C'est le Brie

Review of the Little Havana Food and Walking Tour in Miami with Viator | Things to do in Miami, Florida

Published on March 31, 2026March 22, 2026 by C'est le BrieLeave a comment

I’m not sure why it took me so long to make it to Miami. It’s been on my bucket list for YEARS but I was always a little intimidated by it. I knew I’d love the bright colors and beautiful Art Deco architecture, but I wasn’t sure if I’d be overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of the city. Each year for my birthday in February, my husband and I take a trip to the South for some warm weather and sunshine. We’ve made our way through all of the East Coast cities, from Wilmington, NC to Charleston, SC to Savannah, GA and finally St. Augustine, FL. Miami was really the last big one we hadn’t made it to yet so this was the year!

Whenever I’m traveling to bigger cities, I love to take a food tour. We took one in Porto, Portugal (you can read more about it here!), as well as a super fun Port wine and vineyard tour in the Douro Valley in Portugal too. You can read more about it on our blog here! We’re hoping to visit New Orleans later this year and I definitely want to take one there! When I saw that there was a Little Havana Food and Walking Tour in Miami, I signed up as soon as I could! I’ve heard so much about Little Havana and it was honestly one of the highlights of our trip. It’s such an interesting and historical part of the city and it truly feels like you’re stepping back in time. There’s even a park called Domino Park where older men play dominos! Every restaurant and bar has an incredible history behind it and you can even see people rolling cigars in the cigar shops. One of the most interesting parts of visiting Miami was that it didn’t feel like I was in the United States at all. It was such a beautiful and unique blend of cultures. There were so many different languages being spoken as we wandered the streets and we encountered people from all over the world. There were so many delicious restaurants with sidewalk patios and people sipping wine at all times of the day. It was so refreshing because it was like visiting Europe only I didn’t have to leave the country!

I’ve been on a few food tours and I can definitely say this one included the most food and drinks so far. We were stuffed by the end of it! Our tour guide was Helena and she knew everything about the area and the history behind Little Havana and how the area began. She was super sweet and happy to answer any questions we had. She made everyone laugh the whole time but was also very in tune with how serious the impact of the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Revolution were on the area and the locals.

The group met outside of the Tower Theatre which was right in the center of the action of Little Havana. Our tour started at 5 pm so we got to watch the area’s nightlife slowly start to come to life. Helena gave us a little bit of history about the Tower Theatre and then we headed across the street to our first stop, El Cristo Restaurant. We got to try some (super strong) Cuban coffee, which definitely kept us going the rest of the evening! And then we were each given a rather large empanada that was incredibly delicious while Helena told us a bit about Cuban coffee and the staples of Cuban cuisine.

We then made a stop at Clandestino’s Cigars where we go to see a woman rolling cigars while Helena walked us through the process. It was amazing how many generations back the woman’s family history went with cigar rolling. She definitely knew what she was doing and it was a surprisingly interesting activity to watch! We were given a few minutes to shop and of course, I picked up a cigar to bring home for my dad. 🙂

Our next stop was CubaTa Tapas Y Vinos for a Mojito and a traditional Cubano sandwich! I was looking forward to this the most because I love Mojito’s and it definitely quenched my thirst after a long day in the hot Miami sunshine. My only qualm is that I wish I could have had another! The Cubano sandwich was the best one we had the whole time we were in Miami too. It was so delicious and the bread was amazing. On our way out, we passed by the Ball & Chain, an incredibly famous rum bar that often has live Cuban music. It’s has an insane history with musicians like Billie Holiday and Chet Baker playing there, not to mention that it has quite a shady history with mobs and illegal gambling. Chris and I actually popped in there after the food tour for a rum flight and enjoyed some amazing local music and culture. Make sure to stop in here for a drink after the tour! It’s a such a fun place.

Helena led us by Domino Park before grabbing a super tasty guava pastry at Party Cake Bakery. It was the perfect sweet treat after the Mojito. On our way to our last food spot, we stopped by the Bay of Pigs monument and Helena told us some interesting facts about the invasion and how it affected the community and the culture of Little Havana today.

