After an hour and a half on the road, it was refreshing to finally step out of the car, stretch my legs, and hear the soothing crash of the ocean waves in Ocean City, Maryland.
For most of us in our family, it was our first time in OC, and you could see it in our eyes—wide, glistening, and soaking in the beauty of the East Coast beach.
The goal of the day? To relax, release, and have a good time!
While most people travel with a set itinerary, we decided to be spontaneous, and honestly, that made it a day to remember. Instead of having a packed schedule, we just went with the flow, and in doing so, we found the beauty of slowing down and living the soft life.
A Beach Day To Remember
This year has been busy. And while being busy can be a good thing, I’m learning that it’s just as important to make space for rest and restorative fun.
In need of a beach day, I booked a hotel the night before via Booking.com. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a quick, no-fuss place to lay our heads so that my family and I wouldn’t have to rush home after a long, sunny day. That one small choice helped us fully ease into the beauty of a beach day.
As soon as we arrived, we headed to the beach with our snacks and essentials to claim a spot on the sand. From where we sat, we could see folks fishing, people parasailing in the distance, and boats cruising in and out from the nearby dock. It was the perfect mix of peaceful and playful.
After setting up our blanket and chairs, we immediately made our way to the water. The ocean greeted us with excitement—waves crashing around us, nearly sweeping away shoes and glasses.
We spent hours testing how far out we could go into the water while spotting everything from jellyfish and horseshoe crabs to colorful fish, beautiful shells, and even a washed-up sand flea. It felt like we were kids again—curious, playful, completely in the moment.
The Lesson In My Experience
I didn’t have a waterproof phone protector with me, so I couldn’t take as many photos as I would’ve liked. But honestly, that was a good thing. It let me be more present—and helped make my memories feel even more vivid.
Eventually, we wandered up to the boardwalk, drawn by the smell of food and the promise of people-watching.
We grabbed some incredible pizza (seriously, so good) and, of course, made room for ice cream afterward. I got my go-to: Cookies and Cream. Sweet, cold, and creamy, it melted just fast enough to remind me that nothing lasts forever—so you might as well enjoy it while it’s still sweet.
The whole day reminded me how important it is to slow down. Not just for rest, but to really see the people around you, to laugh over little things, and to realize that a day doesn’t have to be extravagant to be meaningful. Small joys matter. So does family time. So does being present.
Planning My Next Trip To Ocean City, Maryland
After such a great time, we are eager to plan our next trip to the OC!
While we had an amazing beach day, there were so many restaurants and activities that caught our attention while driving back home. Next time, we have to try taking a boat ride, playing mini golf, and diving into the local seafood scene (especially the crabs!).
Our quick visit barely scratched the surface of Ocean City—but that’s the beauty of a spontaneous trip, it leaves you wanting more.
We plan on staying longer during our next trip. Hopefully, that allows us to have a full itinerary of fun ways to explore the city!
Editor’s Note: This story has been edited and condensed for clarity.
By BrownStyle Magazine in Special Editions
72 pages, published 1/17/2025
