Spotlight :: Miami

[trip style = sun + beach + foodie + urban]

I had high hopes for Miami. Mr. Trip Styler and I spent a handful of sun-sational days in South Beach about five years ago, and everything worked out postcard-perfectly. Plus, we're MASSIVE fans of deco-era design and hotels---areas Miami has the market cornered---so my early-October trip was poised to turn out beachy-keen. Until it got off to a slow start.

Trip Styler Tip :: I tagged all my South Beach photos with #TSMiami on Instagram if you'd like an inside look.

Without getting into the nitty-gritty---the TS glass is always half-full---we encountered polar opposite service standards, both lacking and lovely. Once we realized this was a theme, we quickly toughened up, switched our sentiments, and in doing so, rediscovered the very reason we fell in love with Florida's most famous, 15-mile stretch of sand.

Note: while it pains me, there are a few hotels and restaurants---cool design, sketchy service---I've left out of the below list of recommendations. Trip Styled spots must measure up!

MIA's Gems Stay: The James Royal Palm, renovated to the tune of 42 million in 2012, The James turned the 1939-built Royal Palm into one of the most design-forward, deco-meets-mod hotels on SoBe.

Happy Hour: Khong River House has a happening happy hour {4-7pm mon-fri} where spicy cocktails aren't just cheapie renditions of better drinks, but stay-for-a-while bevvies. Order The Killer B; it has kick!

Eat: Ice Box Cafe is one of Miami's authorities on desserts, but I visited for an organic breakfast because the all-day fare measures up, too. Plus, dessert can be ordered after any meal, including breakfast.

Eat: La Sandwicherie; a fast-paced and health-conscious outdoor sandwich and juice shop lined with bar stools---ahhhh, below misters---in a quasi-alley, off-the-beach locale.

Eat: Yardbird Southern Table and Bar. Voted one of the 50 best restaurants in America by Bon Appetit Magazine in 2012, this ode to down home cookin' is worth a meal {or two} for the cheddar waffles alone.

Sip: South Shore {rum bar} at The James Royal Palm. Rum doesn't rev my engine, but the bartender at South Shore made me a rum believer. I ordered the Hispanola {highly recommended}, which took over five minutes to craft with its three fresh-squeezed limes, egg white, tiki bitters and mint.

Java: Panther Coffee is bathed in concrete, shipping containers and really good coffee. To me, the space is one of the coolest in MIA. Also, while you're here, check out the boutiques along Purdy Avenue.

Java: Nespresso's Bar is a sleek gallery devoted to au courant coffees---think cortado with a dollop of vanilla bean gelato.

Snack: Lee & Marie's Cakery's is at the foot of South Pointe Beach in case you want to refuel your sun-parched lips with a homemade lemonade, scone or cake. Also, this cake shop has a cool little secret; it supports and employs adults with autism.

Do: Deco Bike's stations are spread all over SoBe. Rent a bike from $4 per half hour, and explore {while burning calories!} along the beach path. Alternatively, many of the roads have bike paths if you want to use the Deco bike-share system as your taxi.

Do: Beach it like you mean it on one of the USA's most famed ribbons of sand. I like the beach at the Southern end of SoBe: South Pointe.

[photos by @tripstyler, except for The James Royal Palms, via The James]

Vintage Miami

[trip style = sun + beach + urban]

Last week, Mr. Trip Styler and I spent a handful of hot 'n humid days in Miami. As avid architecture and design fans {of the modern and vintage variety}, we did not let go of our cameras the entire visit. Here are just a few retro gems we captured on a walkabout along Ocean Drive, a '20s- and '30s-built, 10-block stretch some call "America's Riviera." Stay tuned for a bigger slice of South Beach's TS-approved eats, stays and plays coming soon.

PS - Of all the hotels captured below, I dig the Diesel Jeans-owned, 25-room Pelican Hotel.

Hotel Breakwater

Colony Hotel

The Carlyle

The Cavalier

Leslie Hotel {under renovation}

Congress Hotel South Beach

Casa Grande Suite Hotel

Pelican Miami Beach

A stretch of the 15-mile beach across the road.

[photos by @tripstyler]

Epcot's Wide World of Eats

[trip style = sun + foodie]

My first trip to Disney was in grade four. At the time, frosted malts, jawbreakers and cokes held royalty roles in my food and beverage hierarchy {my parents made sure I  ate pretty healthfully, so vacations meant I got to eat sweets every.single.day}. Thankfully, my palate has ripened with age.

Enter a more decadent Disney, one where I join celeb chefs, attend food and wine seminars, and sample canapes and cocktails from around the world at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. And in true Disney form---they don’t do anything without Tinkerbell's magic touch---the festival isn’t just a weekend or week-long nosh-fest, rather a 46-day foray into everything food and beverage.

