Punta Cana is a special place and after visiting twice in the last two years, I’m excited to finally share more details about our travels in hopes that it will help you plan your trip to the Dominican Republic!

Peter and I traveled to Punta Cana in 2019, which was our first time to the Dominican, and we loved it so much that we decided to take the kids to one of our favorite Caribbean spots this year for spring break. Of course they loved it as much as we do and they are already keeping their fingers crossed that we will go back one day! We certainly have a bucket list of Caribbean destinations that we want to visit and that we want to take the kids to as well.

I’ll be sharing where we stayed in today’s post and what we did during our stay. I’m also sharing a few tips that I hope you will find helpful as you plan your next Caribbean vacation!

Where did you stay in Punta Cana and what are your thoughts about the resort that you stayed at?!

• We stayed at the Westin Puntacana Resort & Club both times that we visited Punta Cana and we love it there. Call the Westin prior to your arrival and set up hotel transportation from the airport to the resort.
• The resort is within a gated community and only minutes away from the airport. It is safe and the grounds are beautiful.
• The staff is friendly, welcoming, and provides great service.
• The resort is situated right on a beautiful pristine beach, the water is a stunning turquoise blue, you can swim out to a sand bar in the middles which is so neat, and is within walking distance from Playa Blanca Beach Club.
• The resort is clean and the rooms are nice and spacious and there are nice room amenities as well. Our room was cleaned each day.
• There are two restaurants on property…the Anani Restaurant and the Brassa Grill and Bar, which is located beachside.
• There is a beautiful golf course within 1 mile of the resort and there are plenty of water activities that you can do on site.
• You are able to walk to Playa Blanca Beach Club from the resort (we ate lunch here several days) and you can also rent kayaks, paddle boards, kite surf, snorkel, etc…all within a short beach walk on Playa Blanca.
• There is a small gift shop on site that also has small snacks, etc.
• There is a small workout facility that offers plenty of equipment to get in a good workout and there is also a spa on site, which we have not personally experienced.
• The pool is large and very clean…a great place to hang and spend time.
• The beach has nice chairs, side tables, and umbrellas out each day and they offer great beverage service throughout the day.
• The staff at the Westin makes the best cocktails…be sure to try a Coconut Daiquiri, a Passionfruit Mojito, and a Banana Mama. They have happy hour from 5-6pm each evening as well.
• Anani Restaurant has a breakfast buffet, which is delicious…be sure to check the schedule as to when the buffet is offered.
• The resort fee includes a visit to Indigenous Eyes Ecological Reserve which we definitely recommend that you visit…you can swim in a few beautiful lagoons!
• There is a ping pong table, which we enjoyed, as well as a volleyball net and soccer nets should you wish to play a game while there with your family.
• The resort is also close to a private residential community called Tortuga Bay and there is a wonderful restaurant called Bamboo where you can have dinner.

Where did you eat while visiting Punta Cana?!

• BREAKFAST – we ate at Anani Restaurant at the Westin each morning for breakfast. During the week we ordered our meals off of the menu and beginning Thursday through the weekend they have a breakfast buffet, which is great as well.
• LUNCH – We ate most of our lunches at Brassa Grill and Bar or Playa Blanca Beach Club which are both right on the beach. Brassa is at the Westin and Playa Blanca Beach Club is a short beach walk away. You can just throw on your coverup and walk right up to both barefoot and sit down for a delicious lunch…there is a nice variety at both and the food is good.
• DINNER – We ventured off of the resort property a few times and went to some amazing restaurants still within the larger gated community of where we were staying. Our favorite was Bamboo, which is at Tortuga Bay. Bamboo will be your more expensive dinner but it was well worth it. We also ate at The Grill and La Yola…both beautiful and delicious restaurants with outdoor seating. All 3 of these are just a short drive from the Westin and you can get a hotel shuttle to and from. On the other days we would stay on the beach, watch the sunset, have a cocktails, and then head to Brassa Grill and Bar right at the hotel.

What activities did you do while visiting Punta Cana?!

