Florida and Beverly Hills Trip Roundup
Craving Some Sunshine!
Around this time every year, we like to head down to Florida. I grew up enjoying Cocoa Beach, as my dad's side of the family has had a place there since the 1970s. It's been a lot of fun to watch the city grow and evolve. We had a few fun opportunities to extend our trip so this one was a bit longer than initially anticipated but today I'm breaking it down and sharing what we did, where we stayed and what I wore!
Outfit details can be found underneath each photo, click on the links to shop the looks.
travel outfits + PACKING
Cute and comfortable is what I strive for when traveling. When going from one extreme climate to another, layers are your friend. I always like to wear my bulkiest layer and shoe to maximize luggage space. I have a post on some of my favorite travel outfit formulas on this post. If you’re not already using packing cubes, I can’t recommend them enough. However, you can pack/organize however feels right to you, but I like to roll my clothes and organize by type. So swimsuits and coverups are in one, undergarments are another, dresses in another, etc. I do the same for Brian’s stuff!
We were gone for just about two weeks and traveling to five different locations, so I brought a few travel outfits (same pair of shoes and jacket for both), a bunch of swimsuits, cover-ups, dresses, jumpsuits, workout wear, pajamas/loungewear, sandals, jewelry, sunglasses, and undergarments. I like to create a list in my phone and think through the different events and things that I’ll need before packing. For more packing tips and how I typically pack, be sure to check out this post. We love our Away luggage; check out my previous review here. But for more luggage picks, check out my curated list here!
first stop
Miami
Before we went to Cocoa Beach for some family time, we decided to add to our Florida trip and start in Miami to celebrate Brian's birthday. We flew directly from Buffalo to Fort Lauderdale, rented a car, and drove down to Miami, where we spent two nights at the Miami Edition.
WELCOME TO MIAMI
WELCOME TO MIAMI
OUTFIT DETAILS (MY EXACT JUMPSUIT IS SOLD OUT BUT SAME STYLE + OTHERS ARE LINKED)
As soon as we arrived,
we hung out at the pool before grabbing dinner with Lindsay Silberman and her husband, Matt, at Juvia. It was a great time and great views of the city. The following day was Brian's birthday so we had a couples massage booked, hung out at the beach, and then went to dinner at Sushi Fly Chicken.
I LOVE finding supportive swimwear to share with you all; looking forward to trying on more this year. After many years of trial, error, and research, I’ve found quite a few styles and brands that I prefer and make me feel amazing. I think investing in a swimsuit (or a few) that make you feel incredible is priceless. Be sure to check out the swim tab of my blog to read all of my previous reviews, more to come!
Easy, breezy, and comfortable is what I strive for in vacation outfits.
Dresses or jumpsuits are one outfit, easy to pack, and easy to wear. After a week of indulgence, the last thing I want to wear is anything that is super constricting or tight, so I’m always on the hunt for dresses. As a size 14 / L / XL - this has been NO easy feat lately! I’ve been disappointed by the number of options and how quickly things sell out, but a few places I always shop vacation luck are:
AMAZON (link is to my curated list of dresses) | AMERICAN EAGLE | BLOOMINGDALE’S | FARMRIO | J.CREW | LILLY PULITZER | LULU’S | NORDSTROM | NORDSTROM RACK | SHOPBOP | SUMMERSALT | OLD NAVY
If you have any other favorites that I missed, please leave them in the comments below, always looking for more places to shop! Be sure to check out my wedding guest guest / special occasion dress guide!
OUTFIT DETAILS, WEARING XL / 16 - USE CARALYN10
OUTFIT DETAILS - WEARING SIZE 14, USE CARALYN10
Prior to leaving for a warm weather trip,
I always like to prepare with a spray tan. If interested, I have an outdated post of my routine and how I prep for it here! That way, I arrive tan (which helps me feel more confident in a swimsuit), and as it fades, my natural tan appears, so I maintain color throughout. If you’re looking to keep a suntan throughout your trip, I would highly recommend Luna Bronze or St. Tropez products.
next stop
Cocoa Beach
After two days in Miami, we were ready to head up the east coast to Cocoa Beach for a week of beach time with my family. My dad loves to host and entertain, so we were very well fed throughout our stay. Cocoa Beach is a very casual surfer town, so we like to hit up many beach bars. Coconut's on the Beach, Hunkerdown, Jenna's Breezeway, and the Filling Station are a few of our usual spots. There's been a ton of growth and new places popping up so we had fun scoping them out, Lulu's being one of them.
