Hey everyone!
First, before I get into my birthday adventure, I want to say THANK YOU! ❤️
Thank you to everyone who sent birthday shoutouts, messages, gifts, love, and support. You all truly made me feel special, and I appreciate every single person who took the time to celebrate another year of my life with me.
And what better way to celebrate a new year than with a little getaway?
🌴 Birthday Trip: Destination Destin!
For my birthday weekend, I headed to Destin, Florida, and let me just say… I had an AMAZING time!
This trip was extra special because I was able to knock another state off my 50 States. 50 Stories. By 50 journey.
STATE #3: FLORIDA! ✔️
I’m slowly but surely checking those states off the list, and Florida definitely gave me a memorable experience.
Destin was beautiful!
The beaches had that famous emerald-green and turquoise water, and the white sand was absolutely gorgeous. The water was so clear in some areas that you could look down and see little fish swimming around.
I love the water, so this was exactly what I needed.
A little sunshine.
A little seafood.
A little adventure.
A lot of laughs.
And some much-needed time with family and friends.
📖 A Little Destin History
Destin isn’t just beautiful beaches and vacation resorts. The area has some pretty interesting history too.
Destin’s roots go back to the early 1800s, when Captain Leonard Destin settled in the area and became part of the community’s early fishing history.
Fishing has always been a huge part of Destin’s identity. In fact, Destin became known as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.”
And after spending time around the harbor, I could definitely see why!
The harbor is full of boats, restaurants, shops, vendors, and people enjoying the water. It’s one of those places where you can walk around and feel like you’re officially on vacation.
And believe me…
We spent A LOT of time at the HarborWalk! 😂
🏨 Where We Stayed: Tru by Hilton
Of course, a good trip needs a good place to stay!
For our birthday getaway, we stayed at Tru by Hilton, and I have to say, I was really pleased with our stay.
First of all, the room was spacious and clean, which is always important to me when I’m traveling.
I also slept really well, and after all the beach time, walking, eating, exploring, and parasailing, I definitely appreciated a comfortable bed!
The hotel had both an outdoor pool and an indoor pool. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to enjoy the pools because we spent most of our time at the beach.
But hey… that’s a pretty good reason not to use the pool! 😂
One thing I really liked was that breakfast was included with our stay.
And breakfast was good!
There were pancakes, bagels, and other options. My daughter went for a bagel, while I enjoyed the breakfast too.
Another nice touch was that the hotel sent us messages to check on us during our stay. I always appreciate those little details because it makes you feel like the hotel actually wants to make sure you’re comfortable.
And let’s talk about the location!
The location was GREAT.
We were close enough to Henderson Beach State Park that we could actually walk there.
Yes…
WALK!
That’s how close we were!
The hotel was also near Walmart and plenty of other stores and places to eat, which made it convenient when we needed anything.
For my overall stay, I’m giving Tru by Hilton a 5 out of 5! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Clean room.
Spacious room.
Comfortable bed.
Breakfast included.
Indoor and outdoor pools.
Friendly check-ins.
Great location.
And close enough to the beach to walk.
That’s a win for me!
🦐 Seafood, HarborWalk & Good Eats
One thing about me…
Put me near the water and give me some seafood, and I’m happy!
We visited AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar, and the shrimp was SO GOOD.
And apparently I decided my birthday weekend needed to become the Official Shrimp Festival of Cece because I ate shrimp everywhere! 😂
We also went to The Edge Seafood Restaurant, where I tried the gumbo.
That gumbo was GOOD!
And yes, we even fed the fish while we were there.
The HarborWalk was such a fun place to explore. There were restaurants, vendors, boats, water views, and plenty of places to just walk around and enjoy the atmosphere.
We also stopped by I Love Fatboys, and my sub was delicious.
Of course, I couldn’t leave without getting a frozen drink from the Florida Tasting Room.
Birthday calories don’t count, right?
😂
🏖️ Henderson Beach State Park
One of my favorite parts of the trip was spending time at Henderson Beach State Park.
The beach was beautiful, peaceful, and exactly what I needed.
And guess what?
I was out there for HOURS!
I got my little beach tan too. 😂
Sometimes you don’t need a packed itinerary.
Sometimes you just need to sit by the water, listen to the waves, enjoy the sunshine, and breathe.
That’s exactly what this trip gave me.
🌊 Princess Beach: Beautiful… But Those Little Bites! 😂
We also made our way to Princess Beach.
