Just about a month ago, my boyfriend and I decided to take the short road trip from West Palm Beach to St Petersburg, Florida. Neither one of us had been on the Gulf side of Florida in ages and wanted to experience the calm blue waters and unforgettable sunsets on the west side, once again.

 We were also excited to stay at the highly regarded Sirata Beach Resort. 

 With a recent $15 million renovation, additional pool and lounge areas, and upgrades to guest rooms and suites, Sirata didn’t disappoint. Check-in was flawless and the room was spacious, bright, and cheery.

Our deluxe suite had two queen beds with an adjoining living room and kitchenette equipped with a bar fridge, microwave, toaster, coffeemaker, as well as an additional TV and a balcony with a magnificent view of the Gulf.

The accommodations were perfect for an extended stay and included:

• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Two bottles of water daily
• Parking
• Lounge chairs and beach towels on the beach
• Unlimited local calling
• Concierge
• Fitness Centre
• Business Centre

You can walk straight from your room to the resort’s private beach, pool areas and 3 restaurants using their fun beach walk that allows you to stroll from one end of the resort to the other, right along the beach. And with three signature restaurants and two of the best beachfront bars in St. Petersburg, we never had to leave the property.

Harry’s Beach Bar, a local favorite hangout, is a unique open-air bar space, with breathtaking views of the ocean and swimming pool. Grab one of Harry’s famous tropical cocktails such as a Harry’s Hurricane or The Harry Navel, and make sure you try an order of the Waffle Fry Poutine. This is the best spot to catch the sunset.

• Open Sunday-Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Friday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Compass Grille is the more upscale, indoor dining option on the property serving inspired American contemporary fare.

Open daily for breakfast

• 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and for dinner 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Rum Runners Bar & Grille, is a fun, open lounge area with rustic cocktail tables, a beach fire pit, and live entertainment. This was our favorite spot to unwind in the evenings and catch a live, local performance.

Open Sunday-Thursday

8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Friday-Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Pretty Zen Tip: Don’t miss Rum Runners Bar & Grille complimentary Wine, Beer or Rum Runners Punch from 6:00pm-6:30pm and nightly live music.

Whether you plan on exploring the surrounding areas or staying on property, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy during your stay. Bird lovers can observe the nesting areas of the rare and protected Black Skimmer Birds, right on the beach. You’ll find over 600 nesting birds on more than 200 eggs right outside your balcony! In fact, we had the best vantage point from our complimentary first row beach loungers. Also, don’t miss the Loggerhead Sea turtles that nest and hatch right along St. Pete Beach from May 1st through October 31st.

THE POOLS & JACUZZI

One of the perks of staying at The Sirata Resort are the two large pools and jacuzzi. A great spot for lounging around and working on your tan. If one pool is too busy, you can simply head over to the other pool. If it gets too warm, you may want to rent a pool cabana with comfy couches, a cooling fan, a TV, and a table.

Pretty Zen Tip: Don’t miss the resort’s new swimming pools, hanging chair garden, center fire pit, hammocks , complimentary bicycles and a kids’ splash zone, as well as scheduled activities for the kids.

If you do decide to venture out, The Sirata Beach Resort is within a short distance from downtown St. Pete’s many attractions, museums, local craft breweries and shops. Here are a few not to be missed spots on your trip:

EAT ST PETE:

Downtown St. Petersburg offers some delicious eats and a diverse array of restaurants. Some top insider pics include Annata, Alto Mare, Cassis, Bacchus, Brick + Mortar and BabaSea

Dog Treasure Island

The Canopy at Birchwood is a great rooftop bar and the restaurant Birchwood is delicious!

Bodega is a great cuban spot on Central Ave

Baum Avenue Market

Valhalla Bakery (amazing vegan baked goods)

EXPLORE ST PETE

I can personally recommend a visit to the new St. Pete Pier– It’s a beautiful 26-acre open-air area perfect for a leisurely day of discovery and is only a 15 minute drive from the hotel. You’ll find three great restaurants and a rooftop tiki bar with some outstanding views of Downtown St. Pete.