• When Peter and I visited in 2019 we did a few different activities. We did an excursion with Adventure Boogies, which was a lot of fun. You drive dune boogies through the countryside, out to a beautiful beach, and then to a cenote to swim in. I definitely recommend this but not with small children. We also rented paddle boards and kayaks one day. You can rent these from a place a short beach walk away from the Westin and take them out right off of Playa Blanca beach.
• With the kids, we primarily stayed right on property with the exception of going to the Indigenous Eyes Ecological Reserve where we hiked and swam in beautiful lagoons. The reserve is a short drive away from the resort and the hotel will provide a shuttle to and from.
• We took the kids snorkeling with SP Divers, which was also great. You can walk to their rental hut from the resort…again, another short beach walk away. We brought our own snorkel gear that we ordered from Amazon and they provided life vests and flippers. It’s best to do this on a day when the water is more calm and when it’s not as windy. One of their guides takes you out into the water and stays with you the entire time. There were a lot of fish and a nice variety of fish as well…it really was a great snorkel trip.
• We also spent a lot of time playing ping pong right at the resort property which was a lot of fun.
• We took lots of beach walks and enjoyed swinging on the swings in front of Playa Blanca Beach Club. The kids also enjoyed swimming in the pool a lot and of course lounging in the hot tub.

What other thoughts can you share or tips to help with planning a trip to Westin Puntacana Resort & Club?!

• make sure you schedule a shuttle from the airport to the Westin in advance and confirm confirm confirm before landing.
• when you arrive to the airport, there will be A LOT of people there trying to take your bags and assist you…we only had 4 bags and did not want their assistance but they are very persistent so be aware and understand that this will most certainly happen. There will also be a lot of people trying to get you into their car in order to take you to your resort…that is why we recommend scheduling your transportation well in advance and ensuring that you end up with the correct transportation company.
• take your own snorkel masks (we love these), take some smaller blow up floats to use at the pool and in the ocean, ensure you have a few pool toys like diving rings for the kiddos, take a nice size beach bag like this one to ensure you can fit all of your pool/beach gear, ensure that you take good goggles for your kiddos (we love these), sunglasses (we love these for the kids), and hats…the Caribbean sun is so strong!
• make sure you pack lots of sunscreen and after sun care including aloe, after sun lotion, cortisone, Benadryl, Tylenol, ear drying drops, and swimmers ear drops. We also recommend that you pack mosquito repellant…we didn’t have an issue with this but it’s better to be prepared.
• we love the Westin but a few things you should know include: there isn’t an easy place to just get a quick snack or breakfast. The restaurants are sit down restaurants so you have to plan for that. The resort is definitely missing a quick service option.
• there is seaweed but its only in certain spots and they do an excellent job of cleaning up the seaweed…often times you will see tractors on the beach plowing up the seaweed. The water is absolutely beautiful and there is plenty of crystal clear blue water to swim in…you may just have to scoot around or over some seaweed. You should also swim out to the sandbar…its amazing but please know that there are some deeper parts to swim over…not many but you cannot stand the entire way out to the sandbar.
• we found ourselves picking up some plastic off of the beach as we saw it…overall, it is a very clean beach and they do not allow plastic straws, which is great, but we would often times pick up plastic bottle lids, etc that was left behind.
• the Westin can definitely update some of their common area furniture, etc. but overall it is a nice Caribbean resort.
• although we feel that the service overall is wonderful, it can be slow at times…primarily when having our meals…everything is on island time so as long as you know that, your expectations won’t be too high. We would play a game of cards or Heads Up while waiting for our meals sometimes.
• when traveling home, make sure you allow at least 2 hours to get through the check in process. The Westin will shuttle you to the airport as well.

Overall, we absolutely loved both of our trips to Punta Cana and we certainly recommend traveling here and staying at the Westin Puntacana Resort & Club! We truly think you will make many incredible memories and leave feeling rested, relaxed, and ready for your next Caribbean adventure!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by…see you back here real soon!

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Summer 2020 is a little different than we pictured but we have done everything possible to make it fun and keep Reins and Addison busy and most importantly…HAPPY!

We haven’t been able to travel as much as we had planned but we did get to enjoy a summer staycation at the Gaylord Opryland Resort which just so happens to be one of our absolute favorite places to visit!!! I’m sharing a recap of our stay PLUS a very special discount for Tennessee residents and non-residents!