WELCOME TO COCOA BEACH
WELCOME TO COCOA BEACH
We spent most of the week laying low, doing nothing, and just enjoyed being together. I was able to read Katie Sturino's Body Talk. It was a great read, highly recommend for anyone looking to work on their confidence and outlook towards their body.
OUTFIT DETAILS - USE CARALYN10
It was essential for us to move our bodies each day,
especially since we were out of our routine. We enjoyed three-mile walks on the beach most days, and I could not have done it without this Spanx skort. It stays in place, has good support, and has a side pocket. My sister even borrowed it one day and loved it too. I have both lengths but am wearing the longer length one here! You can use CARALYN10 on Spanx still.
I have way more pairs of sunglasses than I’m willing to admit, but these hexagonal flat lens sunglasses have been SUCH a great find! Here’s a similar look for less. They’re super lightweight on your face but very protective from the sun, they work well with headbands too. For more sunglasses I love, be sure to check out this post!
In case you missed it,
I wrote a post on a few essentials that I like to bring along on a beach trip. Be sure to check that out if you’re looking for more inspiration! I got my mom hooked on the Miraclesuits, they are a splurge but provide a ton of support and smoothing.
OUTFIT DETAILS AND SIMILAR LOOKS, WEARING XL
I'm working on my swimsuit guide for later this week, but I have been testing out many new suits and can't wait to share my favorites with you. I also had my sister try on one of my favorite Summersalt suits and think she looks amazing in it!
next stop
Tampa
Since before Brian and I started dating, we were Kenny Chesney fans but began attending shows together since. We've seen him mostly in Pittsburgh and also at the Tortuga festival, so we were ecstatic for the chance to see him for the first time in years at his kickoff show in Tampa!
WELCOME TO TAMPA
WELCOME TO TAMPA
We drove from Cocoa Beach to Tampa
and stayed at an AC by Marriott hotel near Raymond James Stadium. We kicked off our stay with the Blue Chair Bay team at a pre-party at Whiskey Joe's. It was so fun to meet the BCB team and a few other Florida-based influencers that we'd be attending the show alongside. We were lucky enough to grab sandbar tickets (standing room near the stage) which was a great experience. We also got to meet up with two of my advisors from college who are also huge Kenny fans so it was great to reconnect!
I received many questions about concert outfits, and to be honest, anything goes. I saw it all, from shorts, athletic wear, cute sundresses, and everything. I wanted to remain comfortable and put together, so I opted for a flowy dress (with lightweight shapewear shorts underneath) and sneakers since we'd be doing a lot of walking. Outfit details can be found here!
OUTFIT DETAILS, WEARING SIZE LARGE
next stop
Orlando
We were supposed to head home the day after the concert but then we received an exciting work opportunity out in LA, so we found ourselves with an extra day before flying out. It made the most sense to fly out of Orlando's airport, so we booked a last-minute hotel on the Disney property (we booked The Swan, a Marriott hotel) and went to Epcot for the day. We got lucky because you have to purchase tickets to Disney and then reserve your spot at a park, and Epcot was the only park available that day, so the stars were aligned.
WELCOME TO ORLANDO
WELCOME TO ORLANDO
Around the world in one day!
We made our way around Epcot's World Showcase and ate/drank around each country. It was indeed a blast! We like to start in Mexico and end in the United Kingdom. We took our time, took strolls through each area, and enjoyed a few rides before crashing at our hotel that night and flying out early the next day.
next stop
Beverly Hills
We were so excited to be invited to Beverly Hills with the Amazon Influencer Program, and we flew directly from Orlando to LAX. We had a free day to explore the beautiful grounds of The Beverly Hills Hotel and enjoy the pool. The next day, we attended a series of events, one in which I spoke on a panel on how I've grown my business and gave advice to other growing content creators.
WELCOME TO BEVERLY HILLS
WELCOME TO BEVERLY HILLS
OUTFIT DETAILS - WEARING XL
It was an incredible experience
It was great to connect with the Amazon team in person. The hotel was beautiful, the food was excellent, and we even had a few celebrity sightings. I wish we had one more day to explore the area, but we were looking forward to getting home to Little Walter Harvey™ after a wild two weeks of travel!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read through our latest adventure!
It was a fun-filled trip filled with a healthy balance of work and play. Be sure to leave any questions below and check out the travel tab of my blog for more trip roundups and travel inspiration.
xx CMK