Check out the Florida Orange Grove Wine Cellar right by the hotel! About a five-minute drive to the tasting room where you can check out some yummy local fruit wines.

Passe-a-grille Beach is a few minutes from the hotel and is a beautiful beach neighborhood with a charming vibe and shops, also a beautiful beach

VIP COUPLES SUNSET DOLPHIN BOAT TOUR

We were scheduled to end our trip with an intimate sunset cruise and dolphin tour– hoping to catch an iconic Gulf Coast sunset, while chilling with some of the ocean’s friendliest creatures. Alas, the sunset tour that takes you to Sand Dollar Island, only accessible by boat, was canceled due to tropical storm warnings. But the tour departs conveniently right from the Sirata beach and I’m looking forward to our next trip for this fun experience!

Thank you to The Sirata Beach Resort for being such gracious hosts. We had a fabulous time! Watch their video here: https://www.sirata.com/

As always all opinions are my own.

Contact Jules Aron at greenandgorgeouslife@gmail.com and follow along @Julesaron

Ever since its opening in February 2020, I have been looking forward to business lunches and cocktail hour at The Ben. The posh new luxury hotel with gorgeous views overlooking the Intracoastal Waterways, the Palm Harbor Marina and Palm Beach Island, is the newest and only West Palm Beach waterfront, boutique property– a part of the Marriott international Autograph Collection.

The stunning new hotel is inspired by the Ben Trovato Estate– one of West Palm Beach’s original homes–where best selling author Byrd Spilman Dewey entertained the likes of the Vanderbilts and Woodrow Wilson; and the 208-room boutique hotel references the author’s convivial nature in portraits and art throughout the property.

Having had the pleasure of dining on site during their opening celebration and attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony, I was looking forward to the perfect opportunity to experience an overnight stay. The occasion finally presented itself this past June, as a weekend staycation for my birthday. In this unprecedented climate, keeping it private and intimate was paramount and the experience didn’t disappoint.

With a living-room style lobby lounge that draws you in with its cozy fireplace and Old Florida charm, plus two lovely dining experiences, Proper Grit, a Florida inspired Chophouse

with a grand cocktail bar that wraps around to the building’s exterior, and Spruzzo, with Mediterranean style cuisine and a sleek alfresco bar overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, I was blissfully entertained all weekend long.

TIP: Make sure to book a room along the hotel’s east side for the most amazing waterfront views from their floor-to-ceiling windows.

Speaking of rooms, our gorgeous suite included a living room area, Turkish linen bedding, La Bottega toiletries and a luxurious bathroom with an unforgettable corner glass shower.

With delicious fare and cocktails from both restaurants, and a rooftop pool with private cabanas, we never left the property; however, the hotel is centrally located downtown, walking distance from the palm-lined shopping hub Rosemary Square and WPB’s main restaurant and bar district on Clematis Street.

Our stay was a beautiful experience, the staff was courteous and knowledgeable and we had everything we needed to have a perfect long weekend celebration.

 A special thanks to the Ben Hotel in West Palm Beach for hosting us! We will certainly be back. In the meantime, go play voyeur by clicking on their rooftop webcam and experience their stunning views and rooftop vibes for yourself.

Road tripping is in my blood– I love the idea of cruising down back roads, windows down, music turned up. And since I traded my stilettos for flip flops when i moved from NYC to Florida almost 5 years ago, I’ve been more than content to explore all our neighboring sandy destinations, one summer road trip at a time.

One of the best trips of this kind, is the 230 mile, 4 hour drive (give or take) from West Palm Beach to the Keys–taking us to the charming and historic destination located at the southernmost point of Florida: Key West.

DAY 1

Once we made it to Key West, we checked into the Cuban inspired, Havana CabanaWaterfront Resort. Between the mid century cars, bright and colorful décor, lush pool oasis and tropical outdoor bar, this vibrant hotel brought on the charm and character.