The cherry on top of my tasting weekend was BY FAR the only-in-Disney novelty of eating Polish kielbasa and pierogi at the foot of a gondola in Italy, or drinking Florida's own Key Lime Wine beside a pagoda in Japan. Twenty years later, I'd say my tastes have come a long way since malts and cokes.

Some of my recommended bites and sips from this year's festival include: - chocolate ganache waffles from Belgium - kimchi dog with spicy mustard sauce from South Korea {Mr Trip Styler's fave} - warm chocolate pudding topped in Bailey's custard from Ireland - spicy tuna and salmon hand roll from Japan - Xingu Black Beer from Brazil - Key Lime Wine from Florida

Trip Styler Tip :: In a few days, look for more information about the festival in my post on the Expedia Viewfinder Travel Blog.

How It Works - The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival takes place every year from late September to November; this year it runs Sept 27 - Nov 11. - Three dozen countries have booths scattered throughout Epcot's World Showcase. Each serves food and bev native to the country. Items range from $2.50 to about $10. - If you want get a taste of the food fest, simply buy an Epcot park pass and browse the stalls and festival center. If you want the full meal deal---ie: seminars, demos, evening galas and celeb chef meet and greets---specific events require a festival pass. To give you sense of cost, a culinary demo or wine seminar would be $14 + an Epcot park pass.

What To Know - Visit in the morning to sail through the stalls and avoid lines. Food kiosks open at 11am, so start with a croissant and a mimosa from 9am at the Parisian Bakery. - Weekdays see the fewer crowds, especially in the morning. - If you aren't used to Florida's heat, take frequent breaks in the shade and drink a TON of water. - Due to Walt Disney World's scale, stay close to the event for quick in-and-out access. The BoardWalk Inn is one of the closest hotels to Epcot.

Photos

[photos by @tripstyler taken as a guest of Walter E. Disney]

Oahu's Outer Reaches

[trip style = beach + sun]

A few weeks ago I jetted to Honolulu with Trip Styler Sis, aka Ms. Fashion Friday. Clearly, two months of summer wasn't enough, so we extended it! Seriously though, we did not take it easy and settle into island time, but rather researched and explored like we were on The Amazing Race, only pausing for sunsets. Our mission was two-fold: hone in on Honolulu and wander outside Waikiki.

For six days we drove leeward and windward to Oahu's outer reaches. Our conclusion: Oahu's outlying areas are overlooked, and while day-tripping is well worth it, it does not do the postcard-perfect landscape justice. Secluded beaches, small towns and a tortoise-slow pace of life abound.

Trip Styler Tip :: Back-to-school is a great time to visit Oahu. Flight fares are low---between $350 and $450 return out of SEA or YVR---and crowds are sparse.

Here's where we'd suggest lingering on Oahu's outer reaches:

North Shore Distance from Waikiki: 30 minutes The North Shore is another world---a world I wish I could teleport into daily. Tropical jungles and pastures kiss the beach. Acai bowl stands line the road. Surfers ride bikes barefoot. Locals masterfully and casually change from beachwear to workwear on the roadside {a skill I want to learn}. Humble abodes sit beside surf mansions. Sudden and quick downpours provide a quick break from the heat.

Trip Styler Tip :: Skip the beach parking lots and park {respectfully} on the roadside. Paths like this are everywhere.

Candid shot while beachcombing on the North Shore.

Banzai Pipeline on a calm day.

Chocolate haupia {coconut} pie at Ted's Bakery, a local staple for 50+ years.

Turtle Bay Beach, a protected bay where turtles wander as if we humans aren't around.

Surf scene beside Turtle Bay Resort, the only major hotel on the North Shore aside from Keiki Beach Bungalows, a small inn oriented around sunset and ocean views.

Kailua Distance from Waikiki: half an hour I first came across Kailua by way of a restaurant. While there, I found modern muumuus, ridiculously good shave ice and a gorgeous beach. Oh, it's also where Obama stays when he spends Christmas in Hawaii.

The drive to Kailua from Honolulu; I literally pulled over to take this photo.

Cinnamon's: an Oahu breakfast institution since the mid-80's. Pl-ease order the red velvet pancakes {and then swim a mile at the beach}.

Island Snow: Obama's favorite shave ice served in the back of a surf shop. It's my fave too. Do yourself a favor and order one with the $0.50 cream on top {one block from Kailua Beach}.

Kailua Beach. Calm waters make it ideal for swimming.

Stay: Paradise Bay Resort, a big B&B perched on Kaneohe Bay offering one- to four-bedroom units.

