Here’s a recap of my surprise birthday trip to the Sanderling Resort!
Today is my 38th birthday!
Or as I like to say, 26 + 12! We spent the weekend celebrating at the beach. Read on to hear how and why!
I love surprises!
On Thursday afternoon, Thomas came home with a dozen tulips and a card.
“I’d like to give you your gift early!” he said.
I was a bit taken aback, but of course I tore the envelope open! While the first half of the card was full of birthday wishes it ended with this:
…Let’s dip our toes in the sand one last time this season. Pack your bags! We are leaving for the Sanderling tomorrow morning at 11.
Love, Thomas
I had no idea!
I couldn’t believe he pulled off a surprise like this and hadn’t gotten spoiled. And he had been planning it for two months!
I had been working on plans for weeks to meet some of my friends for a socially distanced outdoor get together at a vineyard on Saturday the 24th.
With the pandemic, we couldn’t decide when or how or where or even if we should attempt any kind of gathering. We had finally made some plans with a small group
But all of my friends were in on the surprise trip! They did a great job of fooling me into thinking I’d see them on Saturday.
Big thanks to Nona + Grandpa
This was our first trip away together since Birch was born.
So my first question was Who is watching the kids?!
Thomas’s sainted parents stayed at our house so we could have a stress-free getaway. They get all the thank yous! Thomas took care of all the logistics behind the scenes.
The Sanderling is our happy place
So when Friday at 11 rolled around, my bags were packed and away we went!
Thomas and I both love the beach. It’s definitely our favorite place to relax.
We got engaged at the Sanderling in 2017, and we actually almost had our wedding there! Our room this weekend was one door down from the one we got engaged in.
The Sanderling Resort was on the quiet side, and everyone had on masks. There was hand sanitizer everywhere. And for check-in, a masked staff member came out to our car to deliver our keys in a clean envelope. We felt very safe, especially since we spent most of our time outside on the beach.
Parents Gone Wild!
Upon arrival we dropped our bags and headed straight down to the water.
Blue Skies
We got SO lucky with the weather!!! After a few weeks of chilly weather, it was unseasonably warm with bright blue skies all weekend.
Thomas said just 10 days ago the forecast was all rain, but somehow that weather held off until our departure day when the rain rolled in.
Happy Hour
I always travel with Scout + Cellar cans!
Thomas packed more surprises – a cheese board and drinks to enjoy on our balcony.
Outdoor Dining + Dinner at the Lifesaving Station
We weren’t sure if we’d be able to eat outside or rely on takeout in our room, but the warm, sunny weather meant we could have dinner out on the decks. (Indoor dining was also an option, but we aren’t comfortable with unmasked shared air at the moment).
Since we filled up on cheese, at The Lifesaving Station we shared a few dishes: a salad, fresh mahi mahi, and a s’mores brownie! The food was great – we were pleasantly surprised.
Saturday Sunrise
The curse of parenting meant that our body clocks were awake around 6am on a morning we had all the time in the world to sleep in. But that meant we got to watch the sunrise!
Simple Breakfast
We brought yogurts with pecans on top for a light breakfast. Plus lots of hotel coffee.
Saturday Activities
Me: We don’t have kids – Let’s go shopping! Let’s go to Jockey’s Ridge! Want to go running! Should we go out to breakfast! Maybe we should go kayaking!?
Also me:
Aside from a nice long beach walk in the morning, we spent the day doing nothing. We read our books. We talked and talked. And we took naps in the sand!
Lunch On The Beach
For lunch we got takeaway from the Life Saving Station – we shared a salad and a seared tuna sandwich.
We stayed at the beach all day – late into the afternoon!
Dinner at Aqua
We went to Aqua for dinner, a new-to-us restaurant with plenty of outdoor seating and live music.
Sunset Beers
Our timing was great – just in time for beers at sunset.
Dinner with a View
We then were seated right on the water – the ideal view!
We had wine, shrimp and grits, and tuna that had been caught that very morning. (The photo turned out blurry.)
