A Slice of Kate

Once again, I’ve failed at my blogging duties for an extended period of time. Work and life and a wedding got in the way. But I’m back big time, baby!

This post is dedicated to my SURPRISE DESTINATION bachelorette trip. I can’t honestly take any credit for the places and activities included in this blog post. My incredible bridesmaids planned everything as a complete surprise to me (they may have said something about me needing to unclench and relinquish control for a minute? It’s hard to recall…). That being said, though, they absolutely knocked it out of the park.

For those of you like me (until about a week ago) that haven’t heard of Alys Beach, Florida, it is located between Panama City Beach and Pensacola on the deep western portion of the Florida Panhandle. If you associate Panama City Beach with MTV’s Spring Break of decades past, Alys Beach is basically the anti-that. It is upscale and serene, and evokes the Greek Islands with it’s white-washed buildings and creeping vines.

Situated on Highway 30A, dubbed “The Emerald Coast,” Alys Beach is one of a multitude of small, planned communities dotted along the coastal highway. There are houses ranging from 1-5 bedrooms with lovely terraces, private pools, and garages. There’s also a number of condos available for rent above a collection of lavish retail shops and restaurants. The community also has a huge, heated pool, a gorgeous fitness center, private beach access, and a nature trail, among other amenities.

After settling in to our accommodations for the weekend, we headed out in search of sustenance. We settled on lunch at George’s at Alys Beach restaurant. I opted for a Bloody Mary and a Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich, which were both very good, but the highlight was the Chocolate Toffee Brownie dessert.

For our first evening, we attended a private bonfire on the beach. After manifesting a rain-free evening, we arrived at Inlet Beach to a firepit, chairs, cushions, and a table with supplies for s’mores. The scene was set by Salty Girls Beach Setups, and we had our own attendant to make sure the fire stayed roaring throughout our stay. It was a truly perfect activity for the first night in town because it gave all of us an opportunity to relax after a long travel day, chat with one another, and eat snacks. These are some of my favorite activities.

The next day, after a leisurely morning and a beach walk, we walked over to Neat, a lovely little wine bar. They had a huge charcuterie spread set up for us, and four different wines pulled for tasting. The champagne was probably my favorite, which was evidenced by how many bottles we went through whilst lounging in our private dip pool back at the house afterward.

For dinner, we made our way a mile down the road to Rosemary Beach and the Havana Beach Bar in the Pearl Hotel. Rosemary Beach is another of the adorable little communities on 30A, and well worth a meander around if you find yourself in the area. The food and service at Havana were both excellent, so add it to your itinerary.

On our last full day, we started with a private Yoga class at the gorgeous Studio 30A. After a quick photoshoot with the group with a soundtrack of Lizzo, Shannon led our group through some gentle movement in their incredible, light-filled space. It was the perfect way to recuperate and move our bodies after a long day of champagne drinking the day prior. After yoga, everyone scattered to various pursuits, but I decided on a poolside lunch and lounge at the main Alys Beach pool. Upon arrival, attendants laid out towels on chairs for us and brought us a bucket of cold waters. The saltwater pool is heated, so even if you’re visiting during off-season, you can still enjoy a dip!

Dinner on our last night was at Restaurant Paradis in Rosemary Beach. The door to the restaurant was very festively decorated for upcoming Valentine’s Day. The twinkle-lit trees lining the road also added to the romantic ambiance. Once again, the food and cocktails were great, but we did have a bit of a long wait for our table due to a group who wanted to linger.

Overall, I really couldn’t have planned a better bachelorette weekend for myself. It was a trip filled with laughter, sunshine, champagne toast, and the very best friends. I already can’t wait to go back!