So what happens when you love to travel but you have to be grounded for the summer after celebrating your wedding in Barcelona? Look for experiences close to home. Forty-five minutes from the Nation's Capital, there's Annapolis, a picturesque city on the Chesapeake bay. When we found out Loews Annapolis offered a "Day at the Bay" package, we couldn't pass up on the experience. The package includes goodies perfect for a sailing trip: sunscreen, lip balm, and Nike visors which prepared us for our Schooner Woodwind sailing trip around the bay.  It also includes free parking for one car, which is perfect for a road trip. 

The Lobby at Loews Annapolis

One of the things I have noticed about the Loews Hotels is how the properties assimilate to their location. The Dutchman was recently in Miami for business where the hotel has a pastel art deco vibe which blends in with the city. The Loews Madison in DC embodies the city with its colonial wallpaper in the guestrooms. As we walked into the hotel, we automatically fell in love with the nautical decor of the lobby. We loved the beautiful wall dividers made out of rope, leather couches fitted for a luxurious yacht, and the warm colors which make you feel automatically at home. We checked into our room which had the same nautical vibe: shades of blue, beautiful wood and rope furniture, and sailing black and white photographs in the restroom. 

Our Goodies

We spent our 24 hour adventure in Annapolis walking around the city, admiring the colonial style architecture, and eating Maryland crab. The hotel is centrally located on West St, lined with nice restaurants and cafes within a short walking distance. We walked quite a bit around the city but if you are tired or in a rush you can always catch the Annapolis Circulator, a free trolley service with stops at all the key attractions. 

Guest Room at Loews Annapolis

Aside from the gorgeous nautical decor at the lobby of the Loews, we noticed something very cute: lots of puppies! I soon learned that Loews has a "Loews Loves Pets" program where your furry ones get tons of love from their own water bowl to dog walking services.  We noticed Annapolis is a very dog friendly town so it is the perfect destination to take your pooch and not have to worry about taking your beloved pet to the kennel during your weekend trip.

Brunch at West

We concluded our stay at the hotel with brunch at West, the Loews Annapolis restaurant. We have been to brunch in Annapolis with friends and we always end up at crowded and noisy places. We loved the intimate and quiet setting of the restaurant. The package includes breakfast for two, which can be used for the buffet or a la carte choices. We chose the a la carte with eggs benedict and a omelet complimented with bottomless mimosas and bloody Mary's.  We still had a little room left and ordered the crab dip with foccaccia. It was our favorite part of brunch, as the dip was seasoned with Old Bay. 

Crab Dip and Focaccia at West

Overall, we had an amazing experience this past weekend at the Loews Annapolis. Although we were 45 minutes away from home, we felt as if we were on a proper holiday. We arrived home relaxed and ready to tackle a challenging week.  Stay tuned for our second part of this post where we chronicle how we spent our weekend in Annapolis. *Disclaimer: The room was complimentary. We only write and share about experiences we love.