The waves were a little stronger, and we saw plenty of little fish in the water.
But apparently the little fish weren’t the only creatures interested in us!
We started getting little bites while we were out there.
Then came the flies!
Listen…
I don’t know who invited them to my birthday vacation, but they needed to GO! 😂
I think they may have been sand flies, and let’s just say they were not on my guest list.
It was funny…
But it wasn’t funny.
😂😂😂
Still, we enjoyed ourselves and made some memories.
🪂 I Finally Went Parasailing!
Now let’s talk about something I can officially check off my bucket list:
PARASAILING! ✔️
Y’all…
I was a LITTLE scared.
Okay, maybe more than a little. 😂
Going up into the air definitely had me thinking about my life choices for a minute.
But once I got up there?
WOW.
The view was beautiful.
Looking down at that emerald water from above was an experience I won’t forget.
And then they dipped us into the water!
Honestly, that made it even better.
It was like:
“Okay, I’m already up here… let’s just go for it!” 😂
And just when I thought the experience couldn’t get any better…
🐬 WE SAW DOLPHINS!
The dolphins were right beside the boat, jumping out of the water.
They were so cute!
Watching them swim and jump around in their natural environment was such a beautiful moment.
What a sight!
If you’ve ever wanted to try parasailing while visiting Destin, we went with Boogies Watersports, and it was definitely an experience I’ll remember.
🌊 This Was the Relaxation I Needed
When I think about this birthday trip, one word comes to mind:
RELAXATION.
I needed some time away.
I needed the beach.
I needed the water.
I needed laughter with family and friends.
I needed to slow down.
And I needed to celebrate ME.
This wasn’t just another vacation.
It was a reminder that sometimes you have to stop, breathe, enjoy where you are, and appreciate how far you’ve come.
👗 And Of Course… The Birthday Outfit!
Y’all know I couldn’t take a birthday trip without a birthday outfit!
I’m excited to share that I am now a Fashion Nova Ambassador, so you’ll be seeing more Fashion Nova looks from me.
For my birthday, I had to grab a dress that said:
“Hanging With the Boos” 👻
And of course, I got it in one of my favorite colors!
The outfit was perfect for my birthday, and yes…
I even matched my toes! 😂💅🏽
So ladies, stay tuned because this is just the beginning of what I’m doing with fashion and my 100 Looks. 100 Stories. journey.
The outfits aren’t just about what I’m wearing.
They’re going to be connected to places, moments, memories, and stories.
🛍️ A Few More Things From Cece
I’m also an Amazon Influencer, and I’m constantly adding new finds to my Amazon Store.
Check it out
So if you’re looking for things I’m loving, using, or discovering, be sure to check it out.
And if you’ve been wanting a Where It Begins shirt, I have some available too!
If you’re interested, comment below and let me know.
And don’t forget about my poetry book!
Check it out
There’s always something new happening over here at Cece in the City. ❤️
🍂 A New Chapter Begins
And now…
it’s time for fall.
Summer has officially had its moment, and I’m ready for the next season.
The funny thing about birthdays is that they don’t just mark another year.
For me, my birthday feels like the beginning of another chapter.
A new year.
A new journey.
New experiences.
New goals.
New stories waiting to be told.
And after spending my birthday surrounded by beautiful water, good food, family, friends, sunshine, and adventure, I’m walking into this next chapter with a grateful heart.
I don’t know exactly what this new chapter will bring.
But I’m ready to find out.
For me, my birthday feels like the beginning of another chapter.
A new year.
A new journey.
New experiences.
New goals.
New stories waiting to be told.
And after spending my birthday surrounded by beautiful water, good food, family, friends, sunshine, and adventure, I’m walking into this next chapter with a grateful heart.
I don’t know exactly what this new chapter will bring.
But I’m ready to find out. ready for the adventures.
I’m ready for the opportunities.
I’m ready for the lessons.
I’m ready for the memories.
And I’m ready to keep checking those states off my list!
3 states down… and more to go!
🌴 50 States. 50 Stories. By 50.
👗 100 Looks. 100 Stories.
🎙️ 100 Voices. 100 Stories.
📖 More books.
✈️ More adventures.
❤️ More living.
And most importantly…
more of ME.
So, are you ready for fall?
Are you ready for your next chapter?
Because I know I am.
Thanks for tuning in, thanks for celebrating with me, and thank you for being part of my journey.
Stay tuned… because this new chapter is just getting started!
— Cece ❤️
Cece in the City
Where every journey has a story.
