KATIE KENNEDY

Mornings on the Atlantic Ocean

Mornings on the Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean, Amelia Island, weekend

Shirt Dress || Not Shown: Sandals || Tumbler

It’s the start of the new workweek. While I’m currently sitting at home and getting ready for the day, I’m still feeling recharged after a long weekend’s stay on Amelia Island. Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing all the details about our stay. To start things off, I can’t help but brag about our beautiful mornings. Consider it you’re very own Monday pick-me-up from me!

While out of town, we a very simple morning ritual. I highly recommend waking up first thing in the morning and take in an Atlantic Ocean sunrise. Our hotel, the Elizabeth Pointe Lodge, was the perfect location to make all of that happen. Whether it’s having breakfast on the oceanfront patio or taking your coffee to go, both are therapeutic ways to start the new day.

With a coffee in hand, we started on our long strong on Amelia Island Beach. Although I’ve been to the east coast of Florida plenty of times, I’m always so blown away by how different beaches are from the Gulf Coast. With a storm way out in the ocean, the waves were absolutely wild. Brave surfers were out first thing in the morning, something you never see on Saint Pete Beach. The sand was almost a warm caramel color and absolutely stocked with all kinds of shells. There were so many for the picking. I had a wary eye out for shark teeth, but alas no such luck this trip.

No trip to the beach is ever complete with daydreaming over the local real estate. Who doesn’t think about someday owning their very own vacation home on the water? There were just so many to choose from, but this one instantly spoke to me! Located a few houses down from our hotel, this home is in the dreamiest shade of sea green with a front-row view of each sunrise.

Atlantic Ocean, Amelia Island, weekend

The weather during our short stay couldn’t have been better! I was able to wear longer and heavier pieces without sweating through. This shirt dress from Tuckernuck had been calling my name for so long! The embroidered ikat pattern is even prettier in person. Although I didn’t wear them on the sand, my Sarah Flint sandals were on hand.

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Date Night at Wild Child

Date Night at Wild Child

Dress (similar) || Wedges || Clutch

Whenever a new restaurant opens up in St. Pete, I try to get there ASAP. Obviously, that mentality has slowed down a little bit with COVID. Better late than never! Back in August, one of the newest bistros and bars opened up. Wild Child is an instant hit and is a welcome new addition to the Grand Central District. David and I had an opportunity for a little date night last weekend. I’m already planning on a return trip!

  • St. Pete, Date Night, Wild Child, cocktail bar
The Setting

Anytime I find a spot that is painted in shades of pink and coral, I know it’s going to be a favorite! Between the Vinoy and Don Cesar hotels, I want to declare pink to be the unofficial color of St. Pete. Like an old school tiki bar brought into the 21st century, you can expect a relaxed atmosphere. The inside dining room is intimate, while the outdoor patio is where you can take advantage of the beautiful Florida weather. On this particular night, they were able to open up the windows and it was, in a word, heavenly.

  • St. Pete, Date Night, Wild Child, cocktail
    Left: Queens Park Swizzle || Right: Lone Palm
  • Left: Saturn || Right: Naked and Famous
The Cocktails

When you head to a cocktail bar, of course, you want to sip something amazing! The drink list was long and a little something for everyone. Since David and I were there for a meal, we took the opportunity to have a few of their cocktails. I will always have a love for tiki-inspired drinks. They are so flavor-forward while making you feel like you’re on vacation. My favorite of the night was absolutely the Queens Park Swizzle. It’s a beautiful concoction of rum, lime, mint, and bitters. I feel like this drink was made just for me! No matter what you order, you’re in store from such a treat!

  • St. Pete, Date Night, Wild Child, cocktail bar
    Whipped Ricotta
  • Jerk Octopus
The Food

The hardest decision of the evening was to decide what to order! We had gone in just wanting to order a few small plates to share, but everything tasted so good! Ultimately, we followed our stomach and ordered what I think are the two standout dishes on the menu. And how different they are from each other! To start, we shared the whipped ricotta. I had heard through the grapevine that this was a must eat. Drizzled with herbs and honey, it makes for a great little snack.

Our second dish was the Jerk Octopus. A little known fact about me… I tend to put jerk sauce or seasoning on everything! There’s something about the flavors that send my tastebuds on overdrive. Wild Child did not disappoint. The combination of Meyer lemon, jerk seasoning, and Thai basil was incredible. It was tempting to wipe the plate clean. Oh, how I wish I could recreate this at home!

If you’re looking for a new spot for date night or cocktails with friends, I highly recommend Wild Child! I can’t wait to try more of their ever-changing menu. Opened Wednesday through Saturday, starting at 5 o’clock, you may very well just see me there. Cheers!

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Mornings on Anna Maria Island

Mornings on Anna Maria Island

Dress || Sandals ($50 off with code SARAHFLINT-BAKATIE) || Handbag || Earrings

Have you ever had a moment when you just wanted to get away? It happens to me every once in a while. Sometimes, I get so stir-crazy that even a few hours away with different scenery seems like a vacation. Lucky for me, I live close to so many incredible beach towns that my options are endless. So on Saturday, David and I hit the road for a lovely and quiet morning on Anna Maria Island. Even though it’s just 45 minutes away, it was just what I need to feel recharged and ready for a new week!

  • Anna Maria Island, Beach, Florida, Travel
Have Breakfast at Ginny’s and Jane E’s Cafe

If you’re just getting away for the morning, finding a great breakfast place is a Mission: Critical. AMI has so many great options, from the low-key to the more upscale. We opted for the former and landed upon Ginny’s and Jane E’s Cafe. The interior is cozy and quirky, inside a local boutique. Our breakfast was incredible, I loved my quiche, and was the perfect way to get fueled for the day.

  • Anna Maria Island, Florida, Travel
Relax at the City Pier.

After breakfast, we took our coffee to go and started exploring quaint Anna Maria Island. Like most barrier islands on the Gulf of Mexico, it’s very walkable. You can see almost everything in a quick hour stroll. Our ultimate destination was the City Pier, which reopened just this summer. Even though we just sat, admiring the view and watching the local fisherman at work, it was so calming. Close by, you’ll find the AMI Historic Center, including the “city jail” that was meant to ward off rowdy tourists in the 1920s.

  • Anna Maria Island, AMI, Florida, Travel
Shop along Pine Avenue.

Even for such a small town, there seems to be a never-ending list of boutiques. The majority of them are nestled among Pine Avenue, but all are worth exploring. My personal favorite was The Island Cabana, which serves as the local Lilly Pulitzer destination, and Pink and Navy. Right next door is AMI Outfitters, which offers more outdoorsy wardrobe choices. Don’t forget to shop for some beach decor pieces at the White Egret.

  • Anna Maria Island, AMI, Florida, Travel
Explore the Beach Cottages.

As many of you know, David and I recently bought our own little bungalow in St. Pete. Ever since, I’m constantly on the lookout for inspiration a la Coastal Living Magazine. AMI was a feast for the eyes in terms of curb appeal. There were so many beautifully loved beach cottages and I took some serious notes on color combos and accents. If you happen to live on AMI and saw me take pictures of your home, thank you so much for the inspiration!

Even though we only spent a few hours here, I already want to make a repeat trip. As soon as I got home, I started looking at beach rentals and may convince my parents on a quick family vacation. Sometimes you don’t have to go far to feel a world away! Explore what’s close by and happy travels!

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.