Planning on going to Pompano Beach and wondering where to stay? First, things first, stay by the beach!
This is a Sponsored Post. However, all opinions are my own.
How many times do people tell us moms to take a vacation solo? “You need to get away”, they say, “have some time to yourself, without the kids.”
Well, it’s easy for them to say but not so easy to do. So, when I had the opportunity to take a vacation by myself, at first I said yes right away. But then a little mom-guilt set in. My boys were asking why they couldn’t go. I had just come back from a press trip to Costa Rica. I had mom-guilt all the way!
We do go on a lot of family trips, like the one where we stayed at the Wyndham Sedona. We go to Disney, Universal and Legoland and so many family friendly places. It takes me about 2 weeks to prepare for family trips. It took me one night to get packed for my solo trip. Major bonus!
It occurred to me that maybe it’s important for us moms to get away by ourselves. We can go and recharge, and the boys can get some much needed daddy time, alone. The way they do it.
They won’t have mommy rushing them in the morning to get dressed for school and have breakfast. They won’t have mommy getting them to bed early. They may have pancakes every morning and they may not brush their teeth every day. But that’s okay, because mommy will be at the one place that transports her to another world: the beach.
Stay by the Beach
If you’re going to take a vacation by yourself, stay somewhere that is close to the beach. It is the one place where I can sit and breath in the salty air and feel completely free. I love taking a picnic with me and a good book and just relax listening to the sound of the the waves crashing on the sand.
The Wyndham Santa Barbara is located just across from Pompano Beach on South Ocean Boulevard where you can enjoy private beach access. I was in heaven just sitting and having a coffee. Of course, you can sit by the pool and hot tub, but the beach is right there – it’s a crime not to go! This vacation resort even offers beach access at Wyndham Royal Vista across the street.
Just a hop, skip, and a jump away, you will find catamarans to rent along with jet skis and kayaks.
The hotel is located right next to this beautiful marina and is home to Serenity Yacht Cruises.
Stay at a Resort Where They Offer Condo Style Resort Living
I’m not the kind of mom that wants to go out and party when I have some free time. I just want to grab some nice food to cook, get some tea and chill out. The Wyndham Santa Barbara offers condo-style resort living. It offers spacious studio, one, and two-bedroom resort suites that comfortably sleep four to six guests and range from 500 to 1,200 square feet.
Suites feature one queen bed with a queen sleeper sofa in the studio suite, while the one and two-bedroom resort suites feature private bedrooms with a king bed in the master, queen bed in the guest room and a queen sleeper sofa in the living area.
I had this huge studio. It would have been perfect for a small family, but I was happy to relax there by myself and sleep-in in the morning.
I had a fully equipped kitchen, whirlpool tub, dining area, a TV, and a private balcony.
Talk about relaxing. This whirlpool is the bomb!
Find Different Things to do Alone
Check out the Intracoastal Waterway where you can take a water taxi, watch the sunset, check out the marina for boat rentals, or take a fishing charter. You can do all these solo, but they are great activities for next time with the family as well!
Take Some Work
If you feel like working, work! I work from home and can never really put it down (for obvious reasons!) There’s nothing like working by the pool without any interruptions. I like to work a little when on vacation. The resort also offers a business center equipped with everything you need to catch up on your work.
There’s nothing like South Florida, especially when you are staying on the beach.
Make Sure You Have a Car
Whether you are able to bring your own car, or you have to rent, having a vehicle changes everything. I know everyone nowadays swears by Uber, but trust me, there is nothing like the freedom of walking from your hotel room to your freedom on wheels.
Mine came in the form of the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL. I love this car! It’s big, it’s beautiful, it’s spacious. It is everything you need for a family. Wait…but I wasn’t with my family… that’s exactly the point!
You don’t have to have 4 kids to enjoy a car with 3 rows of seats. Having lots of space is amazing by yourself as well. Back home I have a big car, but it is so full of everyone else’s stuff (kids, husband’s stuff) that I never get to truly enjoy my big car.
The 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL has everything I need in a car. It’s big (I said that already), it’s easy to drive, and it’s quick. I’m no Danica Patrick but it’s nice to know that if I step on it, something happens! I also enjoyed the entertainment center which is super easy to use.
If you haven’t looked at the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander yet, take a moment to schedule a test drive, you will fall in love like I did. I didn’t even have to put down the third row when I added my LeSportsac 24in Hardside Case and Backpack! There is seriously so much room in this car!
Explore
With beach access, pool and a hot tub, a picnic and barbecue area, resort activities, and Fort Lauderdale around the corner, your schedule will be packed. You can check out the Museum of Discovery & Science, Las Olas or Sawgrass Mills Mall in Fort Lauderdale. The Butterfly World where you can sit in a charming garden setting and watch thousands of beautiful, playful butterflies is beautiful. You can also head to Delray and go to the Morikami Japanese Museum and Gardens. So many options!
Eat
Eat like you are on vacation! Seriously. Not only did I go to the grocery store and get myself some good food and a can of whipped cream and strawberries, but I hit up a couple of great restaurants as well.
If you have been somewhere before and you loved it, make it a point to go back. One of my favorite places to eat when I lived in Florida was Fit Foodz Cafe.
This is my “go-to” and won’t-try-anything-else salad. It is called the Power Bowl Salad. It’s made with mixed greens, avocado, hardboiled egg, unsalted pistachios, roasted chickpeas, craisins, goat cheese, and house SUE-per sauce. I love it so much I went there again before I got back on the plane to Phoenix.
I also took one of these to go. This is the Vegan and Gluten Free Confetti Cookie Pie with Vegan Vanilla Icing. I will never, and I mean NEVER not leave with one of these when I go to Fit Foodz Cafe. I meant to eat it on the airplane. Then I ate “just half” on the way. Before I dropped the car off, it was gone.
Try something new at least once.
Some other fantastic restaurants I recommend are NYY Steak at Seminole Coconut Creek Casino, Louie Bossi in Fort Lauderdale, Roots, Prezzo, and Burton’s in Boca Raton, and Deck 84 in Delray.
I tried something new when I went back to Boca Raton and went to Max’s Grill. The scallops were amazing!
I don’t care what anyone says, a mother needs time to be alone and recharge. I love my family. I adore my kids. But I am no good to them when I’m burnt out. This was my opportunity to have some well deserved me time. Next trip? Knotts Berry Farm and Disneyland!
