Just a short one-hour-forty-minute drive from DC w...

Just a short one-hour-forty-minute drive from DC without traffic, this resort gives you just enough escape from the city without requiring extensive travel planning. I first came here for a work conference and was so impressed by the experience that we came back 2 weeks later for a short getaway over 4th of July.

The staff were amazingly helpful, polite, and ready to assist in any way. Service at poolside was timely, there were a good number of chaise loungers, and on the 4th of July the management even arranged for more seating to accommodate the holiday rush. There was, however, a need for more sun umbrellas, as folks rushed to grab the few chairs that had even a little shade from the hot July sun. Additionally, the pools closed quite early at 7pm, even though it was still quite bright outside.

For an additional cost, a private rental company has a location on-site to rent boats, kayaks, and even jet skis. The cost of renting a jet ski is not insignificant, but was absolutely a highlight of our visit. We recommend making a reservation early in the day to ensure a rental is available.

From a food standpoint, the resort had some high quality options to choose from. Even during the mid morning breakfast rush, a table for 2-4 had less than a 15 min wait. The breakfast buffet was of higher quality than what you normally see at even upper-mid-level hotels, and there were plenty of a la carte options on the menu ranging from classic favorites to regional fare.

The Water's Edge Grill has all the dishes you would expect at an American grill, including several steak options, more vegan and gluten-free options than I expected and of course a good number of seafood options.

For a dining experience more focused on seafood and local catch, the Blue Point Provision Company is just a 5-7min walk along the waterfront from the main building, and a shuttle is available in case of inclement weather. Again, the food here was excellent, the staff friendly, and being located at the entrance to the pier, it was perfectly located for an after-dinner stroll before heading back for an after-dinner drink at Michener's Library.

Another small concern I had was that, like a few other hotel chains, room service food is now served in "eco-friendly" take-out containers. I do not understand how it is more environmentally responsible to deliver food in disposable containers instead of regular plates that can just be washed and reused. As with most unusual choices, it probably comes down to money and the cost of additional staff to deliver carts of food and then go around picking up used trays.

That being said, we still give this place 5 Stars, and would absolutely come again!