Yes, I am back with another travel post. One thing I have learned from the past 18 months is that life is to be LIVED. I used to get so caught up in not being able to travel to many of the international destinations on my wish list. With the pandemic and all the rules and regulations to enter certain countries, I looked at my domestic travel wish list. Believe it or not, America has many cities that I would love to explore. Sometimes we need to look right in our backyard to appreciate how blessed we are.
Today, I am taking you to Ocean City, Maryland. We have been there twice this year, and the kids absolutely love it. The drive is about 4-5 hours depending on traffic from Pennsylvania. The first time was for Mother’s Day back in May. I went with my mom, sister, and our kids. We stayed at the Aloft Hotel, which is so beautiful and modern. The only downside to me, it is animal friendly. So, people had their dogs in the pool and all….I CAN NOT. Back in May, the weather was not as hot as we had hoped. We did no beach time, but Aloft had an indoor and outdoor pool. The boys, of course, lived in the indoor pool that weekend.
I am not a person who doesn’t care about the hotel. I need a vibe, ambiance, cleanliness, and amenities. We have come too far to stay anywhere that doesn’t scream chic. Given that we didn’t have to pay for airfare, a little coin can be spent on the lodging. Aloft is very nice, the bar in the lobby is so chic, they even have a game room area in the lobby as well with a pool table, an oversized chessboard, and an oversized Cconnect 4. Got these kids off the devices for a bit!
Aloft is not located on the boardwalk strip for many of the attractions there, so you will need to drive to the pier or take an UBER. The Jolly Roger Amusement Park is something we visited both times we were in Ocean City. Think Coney Island, Brooklyn but with better seafood and cleaner. The possibilities of food and treats are endless.
Our most recent trip to OCMD was on Labor Day weekend for Joshua’s 10th Birthday. In lieu of a huge party, this is what he asked for. He loves seafood and hotel life, wonder where he gets that from? My husband was able to join us this time, to really have one last hurrah as a family before the school year takes over. This time we stayed directly on the boardwalk, steps from the beach at The Courtyard Marriott. Now the prices were inflated because it was a holiday weekend, but I knew we needed to be closer to everything. The only downside to this one, the pool was not as big as the one at Aloft. Either way, we had a great weekend!
This trip saved me money in the clothing department as well. All of us wore things that we didn’t get to wear on our Puerto Rico trip (overpacking at its finest) or things I’ve bought and been saving. So, when it was time to pack it was super easy and light. This is one trip I did not overpack for and I was proud of myself! I am manifesting a beach house for a week or two on Martha’s Vineyard next summer, it’s another beach town that is on my list. Have you taken any road trips this year? Plans on taking one soon? Would love to hear all about the plans and how you are making the best of this pandemic travel! I have another domestic trip planned for October, my birthday month, so stay tuned for that post! Thanks so much for reading, stay safe and chic!