We ended the night with some of the most delicious ice cream I’ve ever had at Azucar Ice Cream Company. We got to try the Abuela Maria flavor and I highly recommend trying this flavor if you ever go to Azucar! It has a vanilla ice cream base with guava chunks and marmalade, cream cheese, and Maria cookies. I love an ice cream with crunchy cookies and it was just “simply divine” as my grandmother loves to say!

The tour ended here but as I mentioned, we weren’t ready to go back to our hotel in South Beach quite yet, so we ended the night at Ball & Chain for a rum flight. The rum flight included a LOT of rum so we only got one and split it. It was the perfect way to finish celebrating our visit to Little Havana.

If you are in Miami, you just have to take this tour. If you’re interested in booking the same tour that we did, you can find it on Viator here! We learned so much and it was the one thing from our trip that we can’t stop telling everyone about. Little Havana is such a unique area and I truly don’t think there’s anywhere else like it in the United States. It’s incredibly special and I hope it always stays that way. We had the best time in Miami and I’ll be writing a post about our Gator Tour and Airboat Ride in the Everglades soon too so make sure to check back! You can book that tour on Viator too. You can find out more about it here!

If you’re looking for affordable hotel recommendations, we stayed at the Kasa La Flora in Miami Beach. We had a lovely, super clean, large room and we were in a great area with easy access to the beach (only 1 block!) and close to tons of amazing restaurants. We walked pretty much everywhere the whole trip. I also considered staying in the Barcelona Studios Guesthouse because they apparently have a bunch of cats that roam the cute courtyard! I’ll definitely be staying there next time! We did have to take an Uber to the Little Havana tour though because it is downtown. Just something to keep in mind! 🙂

Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy travels!

❤ Myles Katherine

Review: GetYourGuide’s Rome: Colosseum Underground and Arena Tour

Published on March 24, 2026March 19, 2026 by C'est le BrieLeave a comment

We knew we had to see the iconic Colosseum during our first time in Rome, and I am so happy we booked GetYourGuide’s Rome: Colosseum Underground and Arena Tour! We were able to “skip-the-line” and walk right in with our tour group without worrying about fighting the crowds or wondering where to go.

What really sold me about this tour is that we were able to explore the underground section, which is often has restricted entry. This aspect made the tour stand out to me since we got to weave through the basement of the Colosseum and see where animals were housed and other parts of the mechanical systems of the venue.

Rome was the last stop on our honeymoon, and I couldn’t wait for this tour. We stayed at the luxurious St. Regis Rome, which we found to be centrally located and easy to explore around the city (see my full hotel review here!).

The morning of the tour, we walked over to our pre-arranged meeting spot and found our guide easily. We followed him to the Colosseum as he told us the history and stories of gladiators and the many different phases of the Colosseum throughout history. Because we went to the underground section, it felt like we had VIP access, and it was a nice break from the more crowded areas of the Colosseum.

We had plenty of time to take photos and explore the upper parts of the Colosseum as well. Seeing the Colosseum up close is an absolute must for any visit to Rome.

After we finished exploring the Colosseum, we walked with our group through the Roman Forum, and our guide told us more stories and insight into how it would have looked thousands of years ago. He narrated well, creating great visualizations for us and the beautiful ruins to life. Again, we had great opportunities for photos, and the views were stunning.

As a bit of a history buff, I loved the tour and exploring the Roman Forum. I also found that the tour wasn’t too long or drawn out either. It was the perfect amount of time for storytelling and solo exploration. After the tour was over, we had continued access through the Roman Forum and could leisurely stroll throughout for the rest of the afternoon.

Overall, the tour was easy-going, concise, and informative. I would definitely recommend the Colosseum and Underground Arena Tour to anyone looking for a more structured visit to the Colosseum and Roman Forum, and to learn lots of facts and stories!

❤ Natalie Anne

10 Free or Affordable Activities in Richmond, Va | A Visitor’s Guide to RVA

Published on March 17, 2026March 20, 2026 by C'est le Brie3 Comments

I’ve been living in Richmond, Virginia since 2019, which means I lived here during the “COVID times”. Obviously, this means I found every single free and affordable thing to do in this town when we were bored out of our minds. It’s safe to say that at this point I know this town backwards and forwards. Richmond is a surprisingly quiet city for how many people live here. It’s typically easy to find parking and doesn’t have a lot of traffic. There are a lot of different pockets in the city that are really different from each other; from the Fan to Church Hill to Scott’s Addition. Each area offers something completely unique and there is more to do here than meets the eye. I’m here to share all of my secrets and hopefully help make your visit to Richmond as fun as it can possibly be! So here are 10 Free or Affordable Activities in Richmond, Va!

