Journal

The StaySouth Journal.

Travel guides, neighborhood deep dives, and vacation rental insights from across Southeast Florida.

Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal Waterway with boats and high-rises at dusk.

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods compared

South Florida presents travelers with a genuinely exciting planning challenge: three distinct exceptional destinations within 70 miles of each other, each...

6 min read

Light-filled Fort Lauderdale rental interior with coastal styling.

Fort Lauderdale

Where to eat in Fort Lauderdale: the 2026 dining guide

Fort Lauderdale's dining scene has become a genuine culinary destination, from waterfront institutions to the chef-driven bistros of Las Olas Boulevard.

9 min read

Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal Waterway with boats and high-rises at dusk.

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale on a budget: the 2026 guide

Fort Lauderdale has a secret that more travelers are discovering each year: you can have an extraordinary South Florida beach vacation here for...

5 min read

Aerial view of the Southeast Florida coastline near Fort Lauderdale.

Fort Lauderdale

The complete Fort Lauderdale beach guide

Fort Lauderdale's 23 miles of Atlantic coastline is its most fundamental asset, and it is genuinely extraordinary.

6 min read

Fort Lauderdale waterfront estate with pool surrounded by palms.

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale for couples: a romantic guide

Fort Lauderdale has a romantic quality that surprises first-time visitors. This isn't the neon-lit spectacle of South Beach, it's something quieter and...

7 min read

Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal Waterway with boats and high-rises at dusk.

Fort Lauderdale

The Fort Lauderdale events guide (2026)

Fort Lauderdale's event calendar is one of the most diverse and impressive in Florida.

6 min read

Aerial view of the Southeast Florida coastline near Fort Lauderdale.

Fort Lauderdale

The Fort Lauderdale family travel guide (2026)

Fort Lauderdale is one of Florida's most underrated family vacation destinations, and families who discover it tend to come back year after year.

9 min read

Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal Waterway with boats and high-rises at dusk.

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale hidden gems most travelers miss

Fort Lauderdale has a tourist experience and a local experience, and they don't overlap as much as you'd expect.

10 min read

Fort Lauderdale waterfront estate with pool surrounded by palms.

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale for large groups: the planning guide

Fort Lauderdale is arguably the finest large-group vacation destination in Florida.

8 min read

Fort Lauderdale waterfront estate with pool surrounded by palms.

Fort Lauderdale

The Fort Lauderdale luxury travel guide

Fort Lauderdale's luxury credentials are more impressive than most travelers realize.

7 min read

Aerial view of the Southeast Florida coastline near Fort Lauderdale.

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale pet-friendly travel guide

Fort Lauderdale is genuinely one of the more dog-friendly major beach cities in Florida.

6 min read

Aerial view of the Southeast Florida coastline near Fort Lauderdale.

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale season by season: a local's guide

Fort Lauderdale enjoys one of the finest year-round climates in the United States, but each season brings a meaningfully different experience in terms of...

7 min read

Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal Waterway with boats and high-rises at dusk.

Fort Lauderdale

The best things to do in Fort Lauderdale (2026 local guide)

Fort Lauderdale has quietly grown into one of the most compelling vacation destinations in the entire United States.

12 min read

Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal Waterway with boats and high-rises at dusk.

Fort Lauderdale

Getting around Fort Lauderdale: a transportation guide

Fort Lauderdale's transportation landscape is shaped by two defining geographic features: the 300-mile waterway network that makes the city the 'Venice of...

6 min read

Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal Waterway with boats and high-rises at dusk.

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale travel hacks from locals

Fort Lauderdale locals have a comfortable relationship with the fact that most tourists don't fully figure out the city.

8 min read

Light-filled Fort Lauderdale rental interior with coastal styling.

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale weekend itineraries

The most common Fort Lauderdale planning mistake is arriving with no plan and spending the entire trip in the same half-mile of beach.

5 min read

Art Deco buildings along Ocean Drive in South Beach at golden hour.

Miami Beach

Miami Beach neighborhoods compared

Booking a Miami vacation is exciting, until you realize you have to choose where to.