Sunday
On Sunday we had take-out breakfast in our room (pecan waffles and eggs with a biscuit and bacon) and then went for one final blustery walk before the rain blew in!
This Trip Was Good for the soul
You know how on TV people will say “We stayed up all night just talking!!?” We talked this whole trip! The talk time made me realize how often we are interrupted when we have the youngins around 
The weekend was a wonderful escape!
Andrea says
Happy birthday! Looks like a nice getaway. How anyone could
wake up at 6 am and not fall back asleep has always been a mystery to me – I’m just not an early bird! I have a 4 year old who routinely gets up at 7, but I could still sleep in till 10 am any day… just how I’m wired 🙂 same with my husband!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
Look at the incredible weather! I hope you had fun! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Liz says
Looks like a great getaway! Time like that away really is so good for the soul!
Just a heads up that the ads on your posts lately make them so difficult to read and feel super choppy. Just wanted to let you know. Less ads, or ads grouped together in a different way, would make the posts flow so much better and would give the reader a much better experience. Hopefully that’s not too critical! I know I can use reader view on my phone, but it’s just one extra step.
Shanae says
I have been having a harder time as well. I didn’t know that there’s something called reader view, though!
Pat says
I usually read on my iPad which also has reader view. It’s so much easier to read.
Angie says
Happy birthday! What a sweet surprise. We had to celebrate our 40th birthdays with just our kids, which was great, but our trips were canceled because of covid and since grandparents are halfway across the country we couldn’t even sneak out to go camping or anything. We joke when we turn 42/43 and maybe things are normal we’ll go all out. I love Thomas’s Greatful Dead hoodie. Where did he find that? My husband has been looking for a new one.
Kath Younger says
I have celebrated quite a few virtual 40th birthdays this year 🙁 Two years from now we will be celebrating three years worth for all of the canceled events!!
Robin says
Lovely , my favorite kind of gift.
Heather R says
Happy birthday!!! Looks wonderful and relaxing 🙂
Ruthie says
Happy Birthday, Kath!
What a wonderful birthday surprise!
Blessings to you for health and happiness in the year ahead!
Thomas, way to go…that took a lot of planning on your part!
Great things are done with great love!
Kelly A Haag says
I know I must be hard up for a vacation when I take so much joy in another person’s! 🙂 Happy birthday
Kath Younger says
Hope you get one soon!
Larbs says
I’m constantly trying to finish a sentence to Matt without being interrupted – I never would’ve imagined before having kids that there wouldn’t even be time to talk to my own husband!
Kath Younger says
Haha yup!! Or a dinner without getting up 10 times either!
Erin says
Someone at work apologized for interrupting my lunch at my desk one time and I said, “I have kids. I haven’t eaten hot food in years!” LOL
Kath Younger says
haha!!!
Judith L Scott says
Looks like a wonderful time, but what’s that awesome looking dessert???
Kath Younger says
which one!?! The first was a s’mores brownie and the second was a banana cream pie cheesecake!!!
Sandy says
Sounds and looks amazing!!! Such a nice getaway! Happy Birthday 🙂
Elisabeth says
Happy Birthday, Kath! Looks like the most wonderful, relaxing birthday weekend away.
Tracy says
HAPPY Birthday, Kath!! It’s obvious by the smiles on your faces how much fun you both had. Such a fun gift!
Did you have a good birthday bike ride? I wish I could’ve joined in for the ride but my husband needed the bike before his early meeting. Glad I was able to pop on and give you a birthday high five!!
Hope you’re having a great day 🙂
Kath Younger says
I loved your high five!!!!!
Jill says
Wow-What a wonderful surprise! Happy belated Birthday to you! Love when a man plans something special for their lady and can keep it a secret- great job, Thomas!
Katelyn says
Happy belated birthday, Kath! Looks like you and Thomas had a great trip! We still haven’t taken a trip away since our son was born (he is 15 mos.) but we did take a long weekend away as a family and rented a lakehouse this past weekend. It was so good for the soul, just like you said!