More Summer Travel, Food & Love {Miami and The Carolinas}

This Summer has been full of margaritas, travel, baseball, and SO MUCH FOOD. I’ve felt so blessed to be able to take so many weekend trips in between my long work weeks. The photos below capture some of the moments of a few trips to Miami, North & South Carolina.

You can also check out my Trip Advisor profile to check out some of the places I’ve stayed. I need to get better about reviewing the restaurants I’ve eaten at. That’s on my to do list next!

I LOVE margaritas. They are hands down my favorite drink and what better place to enjoy them then beautiful, sunny Miami?! I was in Miami for a trip to the BlogHer food conference wayyy back in May. Our flight was actually diverted to Fort Myers for a few hours to due a tornado AT THE MIAMI AIRPORT.

Every thing turned out to be fine, but we were kept on the runway for hours! I remember leaving Minneapolis around 10am and not arriving in Miami until 9pm. Thus, a margarita was necessary.

Next up! The FOOD. Miami is known for their amazing food and I was not disappointed. I took full advantage of enjoying everything Hispanic inspired including big bowls of guac, plantain chips, and AMAZING RICE.

Surprisingly I worked out everyday during my trip. The downtown Hilton Miami had a nice workout center and we walked nearly everywhere we went, too!

This was a little appetizer selection from a party with Stitch Fix! We munched on mushroom bruschetta, wine, cheese, and amazing bacon wrapped fig. AGAIN, so much food.

By the way, if you haven’t signed up for Stitch Fix, you totally should. Even to try it just once! I keep a Pinterest board of my favorite fashion styles so that my stylist knows what to send me.

Here was the view from my hotel room. It was super humid outside, but everything I loved.

Meet my eating partner in crime, Maegan! We literally ate everything we could in Miami, ordering a little bit at every bakery and restaurant we went.

One evening we decided to walk from downtown to South Beach to eat dinner at one of Jose Andres’ restaurants. I think it was approximately three miles and a bit scary, but we needed the exercise! I mean just take a look at what we were eating…

Sticky buns. Coconut Cake Shakes. Cookies.

OH MY.

I think my favorite was probably the coconut cake shake. It was absolutely delicious and I loved the raspberry that came with it.

Then there were these AMAZING cookies that Meagan just had to get and of course, I had to take a couple of bites.

The one with coconut, pecans and chocolate was absolutely fabulous. But I literally had to stop after two bites. I just couldn’t eat anymore.

After a few fun days in Miami, I jetsetted over to North Carolina for a short weekend with Tony.

Even better than all the food in the world.

I love being able to see him pitch. It actually keeps me interested in baseball. He actually got moved up to a new team this week, which is very exciting! I’m so proud of him.

Of course after a short trip to see him, it’s back on another flight in the wee hours of Monday morning so I can get back to my regular job.

I wasn’t back in Minneapolis for too much longer before I had another trip planned back. This one was an actual vacation!

Tony and I planned a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I had never been to South Carolina, but I was SO excited to lay on the beach and just relax.

Ps. if you’re ever at the Minneapolis airport, eat at French Meadow! Their organic breakfasts are AMAZING.

Tony picked me up from the Charlotte airport and we drove roughly three hours to Myrtle Beach. We stayed at a hotel near Broadway, a place where all the nightlife was. It was a good 20 minute walk to the beach, but I love walking so I didn’t mind.

Once we arrived, it was glorious. The beach was beautiful with smooth, warm sand and a salty ocean breeze.

Just what I needed.

We spent most of our days enjoying cocktails and swimming. Myrtle Beach really doesn’t have that great of food, so I wasn’t that impressed with any of the restaurants. We just were happy to be able to forget about baseball and work for a little bit. Sometimes you just need a little travel to reflect, you know?

At night, we went out with one of Tony’s teammates who also happened to be in Myrtle Beach with his girlfriend. Each night we stayed out late and danced the night away.

If you are in Myrtle Beach, you may want to check out the ferris wheel overlooking the ocean. I didn’t get a chance to do it, but think it would have been fun!

I wish I was back in that perfect weather right now.

After our trip to Myrtle, we drove back to North Carolina where I proceeded to BAKE ALL THE COOKIES. Because that’s just what I do.

I also got to see Tony pitch on the 4th of July.

And watched him eat way too much food.

We planned a date night in because we were sick of spending money and because we love cooking together; it’s fun to taste test, drink wine and disagree on how things should be made.

I really wanted to make The Pioneer Woman’s Baked Ziti, but with a healthy makeover. I literally think it’s one of the best italian meals I’ve ever made myself and highly recommend it.

Here is it going into the oven. I have no idea why my muscles look so jacked, but I’ll take it.

The finished dish was amazing. We paired it with a side salad and garlic bread. I felt good about running 5 miles that day.

Cause the next day I ate two of these cookies. AND THEY WERE GLORIOUS.

Then I got back on another plane to Minneapolis.

I hope you enjoyed some of my travel adventures. Be sure to follow me on Instagram for more travel fun. xo!