They say a picture can say a thousand words.  Well I plan on saying them and throwing in a bunch of pictures to go along with it.  Any of you who have been following me on Twitter or Facebook have seen and heard about my weekend stay at the Ocean Isle Inn and I must say, it was lovely.

We live near Charlotte, NC, and it took us about four hours to five to the Inn but it was a great ride out.  The ride back could have been better, but it makes for a great Random Tuesday Post for tomorrow and had nothing to do with my weekend beach trip.

Walking down the seemingly endless beach, you get a feeling of peace and privacy.  This is most definitely a family resort and you’re not going to find hundreds of Spring Break college kids funnelling by the pool.  You’ll see children playing and parents laughing and enjoying the peace with their families.

I don’t own a real camera, so I take all my pictures with my cell phone and send them directly to my social networking sites for all the world to enjoy and I got such a positive response from people when they heard where I was.  I had friends reply that they have fond memories vacationing in that very spot with their family growing up and people everywhere commenting on the beauty and fun the pictures depicted.

It was also the first time my family was reunited after three weeks apart.  Following my operation and illness, I had to go to Upstate NY to visit family and get some help with my kids.  The day immediately after returning from NY, we left for Ocean Isle.  It was wonderful to have this extended weekend with my hubs and to see him bonding with his children on the beach (plus I got a super smokin’ picture of him holding Josh.  BEEFCAKE!)

Sauce-tastic.  Plus, Joshua is so cute it hurts my face.

We walked around town and enjoyed the ice cream nearby.  We bought pool stuff (because we forgot everything) and swimmy diapers and covered ourselves in sunblock and played by the pool and ocean all day.  We woke to a fantastic free breakfast every morning (with the cool waffles you can make yourself AND microwavable bacon, egg and cheese sammys I love) and had everything we needed within walking distance.

At night, there was nothing but the sound of the ocean and our air conditioner and the curtains are super dark so it was easy to give Josh his nap during the day.  No loud parties, no smoking in the rooms and nothing but peace and relaxation for the families.

Yeah, I know I need a pedi but how cool is that picture?  I’m probably going to wait it out then use it for a Wordless Wednesday in a few weeks.

Overall, if you’re looking for a great spot with tons to do with your family, be sure to consider the Ocean Isle Inn if you’re choosing to look at the NC coast for your next family trip.

I hosted a giveaway for two lucky winners both before and during my stay and would like to say congrats to both Renee and Sarah on your wins!  You have both been notified by email and I ask that you respond within 72 hours or the contest may be subject to a re-draw.    You’ll be getting a gift certificate for a two night stay (weekend OR weekday!) from the Ocean Isle Inn in the mail shortly after claiming your prize!  Congrats!

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