Miami Beach, South Florida Posted on 5 Nov 05:52 , 1 comment

[caption id="attachment_530" align="alignleft" width="453"] Lunch poolside at the 1 Hotel on South Beach, Miami [/caption] If you live in Manhattan, the best thing to do over holidays is to get out of the city. Don't get me wrong, I love living here. However, I grew up surrounded by nature. Singing birds, flowers, water and the fresh air are rare in the city. Escaping the noise and grime of the city is something that I look forward to. I then look forward to returning, refreshed and ready to tackle everything that needs to be done. [gallery ids="533,540" type="square" columns="2"] I lived in Boca Raton, Florida for a year before I moved to the city. Because of that, Florida feels like my second home- (or third, if you count PA) I love visiting as much as possible. On this last trip, I stayed at the 1 Hotel in South Beach. Even if you aren't staying there, the restaurants and bar inside the hotel are worth visiting. The decor will inspire everything from your mood and clothing to your own furniture purchases :) [caption id="attachment_553" align="alignleft" width="2400"] Sunset over the Atlantic Ocean on South Beach, Miami[/caption]                   My favorite way to end the day is to sit on the beach and watch the sun set. South Beach faces east, so the sun doesn't set over the water. However, the colors are magical and reflect in the ocean waters, creating a Monet- like setting. [caption id="attachment_598" align="alignleft" width="2400"] Moonlight over the Atlantic Ocean on South Beach[/caption] After the sun sets, it's dinner time. I love the Veranda in Faena Hotel to anyone that is visiting. They have incredible food and art. There is an enormous nine foot tall gilded mammoth in the backyard by artist Damien Hirst that is worth seeing. [caption id="attachment_651" align="alignright" width="523"] Damien Hirst's Gilded Wooley Mammoth[/caption] [caption id="attachment_635" align="alignleft" width="176"] Veranda's menu in Faena Hotel.[/caption] Veranda's menu had a thought- provoking message that I thought was worth sharing: 'You must be ready to burn yourself in your own flame. How could you rise anew if you have not first become ashes?' -Friedrich Nietzsche. [caption id="attachment_642" align="alignright" width="471"] Kate Stoltz[/caption]  

Where is your favorite place to escape to? XOXO- Kate Stoltz