5 min read

Bright Miami Beach vacation rental interior with coastal styling.

Miami Beach

Where to eat in Miami Beach: the 2026 dining guide

Miami Beach has one of the most dynamic, diverse, and downright delicious dining scenes in the United States. Here is where the locals actually eat.

8 min read

Art Deco buildings along Ocean Drive in South Beach at golden hour.

Miami Beach

Miami Beach on a budget: the 2026 guide

Miami Beach has a reputation as a money pit. And yes, it can be if you book a hotel on Ocean Drive, eat every meal at a celebrity-chef restaurant, and...

7 min read

Aerial view of the Miami Beach coastline with turquoise water and white sand.

Miami Beach

The complete Miami Beach beach guide

Miami Beach is simultaneously one of the world's most photographed destinations and one of its most misunderstood.

7 min read

Elegant Miami Beach estate with pool and palm trees.

Miami Beach

Miami Beach for couples: a romantic guide

Miami Beach was practically invented for romance. The golden light at sunset over Biscayne Bay. The warm Atlantic at night.

7 min read

Art Deco buildings along Ocean Drive in South Beach at golden hour.

Miami Beach

The Miami Beach events guide (2026)

Miami Beach doesn't just host events, it is an event. But layered on top of the city's constant spectacle are some of the most significant festivals, art...

7 min read

Aerial view of the Miami Beach coastline with turquoise water and white sand.

Miami Beach

The Miami Beach family travel guide (2026)

Planning a family vacation to Miami Beach? You're making an excellent choice, and probably asking yourself a hundred questions at once.

7 min read

Art Deco buildings along Ocean Drive in South Beach at golden hour.

Miami Beach

Miami Beach hidden gems most travelers miss

Here's the thing about Miami Beach: most visitors spend their entire trip within about four blocks of Ocean Drive, eat at the same tourist restaurants...

9 min read

Elegant Miami Beach estate with pool and palm trees.

Miami Beach

Miami Beach for large groups: the planning guide

Planning a group trip to Miami Beach is one of the most exciting, and most logistically challenging, vacation scenarios that exists.

8 min read

Elegant Miami Beach estate with pool and palm trees.

Miami Beach

The Miami Beach luxury travel guide

Miami Beach has always had a complicated relationship with luxury. On one hand, Ocean Drive's neon-lit tourist strip can feel more tacky than refined.

7 min read

Aerial view of the Miami Beach coastline with turquoise water and white sand.

Miami Beach

Miami Beach pet-friendly travel guide

Miami Beach has become increasingly welcoming to the millions of travelers who consider their pets essential family members.

6 min read

Aerial view of the Miami Beach coastline with turquoise water and white sand.

Miami Beach

Miami Beach season by season: a local's guide

One of the most common questions about Miami Beach is deceptively simple: 'When is the best time to go?' The honest answer is that Miami Beach is...

8 min read

Art Deco buildings along Ocean Drive in South Beach at golden hour.

Miami Beach

The best things to do in Miami Beach (2026 local guide)

Miami Beach is so much more than an iconic stretch of sand. This insider guide, built from real local knowledge, covers the 25 best things to do in Miami...

9 min read

Art Deco buildings along Ocean Drive in South Beach at golden hour.

Miami Beach

Getting around Miami Beach: a transportation guide

Miami Beach's geography, a barrier island connected to the mainland by causeways, creates unique transportation dynamics that confuse and frustrate...

7 min read

Art Deco buildings along Ocean Drive in South Beach at golden hour.

Miami Beach

Miami Beach travel hacks from locals

Locals don't talk about these things because they benefit from tourists not knowing them.

9 min read

Bright Miami Beach vacation rental interior with coastal styling.

Miami Beach

Miami Beach weekend itineraries

The most common Miami Beach planning mistake is having no plan at all, arriving, feeling overwhelmed by options, and spending three days wandering Ocean...

6 min read

Worth Avenue in Palm Beach lined with palms and Mediterranean facades.

