My Gypsy Life

Where I giggled in the ocean

(near Datça, Turkey, 2011)

Longboat Key, Florida

Longboat Key, Florida

Cayo Costa, Florida, 2010

Definitely made my Top 5 beaches list

Going to the beach by yourself…

Pros: Reading without distractions

Pros: Me time! :)

Cons: Who puts sunscreen on your back?

Cons: Can’t get the damn umbrella in the sand

Cayo Costa, Florida, 2010

The plan was to drive from Miami to the panhandle…to my home town. Instead of doing the 9 hour drive straight I looked up some beaches on the google. Although, I’m a born-and-raised Floridian, there are plenty of places I have yet to go. After some searching, my heart was set on Cayo Costa, on the south west coast of Florida.

Cayo Costa, Florida

Cayo Costa State Park is a barrier island west of Ft. Meyers. From Miami, I drove 1-75, through Alligator Alley, to Ft. Meyers. A quick stop to buy a towel, an umbrella, and more sunscreen for my pale skin. 

I parked at the boat ramp on Pine Island to board the only “ferry” to the island. Lets be honest, it wasn’t a ferry it was an small, 8 person boat. A 20 minute ride and you are at the entrance to the state park. I paid my $2 entrance fee and was driven to the beach via golf cart. 

drive to beach, Cayo Costa

There were about 20 people on the island with me the entire day. It was peaceful, beautiful, and very unique. The entire shoreline was just layers and layers of broken shells. 

The only problem with going to an island by yourself, putting sunscreen on your back. Burn!

Key Biscayne, FL, 2010

Key Biscayne, FL, 2010

I’m officially in the last leg of my Florida roadtrip. A week ago, I flew into West Palm for a wedding. Saturday, before the wedding, I relaxed by the pool for some much needed pool time to soak in vitamin D. 

On Sunday, I hitched a ride with some friends who were also going to Miami. I decided to stay a few extra days to visit my friends who recently moved from New York. They took me to South Beach, Coconut Grove and Key Biscayne. They confirmed my suspicions that I could never live in Miami by saying jokingly…”Don’t leave New York. Do anything you can to stay there forever.”

Miami skyline

Sunday afternoon, the three of us headed to Lincoln Road. Can I just say, everything in south florida looks the same. I swear I had been there before, probably have actually. Boutiques, clothing stores, restaurants with outdoor seating lined the cobblestone walkway. There also were tables sporadically placed selling anything from papaya, to honey, to beads that feel nice (not sure about the last one, I walked on past). The Lincoln Road promenade reminded me of a few places I’ve visited in Europe, plus the beach smell and ocean breeze. 

Lincoln Road, South Beach

My friends wanted to try out this restaurant called Pasha’s. Knowing nothing about it I agreed to eat there. All I knew is that they were showing the Argentina/Mexico game, which was all that mattered. Upon walking into Pasha’s I heard about 5 people speaking Turkish…do these places just find me? They even had borek…on Lincoln Road of all places. There are plenty of choices as you walk from parking to the beach, but if you are craving something fresh, light, and healthy, check out this place.

Key Biscayne, FL, 2010.

It was just too tempting we walked along the entire thing. 

Deerfield Beach, FL.

View at the rehearsal dinner

These photos were taken by my aunt, in 2009 off the coast of Florida

Cable Beach, The Bahamas

(view from my hotel)