1. Visit the VMFA

The VMFA, or Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, is a staple in Richmond. Not only is the main part of the museum entirely free, but the grounds are absolutely gorgeous and it’s the perfect place for a picnic. Somehow, visiting the VMFA never gets old. The restaurant there is delicious too! I always tell my husband that I feel like I’m in Paris when we sit at the tables outside of museum, sipping our coffee. The main exhibition does charge a fee, but unless it’s something you’re desperate to see, the main part of the museum has plenty for you to see. The gift shop is a great place to shop for friends and family too! Whenever I have visitors in town, the VMFA is typically always on the list. It’s especially perfect for rainy or hot days!

2. Take a Stroll through Maymont Park

Maymont Park is easily the most gorgeous park in the city. They often have events in the park too, including concerts, so I recommend checking the schedule to see if there is something fun going on there! The park is free to visit, and even has a zoo! There is a japanese garden, italian garden, and stunning flowers and trees throughout. It’s quite a large park so you could easily spend the entire day here. I’ve photographed countless weddings here and it never ceases to amaze me. It’s also a lovely place to have a picnic!

3. Explore Church Hill

If you’re visiting Richmond, you absolutely have to wander around Church Hill. It’s an incredibly historic area with beautiful homes and a gorgeous view of the city, especially from Libby Hill Park. I highly recommend grabbing a coffee and pastry from Subrosa (the absolute best in the city) and walking to Libby Hill Park. My husband and I do this often and it’s always such a lovely experience. Church Hill has a ton of amazing restaurants too, from Grisette to Alewife to sandwiches at Union Market, cocktails at the Emerald Lounge, and ice cream at Spotty Dog. It’s especially fun to visit during Halloween and Christmas because the decorations are epic. If you’re really into Halloween, you have to do the Halloween Lights Tour!

4. Hike the James River North Bank Trail and Buttermilk Loop Trail

First of all, I recommend downloading the All Trails app so that you can see all of the hiking trails in Richmond, but I especially recommend the James River North Bank Trail and/or the Buttermilk Loop Trail. If you combine the two, it’s a full loop around the River Bank area and you’ll see some gorgeous views. The Floodwall Trail is close by too if you want even more views! The All Trails app also helps so you don’t get lost. If you do the full trail, it’s about 6.1 miles. Obviously, you don’t have to do the full trail, and if you want a much shorter trail, I recommend the Pump House Park trail or Dogwood Dell trail.

5. Take a Ghost Tour

While the ghost tours aren’t free, they are super affordable and really offer you a taste of the history of the city. It’s a great activity for families and often puts you in a great area for grabbing dinner or drinks. I actually have a full review on my blog and YouTube video of the spooky Shockoe Bottom Ghost Tour, but I also highly recommend the Scott’s Addition Drink Richmond Walking Tour through Scott’s Addition. Scott’s Addition is known for their amazing, countless breweries and it’s just a fun, interesting area overall. The Hollywood Cemetery Tour is also fun and takes you through the gorgeous and historic Hollywood Cemetery. Personally, I love visiting cemeteries when visiting a new city because they are incredibly historic and often stunning. Plus, Richmond is an old city and is known for it’s spooky vibes!

6. Take a stroll in Carytown

If you’ve visited Richmond before, you’ve likely been to Carytown. It’s the main shopping area in the city and is filled with cute local shops and delicious restaurants. It’s also just a fun area to walk around because you’ll get to know the characters of Richmond and the vibe of the locals. A few of my favorite restaurants are Can Can Brasserie (French) , Lolita’s (Mexican), Sen Organic (Vietnamese), Mom’s Siam (Thai), Tulsi (Indian), and the Jasper (amazing cocktails). There are so many more I could list, but you really can’t go wrong! You could easily spend a day in this area. We also love Reveler, a unique sort of “oddities” bar and venue that has great jazz. You’ve never been to a place like this, I promise. It’s strange, fun, and has great cocktails and food. You can also check out the Byrd Theatre, a historic movie theatre (with affordable movie tickets) that plays the best movies in town and typically opens with an organist playing the “Mighty Wurlitzer”. Oh! And if you’re looking for coffee and pastries, Sugar & Twine is definitely one of our favorite cafes in the city! Carytown has festivals throughout the year as well, like the Watermelon Festival, so maybe you’ll be lucky enough to be visiting during one of those!

