* A special thank you to The Wylder Hotel Tilghman Island for hosting us. We had an amazing time. All opinions are my own.
A COZY WINTER GETAWAY
Usually, we have soccer to keep us busy during the cold winter weekends. However, this past weekend, my son was out of town to visit a friend, and the walls were closing in on us. We decided on a last minute cozy winter getaway for the night. We wanted to stay close to home, but desperately need a change of scenery. So, we went to one of my favorite places locally on Tilghman Island, called the Wylder Hotel.
It is a charming, slightly rustic boutique hotel located on a sleepy little island. It is especially quiet during the winter months. The town of St. Michaels is about a 15-minute drive down the street. Otherwise, there is not much else around, so it is perfect to get away, unplug, and enjoy each other’s company.
A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE WYLDER
The Wylder is a quaint little hotel that is a retreat all on its own. Once you are there, there is truly no reason to leave. It is a destination and has everything you need to have a lovely time with your partner, your girlfriends, your family, and even your dog! It is the perfect place for a last minute cozy winter getaway.
The Wylder is very kid-friendly with several lawn games, firepits for roasting smores, and a pool and water sports (kayaks and paddleboards) during the warmer months. The saltwater pool opens in April and is perfect for relaxing in the afternoon.
There is lots of green open space, a photo-worthy tree swing, and one-speed bikes available for guests to explore their surroundings.
You can also get there by boat, which is super fun in the summertime. It makes a little overnight trip extra fun and special. If you have a big enough boat, you can pay to dock there overnight and use the amenities. So fun!
Free breakfast is included with every stay and it is delicious and plentiful. Bar Mumbo has something happening every night and Tickler’s Crab Shack has a nightly special and a family-friendly menu. During the summer they have a dock bar outside as well.
The Wylder vibe is casual elegance without being stuffy! Exactly our speed. Elevated, but not too fancy and definitely unfussy.
HOW WE SPENT OUR TIME AT THE WYLDER
I am not sure who was more excited about this little trip. Us, or our dog Maisy. She absolutely loves car rides and was thrilled when she saw her bed go in the back of our car. She knew then she was coming with us.
The weather was not great, to say the least. It was probably the worst weather we have had all season, with a bone-chilling, wet rain, but none of us cared.
You drive directly to St. Michales to get to the Wylder, so we stopped for lunch at Ava’s Pizzeria and Wine bar and it did not disappoint. They have a dog-friendly patio and some of the best pizza around. It was yummy.
We were greeted with a complimentary glass of champagne and shown to our room, which was a waterfront King Bungalow, perfect if you are bringing your pet along. There was a complimentary bottle of wine in our room along with a s’mores kit for the firepits, which they light around 4 pm every afternoon, weather permitting.
Maisy loved being able to run around the lawn and catch her frisbee and she even went for a swim in the freezing cold water. She chased birds and squirrels and I truly think, she had the best time of all.
A CULINARY TREAT
After a lovely sweat in their cute little Sauna, ( you can sign up at the front desk) we headed over to the restaurant for cocktails and dinner. We decided to sit at the bar and Keith, our bartender/server was super friendly and easy to chat with. The fireplace made it extra cozy on this particularly chilly night. My shrimp Scampi was absolutely delicious and my husband said his burger was one of the best he has ever eaten. We ended our meal with a slice of homemade apple pie a la mode, which was to die for. The chef at the Wylder is truly exceptional and it was one of the best meals we have had in a while.
I was lucky enough to experience the fire pit this summer when I stayed a couple of nights with my girlfriend, and it is truly something special. You get to meet other people that are staying there and share stories over a nice glass of wine and roast some smores. The stars at night are magical out there.
Due to the weather, there was no fire pit when we stayed this past weekend, but we were so sleepy from our yummy food and wine that we didn’t care and cozied up in our king-size bed.
The next morning we enjoyed our complimentary breakfast of pastries fruit, yogurt parfaits, as well as frittata made to order with breakfast sausage. It was a delight.
We were sad to leave, especially Maisy, but we felt really rested and refreshed. It is truly the best place to unplug and we will definitely be back. Our stay felt much longer than one night and I mean that in the best way possible. We are already planning a weekend getaway with my parents. The Wylder is ideal for a multi-generation family gathering.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you are looking for a last-minute cozy winter getaway, or a weekend escape with your kids, head to the Wylder. It is a lovely gem of a place where everyone is so nice and you are treated like family. They currently have a few special offers and different packages. They also have customizable add-ons like in-room massages to make your stay extra special.
You can read about one of my favorite local places in the summer here.
Maybe I will see you there!
XO,
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