We always feel such a warm welcome from the Gaylord Opryland Resort staff and each and every stay at the resort always feels like we are truly away on vacation…it was a wonderful weekend together as a family. I encourage you to plan a visit soon as I know you will enjoy your stay as much as we did.

Gaylord Opryland Resort is truly doing everything possible to ensure the safety of their guests during this time. They are ensuring that guests wear masks and social distance when necessary. Everything is sanitized and VERY clean. We were truly impressed with the additional measures that have been put in place at SoundWaves to keep everyone safe and to ensure everything stays sanitized and clean. We felt very safe while enjoying our staycation.

We enjoyed dinner at Cascades American Cafe which is in the Cascades atrium and we also enjoyed gelato each evening from Bravo. Delta Marketplace was open, which was a great spot for breakfast and snacks and the pizzeria, Paisano’s was also open. SoundWaves has a wide variety of delicious options and we really enjoyed the tacos, burgers, pizza, and salads!

While there, I also was able to enjoy a Swedish massage at the Relache spa! it was such a wonderful massage and I left our staycation feeling relaxed and well rested. I was required to wear a mask during my massage…guidelines around masks are updated regularly so be sure to ask about this when booking your spa treatment.

While there…don’t forget to enjoy a tour on the Delta Riverboat as well. This is a short cruise around the Delta atrium where you learn a lot about the resort. One of the most interesting facts is that the oldest tree at the resort is 106 years old!

For anyone thinking of planning a staycation or traveling in for a vacation at Gaylord Opryland Resort, I’m super excited to share a special SoundWaves Experience Package offer with you!

Details on SoundWaves Experience Package:

• Davidson County residents: receive 40% off select dates with code L9Z (check website for dates)
• All Tennessee residents may receive up to 25% off select dates with code M16 (check website for dates) *proof of residency required at checkin
• Out of state guests may receive up to 20% off select dates with code BQ7 (check website for dates *restrictions may apply)

***book online at www.SoundWavesGO.com

ALSO…for a very limited time this summer, SoundWaves is also currently offering day passes for Tennessee residents. Book your day passes online HERE while they last!

I hope you will be able to take advantage of these amazing offers and enjoy a family getaway as well. Memories made with family are so precious and even more so during a time of uncertainty. You will feel so refreshed after a visit to Gaylord Opryland Resort and a day or two spent soaking up some summer fun at SoundWaves.

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I recently traveled to Atlanta to participate in Habitat for Humanity’s 3rd annual #HomeIsTheKey campaign and home dedication. You may recall that Habitat for Humanity came to Nashville last year and that was my first year participating in this particular campaign…to say that I was thrilled to participate for my second year was an understatement.

Last year I shared how impressed I was with all of the work that Habitat for Humanity and their amazing partners are doing and I was even more impressed this year. Through their #HomeIsTheKey campaign, they work diligently to ensure that affordable housing is available to so many.

It was absolutely AMAZING to see Krushetta and her family receive the keys to their new home! This is an opportunity for Krushetta and her family to start a brand new chapter and after spending a good bit of time with her, I can tell you that they are thrilled for this next step in their lives.

I truly believe that its important to give back to your community in some way or another and Habitat for Humanity makes home ownership possible! It’s the American dream to own your own home and they make this possible through their #HomeIsTheKey initiative.

Here’s how you can get involved and help!

Habitat for Humanity has partnered with several amazing brands that I love and work with like Chico’s, White House Black Market, & Soma Intimates and from now through the end of May, for every $25+ gift card that you purchase from one of these partners, Habitat for Humanity will receive a $5 donation. How amazing is that?!

Now is the time to stock up on gift cards…maybe you know someone who has a birthday or graduation coming up…a gift card would make an excellent gift and you will be giving back to such an amazing cause in the meantime.

Click here to see more ways to donate! You can also make a direct donation to Habitat for Humanity HERE. I hope you will consider making a donation to support Habitat for Humanity’s efforts and give others the opportunity to be a homeowner as well. Habitat for Humanity is in ALL of our community’s so you can feel confident in the fact that you are supporting your local community.