Palm Beach

Palm Beach neighborhoods compared

Palm Beach County offers travelers a remarkable range of distinctly different vacation experiences within a relatively compact geographic area.

6 min read

Palm Beach vacation rental interior with refined coastal styling.

Palm Beach

Where to eat in Palm Beach: the 2026 dining guide

The Palm Beach dining scene has grown from old-money club rooms into a genuine destination, from Worth Avenue to the bistros of West Palm Beach.

8 min read

Worth Avenue in Palm Beach lined with palms and Mediterranean facades.

Palm Beach

Palm Beach on a budget: the 2026 guide

Palm Beach has a reputation for extraordinary expense, and on the island itself, that reputation is well-earned.

6 min read

Aerial view of the Palm Beach coastline with white sand and Atlantic water.

Palm Beach

The complete Palm Beach beach guide

Palm Beach County's Atlantic coastline stretches over 45 miles from Boca Raton to Juno Beach, one of the finest continuous stretches of barrier island...

6 min read

Palm Beach estate with terrace, pool, and oceanfront access.

Palm Beach

Palm Beach for couples: a romantic guide

Palm Beach has been one of America's most romantic destinations for over a century, and the reasons are still entirely valid.

7 min read

Worth Avenue in Palm Beach lined with palms and Mediterranean facades.

Palm Beach

The Palm Beach events guide (2026)

West Palm Beach and Palm Beach together host one of the most culturally rich event calendars of any area their size in the United States.

6 min read

Aerial view of the Palm Beach coastline with white sand and Atlantic water.

Palm Beach

The Palm Beach family travel guide (2026)

West Palm Beach surprises families who arrive expecting only a refined adult destination.

7 min read

Worth Avenue in Palm Beach lined with palms and Mediterranean facades.

Palm Beach

Palm Beach hidden gems most travelers miss

Most visitors to the Palm Beach area spend their time on three things: the beach, Worth Avenue, and the Flagler Museum. These are all genuinely excellent.

10 min read

Palm Beach estate with terrace, pool, and oceanfront access.

Palm Beach

Palm Beach for large groups: the planning guide

West Palm Beach is a genuinely excellent large group destination, combining the area's unique luxury credentials with a surprisingly accessible range of...

6 min read

Palm Beach estate with terrace, pool, and oceanfront access.

Palm Beach

The Palm Beach luxury travel guide

Palm Beach has been the winter destination of America's wealthiest families for over a century, and the reasons are still entirely valid.

7 min read

Aerial view of the Palm Beach coastline with white sand and Atlantic water.

Palm Beach

Palm Beach pet-friendly travel guide

West Palm Beach is a genuinely welcoming destination for travelers with dogs. The city has dedicated dog parks, outdoor restaurant patios throughout...

6 min read

Aerial view of the Palm Beach coastline with white sand and Atlantic water.

Palm Beach

Palm Beach season by season: a local's guide

West Palm Beach and Palm Beach have one of the most distinctly seasonal travel cultures of any destination in Florida.

7 min read

Worth Avenue in Palm Beach lined with palms and Mediterranean facades.

Palm Beach

The best things to do in Palm Beach (2026 local guide)

West Palm Beach and its legendary neighbor Palm Beach together form one of the most culturally rich, naturally beautiful, and genuinely distinctive...

13 min read

Worth Avenue in Palm Beach lined with palms and Mediterranean facades.

Palm Beach

Getting around Palm Beach: a transportation guide

West Palm Beach's transportation landscape is shaped by one defining geographic feature: the barrier island of Palm Beach, connected to the mainland by...

7 min read

Worth Avenue in Palm Beach lined with palms and Mediterranean facades.

Palm Beach

Palm Beach travel hacks from locals

Palm Beach County locals navigate the area's extraordinary experiences with knowledge that most visitors never acquire.

8 min read

Palm Beach vacation rental interior with refined coastal styling.

Palm Beach

Palm Beach weekend itineraries

The greatest risk of a West Palm Beach trip is under-planning and spending all your time in the same few blocks of Worth Avenue and the hotel pool...

5 min read