There’s nothing quite like the gentle touch of an ocean breeze, the tangy smell of salt in the air, and the warm kiss of sunshine on your face to help you feel well-rested and rejuvenated. And when you get to experience these things with the people you love, that makes it even more special. The Frugal & Thriving team took a quick weekend trip to Ocean City, Maryland for some good fun, great memories, and much-needed relaxation. See the highlights from our seaside getaway below.
Does anyone else feel like the most exciting part of a trip is deciding where to go?! We knew we needed a girls’ getaway, but we wanted to go somewhere close enough to drive and also somewhere we had never been. The fact that it’s summer and our shared love for the beach made Ocean City, Maryland an easy choice for us! We booked our stay at the Hilton Ocean City Oceanfront Suites and started the countdown!!
We arrived at the hotel for our two-night stay on Thursday morning. When we walked into the lobby, the view took our breath away. It was absolutely stunning and we couldn’t believe how close we were to the beach!! When we checked in at the front desk, we got to spin this Whirl of Fun wheel for a little prize…and we won 1000 points towards Hilton Rewards! We grabbed our bags and headed up to our room to unpack and get settled. Stepping into our room was like opening the gates of heaven. This room was unreal! Complete with a sitting area, kitchen, walk-in shower with three (yes, three!!) showerheads, a jacuzzi tub, and two queen beds, plus an amazing view of the ocean, we were tempted to spend the entire trip in our room!
Once we had gotten settled and unpacked, we were ready to grab some lunch. We headed to Liquid Assets, an adorable bistro with the most delicious charcuterie boards and espresso martinis! We snacked on truffle cheese, prosciutto, fruit, and homemade marmalade and sipped on our frothy caffeine-filled cocktails. If this lunch was any indication of how the rest of the trip was going to go, we knew we were in for an awesome time. Once our bellies (and hearts) were full, we traipsed over to the boardwalk for a little afternoon exercise and, of course, shopping. Candy Kitchen and Sunsations were two must-see shops for grabbing souvenirs for the kiddos…we’re always thinking of the family, even when we’re away!
We worked up an appetite from all of our exploring and money-spending, and we decided to check out The Hobbit for dinner. This place did not disappoint!! With unrivaled views of the coast through giant glass windows, this was the perfect place to enjoy a mouthwatering meal and catch a picturesque sunset. We ordered calamari, beef carpaccio, cheddar pierogies, and the stuffed filet. We definitely had the *treat yourself* mentality and it was so worth it…the evening felt like magic. Huge bonus: the service was impeccable – all of the staff was friendly and knowledgeable and really helped make the experience even more enjoyable.
Beach days are the best days!! After a day of traveling and exploring, we woke up on Friday ready for some sun, sand, and surf. We packed our beach bag with all of the essentials (like a cute beach towel and these stylish sunglasses) and scoped out the perfect place to post up for the day. The beach was pristine and the water was so enticing…it was great for dipping our toes in to cool off! This was the epitome of bliss – the sun shining down, listening to families laugh and play, sipping a chilled beverage, and taking in the gorgeous views.
The day flew by and before we knew it, it was time to start thinking about dinner! The hotel’s restaurant, 32 Palm, serves up the highest quality local ingredients and fresh seafood in an inviting, warm atmosphere, and that sounded like exactly what we needed to finish off our Friday. We indulged in the ceviche appetizer and shared the lobster tail with a crab cake for dinner. And of course, you can’t forget about dessert. We ended with the DELICIOUS lava cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream- we would definitely recommend this to pretty much anyone we know. It was the sweetest finishing touch.
32 Palm also serves breakfast, which we enjoyed from the comfort of our balcony!! The açaí bowl, bacon egg and cheese on a bagel, and avocado toast were a great way to start the morning and give us the boost of energy we would need for the day ahead!
We got back to our room after dinner to witness the most mystical scene – this full moon over the ocean! It felt like Ocean City was showing us just how special this place was, and we felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude to be there together, experiencing this moment. This was the second time on a girls’ weekend we encountered a perfectly aligned moment of awe – there’s really nothing quite like that feeling. We woke up on Saturday sad to go but ready to get back to reality. From start to finish, the trip was a resounding success and we left feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and most definitely blessed.
Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoyed our getaway recap…what were your favorite parts? Where are you planning your next getaway and who are you bringing? Let us know! xoxo
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