I’d like to extend a special thank you to Habitat for Humanity and Chico’s FAS brands for affording me the opportunity to participate and be involved for a second year. It was such an incredible experience. Thank you to White House Black Market for providing me with my outfits while on site with Habitat for Humanity.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by. See you back here real soon.

Photography by Leah Roth.

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Many of us are planning for the holidays (so hard to believe they are upon us!), including myself, but I am also planning our trips for 2019 and on our must list is a trip back to The Pointe on 30a!  I recently stayed at The Pointe with a group of girlfriends for a work retreat that my dear friend Jessica Fay of Lipstick Heels & a Baby planned with ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals and I was beyond impressed with the property and the various amenities that they offer!

The Pointe is located on a 30a which is a beautiful stretch of Florida beach front communities that span many miles from Sandestin to Panama City.  More specifically, The Pointe is very close to Rosemary Beach, which is a well known and very popular beach destination for many and it is close to other popular beaches on 30a like Alys Beach and Seaside Beach!  As you turn onto Scenic Highway 30a from the eastern point, The Pointe on 30a is situated right on the right hand side, just before arriving to Rosemary Beach.  You can’t miss it…it is a new beautiful boutique hotel-style beach community!

The Pointe on 30a is an ideal vacation resort for couples, families, or for a weekend getaway with girlfriends.  With 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units and fully functional kitchens, you can easily make The Pointe your home away from home and are certain to have a wonderful stay.  Each unit is beautiful with large spacious bedrooms, beautiful clean modern bathrooms, a family room for congregating, and functional kitchen stocked with dishes, utensils, and stainless steal appliances, an eat in dining area, and a balcony with beautiful views.  We stayed in a 3 bedroom unit that had two rooms with king beds and one room with 2 queen beds.  It was so spacious and comfortable!  It’s so nice to have a kitchen to dine in when you would like.  We stayed in one night and enjoyed a girls night in…30a Gourmet catered in dinner for us and it was delicious.  I’d recommend considering 30a Gourmet if you’d like to have someone come to your unit and prepare a meal for you…it was delicious!

We took full advantage of the many amenities that The Pointe has to offer.  We spent an evening on their rooftop enjoying wine while soaking in the beautiful picturesque beach views and watching the sun set followed by appetizers at La Cava Lounge which is a covered outdoor living area right by the pool!  We also enjoyed breakfast together at Big Bad Breakfast which is on site at The Pointe!  The food was delicious (try their biscuits and jam) and this a great option if you want to mix things up and don’t plan to eat breakfast in your unit each morning.

The Pointe is also a convenient walk or bike ride away from the beautiful beaches of South Walton.  The property offers complimentary bicycles that you can ride to and from any destination.  I rode a bike to the beach and farmers market one morning and it was so much fun.  Rosemary and Alys beach are neighboring communities so you can easily ride their complimentary bikes to these areas as well.  I encourage you to take advantage of their bikes…it’s truly the way to get around while staying on 30a.  Put your car in park and bike or walk to the nearby beach communities!

One of The Pointe’s best amenities is their gorgeous resort pool!  Spend the day by their pool relaxing and soaking up the warm Florida sunshine!  They offer cabanas, plenty of poolside lounge chairs, and they also have a fire pit which is the perfect place to spend an evening with family or friends.  My family and I always like to have a pool option when at the beach so I was thrilled to see how nice The Pointe’s pool is…I can’t wait to take my family here!  The Pointe also has a beautiful fitness center to take advantage of while vacationing as well!

As much as we enjoyed staying on property at The Pointe on 30a, we also ventured out and had some incredible experiences!  We visited Greyton Beer for a tour and beer tasting followed by lunch at Greyson Brew Pub, dined at Central Paella (you must try their Paella, it was delicious!!!), enjoyed breakfast at Grits & Grind in Rosemary Beach, had the most fun private electric bike tour with E-Venture Tour Co (HIGHLY recommend this…it was sooooo much fun!!!), enjoyed an afternoon of rose and light bites at Pescado in Rosemary Beach (the food and rooftop views here are amazing), and we enjoyed dinner at Surfing Deer near Seaside Beach!  There are so many amazing spots on 30a and we barely scratched the surface but all of these places were so wonderful and I highly recommend them!

