This past December I got the opportunity to take a trip to Madeira Beach, Florida for a quick little vacation with my husband. It was my first time in Florida, and it did NOT disappoint. I’m going to share our experiences with you here. This post was not compensated or comped in any way, and all opinions are my own.
We took a red eye from Seattle to Florida to try and make the most of our trip, thinking we’d sleep most of the way on the plane. It didn’t quite work out that way, but we still enjoyed our first day, even mostly sleepless.
We stayed at the Shoreline Island Resort, in Madeira Beach. It is an adults-only resort, so no kids allowed! This was the first time we’ve ever been away from all the kids and at a hotel, since we had kids. So we really wanted to make sure we didn’t end up next to a big family.
The room did not disappoint. It was super affordable, and incredibly clean and welcoming.
The bed was on the firmer side which my husband loved. My back and body doesn’t really care what kind of bed it sleeps on, so I was more than happy with this:
That was the view…from our bed. And that slider stayed open at night to ensure that the sound of the waves was the only thing I needed to help me sleep. There’s nothing better than that sound to fall asleep to, in my opinion!
I had my first taste of that back in November when I was in Jamaica for a photography retreat, and now I’m a little obsessed.
Also, bonus points – this hotel has KITCHENS in all of its rooms!
It was a full-sized kitchen, and even though we didn’t do any cooking – I wouldn’t hesitate to do so next time to save a little money. This Easy Shrimp Scampi Pasta would be great to make with some local seafood! Seafood Bisque is another great one you can throw together too.
There were SUCH great restaurants, and they were all super close to the hotel. This was our first official Florida meal at Dockside Dave’s. (their website is down right now, so I linked you to the Trip Advisor page for them!)
After we were done with lunch we went and explored a little bit in the surrounding neighborhoods, and did a little shopping at John’s Pass.
We were kind of waiting for the clouds to burn off a bit, which they didn’t really do – but who’s complaining?
I am officially in love with the ocean.
The rest of our day included napping, more eating, some beach walking, and staring at the ocean. So relaxing!
Nicole Johnson
Nicole Johnson, a self-taught expert in grilling and outdoor cooking, launched Or Whatever You Do in 2010. Her blog, renowned for its comprehensive and creative outdoor cooking recipes, has garnered a vast audience of millions. Nicole's hands-on experience and passion for grilling shine through her work. Her husband, Jeremiah Johnson, also plays a pivotal role in recipe development, adding his culinary flair to the mix. Together, they form a dynamic duo, offering a rich and varied outdoor cooking experience to their followers.