7. Bike the Capital Trail or Richmond Riverfront Phase Trail

Again, the All Trails app is definitely helpful in following the trail paths, but these are both beautiful bike trails. The Capital Trail is actually a 51.7 mile trail that runs through Richmond and can take you all the way to Williamsburg! Of course, you can bike for however long you want, but I highly recommend biking along the area near Rockett’s Landing and grabbing a happy hour drink at the Boathouse or Island Shrimp Co. to experience the gorgeous views of the James River.

8. Take a tour of the Poe Museum

The Poe Museum is a super affordable attraction, and such a unique place. It’s one of my favorite places in the city to bring visitors because it’s so quirky and strange. I’ve still never been to a museum quite like this one. I’ve photographed a handful of weddings here too because of it’s unique courtyard and black cats that stroll the grounds. If you like Edgar Allen Poe, you HAVE to visit. The tickets are only $12, which is a steal if you ask me. The gift shop is cute too! Plus, it gives you a great idea of the strange creative side of Richmond. Kids would love this museum too!

9. Visit Joseph Bryan Park or Forest Hill Park on a Farmer’s Market Day

If you’re visiting over a weekend, you have to go to either the RVA Big Market at Joseph Bryan Park on Saturdays from 8am-12pm or the South of the James Market in Forest Hill Park on Sundays from 10am-1pm. They are both lovely parks to stroll with gorgeous trails, especially during the spring and fall. It’s the perfect place to bring a pet too! The markets are filled with tons of amazing local vendors and you can definitely find some affordable food and gifts to take home with you after your visit.

10. Take a day trip out of Town

If you’ve already exhausted this list, I recommend taking a day trip to Ashland, Virginia Beach, Yorktown, Charlottesville or historic Colonial Williamsburg. These are all lovely cities and offer their own unique vibes. Ashland is fairly small but has some great local restaurants and a cute downtown area. If you’re looking for a place with more hustle and bustle, Charlottesville is known for it’s incredible wineries, restaurants, and walking trails. Virginia Beach, Cape Charles and Yorktown are great if you’re looking for a beach day, and Colonial Williamsburg is a WHOLE experience. Make sure to visit Jamestown and wander the area near William & Mary University. There’s really so much to do around here. There are also tons of wineries, cideries, breweries and parks surrounding Richmond, typically within a 20-45 minutes drive if you don’t want to drive quite as far.

A few bonus ideas that aren’t free, but are great ways to spend your time – Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Science Museum of Virginia (perfect for kids of all ages), Agecroft Hall & Gardens, or events at the Altria Theatre, Allianz Amphitheatre, The Broadberry, the National, or catch a movie at the historic and beautiful Byrd Theatre (one of my favorite things to do in this city)!

I hope this list helps keep you busy while you’re in Richmond! Writing this post has made me realize I need to make a restaurant guide because there are so many great places to eat here. I’ll get to work on that. 🙂

Make sure to find us on Instagram or Facebook, and you can also see some of our travels on my YouTube channel, Cameras & Cats. I’m actually a full-time photographer so I love blending photography, travel, and blogging. You can find my photography blog here! My sister and I run this blog, C’est Le Brie, together and we love sharing our travel tips and tricks with all of you. Thank you so much for reading!

❤ Myles Katherine

(This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links.)

Hotel Review: St. Regis Rome, Italy | Romantic and Upscale Honeymoon Marriott Hotel

Published on March 10, 2026March 8, 2026 by C'est le Brie3 Comments

After having the most incredible four nights on the Amalfi Coast at the Hotel Marincanto in Positano (see our review here!), my husband and I finished off our honeymoon at the St. Regis Rome. I had accrued tons of Marriott points through my work travel and saved them all to splurge on our honeymoon. I had Ambassador status for the year, and we were treated like royalty during our stay.

With my points, we were upgraded to a beautiful Corner King Suite, and my gosh, it was elegant. The decor at the St. Regis Rome is subtle, but luxurious, and the room was so comfortable and lush. If we didn’t have a jam-packed itinerary, I would have liked to just stay at the hotel for a full day and soak it all in!

