Life PRE-pandemic was stressful and hectic, in a household of 2 working adults, co-parenting schedules, a crazy puppy, a cranky cat, and everything in between. Luckily for our relationship, Eric and I always made it a point to do little "Staycations" once every few months. Well, needless to say, somehow we had gone an entire year without ONE night to ourselves, without ANY responsibilities.
I talk about Self Care often, and that includes relationship care! I decided, before we could go through a long, dark, depressing winter, we NEEDED to take time for another Staycation. Hard Rock Atlantic City to the rescue!
The kiddos were with their dad for the night, and my brother so graciously agreed to take over puppy duty. It could have been easy to dwell on the changes due to the current state of our world, but we truly had the most amazing time.
We were SO impressed when we walked in our hotel room! The door was actually sealed to indicate that it'd been sanitized, and on the bed was a card detailing everything in the room that was also sanitized.
Color me impressed - and more importantly - RELAXED!
It was a great kickoff to our staycation knowing that so much care and caution went into keeping us safe.
Eric was thrilled to be able to see our home island out one side of the window, and the ocean out the other side. The man is not a fan of being indoors for too long, so this held him over for 24 hours!
After a nice hot shower (Eric had worked all day), we took our time getting all done up. It's easy to forget how GOOD it feels to put on a sexy dress, some bold makeup, a pair of too-little-worn stilettos, and strut your stuff. How often do we have a chance to do this nowadays? It's an instant mood booster!
Sidenote: don't try and squeeze yourself into something that may have fit last year and doesn't this year. Get something that FITS your CURRENT body so that you can enjoy the time and not be uncomfortable all night!
We arrived for our reservations at Council Oak Fish Steaks & Seafood and were wow'ed fro
m start to finish.
Customer service was exceptional. Darren helped Eric find a draft beer that suited his tastes (he's usually a Miller Lite kind of guy but...#staycation) and brought me a cocktail called, "Autumn in AC".
It tasted like drinking apple pie! I was thinking,
"I could totally chug this out of a pint glass with a straw"
and then, it hit me. So take my word for it when I say to drink it slowly! Hands down, the best cocktail I've had in a very long time.
We ordered the Wood Fired Bacon with Roasted Shallot Purée, Apple Vinaigrette as an appetizer. It melted in our mouths and was a really tasty flavor profile. For our entrees, I ordered a 10oz Filet and Eric was giddy over a 2lb lobster. I have a shellfish allergy, and the staff was happy to accommodate. We added on creamed spinach and homestyle mashed potatoes
which - by the way - I'm not ashamed to say, taste great as a midnight snack right out of the hotel room refrigerator.
Unfortunately we couldn't possibly make room for dessert but were more than satisfied with the incredible dinner and service! I loved the open kitchen concept and watching my filet being prepared, too.
We then headed back to the room for an outfit change. Well, I got changed, because I was determined to show off as many looks as possible in one night. Then it was time for some gambling and a hunt to find live music!
Eric and I really have a great time with fun and interactive slot machines.
It's true entertainment even if you're not winning big! The slots were physically distanced and frequently sanitized, so we felt comfortable playing. After we made back what we put in, we cashed out and headed to The Lobby Bar.
The Lobby Bar was always our favorite spot on property because usually there's football playing at the bar as well as live music, so we are able to be together while enjoying the best of both worlds. With the latest government executive orders, we weren't able to actually sit at the bar,
but honestly this made my feet happy because I was wearing sky high stilettos.
We cozied up in some comfy lounge chairs while our cocktail server brought us drinks.
Kenny Curcio was jamming on stage and it was so much fun to see live music! He was taking requests and we had a chance to chat with him after his set was done.
It's the little things nowadays that really fill my soul up and this really did it for us.
The entertainment was top notch, and we enjoyed a good laugh because a young woman across the room mistook Eric for a famous country singer, asked to take photos of him, and picked up our tab! By this time, it was time for last call, so we headed back up to our rooms and settled down for the night. And by settled down, I mean, had some more drinks, put on some music, and danced around in our pajamas.
The next morning, we took advantage of the beautiful views and our food & beverage credit and ordered room service breakfast in bed. THIS WAS HEAVEN. I highly recommend you do this. We didn't have to be at the spa until 10:45am so it felt incredible to not have to rush anywhere, slowly enjoy our breakfast, and pack up.
As soon as you enter the Rock Spa, you're instantly relaxed. The two-story spa features ample locker space with locks, complimentary tea, and the most incredible and warm-mannered attendant, Shaniqua! We had booked couples massages, but due to current orders, we actually got solo private massages.
Tyrone, my masseuse, made sure to ask ahead of time what my needs were for the massage, and delivered such a peaceful, therapeutic experience that gave me the opportunity to turn my brain off and let my worries melt away.
Before I knew it, our massages were over, and I joined Eric in the whirlpool area.
They have the coolest shower, that delivers different types of temperature, pressures, and aromas! I have no shame in saying I tried all 3 of them before I stepped into the whirlpool.
It was the perfect encore to our massages...a chance to hydrate, let our muscles unwind even more, and enjoy quiet time together, just the two of us.
At this point we were practically melting into the lounge chairs, so we figured we should take showers and head out. Shaniqua provided me with luxurious amenities for a cool shower, including shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, and a hairbrush since I had forgotten mine. Ashley made sure we got some complimentary champagne to end our staycation on the way out.
The night before was a chance to have fun and let loose, and then the spa day was an opportunity for us completely relax, and rejuvenate ourselves individually and as a couple.
Our 3 year anniversary is December 15, but with it being so close to Christmas, I'm so glad we decided to celebrate a little early. Our love languages are both quality time (among others) and this staycation at Hard Rock Atlantic City was a great way for us to do just that.
Hard Rock Atlantic City is always doing specials in the offseason (Cyber Monday deals are great right now!) and during a time when it may not seem practical to hop on a plane or go on a full-on vacation, a 24 hour getaway close to home is just what the doctor ordered. With their Safe + Sound initiative, attention to detail, and customer service that is above and beyond, you can rest assured that you're in good hands. Watch our recap video here!
Interested in booking a Staycation? Get more information here!
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