I savored the time we spent in Tulum in May, which was a joint celebration of our seventh anniversary and baby on the way. Rarely do we take a trip where down time is predominant, with things to do taking a side role. It was just lovely. But that’s not at all to say there’s nothing to do in the Tulum area. We explored both secluded and popular beaches, swam in icy cold cenotes, biked and kayaked, and visited Tulum’s famous ruins before the crowds and sun arrived. We shopped a little, ate a lot, and spent as much time as possible soaking up some healthy doses of Vitamin D in between. With three days in Tulum, after two in Playa del Carmen, we fit in ample amounts of both rest and exploration, but we could have easily enjoyed a few extra leisurely days of “just being” in the area. Scroll through above for our snapshots from Tulum, and check back for a detailed travel guide on where to eat, stay, shop, and play in this bohemian outpost on the Riveria Maya.
Something about a poppy red dress…you can’t go unnoticed in one…you can’t be unhappy in one. This color is a great little mood-boosting trick for gray days, but pair it with a gorgeous, 75-degree day and a holiday afternoon spent sitting outside by the water, and you’ll be in heaven. I picked this dress up right before our trip to Mexico and have been dressing it up and down, for work and weekend, all summer. Summer was made for simple, breezy dresses, loose waves, and dresses like this.
Last week we packed a picnic and headed downtown for one of our favorite summertime rituals—Concerts on the Square. Thousands of people flock to the grassy park surrounding the state capitol every Wednesday for picnicking while listening to the Madison Symphony Orchestra. It’s just a cool, family-friendly experience, and we try to go a few times each summer. I’m always trying to figure out just what to pack for our picnic, especially when we’re “entertaining” – taking along visiting friends or family as we did last week. Being able to prepare everything ahead of time is absolutely key. So with the help of my husband, we devised a picnic-perfect menu that you can easily make for just a few people or expand for a larger crowd. It’s healthy, gluten-free, and dairy-free in the event your guests have food allergies. And even if you don’t have time to get in an actual picnic this summer, it’s a great menu for a backyard or balcony meal. Get each of the recipes today over on The Everygirl, and see my quick tips for packing the perfect picnic below!
Make (most of it) ahead. Prepare almost everything the night before your picnic, so you can get out the door faster. Make the cheese spread, marinate the chicken legs, and put together the core ingredients of both the quinoa salad and melon salad. Right before you head out, grill the chicken legs and add the citrus juices and herbs to the two salads.
Create a family-style spread. Pack everything into plastic or glass storage containers with lids and pack a few serving spoons. Once you arrive, spread out the containers in the middle of your blanket, and let everyone help themselves.
Skip the cooler. The beauty of this menu is you don’t need a giant cooler of ice to keep any of the items cold, as everything is great at room temperature. Grab a large tote or picnic basket, fill it with all your items, and you’re good to go.
Invest in reusable dishes and glasses. Ditch paper plates and plastic cups, which don’t hold up well and create waste. Instead, invest in reusable (and infinitely more stylish) melamine dishes and glasses. They’re great for picnics, dining on the patio, and especially for kids. West Elm, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, and Target all have great options.
Designate a go-to picnic blanket. So you’re not scrambling last minute, keep a favorite quilt or blanket next to your picnic basket so you can grab it and go.
This salad is a bit of a throwback, and a bit of a celebration. It’s a riff off a salad I first had years and years ago at a trendy Mexican restaurant (of all places). It’s also pretty perfect for adding a subtle nod to the Fourth of July holiday to your picnic or dinner table tomorrow. Juicy in-season strawberries and blueberries combined with creamy goat cheese and crunchy candied pecans–and a sweet-tangy dressing–make for one super simple, super fresh salad.
Strawberry-Blueberry Salad with Goat Cheese & Candied Pecans
Two handfuls of strawberries, sliced
Two handfuls of blueberries
1/2 shallot, sliced thinly
2 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
Red leaf, gem or bibb lettuce
Candied pecans (recipe here)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Add lettuce to two bowls, then lightly dress with the Agave-Dijon Dressing. Season with salt and pepper. Top the dressed lettuce in each bowl with strawberries, blueberries, shallot, goat cheese, and candied pecans.
Agave-Dijon Dressing
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons agave syrup
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper
Whisk together the mustard, agave, and vinegar in a bowl. Slowly whisk in the oils. Season with salt and pepper.
Jashita Hotel Soliman Bay, s/n, 77780 Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
The Jashita Hotel can best be described as a slice of heaven on Earth. Its setting in private Soliman Bay, just 10 minutes from boho-chic Tulum, is absolutely breathtaking, and the hotel decor embodies that same quietly luxurious feeling. This is one of those rare hotels that I could come back to again and again, and one that is absolutely worth the splurge. With uncluttered interiors that look straight out of ELLE DECOR and a decidedly sophisticated beach vibe, the hotel provides a complete sense of serenity without competing with the stunning landscape outside. I loved the touches of rattan, seashells, and creamy whites, as well as the open-air flow through all areas and sanded paths in between. Our suite had a jaw-dropping effect on entering–glass doors opened to our own private pool surrounded by palm trees and bougainvillea…the perfect place for afternoon dips. And what can be better than breakfast with a view? Maybe only the quiet stretch of crystal clear water and kayaks and snorkeling equipment at the ready, or the deserted stretches of white sand curving to the north for early morning tide-pool exploring.
Needless to say, it was hard to force ourselves to leave the grounds to explore Tulum–despite my adventurous leanings, I really could’ve been perfectly content just staying put at the Jashita all day. I loved that the owner, who lives on the property, personally thanked us for our stay as we departed. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves–be sure to click through the gallery above for lots of lovely!
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