Fair warning, Havana Cabana is located in New Key West, a 10 minute drive from the downtown area, but since parking downtown can be an issue, the hotel’s convenient shuttle service was actually perfect.

We began our first evening with an unforgettable Wind and Wine Sunset Cruise with fabulous hosts, Nate & Briana of Danger Charters. This sunset sail aboard a Historic 65ft Schooner serves an impressive eight different fine wines, as well as a selection of quality beers, and hors d’oeuvres, while you watch the fiery sun melt into the ocean. This might have been my favorite experience of the entire trip. I highly recommend it!

With our bags packed, we began our journey bright and early and were well into the Keys by noon. Here, we were delighted to pass local shops and restaurants, popular travel stops and incredible views, as far as our gaze could reach.

Islamorada is a great place to have a leisurely lunch or keep driving over the seven-mile bridge, that spans– you guessed it, seven miles– and connects the middle and lower Keys. It’s a spectacular view, with the ocean embracing you from both sides. Here you’ll also catch the remains of Flagler’s Overseas Railroad.

We dropped off our bags, grabbed a snack and headed down to the pool area. Fun fact: Havana Cabana actually boasts the largest pool in Key West–and it didn’t disappoint. A nice afternoon dip was the best antidote to the long drive.

All that fresh ocean breeze and seemingly endless amounts of wine, definitely stirred up our appetites. We headed for a stroll down the famous Duval Street and stumbled onto Bagatelle Island Restaurant, a charming historic 1800s home that was converted into a restaurant in 1979. Right on Duval, close to Mallory Square, Bagatelle was the ideal spot to have some light seafood fare while enjoying some people watching, to cap off our night.

DAY 2

We started the next morning in the hotel pool before heading out to take in a little Key West culture. On the agenda, visiting Key West’s most famous former resident, in spirit that is, at Earnest Hemingway’s Home and Museum.  On the way, we stopped off at the distillery inspired by the famous author’s life. The Hemingway Rum Company Distilleryand Experience Center, located in a historic building just yards from where Hemingway used to dock his boat, the Pilar, serves as home to a working distillery, experience center, innovation lab, trading post and tasting room. A definitive must to celebrate the bold and complex nature of the Key West local.

Although hot and humid in the summer months, the walk was beautiful, allowing us to take in all of the pastel colored cottages and charming historic properties.

If it’s your first time in Key West, you can also take the Conch Tour Train or the Old Town Trolley that provides insight on the historical sights during your ride and also allows you hop on and off. Make sure to keep an eye out for Key West’s most colorful characters, the free roaming chickens and roosters.

When it was time for lunch, we headed over to the beach side of the island to The Reach Resort’sFour Marlins restaurant. Overlooking the only natural sand beach, it was the perfect place to savor more fresh local seafood while taking in some of the best views on the island.

After the tour, we head over to Hemingway’s Home on foot, where you can enjoy enjoyed a guided tour of the bon vivant’s home and work studio, as well as make friends with all the famous “six-toed” cats that roam the gardens lining the property.

Speaking of colorful residents, the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is home to the most beautiful winged creatures. With over 60 butterfly species and over 20 bird varieties, It was a magical hidden gem that I highly recommend!

That evening, we hopped over to Key’s West famous Mallory Square for their nightly sunset celebration, where you can enjoy conch fritters and street performers or just watch the boats disappear under the ring of a golden sundown.

DAY 3

For our last day on the island, we booked the BugeyeBackcountry Adventure Tour that combined three great adventures into one day:

• A Key West schooner day sail.
• A guided kayak tour of mangrove islands
• And a snorkel tour of sponge gardens

There is certainly no shortage of things to do in this small island town and I look forward to coming back soon. In the meantime, I hope this itinerary inspires your own exciting Key West adventure. I’ll be posting a list of other suggestions soon. If you have a favorite bar or restaurant to share, I would love to hear your recommendations in the comment below!

