Our favorites

Some places become favorites because you find yourself returning to them. We stayed at this Delray Beach hideaway twice, both times while making the long drive from Gulf Shores to South Florida. The first was simply part of a road trip, a comfortable stop that quickly became a favorite. When it came time to make the move to Key West, we knew exactly where we wanted to stay along the way and found ourselves back here again. With its private pool, tropical setting, and easy South Florida feel, it became one of those unexpected little places woven into our travels, and one we’d happily return to again.

May House was exactly the kind of stop we needed at that point in our travels. We stayed here in St. Augustine on our way from the mountains back to South Florida, while we were still trying to decide whether buying a mountain cabin (and making the mountains a bigger part of our lives) was really our next move. When we weren’t out exploring St. Augustine’s museums, wandering the historic city, or finding some seriously good Vietnamese food, we were 100% at the pool. May House gave us the perfect place to do absolutely nothing between adventures: sunshine, tropical surroundings, and plenty of time to just chill while we figured out what came next. It was one of those road-trip stops that became a memorable part of the journey itself.

New Orleans has always felt a little like home to us. It’s where Beats Working began, where we spent years living in the Bywater, and a city we still return to often. Lilac Lair, owned by one of our very best friends, gives us one more reason to keep coming back. Tucked in the heart of the city, it’s the perfect home base for settling back into a place we know and love. From favorite restaurants and familiar streets to late nights, long walks, and the unmistakable character that makes New Orleans unlike anywhere else, a stay at Lilac Lair feels less like visiting and a whole lot more like coming home.

Lake Martin gave us one of those easy, slow-down-and-stay-awhile getaways at a time when we needed one most. We spent ten days here while negotiating the purchase of our mountain cabin in Blue Ridge, with our belongings already loaded on a truck and headed toward the mountains while nearly everything else still felt up in the air. Somehow, this little lakeside cottage kept us grounded. We spent our days outside: paddling the lake in the kayaks, hanging out by the covered boathouse, enjoying the outdoor shower, and ending evenings around the fire pit. For ten days, while we waited to find out exactly where life was taking us next, Lake Martin gave us a place to slow down, enjoy the moment, and let everything else unfold. It will always be one of those stays we remember for far more than just the house.

Some stays find you exactly when you need them. We booked Agave at the very last minute during another road trip through Florida, and it ended up being one of those unexpected finds that did not disappoint. We were traveling after a particularly intense time in our personal lives, and what we needed more than anything was somewhere that felt easy: a place to slow down, shut everything else out for a little while, and simply enjoy being there. The pool was incredible, the backyard felt like its own private escape, and for a few days, life just felt lighter. Sometimes a favorite isn’t only about the property itself, but about how a place made you feel at a particular moment, and this one gave us exactly the retreat we needed.

Key West Beach Club became home for six unforgettable months during the year we spent living in Key West. There was something pretty incredible about waking up beachfront on the Atlantic at the southernmost end of the country and realizing this was actually everyday life for a while. We biked all over the island, spent time with friends, explored our favorite corners of Key West, and came home each evening to the ocean just outside our door. Watching the kite surfers from the balcony became part of our routine, along with those incredible Key West sunsets that somehow never got old. It was more than a place we stayed. It gave us the chance to really settle into island life, and those six months will always be one of our favorite chapters.