love lily

We were long over due for a romantic getaway after having our son this year. We have been through a pandemic, the birth of our son and adjusting to parenthood without so much as a break. Luckily, we were able to secure my parents as babysitters for the three day getaway. I was beyond excited to have a break from diapers, feedings, spit up cleaning and the never-ending laundry!

We live in Naples, FL so when we were looking up places to visit we thought Tampa was far away but close enough to home so if something happened we could get back soon. After researching the hotel options we finalized our stay at The Godfrey Hotel & Cabanas in Tampa. This was the perfect location for a fun and romantic couples getaway.

We booked a bay view suite complete with our own balcony. We were right on the bay, had access to a beautiful pool and were within walking distance to WTR which was a really luxurious poolside grill and cabana club. Across the bay from our hotel was a cool little bar with its own beach called Whisky Joes. We spent a lot of our vacation there enjoying the island drinks and the best gator bites in town!

On our first night we went to Ybor City’s historic district to check out the town. It was so cool to see the unique bars and shops all while listening to live music. We stopped in at Gaspar’s Grotto for their yummy chicken wings and amazing drink special- two shots, two beers for $10! Cannot beat that price while trying to get a nice little buzz going for the stroll around the district. This town was full of culture and the lively atmosphere was contagious.

We hit up Clearwater Beach on our second day in Tampa. This was noted as the #1 beach in the USA so we had to check it out. We brought our tent, cooler and drinks, and noodles so we could enjoy a full day on the beach. We parked in a parking garage within a 5 minute walk to the beach with access to the shops that were close by. The was beautiful and we know beautiful beaches coming from Naples. We took a long walk on the beach and visited the Aqualea at Hyatt Regency hotel which was stunning.

Friday evening we lounged at the WTR poolside club and enjoyed drinks and small bites. The experience was ultra beach lounge as there was house music, string lights and the sound of waves splashing in the background. This was my favorite night of our stay. My margarita was delicious and lounging on a luxurious couch by the bay was the perfect way to spend the evening with hubby.

On our last day we went to Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks which is a small Greek town close to Tampa. I have been there with my family when I was a kid and remember how much fun it was so we decided to go during the day. We ate at Mamas Greek Cuisine which had yummy food and great specials. I loved the octopus appetizer and their lamb gyro was delicious! On our way to stop by a pastry shop there was a live performance by a violinist in the plaza that was so beautiful to hear. I have always loved Kaitaifi so when we saw they had it freshly made at Taste of Greece pastry shop we had to try it. And it did not disappoint. Hubby and I each had two of them without any regrets.

This getaway was the perfect way for us to relax and enjoy each other’s company. We are adjusting to our new roles as parents and the new chapter of our relationship. We were able to shut off and reconnect with one another. All while experiencing new towns, delicious food and trying out fun places. We would definitely go back to The Godfrey Hotel & Cabanas with friends to getaway and have a fun time!