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Under The Boardwalk…

I had THE best weekend. (Okay, forget all the implications the title implies. Perhaps there is a better song for the title of this post.)

A month or so ago, I received an invite to the Delaware Beach Blogging event being organized by my longtime blogging buddy, Mel of Mel’s Box of Chocolates and Delaware Beach Families.

I desperately wanted to go, but our weekends are really booked up this spring, and my husband is working on home improvement projects, and baseball season is starting up, so when I broached the topic ever so delicately, I wasn’t met with much encouragement.

I told Mel that I couldn’t make it, and that was that. Or so I thought.

Fast forward to last week, and I get an email from my good friend Sarah, begging me to go to the beach retreat. Evidently there had been some cancellations, including her roommate and riding buddy, and she was making one last ditch effort to twist my {husband’s} arm.

I had just looked at the weekend weather forecast, and I immediately began to envision the glorious beach retreat that awaited me if I could just convince my family to do without me for 24 hours.

After a bit of skillful negotiation, I got the go-ahead. I’ve never packed a suitcase so fast.

Sarah and I hopped in the car on Friday afternoon and marveled at our good fortune. The weather could not have been more perfect – a balmy 74 degrees with sunny blue skies. She greeted me with a gluten-free treat (what a great friend!) and we enjoyed a care-free drive down to the coast and arrived at The Bellmoor Inn right on time.

I had no idea where we were going; I hadn’t even looked it up online ahead of time, so I had no idea what a treat I was in for. The Inn is unassuming on the outside, but inside it rivals some of the nicest hotels I’ve been to. The decor was formal without being stuffy and beachy without being corny.

Mel greeted me with my very own gluten free cupcake. (I’m liking this trend of friends bringing me gluten-free treats!) It was DIVINE. I scarfed the entire thing the minute we got to our room, which was light and airy and spacious and comfortable, although we didn’t get to spend much time in there. We quickly changed and headed downstairs for a cocktail hour, sponsored by the local Fenwick Winery.

We mixed and mingled, caught up with old friends and introduced ourselves to new ones.

Sarah Chrissy Jacqui Tina
Sarah Chrissy Jacqui and Tina

It was fun meeting Aubrey and Scott from Visit Southern Delaware, were there to meet us and share about all the great things there are to do in the area.

And I love this photo of Mel and me. Ironically, I’m wearing the same sweater I was in the picture I have of the two of us the first time we met in person a few years ago.

Jo-Lynne and Mel
Mel and me

Afterwards we went to dinner at Dogfish Head Brewery, and then to a private screening of Eat, Pray, Love. It was past my bedtime, so I snoozed off and on throughout the movie, but what a fun idea for an event – a private movie screening! We felt so VIP.

Even though I didn’t get to bed till almost 1am, nothing was keeping me off the beach the next morning. I got up and got myself put together, enjoyed a leisurely breakfast — another perk to staying at The Bellmoor. Our night’s stay included a full breakfast, complete with an omelet bar, granola and yogurt station, bacon and sausage, and what looked like fabulous baked goods (I couldn’t indulge, but they looked decadent – not your typical continental breakfast fare.)

After I was sufficiently stuffed with a made-to-order omelet and crispy bacon, I grabbed my camera and headed for the beach. It was only about 55 degrees with a gusty wind, so I didn’t stay long, but I did snap some gorgeous pictures, if I do say so myself!!!

Rehoboth Beach

Rehoboth Beach

After that, I warmed my hands and my tummy with a Starbucks Cafe Mocha and headed back to meet up with the rest of the ladies for a day of perusing the shops in Rehoboth. What a treat! I am SO going back sometime soon. There were shops for every interest and every budget. I got 2 pair of flip-flops, a summer scarf, a cute top I hope to dress up for a night out sometime soon, and various and sundry other trinkets for my family who so graciously let me go without even a guilt trip.

I could have stayed another day, but I spent what I had allotted myself and then some, and Sarah and I had promised our families we’d be home for dinner, so we said our good-byes and got on our way.

Thanks so much to Mel for putting this together WHILE WORKING FULLTIME, I really don’t know how she does it. I can’t wait to return to The Bellmoor with my family. We’re already making plans.

I also want to give a shout out to all of the sponsors — Cake BreakFenwick WineryDogfish Head Brewings & EatsTanger OutletsBrowseaboutSnyder’s Candy, Nicola’sMovies at MidwayThe Point Coffeehouse, Atlantic Liquors — as well as Aubrey and Scott at @VisitSoutDel for making this weekend possible.

Disclosure:  Participating bloggers received a complimentary night at the Bellmoor as well as discount coupons and gift bags from the sponsors.

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10 Responses

  1. Sounds heavenly. I’m in NJ and spent the beautiful weekend putting away all my shovels and winter gear, sweeping and cleaning out the fish pond… only to wake up this morning to 2 inches of snow on the ground. So depressing.

  2. Wow, that sound WONDERFUL! And that 3rd photo at the beach makes me want to go there – gorgeous! Glad you were able to go for a bit after all. 🙂

  3. I am beyond thrilled that you came and hung out at my beaches!! It was so much fun to go shopping with you around Rehoboth. You took some gorgeous beach shots…makes me wish I would have gotten out of my comfy bed to walk up there with you on Saturday. I’m glad that you enjoyed yourself on your getaway and you better let me know when you come back so I can meet up with you. Thanks for all your support of me and my delawarebeachfamilies.com.

  4. What a great girlfriends getaway! My hubby lived up that way before we met and he loved it. It sounds so relaxing I’ll have to talk him into going back for a visit!

  5. isn’t dogfish just the BEST?! I love their beer – especially their “punkin'” brew in the fall.
    glad you had so much fun at delaware BEACHES…..now you know why you’ll never need to go to that icky jersey SHORE 😉

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