If you are planning a vacation to 30a, I highly recommend that you consider staying at The Pointe!  I truly cannot say enough wonderful things about this hotel-style resort and as I’ve shared…I am already excited to go back and take my family!  You can book your stay at The Pointe by visiting the ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals website.  I promise you will love the property as much as I did and you will leave feeling refreshed with memories to last a lifetime!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by…see you back here real soon!

Thank you so very much to my dear friend Jessica Fay and the amazing team at ResortQuest by Wyndham for hosting me!  I’m so grateful for the opportunity to travel and experience such a wonderful resort! 

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Photography by Meredith Hilleary Photography

Low Country Produce is one of the most charming spots in Beaufort!  From it’s delicious menu of freshly prepared dishes, to its sundries & cannery, to the fresh baked pies and goods, to the unique home goods…you will find yourself wanting to spend so much time here immersing yourself into a slower pace of life.  The southern charm fills the air at Low Country Produce and there are so many little nooks to explore.

We started our day here and if you are to visit Beaufort, I recommend heading over to Low Country Produce for breakfast or lunch.  Even if you want to just grab a delicious pastry or a refreshing beverage and pull out a great book…this is the perfect space to spend some time relaxing.  Sit, relax, and soak in all of the southern charm around you.

I’m certain you will adore Low Country Produce just as much as we did!  We can’t wait to go back next year!

Have you visited Beaufort, SC and if so, did you stop into Low Country Produce?

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great day.  See you back here real soon and stay tuned for more of my favorite spots from Beaufort, SC!

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Early one morning I met up with a couple of other girls and Alfonso, who works at Fairmont Mayakoba, for a nature work and to explore more of the property.  I’m so so glad that I did this because I got to see so much more that the resort has to offer.

We started on a beautiful nature walk…Alfonso shared a wealth of knowledge about Mayan history, the plants, trees, wildlife, and cultural rituals.  On the nature walk you are able to explore a cenote, which is deep natural hole that is created from heavy rain and the erosion of limestone.  There is ground water underneath.  As natural light shines through holes to the bottom of the cenote, it creates this incredible luminous glow.  In the images above, it will look like you can walk straight out onto solid ground but that is actually water and the ceiling is reflecting off of the water to create this incredible illusion.  It was stunning and I truly enjoyed exploring the cenote.

As we walked further down the nature trail we came to a small town called El Pueblito.  This town has the most beautiful chapel in addition to a marketplace and some adorable shops!  El Pueblito is right outside of the resort but still within their property boundaries.  It is easy to walk to from the main entrance of the resort and it is great for spending time at the chapel or doing a little shopping.  Events and special activities also take place in El Pueblito so you can check their events calendar during your stay.  Because it was early morning when we went there for the first time, it was super quite and very peaceful.  The chapel is stunning and all of the buildings have such colorful bright walls!  It’s really a very charming little town.

There is a also an 18 hole golf course on property and it is gorgeous.  The course is well kept and many of the holes have such stunning views.  If you love playing golf, you would really enjoy this golf course!  And they actually host a PGA tour event every November at Fairmont Mayakoba!

A couple of other notable activities that the property offers is star gazing…it was cloudy the night I was supposed to do this but I can only imagine that it would be wonderful.  And there is also a wonderful planetarium right in Playa del Carmen called Sayab Planetarium.  This is a free educational experience to both locals and tourists…something to check out if you venture into Playa del Carmen.

I’m going to shift gears a bit and talk about the pools…scroll through the next several images to read more!

 Photo credit: Hallie Duesenberg

Photo credit: Hallie Duesenberg

The boat tour around the property within the water canals is something I recommend that you do while staying at Fairmont Mayakoba.  The staff will take you on a tour through the canals and share more about the history of the property, the wildlife, etc.  It was a great way to see more of the property from the water and how cute is it that fresh coconut water was served?!  Such a special touch!

