You know when you first move somewhere and think of all the cool stuff you’re going to do, and then life happens and you end up getting comfortable? Well, we moved to Maryland in 2017 and only JUST made it to Assateague. This was a completely spontaneous trip, and it turned out to be the best time. Sometimes, those unplanned trips turn out to be the best. We did a whole tour of Ireland last summer, and the itinerary had us constantly on the move. By the end, we were all exhausted (totally worth it, though). While this trip wasn’t even close to the magnitude of that one, it was still awesome! Here’s what happened…

We originally had plans to go camping at Rocky Gap State Park, but the temperatures were SO low. As much as I don’t want to sound like a pansy, I just had zero desire to be THAT cold. We rescheduled the camping trip for later and booked a room at Aloft in Ocean City. Our room was bayside, and we were lucky to arrive just in time for sunset pictures, a view that’s truly a chef’s kiss!

Aside from the views, the hotel had a happy hour when we arrived. We, of course, picked a Maryland beach classic: the Crush! The boys made themselves comfortable in the lounge, which had access to a pool table, Xbox, and a giant connect four.

After grabbing some dinner next door at 45th Street Tap House ( delicious btw) we headed back to the hotel for a swim. They have an indoor and outdoor pool, which will be so much fun in the summer. The boys were worn out and ready for bed after that!

My favorite part about the morning is the sunrise. I’ve never been more of a morning person than now. I really enjoy getting up before the rest of my family to enjoy coffee in peace. I walked Sloane (the dog) across the street and made it to the Ocean at exactly 6:40am, just when the sun was set to rise at 6:41am!

Naturally, the rest of the family was jealous that I got to see the sunrise, so we headed back over while it was still coming up. The boys truly can’t help themselves when it comes to the water, they definitely went in… just up to their legs. Lucky for me, I’m an experienced mom, and I had extra shoes in the car. We combed the beach for seashells and horseshoe crabs, had some breakfast, packed up our things and headed down the road to Assateague.

The huge benefit of visiting in February is no crowds! We entered the park using Charles’s National Park Pass that he got in school. If you have a fourth grader, you can get yours for free here. I was under the impression that we might not see anything because it was cold out, but lo and behold, right at the entrance, Mr. Horsey was waiting.

We had a great time wandering the roads, paths, and beaches with ease. We saw many packs of horses, tons of birds, and, of course, more horseshoe crabs. We certainly couldn’t have ended the tour without getting our feet soaked again, now could we!? This trip, which came out of nowhere, was exactly what we needed, a chance to get away yet stay close to home. We did it all for under $100! We used Bonvoy points to pay for the hotel, packed tons of fruits and veggies, along with other things like sausage, cheese & crackers, and yogurt. Where did we spend our money? The one dinner out, happy hour drinks, a cheap hotel breakfast, and Subway on the way home. It doesn’t have to be fancy, folks!

If you’re ever wanting to beat the winter blues, Assateague awaits! Though the outdoors isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so I get it. Maybe just a chill night in the Aloft hotel is what you need. By far, the most family-friendly hotel we’ve ever stayed in. Also, it’s pet-friendly with NO PET FEE!!

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