Greenbook: A Local Guide to Chesapeake Living - Issue 8 | Page 30

I

was planning a trip to Florida for Spring Break. For
weeks I researched hotels, specials, places to go. I
planned to visit my college town, St. Pete Beach, which
is a beautiful, relaxing, casual and familiar place.
Two weeks before our departure, my husband’s company
scheduled an appointment he could not miss—right in the
middle of the week. Then my daughter came down with that
awful flu virus that seemed to decimate entire classrooms
this year. My grand plans for an adventure to Florida (one
that included much beach time and no Disney) instantly
evaporated.
All was not lost! I knew that with a change of perspective
I could pull off a shorter, but no less relaxing and bonding
vacation close to home. After a brief survey of what the
kids were interested in and a quick mental inventory of
the weather and our budget, I called the Hyatt Regency
Chesapeake Bay.
Located on a beautiful stretch of waterfront along the
Choptank River near Cambridge, Maryland, the Hyatt features an award winning golf course, marina, pools, huge
outdoor fireplace and more family fun in one place than
you could find anywhere from Philly to Richmond and from
Hagerstown to Ocean City.
The Hyatt is situated just far enough away from Metropolitan Baltimore/DC/Philly to feel like you’ve made a journey,
but not so far that the ride seems overwhelming. The trip
here is just 45 minutes from Annapolis on Route 50. Leaving the traffic, parking lots and a WalMart strip mall onto
Heron Boulevard, is to instantly feel as if you are in another
world entirely.
Opened in August 2002, the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake
Bay encompasses 342 acres of prime waterfront property
and has 400 rooms with 6 family suites. It is spacious but
not sprawling, upscale but not in any way pretentious, inviting but not pushy. From check-in to dining to entertainment, this resort strives to offer convenience. That is exactly what I needed, and what I think most busy families
could use a hefty dose of.
What we like most about the Hyatt in particular is that it
thoughtfully and purposefully offers activities for everyone in the family. Mom gets to sneak off for time alone in
the Spa? Dad needs a few pensive holes on the golf course?
Kids want pool time? Family bonding over a fervent game
of putt-putt? This resort has it all.
Let me say from the start that having stayed at $40 per night
motels and at $600+ per night inns, I have never found such
a hospitable, accommodating, generous and caring staff as
at this resort.
We arrived at the height of Spring Break season, when
the resort was near capacity with early season golfers, vacationers and corporate guests. Even so, the staff remembered our names. “What can I do for you, Mrs. Love?” was
a phrase I heard from the concierge, the lifeguard, even the
restaurant staff. When my son made an unapproved dash
out of sight, the pool manager redirected him right back to
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GREENBOOK | SUMMER 2016