A big thank you to keywestattractions.org and fla-keys.com/

#keywest #travelguide #travelblog #floridastaycations #floridadestinations #keywestvacation

It was an intimate nature tour limited to only 16 passengers– in fact, we were exactly 4 couples on board for this fun and relaxing day on the water. After departing from the picturesque Key West’s Historic Seaport, our day was spent exploring uninhabited mangrove islands in the Key West National Wildlife Refuge. After some fun snorkeling, we were back on the beautiful tallmast wooden ship for lunch and unlimited drinks. Not a bad way to end this fun-filled 3 day/2night stay on the island.

Hello and welcome!

My name is Jules and I’m a Holistic Wellness Coach and 4x cookbook author. Thanks for stopping by!

I created this site to be able to share revitalizing, beautifying and truly guilt-free plant based recipes that you can truly feel good about. Beyond the recipes under Eat Well section, make sure to check out the Be Well section for my Holistic Wellness Guide, Natural Beauty Resources and the Whole Foods Grocery Guide. The Drink Well section will take you to my sister site: www.thehealthybartender.com for drink and cocktail recipes made with wholesome ingredients and natural sweeteners.

My Story:

I grew up around the kitchen table. For my family, food was everything. My father owned and managed several restaurants, while my mom worked as a chef in some of the most prestigious international hotels. Together, they instilled in me a deep appreciation for whole foods and the dining experience. Between the frequent dinner parties they loved to host, to the quality of food they chose to serve, they taught me that the best food involve basic techniques, fresh ingredients and a whole lot of love.

While my interests have long gravitated towards natural healing modalities, integrative nutrition, and a holistic approach to wellness, I also spent many years working in the service industry, and my approach to food will always be as a passionate foodie, first and foremost. In fact, most people that know me, would surely attest that I care passionately about what goes into my body yet refuse to eat food that simply isn’t delicious.

It is with this simple philosophy in mind that I create recipes; taking care that they are easy to make, healthful and nourishing, and always bursting with flavor.

Thank you for visiting. I hope you’ll stay a while!

Some of my favorite things:

I love watermelon, fresh coconut water and raw cacao elixirs. I divide my time between my rustic cabin upstate NY and my west palm beach apartment.

CREDENTIALS

The best selling author of Zen and Tonic: Savory and Fresh Cocktails for the Enlightened Drinker, Vegan Cheese, Simple, Delicious, Plant-Based Cheese Recipes, Nourish and Glow, Naturally Beautifying Foods and Elixirs, and Fresh and Pure, Organically Crafted Beauty Balms and Cleansers, Jules Aron is a rising author in the fields of natural health, beauty, and nutrition.

As a holistic health and wellness coach, and green lifestyle expert, Aron is deeply passionate about a healthy, wholesome lifestyle that includes delicious, nutritious foods that fuel the body, mind and spirit.

She holds a Masters degree from New York University, is a Certified Yoga, Qigong & Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, and is a Certified Health & Nutrition Coach from The Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Aron has been featured in The NY Post, The Today Show, Well + Good NYC and Mind Body Green and is a regular contributor to Woman’s World Mag and other national fitness and wellness magazines.

Degrees, Studies, Certifications:

• Masters of Science – New York University
• Bachelor of Arts – McGill University
• Certified Holistic Health Coach – Institute for Integrative Nutrition
• Certified Yoga Instructor
• Certified Medical Qigong Practitioner
• Black Belt in (Kyukushinkai) Oyama Karate

WORK WITH JULES

Jules loves working with brands and organizations that she truly believes in — to help them grow their own social audience from followers to devoted customers. If you have a project you think she’d be perfect for, contact Jules here: greenandgorgeouslife@gmail.com

THANK YOU

Be Well is a space intended to connect and inspire. Thank you for being a part of the journey.

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FEATURED IN is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. On the site has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting,

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Featured In is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. On the Site has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting,

Featured In is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. On the Site has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting,