I used to hold the tiny hands of my children because I was scared they would run off or trip and fall. I held tightly to each of their five little fingers to protect them from the unknown.
Now those hands are getting bigger in mine, and I no longer want to hold them back. I want them to explore the unknown. They still need me, but each day it is less and less. And soon days will go by without the feeling of their fingers in mine. Then those days will turn to weeks, and the weeks to months and before I know it, they won't need my hand to hold at all.
As much as I love seeing their independence and their growth, there are moments that I feel like those little hands are getting too big too fast. I wish I could stop time and be in the moment to capture every second of their growing up. Our trip to Delaware allowed my husband and me to stop time, to hold their hands, and explore together.
I knew very little about the United States' second-smallest state as I planned a few days for our family in Rehoboth Beach. But it turned out that the sandy beach and rolling waves, the smell of the fresh waffle cones on the boardwalk, and the cute shops and restaurants in walking distance from our hotel all combined to make Rehoboth Beach the perfect place for us to relax and reconnect.
Exploring hand-in-hand
Like most busy families we live in a whirlwind. We rush off to school in the morning to make it in time before the bell rings. Then I rush home to get the maximum amount of work done before I need to rush out again for pick-up and a quick change for dance, gymnastics, or Girl Scouts. Then we transition to homework, dinner, and bedtime ... so that we have enough energy to get up and do it all over again.
So the perfect location, fantastic amenities, and excellent staff at Bellmoor Rehoboth Beach gave us a chance to unwind, leave the whirlwind behind, and create memories to last a lifetime.
The Bellmoor Inn and Spa makes it a priority to cater to all of their guests. Along with family-friendly rooms, there is also an adults-only fourth floor. Our room was large and comfortable with enough room for our family of four to comfortably relax. It is clear why this hotel was voted the best-designed hotel in Delaware. One of my favorite parts of staying in a cabin or a rented house is looking at the books and games that other families have left behind. The Bellmoor's library takes it to a whole new level. We could have spent the entire day in the library playing games and reading books and newspapers. As beautiful as the space was, it was also comfortable, and I was never worried about little fingers breaking things or leaving fingerprints on the freshly-polished wood. It was an inviting space for our whole family to enjoy together.
It was so great to check in to the hotel and not need a car for a few days while we explored the town hand-in-hand. We stepped out of the hotel and we could smell the salt in the air as we were pulled to the sound of the waves. With no plans or timelines, we let the mood drive our decisions.
Don't get me wrong: there is a lot to do and see in the area -- just to start we could have jumped in our car to explore Cape Henlopen State Park or taken a ride on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, for instance. But instead, we had the most wonderful few days all within walking distance from the Bellmoor, where we could stop and discover things and share in moments. I used to hold the hands of my children for their own safety, but as we walked down the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk, I held their hands to remind myself to be in the moment and relax.
A delicious start to the day
Breakfast was included in our stay at the Bellmoor. But this was not your average hotel breakfast. Eggs were made to order, and we could choose from delicious pastries, pancakes, fresh fruit, and more. Each morning we ate in the sun porch, which was surrounded by beautiful gardens. At home, breakfast tends to consist of grabbing toast and running out the door. It was so lovely to reconnect over a leisurely breakfast as we talked about the day ahead.
Our trip to Delaware was fantastic, but nothing was better than the staff at the Bellmoor. They were always ready with a smile, a helpful hint in navigating the area or an idea for something fun for the kids. They made our family feel right at home as soon as we stepped through the door.
Small state, big impressions
As the years go on, I know the tone of our family vacations will change. We no longer need strollers to navigate long walks, and soon we won't need to hold hands as we explore new places.
But in Delaware, we were able to relax, reconnect, and hold onto little fingers while enjoying a vacation we will never forget. The small state made a big impression on us, and I cannot wait to go back to revisit the Bellmoor and Rehoboth Beach.
 |  |
Thank you to The Bellmoor Inn and Spa for hosting our family visit to Rehoboth Beach. All opinions are our own.
