving in to the place was beautiful, but upon entering the lobby it became apparent that this place had seen better days. Luckily the rooms were newly renovated. If we had been able to research more we definitely would not have chosen to stay here but rather than focusing on that, we headed to the beach to enjoy our last couple days in paradise. 

Staycation

Last month Greg and I decided to take a 'staycation'.  In years past we've been able to take some really amazing getaways but this year it made more sense for us to stay close to home and save some money. We planned a few activities in advance that we knew we wanted to do. We lucked out and had great late-summer/early-fall weather which enabled us to do everything on our list.
We jumped off the week with a trip to the wineries on the North Fork of Long Island.  Since it was just Greg and I we decided we would take the train and bring our bikes along with us. We didn't pack food figuring we could pick some items up when we got there. We got off at Mattituck and headed over to Love Lane (their tiny main street) to hit up the Village Cheese Shop. We filled our back pack with delectable cheeses, olives and crostini and set off for our first winery.

 At our second stop we ended up at a winery we had never been to before, Shinn Estate. We immediately fell in love. This place is off the beaten path and away from the party bus scene. Walking in you feel like you've arrived at someone's (awesomely decorated) back yard. The wines have names like "Coalescence" and "Wild Boar Doe" that somehow just make them more enjoyable to drink.

After all that wine we were starving for lunch. Newly opened Lombardi's Love Lane Market has a brick oven pizza bar in the back. We ordered a freshly made pie topped with fennel sausage, hot cherry peppers, broccoli rabe and fresh mozzarella. We ate every last delicious bite.

The following day we headed to Greenpoint, Brooklyn, planning the entire day around going to one of our favorite restaurants, Five Leaves. We strolled around the neighborhood and parks, had some drinks and a great meal. From there we headed to Citi Field to watch the Mets. We basically had the stadium to ourselves but managed to make our own fun.

 

Next on the agenda was a visit to the Bronx Zoo. It was a gorgeous day and we had a blast marveling at all the different animals to be seen. I have an affection for penguins so that was one of the highlights for me, but they kept hiding in their little caves so it was hard to capture a good shot.

Can you spot the half zebra/half horse hiding back there? Greg and I couldn't get over this thing. It didn't seem real. Why on earth does it have zebra legs?

These guys were fun.

The baby giraffe on the right. Stop it right now.

Running around the zoo all day wore us out but we woke up early the next day, packed a lunch and hit the road for a visit to Black Rock Forest. We were blessed with another dazzling day, perfect weather for hiking a mountain.

We were alone on the mountain and it was so calming and serene. There's something about spending the day with nature that really brings about a sense of peacefulness.

It was a much needed week away from work and time spent together. I love hopping a plane to somewhere warm and tropical but spending this time near home was just the reset we needed.

Getaway- Fort Lauderdale, Florida

This past weekend Greg and I took a much needed long weekend getaway. I had been wanting to take a trip for awhile but there never seemed to be a good time to go. Finally one day I just decided to pull the trigger and after some quick research I came upon Fort Lauderdale. I had actually been there when I was kid but didn't remember much about it. All I really wanted was a destination that was an easy plane ride away with a hotel on the beach. Fort Lauderdale fit all of these criteria and was within our budget. It turned out to be just what we were looking for and exactly what we needed.  The weather was perfect and the beach atmosphere was really soothing. 
We booked the W Hotel because we've had positive experiences with this chain on past trips. Within walking distance of all the restaurants, bars and shops but far enough away from the crowds, this was the perfect choice for us.

When we arrived Friday night we walked down the main strip to check out the sights. Outdoor restaurants and bars lined the street opposite the beach, attracting tourists with their giant drinks. There was definitely a party atmosphere and we had fun just walking around. We settled on a place called The Drunken Taco and proceeded to chow down on tacos and margaritas. We really appreciated the quality of the margaritas- the only ingredients were tequila, lime juice and 100% organic agave nectar. I love margaritas but I don't like when they are full of sour mix and sugar so these definitely fit the bill.

I had a great run along the beach the next morning while Greg headed to CrossFit. He can't stay away, even on vacation. Many CrossFitters visit other boxes while away so this isn't an uncommon thing to do. He ended up at Riptide CrossFit in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Greg met some really awesome people there that we ended up hanging out with during our stay. We always enjoy meeting new people on our trips and this time was no different. We shared some laughs and a few drinks.
Sunday morning I got Greg to do yoga on the beach with me. It was provided free from the hotel and it was a great way to start the day. Fort Lauderdale is a really active community. Every morning people could be found running along the beach, doing yoga and boot camp classes or just doing their own routine on the soft white sand. It was something I really enjoyed about the setting and wished that we had that at home.
We mostly divided our time between the beach and the pool. Having our hotel right on the beach worked out really well because it was easy to switch back and forth if we wanted a change of scenery. The ocean water was absolutely amazing. I am not too big on going in the ocean, I get a little freaked out by sea life, but the water and sand were just beautiful. It provided a great reprieve from the scorching sun.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Sun Surf Sand overlooking the beach where Greg was finally able to find his beloved IPA's. The bar was half indoor and half outdoor and we were able to walk back and forth from the beach when we wanted to grab another drink. We decided to head downtown on our last night to check out Las Olas Blvd.  There were lots of restaurants, shops and art galleries. Our plan was to walk the whole area before deciding on somewhere to have dinner but we were both starving when we got there and popped in to a wine and cheese shop we passed by called Cheese Culture. It ended up being a great choice. We ordered half price glasses of wine at the bar and munched on tasty salads and sandwiches. It was so good we stopped by there again for lunch on our way out of town the next day.
The trip provided a great recharge for Greg and I and some much needed time together. I am so grateful we were able to take this time for ourselves.

Where did you spend Memorial Day weekend? Did you take advantage of the extended weekend to get out of town? Or spend quality time at home with family? Sometimes I love just hanging out at home when I have time off but it's great to get away every now and then.