I also spent time at the Willow Stream Spa and it was soooooo wonderful!  Not only is the spa absolutely beautiful but the services are amazing too.  The staff at the spa was accommodating and friendly and my therapist gave one of the best massages I have ever had.  I’m pretty sure I fell asleep a couple of times…that is how relaxed I was.  You really could get lost in the spa and spend a full day relaxing there.  They have several lounge areas where they serve delicious fresh juices, etc and you can also relax in their sauna and the amazing whirlpool.  On the second level, there is also a beautiful outdoor pool where you can spend some quiet time relaxing!  The Willow Stream Spa was one of the most wonderful day spas I have ever spent time at and I highly recommend that you carve out some time for yourself while staying at Fairmont Mayakoba!

And now we MUST talk about the FOOD (and beverages(…oh my gosh the FOOD was sooooo good my friends!  Scroll through the next several images and I will share more!

Photo credit: Hallie Duesenberg

Ater receiving the most delicious guacamole from room service when I checked in, I had high expectations for the food and I was not disappointed.  Simply put…the food at Fairmont Mayakoba is AMAZING!  From a delicious breakfast buffet and menu items at La Laguna, to the most delicious lunches and dinners at Las Brisas, to a fusion experience at El Puerto, you will be more than pleased with the various food options.  Every single thing I ordered was so yummy and fresh!  I honestly could have eaten my way through their menus had I had the time.  One of my favorite things at Las Brisas was a pork belly flatbread…you must try this when you go.  And of course, you’ve got to have guacamole at every meal!

Our experience at El Puerto was so wonderful.  We ate dinner there one night and the miso black cod is a must have!  The fried rice is also delicious and their signature cocktails are so unique as well!

What I love most is that you don’t have to leave the property…there are so many great options on site!

We also experienced a Mezcal & craft beer tasting…it was so interesting to learn more about Mezcal and their local craft beers.  I recommend trying some of their local beverages while there as they are unique and refreshing!  The mango mojito and of course the margaritas were two of my go-to beverages!

And of course, I must share more about the beautiful beach…scroll through the next set of images to read more!

Photo credit: Hallie Duesenberg

The beach was absolutely beautiful…widespread, clean, and a great place to sit under an umbrella and stay for a while.  You could walk in both directions to see more of the beautiful coastline and the water was crystal clear.

Beachside restaurant, Las Brisas, overlooks the ocean and it is a wonderful place to go for lunch or dinner.  Some of my best meals were at Las Brisas (the lobster tacos and the pork belly flatbread are a MUST) and the staff at the Las Brisas bar knows how to make some pretty amazing cocktails (one of my favorites was the mango mojito and the spicy margarita)!  One of their infinite edge pools is right in this area as well and it overlooks the ocean, which was so peaceful.  I enjoy laying by the pool, looking at the ocean, and feeling the ocean breeze.  Drinks and food can also be served both poolside and on the beach!

I can feel my feet in the sand now and I cannot wait to go back!  I’ve been missing Fairmont Mayakoba since I returned home…it’s such a wonderful vacation spot!

For anyone who is looking to go to Mexico for a honeymoon, family vacation, girls trip, etc…I highly recommend that you consider Fairmont Mayakoba.  As I mentioned before and for the many reasons as outline above, this is by far one of my most favorite resort destinations that I’ve ever been to.  From the rooms, to everything the resort has to offer, to the staff, to the pools, to the beach, to the food…I give Fairmont Mayakoba 5 stars!!!

Okay, I’m off to start planning my next trip!  Thanks so much for taking time to read today’s post…hope you have a wonderful day!

*Special thank you to the entire staff at Fairmont Mayakoba for making my stay so enjoyable and memorable…you are the best!

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Swimsuits C/O Red Carter

Anguilla will forever have a special place etched in my heart..it truly is a magical island, one that makes a lasting impression and one that you will crave going back the moment that you leave.

We recently visited Anguilla for the first time and to say that we had THE. BEST. TIME is an understatement.  It’s hard to put into words how an island, like Anguilla, can ignite your soul and make you have major wanderlust for your next adventure.

Our stay was rather short and we didn’t even get to scratch the surface of this beautiful island so we have already agreed that we will return to Anguilla someday, hopefully in the near future.

