Around (Another Town): Ocean City & Berlin, MD

The hubs and I have been super busy lately. It's only so long you can work long hours before it really starts to catch up with you. So I decided to plan a small getaway for the family to celebrate Father's Day and take a break. 

We headed to Maryland's eastern shore to spend some time at the beach. We got to see the beautiful wild beach ponies at ASSATEAGUE ISLAND, and took a fun CRUISE in Ocean City that let us further explore the area's rich wildlife. You can see all types of animals from spider crabs to bald eagles in their natural habitat.

 This was Baby Z's first time at the beach. She did not like the sand, but did enjoy gazing out at the water.

We stayed at the quaint and historic ATLANTIC HOTEL in Berlin, MD. If you are a lover of Victorian decor, then this place is definitely for you. The accommodations were pretty nice and reasonably priced. The hotel is situated on the town's main street which is filled with antique shops, bakeries, restaurants, and other mom and pop shops.

While visiting Ocean City, we happened upon a lovely little waterfront restaurant called SHARK ON THE HARBOR. The restaurant's chef Travis takes food very seriously, and it shows in the creativity of his dishes. Most of the food is sourced locally by the farmers and fishermen in the area, and as a result the menu is fresh and changes daily.

We enjoyed the food so much we visited multiple times while on our trip! A few items of note were the house salad (made with a delicious one-of-a-kind dressing), Santa Fe steak wrap, cod sandwich, lobster mashed potatoes, and the house bread (man this bread was sooo good).  As an added bonus they have several vegan options, and offer a daily lunch special that is a steal of a           deal!

While vacationing we also visited RACKLIFFE HOUSE, a restored coastal plantation near Assateague Park. The house has a guided tour and exhibit that describes what life was like at the home during the 18th century. The exhibit also sheds light one some of the history of the ASSATEAGUE INDIANS, the tribe indigenous to the area.

I hope this mini travel guide helps those of you considering visiting the area. Planning can be such a burden sometimes, so I thought I'd share a few resources.

"As you grow older, you learn a few things. One of them is to actually take the time you've allotted for vacation." ~John Battelle

Around (Another) Town: Assateague Island, MD

Over the weekend  the hubs and I had the pleasure of visiting ASSATEAGUE ISLAND. The island is home to Maryland's only oceanfront STATE PARK, and is about a 3 hour drive from both Baltimore and DC. One of the main attractions is of course the beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean.  Few things beat listening to the sound of the ocean and feeling the sand between your toes. It makes an incredible backdrop for reading a good book, taking a nap, or fitting in a little yoga.

In addition, to a phenomenal beach they also have wild horses, that you can find trotting along the shore and other park grounds. It's quite the sight to see.

The location makes for both a nice romantic getaway as well as a family friendly excursion. For an entrance fee of $4 per Maryland resident and $6 per non-resident (active military get in FREE) it won't break the bank either. I feel super fortunate to have discovered it, and can't wait to go back soon!

"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order." ~John Burroughs