the essential

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Fall Staycation Guide with Lisa Harris Boyd

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If you live in Birmingham, I’m sure you’ve noticed it. The cool air entering the conversation like a bouquet of long-stemmed flowers on your doorstep. Unexpected and timely. As the daylight hours seem to shrink a few sizes, this weather has me wishing I could spend every second outside. A little extra time to watch the leaves descend to their new homes on the sidewalk, begging to be crunched and photographed. 

This is the season for afternoon wine on a patio with friends while Birmingham lingers in the background. The ideal time for a get-away in my favorite little city.

Whether you’re planning a local honeymoon or a last minute autumnal staycation, our lovely friend and longtime luxury travel expert, Lisa Harris Boyd, is here with her tips for a fool-proof fall escape for two.

Lisa is a Samford grad and has called Vestavia home for 20 years. As a wonderful mother to three teenage daughters and a self proclaimed animal lover, one of her biggest passions is traveling.

““I always have at least one personal trip booked and another that I’m planning so that I have things to look forward to.””
— Lisa Harris Boyd

Growing up, her family valued the ability to travel and encounter fresh experiences. After years of devoted wandering with her parents, it was only right that she continue that tradition with her own family.

““In my travels, I have been to all 50 states and experienced 27 countries so far.””
— Lisa Harris Boyd

Lisa was dedicated to her long career in advertising. After losing her first husband to cancer, she realized we are not promised tomorrow and felt it was only natural to begin a career in something that always gave her life fulfillment; the art of travel. With that sentiment in mind, she started Life Is Short Adventures.

““I wanted to make a career change that would allow me to spend more time with my daughters and would help others spend more time with the people they love.””
— Lisa Harris Boyd

With the weather and atmosphere begging for a local retreat, I asked Lisa to share her expertise with us and plan a couple Birmingham staycations. Enjoy reading her personal recommendations below. 

STAYCATION 1 - DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM

LODGING

Couples looking for a more private escape in the city will love the John Hand Club Hotel. I’ve found that most Birminghamians don’t even know it exists AND it only has six suites—very intimate. Personally, my favorite rooms are the:

The Cobblestone Suite -  This room has a large balcony overlooking the charming Morris Avenue.

The Heaviest Corner Suite - a breathtaking room with captivating downtown views right from your bed.

DINING

If you choose to stay at this hotel, you have access to The Welton, a private bar and restaurant for John Hand Club members, where you can enjoy a deliberately crafted culinary experience without leaving the building.

If you feel like a little stroll with your sweetheart, you are only two short blocks away from Birmingham-beloved restaurants Helen and The Essential. 

ACTIVITIES

If you are staycationing Tuesday through Saturday, Total on 1st offers an 80-minute (yes..we said that right. EIGHTY MINUTE) couple’s massage. This gorgeous luxury spa is across the street from your hotel, steps away from relaxation. 

A romantic morning or sunset walk down Morris Avenue is a fun and easy outing. With brunch options like The Essential, Bar Le Fete, and Trattoria Zaza all in walking distance, you will absolutely never be in short supply of amazing food. 

BUSTLE TIP: It’s also worth mentioning that you are steps away from Bham’s biggest bar scene with some of the city’s elite establishments for phenomenally crafted cocktails and a captivating atmosphere. 

STAYCATION 2 - MOUNTAIN BROOK

LODGING

The Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook provides the best full-service hotel experience in Birmingham and is perfectly located for a honeymoon staycation. 

Their Deluxe King rooms have a soaking tub and all reservations made by Life Is Short Adventures includes complimentary breakfast, a special welcome surprise, VIP status and a complimentary room upgrade, if available.

DINING

My favorite staycation evening at The Grand Bohemian starts off with dinner and margaritas at Sol Y Luna followed by cocktails under the stars at the Grand Bohemian rooftop bar.

BUSTLE TIP: If you are a big fan of morning coffee and sweets, we highly recommend taking a stroll through Mountain Brook Village and trying Santos for coffee and crepes. For a wonderful lunch, we highly recommend Olexa’s and stopping by Daughters Baking for cake cups on your way back to the hotel.

ACTIVITIES

The hotel provides a plethora of onsite activities including: 

  • An outdoor pool

  • Rooftop Bar

  • Onsite Art Gallery

  • Onsite Spa offering couples massages

  • Cooking Classes

  • Wine Blending Classes

Couples who love the natural beauty of being outdoors will appreciate being across the street from Birmingham Botanical Gardens and having a variety of walkable shops, bars and restaurants in Mountain Brook Village.

If you would like to talk to Lisa about your next trip, you can contact her here or visit her website.