The St. Regis Rome is located right near the Roma Termini train station and is in a nice part of the city. It isn’t too far from many main tourist attractions, but it also seemed like a quieter area of the city, which we enjoyed. It’s a less than 20-minute walk to the Trevi Fountain and less than 30-minute walk to the Colosseum from the hotel. The walks to these destinations are also filled with beautiful streets and sites to see along the way!

To enjoy our time getting to know the city, we booked a few excursions around Rome through GetYourGuide, including a tour of Vatican City, including St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel, and a Colosseum and Roman Forum tour – Rome: Colosseum Underground and Arena Tour! I will eventually post reviews of these awesome excursions, but we loved them both since we got a chance to explore on our own, but also learn about Rome’s history.

Before each day exploring, we had breakfast included at the hotel, which featured a beautiful spread of European pastries and upscale continental breakfast food. The service and concierge were so generous and had free champagne and dessert waiting for us in our room, along with rose petals, since they knew it was our honeymoon. Those touches really make a difference and made us feel so special!

See below for my TikTok featuring our full room tour!

@natalie.anne__
The second honeymoon suite we stayed in following our wedding in Italy. I cannot rexommend the St Regis in Rome enough! We had the Corner King Executive Suite 🤩 #travel #honeymoon #wedding #destinationwedding #italy #rome #stregis #honeymoonsuite #newlyweds #italianwedding
♬ Sure Thing (sped up) – Miguel

I would love to stay here again the next time I’m in Rome and recommend it to any travelers looking for luxury in Rome! If you’d like to book a room at the St. Regis, make sure to use our link here! It helps us out if you use our recommended links and we truly appreciate it! Let me know what your favorite hotels in Rome are, and if you have stayed at the St. Regis Rome!

❤ Natalie Anne

(This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links.)

Easy Comfort Pasta: Spaghetti with Garlic and Prosciutto Breadcrumbs

Published on March 3, 2026February 26, 2026 by C'est le BrieLeave a comment

I didn’t have any plans to make this, but I was at a loss for what to make one night last week. I took a look through my pantry and fridge and saw that I had some leftover beef prosciutto and mozzarella cheese, and the meal just came together. A few simple pantry ingredients that really jazzed up the typical jarred spaghetti night.

Ingredients:

16 oz dry spaghetti pasta
24 oz jar of your favorite marinara sauce (Rao’s is my favorite)
4-6 oz beef or pork prosciutto (I used the Trader Joe’s beef proscuitto)
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
6 oz mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese + extra for adding at the end
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
2-4 cloves of garlic
1 tbsp fresh parsley
1 tsp aglio olio seasoning from Trader Joe’s or Italian seasoning blend you prefer
1 diced yellow onion
salt & pepper
optional for added spice – Calabrian Chili Paste / red pepper flakes

Directions:

Lay prosciutto spaced out on an oven tray and bake for 8-10 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. When taking the sheet out of the oven, leave the prosciutto on the tray to crisp up until cool. Keep the oven on 425 degrees.
Once cool, add prosciutto to a food processor along with the bread crumbs, one tbsp butter, one tbsp olive oil, 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese, 1 tbsp parsley, 1/2 tsp garlic salt, aglio olio seasoning, and salt/pepper. Blend 10-15 seconds until just blended.
Cook pasta according to instructions, likely boil in a large pot of salted water on the stove for 9-11 minutes.
Place a large oven-safe cast-iron pan over medium heat on the stove. Drizzle with olive oil, add diced onion, and sauté for 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and either red pepper flakes or a tablespoon of Calabrian chili paste for added spice.
Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, then add the marinara sauce. Turn the heat down and let the sauce simmer on low until the pasta is done cooking.
Once done cooking, drain the pasta and add it to the cast-iron pan with your sauce and stir.
Add breadcrumbs and mozzarella cheese evenly on top and bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
Be careful from removing from the oven. I love these handle protectors that I slip on after I take my cast-iron pan out of the oven!
Sprinkle with extra parmesan cheese and enjoy!

If you make it, I would love to know what you think and if you made any tweaks or adjustments!

❤ Natalie Anne

(This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links.)