Ko Olina Distance from Waikiki: one hour Ko Olina is a 642-acre master-planned resort anchored by Disney's Aluani, two mega Marriotts and vacation villas. Beyond the gates, there are beaches, grocery stores and a growing local community.

My friend, an Oahu local, told me I had to surf with firemen. Obviously, yes! Not surprisingly, the off-duty firefighter team at Hawaiian Fire operate the safest surf school on the island. Safety first; they use foam boards and base their lessons outside the island's hustle and bustle on a near-deserted beach in Ko Olina with perfect beginner-height waves. I got up on my third try and caught every consecutive wave thereafter. Next stop: Mavericks! Just kidding. After a safety and dry-land surf lesson, we took to the waves.

Surf's up.

I was famished after my surf lesson, so the Hawaiian Fire staff suggested I fuel up at Island Vintage Coffee, where they have macadamia nut-flavored coffee and giant breakfast sandwiches.

Hawaii Kai Distance from Waikiki: 20 minutes Hawaii Kai is a residential community south-west of Honolulu. Many tourists pass it en route to Hanauma Bay. I'm obsessed with it for three reasons: 1} Lt. Commander Steve McGarrett's house from Hawaii Five-O is there, 2} you can buy natural shave ice, and 3} you can hike up a railroad.

Must-do: the Koko Head Crater trail, a black diamond-level vertical climb on an abandoned railway track. I gleaned this travel tip from Hawaii Five-O, my favorite way to armchair travel on Oahu. Note: it’s quite the climb, so wear the right gear and go early to avoid the heat.

Healthiest {and friendliest} shave ice on Oahu: Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha, the perfect accompaniment to a heart-pounding assent. The frosty flavors pictured above were an all-natural concoction of kale-spinach-apple, guava and lilikoi. I'm 99% certain I burned off the treat's calories just lifting my spoon from the cup to my mouth.

Don't Miss 11 Honolulu Hints Spotlight: Oahu's North Shore

[photos by @tripstyler + @heatherlovesit]

Roam+Board :: Four Seasons Resort at Manele Bay

[trip style = luxury + beach + sun]

What If you're an avid Trip Styler reader, you know my stays trend toward indie and petite versus branded and grand. Occasionally, though, I make exceptions for rare and iconic finds. This is one of those times when both descriptors apply, and then some.

The Four Seasons Resort at Manele Bay is decidedly different. It's removed, it's unique, and it's personalized. As a guest, your needs are anticipated beyond the Four Seasons standard---an industry benchmark---because staff treat you like you're a long-lost relative visiting town.

Yesterday I lounged poolside overlooking one of Lanai's loveliest sandy beaches. While there, every attendant learned my name, and then proceeded to take pool service to the next level. I thought I'd seen it all in the realm of poolside perks until Dr. Shades---bearing a bright orange shirt with that name---offered to clean my sunglasses and tighten one of the loose arms. Next, a gentleman armed with a holster of Evian mist and a tray of cold towels popped by, as did attendants with trays of treats ranging from beet-wrapped prosciutto to banana-orange smoothies. At that moment I decided two nights wasn't nearly enough.

Spread across the ocean-plunging landscape like a fan, oversized rooms are decorated in muted tropical tones. And, in a nod to the tropics, each features a lanai upon which to savor Lanai. Orchids, beach-chic furniture and botanical-esque gardens round out the rest of the 236-room property. Trip Styler approved.

Where
Lanai is reachable by plane from most Hawaiian isles, or by 45-minute passenger ferry from Lahaina, Maui {$35 each way}.

When
Lanai boasts bathing suit and umbrella drink weather year-round, showing a mild increase in precipitation November - February. However, Manele Bay is on the southern, sun-drenched end of the island, so it stays pretty dry.

Who/Why
You like luxury, but forge a path beyond the oft-visited to get there. You're into removed resorts, the kind with natural nightlights glowing sky-high.

Cost
Rates start around $400 per night---though in low season you can probably find a multi-night deal for less---and include WiFi, in-room Nespresso and poolside perks like smoothies and Dr. Shades sunglasses service. Keiki programs are also complimentary for kiddos aged 5 - 12. And, so you stay healthy on the road, sunset yoga is also included in your room rate. Namaste.

More Roam+Board
The Templar – TorontoEncuentro Guadalupe – MexicoThe Ampersand Hotel – LondonLava Lava Beach Club – HawaiiThe Wickaninnish Inn – TofinoJumeirah Zabeel Saray – Dubai
Find more R+B hotels featured here, plus our it list of worldwide hotel picks.

[photos taken by @tripstyler while as a guest of the resort]