““To me, all trips are special, but honeymoons are the first time that the newlywed couple can travel together which provides them with a chance to relax and connect after an oftentimes stressful period of wedding planning. I love making honeymoons stress-free and as easy as possible whether couples want to relax or have a great adventure together.””
— Lisa Harris Boyd

We hope you spend this season planning your very own staycation with your sweetheart.

Bustle Team

Bustle started 8 years ago this August, and since then we have grown and changed a great deal. As we’ve added to our numbers, we knew we had to introduce our Shop and Media team to you. The Bustle Team is the heart of our business, and we are so excited for you to meet everyone!

Meredith Carter - I’m the creator and owner of Bustle. Friends often ask how Bustle was started and it really is sort of funny - I was at a Birthday dinner when a friend and I started talking about what I wanted to do with my career. She threw out the idea of opening a bridal shop, which had never even crossed my mind. Her comment spiked my curiosity so I did a little digging. At the time, Tiny Weddings Bham had a space in Bluff Park that they allowed me to share with them. It was really only a matter of weeks from that birthday dinner that we opened Bustle’s doors to sell “pre-loved wedding gowns” or, dresses that had been altered and cleaned. We transitioned a few years ago to exclusively selling new or sample wedding gowns off-the-rack. This is the perfect fit for Bustle because it allows us to sell gorgeous, designer gowns at a fraction of the cost. When I’m not at Bustle, you’ll probably find me at my brother’s house watching Tiny Kitchen with their 3 year old!

Cherry DeRosa — I’ve worked at Bustle as a bridal consultant for an amazing 8 years! Meredith (my daughter) had a vision for a bridal shop, and she opened Bustle within 4 months. I joined her and I’ve had such fun meeting sweet brides over the years. When I’m not working at Bustle I’m spending time with my grand babies — that’s the best! I also enjoy sitting at an outdoor restaurant sipping a cappuccino, or having dinner with my husband or shopping at At Home in Homewood.

Jessica Hammock — I’ve worked as a bridal consultant at Bustle for the past 6 years. I started working at Bustle after I purchased my wedding gown from Bustle and instantly loved Meredith and the shop! When I’m not working I’m spending time with my husband Jamey and our two sons, Levi (3) and Oliver (almost 1). I love sweets — two of my favorite places to visit are Hero Donuts and Big Spoon Creamery.

McKinley Landen— I’ve been a bridal consultant at Bustle for 2 years and I love helping brides find their perfect dress! I came to Bustle to shop for my own wedding dress and I enjoyed the experience so much. I am a full-time therapist, so I wanted something light and fun to do on the side. I have loved being able to serve brides. When I’m not working I love spending time with my husband and our two pups. We love going to Local No. 39 in Homewood — they have the best sweet tea chicken sandwiches and a fun environment!

Julianne Dean - I just started as a bridal consultant at Bustle and I’ve had so much fun helping brides find their dream wedding gowns so far! I own a balloon styling company called For Love and Loons so when I’m not at Bustle I am usually decorating different events. I also love going shopping and getting brunch with the girls. My favorite local Birmingham restaurant is VINO for amazing food, wine and art.

Lily Willis — I am new to the Bustle team and just started as a bridal consultant. I followed Bustle on Instagram and wanted to be a part of this sweet environment, especially because I had shopped here before and knew how special it was. When I’m not working at Bustle I’m most likely studying. I’m a full-time student and currently completing my Dietetic Internship and Masters of Science at Samford (I graduate in December), and then I hope to work in clinical nutrition. In my free time, ideally I would be outside by the pool or eating at my favorite restaurant, The Essential.

Laine White — I’m the Media Director for Bustle, so I get to curate our social media feed, plan photoshoots and giveaways and collaborate with my friend Claire. I am most often with my little girl, Rowan who was born in January of this year. She is quite the adventure and my husband, Tucker, and I have enjoyed every moment of parenting her so far. I also work as a manager at Breakout Birmingham and for the Breakout Games marketing team. When I’m not working you might find me at my favorite bagel shop, Homewood Bagel Company, or at Seeds Coffee.

Claire Jackson — I’m the blog manager and marketing assistant at Bustle, so I get to do fun photo shoots, write blogs, and collaborate with Laine on ideas for social media. I got my wedding dress at Bustle, and I just loved the people and the atmosphere here. I’m so glad I’ve been able to work here 3.5 years so far! I’ve also started doing real-estate photography which I really enjoy. I spend much of my time hanging with my one year old daughter, Eleanor and my husband Daniel, and we have a little boy on the way! You might also find strolling around a garden or plant shopping (my favorite is Shoppe in downtown Bham) or having coffee and pastries outside at Continental Bakery.