Due South: Winter Fests With Quirky Vibes

Plus: Stunning views of a snowy Southern swamp

Snow-covered cypresses in South Carolina’s Biedler Forest.

Each year, some ten thousand people visit South Carolina’s Biedler Forest, one of only four old-growth swamps in the South. Hardly anyone, however, gets to see the preserve like photographer Mac Stone did this week. Stone, who holds a special permit as part of a long-term project documenting Southern swamps, set up camp among the cypress trees just before the snowstorm hit, and emerged with stunning photos of the swamp as a winter wonderland.

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Miami, Florida. Miami in winter, when the air is cooler and the rain sparse, is a dream. It’s a great time to explore the city’s ever-evolving hotel and restaurant scene and, of course, hit the beach.

Superb stays: I usually stay with my parents when I’m in town, but the retro Vagabond Hotel in the MiMo District has been top of mind thanks to its new restaurant, Ensenada, a Brooklyn transplant known for Mexican seafood dishes and mezcal cocktails. For full-on luxury, there’s the Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club in Surfside. I’ve spent countless afternoons with a glass of champagne in hand at the gorgeous bar here, but next on my list is a visit to Inoshin, another NYC transplant that’s brought an omakase experience to this iconic property.
Restaurants worth the reservation: Sunny’s in Little River is the steakhouse everyone’s talking about, and after one visit, I get it. The fino martini service is a steal at $18 per person, and there are more sauces (Périgourdine, salsa verde, Béarnaise, potato butter, pineapple hot sauce, bone marrow vinaigrette, etc.) than steaks to choose from. In Little Havana, I tried the fantastic eight-course tasting menu at Palma. I can’t stop thinking about the sweet plantain brioche with coconut caramel butter. South Miami is also winning with Recoveco, an intimate, refined small-plates spot. Right across the way from Recoveco, I grabbed drinks and bites with a friend at Fox’s Lounge. The throwback bar (open since 1946 but recently revamped) is ideal for a low-key catchup with a side of mozzarella sticks.
Fun in the sun: No trip to Miami is complete without spending a day in Key Biscayne, and the perfect itinerary on the island begins with grabbing pastries at Flour & Weirdoughs and ends with a sunset cocktail overlooking the water at Gramps Getaway. Despite a jellyfish warning at Crandon Park, I couldn’t resist swimming with my nephew; I also read my book and napped on the sand while my family climbed the Cape Florida Lighthouse. Then we stopped for lunch nearby at Boater’s Grill, where a whole fried fish is the specialty, before setting up a tripod by the water for a family photo.