We traveled to Anguilla to celebrate the marriage of two dear friends and during our time on the island, we were surrounded by a group of wonderful friends and some family too (Peter’s parents were there as well).

Everyone who traveled to Anguilla for the wedding stayed at the CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa, which was absolutely beautiful!

I’m pinching myself that I didn’t capture any images of our room (it was so spacious, the bed was beyond comfortable, it had the most gorgeous view, and the bathroom was what every girls dreams are made of).  But I did my best to capture the property during our short stay there.  Of course I also shot pictures on my phone of me and Peter, the wedding, our friends, etc but I didn’t want to bombard you with too many images!

We were there in late April, which apparently is a slow time on the island.  Lucky for us, that worked out perfectly because it felt like we had the resort to ourselves.  We spent so much time on the beach and at times, we were literally the only beach goers in site.  We couldn’t help but feel like we were on our own private island.  Of course we spent most of our time with family and friends but we did have several moments during our trip where we got to sneak away for some one on one time.  We walked the beach every day and sometimes late at night too.  It was so peaceful and serene.

Our very first night at the resort we had a wonderful meal at Italia, which is a restaurant on property.  As you may assume, it was an Italian restaurant and the food was delicious!  One of the things I love most about CuisinArt is the Hydroponic Farm that they have on property.  They grow much of their own produce and throughout our stay, many of the meal options that I selected included fresh fruits and vegetables from their farm.  We were even greeted with a bowl of small tomatoes when we arrived and they were some of the best tomatoes I have ever had!

CuisinArt also has the most beautiful spa…27,000 feet of spa space…it is huge and they offer so many incredible services.  I didn’t have time to take advantage of the spa while on property but next time I will!  I went on a tour and was so impressed with the spa facility so this will be top on my list when we return.

One of my other favorite meals was  just a short walk down the beach to the Sunshine Shack!  Talk about authentic island food.  They make the BEST jerk chicken and jerk ribs.  Peter and I were one of only 3 couples having lunch so it was such a genuine authentic experience.  We set at a picnic table in the sand and ate our meal served on a paper plate while we looked out at the ocean.  I love spots like this and we will absolutely return, probably a few times, when we visit Anguilla again.  One day we plan to take Reins and Addison with us and show them where we signed their names on the ceiling of the Sunshine Shack!

Beyond relaxing on the beach/by the pool, eating delicious food, taking advantage of every miami vice we could find, and spending time with our family and friends, we didn’t have much time for anything else.  Our time was short but we enjoyed every moment that we were there!

I wanted to also share a couple of tips with you all.  Traveling to Anguilla, depending on where you are traveling from, takes about a full day.  From Nashville to Miami, Miami to St. Maarten, St. Maarten to Anguilla (by boat), taxi to resort, etc…it takes a good bit of time.  We teased that we were on planes, trains, and automobiles (minus the train, add in a boat).  If you every visit Anguilla, I highly recommend using FunTime Charters to get from St. Maarten to Anguilla.  The transfer was smooth, seamless, and the staff was very friendly.  It is about a 30 minute boat right (on a speed boat) and it times it can be very choppy, so hold on tight!

You should also know that it is an expensive island to visit.  Well worth the money but it is expensive.  From the boat ride over, to the hotel room and nightly taxes, to the cost of food, to the tax you pay per person to leave the island, etc. you will need to plan accordingly and go into your trip knowing that you will be spending a good bit of money.  You will also need to always double check your bills…they do add tip into each bill (they call it a surcharge) but essentially, it is the tip.  We were caught off guard a couple of times when the staff told us that it wasn’t the tip when in fact it was so just check everything.  We knew that we would be spending a good bit of money going in so it wasn’t a surprise to us but I could see how some may be thrown off by how much you end up spending.  Plan ahead and save enough money so you can truly relax and enjoy your time while there!

Overall, I highly recommend visiting Anguilla and staying at the CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa!  We are already trying to plan our next trip back.  I think next time we may island hop a bit…there is just so much to see and do!

Where will you be traveling to this summer?!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by…I hope you have a wonderful day!

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