The last time I went away without my kids, for non-work purposes, was back in 2014. So I was more than excited when my cousins and I decided to plan a girls’ weekend away, without kids. From Toronto to Connecticut to NYC, we are spread throughout the North East and only get to see each other a few times a year at holidays and family celebrations. And with 13 children between us you can only imagine that it’s hard to get a word in.  It took 70+ emails to figure out when we could all leave our families and decide where we wanted to go. But in the end, South Beach came out as the winner and this sunny destination made for the perfect setting for a girlfriend getaway (or cousins reunion!)

We were all anticipating lots of R&R and bonding time so our South Beach setting was very relaxed. This rundown is not for the party girls who are planning on being up all night or hitting the bar scene. But for the moms who need a break from the everyday, to focus on themselves. After three days away, I felt re-energized and like I was coming back to my family as a better mom having taken a little “me” time.

Where to Stay

One of my cousins scored the most amazing accommodations at 1 Hotel South Beach. Bypassing the typical hotel reservation route, she booked our stay via Luxury Rentals Miami Beach in a three-bedroom condo at the residence side of the hotel. We enjoyed almost 2000 sq. ft. of ocean views in our luxury eco-condo, without paying the hefty price tag of being a hotel guests yet we enjoyed all the same luxuries: access to the three pools, the Spartan Gym as well as the Bamford Haybarn Spa. We really could have spent our entire stay at the hotel with great little shops, a café, restaurants, Soul Cycle and the most incredible views. The hotel and its grounds are absolutely stunning with photo opportunities at every turn.
Two other online resources to consider when looking for discounts on South Beach hotels are: Secret Escapes and Magellan Luxury Hotels.

Where to Eat

Like I said, we could have spent 72 hours at the hotel and that includes all of our meals. We made multiple visits to Plnthouse for smoothies, iced coffees, avo toast and a delicious quinoa breakfast bowl. For dinner on South Beach, Upland Miami is an absolute must. Try the delicious wood-roasted beets, margherita pizza and crispy squash bottoms. In Miami, Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink is a great bet. While the restaurant itself was a bit loud (hard to make conversation on our first night together) the food was fresh and delicious. The Stracciatella was melt-in-your-mouth and the falafel mezze platter was perfect for sharing.

What to Do

I would have been happy just sitting by the pool and strolling down the beach but we mixed a bit of culture into our trip. We drove into Miami to visit the Wynwood Walls and it was well worth the journey. Blocks upon blocks of graffiti art make for the most colourful backdrop in a once desolate neighbourhood. Be sure to check out Frangipani when you’re there for a great assortment of gifts made by sustainable artisans. I skipped out on a visit to the Bass, Miami’s contemporary art museum but my cousins reported that it was worth a visit. And in my opinion, no mom-cation is ever complete without some solo time at Target. I spent a good 90 minutes roaming the aisles at my leisure and had the chance to discover a bunch of their new collabs with Hunter and Taza, as well as their new home décor line Opal House.

We’re already talking about planning our next getaway in celebration of my 40th in a few years. Where should we head to next?!