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talk of the bay
COURTESY PHOTOS
will see that its blades resemble wooden oars. We’d requested a mini-crib for our baby, and it was waiting in our room upon check-in, with a neatly folded baby blanket and a hotel-sized baby shampoo and lotion set. Those small touches meant more to this exhausted mother than turn-down service with chocolates and rose petals. Staying onsite for dinner, we found the best of both worlds: grownup food and drink, with kid-friendly extras. The resort describes the Water’s Edge Grill as a “casually relaxed” American grill for families. It is a rare restaurant, indeed, where I can order an artfully arranged charcuterie plate and a glass of rosé while my toddler scribbles on a coloring-page place mat and drinks happily from a dinosaur-themed plastic straw cup. Reservations are recommended. That evening, we were surprised by a knock at our suite door—My father had arranged the delivery of flowers from a local florist and a bottle of champagne in honor of our anniversary. It was a classy move, and
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we fully enjoyed our bubbly on the balcony as our little ones slept inside. Looking out over the nighttime Choptank, I watched cars’ headlights glide across the Route 50 bridge, marveling that I could see the entire bridge, but could hear no traffic noise at all. In fact, the only sound I heard was the sputter of the fountains on the lawn below us. The next day, I would overhear a staff member mention that the resort had hosted a 400-person wedding that night. I didn’t hear a peep.
We spent the next day exploring the Hyatt’s many outdoor spots. We picked up coffee and breakfast sandwiches at Bay Country Market, the resort’s lobby-level general store. From there, we walked along the crushed-shell waterfront path to the 150-slip River Marsh Marina. On the walk we encountered a buzzard, several butterflies, and a cartoonish, grumpy green heron, who hopped around trying to intimidate us on the path. The small-boat launch offers fun ways to get on the water, like jetskis and kayaks. A small beach just down the hill from the Hyatt’s two outdoor pools (where you’ll find a pool bar and water slide) was just the right size for our toddler to play in the sand and splash around. The outdoor activities don’t stop there. Beach volleyball and tennis courts sit next to the mini-golf course; it’s all free for hotel and marina guests. The indoor pool, complete with giant swan-shaped floats, was just as popular as the outdoor pools were during our stay. There’s a locker room just inside the pool facility, an up-to-date fitness center, and the Captain’s Parlor game room outfitted with foosball,
May 2019
4/1/19 6:37 PM