South Beach's Little Gem: Espanola Way

Sometimes the last thing you want after a day of laying out on Maimi's bustling South Beach is to have to fight more crowds when hunger strikes. Instead of lazily stopping at one of the hundreds of in your face restaurants on Ocean Drive, walk just a little further from the beach, and you'll find a quaint French Cafe on Espanola Way. A La Folie Cafe is a hidden gem of South Beach on the charming street of Espanola Way. Tucked far away from the touristy crowds, A La Folie is the quintessential place to indulge in an incredible crepe or grab coffee while enjoying the peace and quiet and feeling like you're at a true European cafe.

Sanibel Island's Nature Haven

On a previous trip to Florida, we decided to visit the gulf coast for a change of pace from the intensity of South Beach to something more relaxing. Sanibel Island off the coast of Ft. Myers was the perfect solution to ditch the flashiness on South Beach and escape to a hidden paradise. Just 2 hours west of Miami, Sanibel has everything outdoorsy to offer from kayaking to lounging on the vacant beaches, to encountering wild animals within arms reach. A visit to the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge was the perfect way to spend an afternoon post-beach to spot alligators, flamingos, and other wildlife in their natural habitat with no barrier to restrain them.
Check out our lucky finds while walking the nature trail on Sanibel Island.