Ever since my parents and my sister (+ her fam) moved to North Carolina, we’ve been talking about doing a Girls’ Trip but it’s never worked out. This year, even in the midst of a pandemic, we found a way to make it work and we had THE BEST time spending a few days in Carolina Beach, North Carolina!
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We partnered with Mazda to drive the 2020 CX-9 Signature SUV and I was seriously impressed! There was plenty of room for the six of us and our luggage (I originally wasn’t convinced it would all fit, but it did – thank you, packing cubes!!). Once we got everything loaded up, we hit the road . . . to Starbucks, obv . . . and then to the beach!
Ellie’s car-seat went in easily and she was super excited to have a cupholder in the center console where she could reach it!
Since we’re not really doing the indoor dining thing right now, we got take-out and ate it outside at a closed Chick-fil-A – yay for traveling on a Sunday when Chick-fil-A is closed!
And before long, we arrived at the Courtyard Carolina Beach! It’s just under four hours from our house to the beach so it’s perfect for a long weekend getaway.
The littles broke out the coloring supplies while the adults unpacked and got everything settled. This Melissa and Doug Color-by-Number set turned out to be the favorite- and it was easy for them to share.
Hannah and Ellie made off with the bag of Gardetto’s and enjoyed their snack on the balcony, taking in the beautiful ocean views.
The Courtyard Carolina Beach sits on the Carolina Beach boardwalk so it’s super convenient to not only go to the beach but also to walk to the restaurants and attractions (when they’re open again) on the boardwalk.
Looks like it’s going to be a great day at the beach!!
One thing that I’ve learned after traveling to the beach countless times with so many kids is that it’s so much easier to rent beach chairs and umbrellas at the beach instead of lugging all that gear around! Yes, it does cost a bit more than bringing your own, but I’ve always found it to be well worth the money. Plus, you don’t get a bunch of sand in your hotel room and car from sandy gear.
She loves a good beach day!
While there were others at the beach, people did a wonderful job respecting boundaries and gave a wide berth when walking by or setting up their beach gear.
These two are already making plans to live at the beach when they grow up – it’s most definitely their happy place!
We ordered pizza for lunch and had it delivered to the hotel lobby- and Auntie Janne ran back to the hotel to grab it and bring it to the beach. It was an awesome choice for a physically distant, outdoor meal, and the pizza was still piping hot when we started eating!
Britt’s Donuts is a Carolina Beach institution and we enjoyed them several times on our trip! Our hotel was less than a five-minute walk from Britt’s and hot donuts were the breakfast of choice while we were there.
Back to the beach! We rented boogie boards one day and the kids (both big and little) had a blast with them.
Ellie used one to do some beach yoga. ????
The Island Ice Factory and Italian ice carts were another favorite on this trip and we enjoyed delicious treats from both!
These two girls loved pulling the boogie boards around . . .
And sitting or laying on them while the waves crashed.
Auntie Janne and Lexie were much more adventurous and took the boards out farther!
This trip to the beach was just what we all needed. It was a great break from the monotony of life at home and constantly being stuck in the house. It was a literal breath of fresh air – the salty, beach kind, that’s my absolute favorite, and I’m so glad that we finally had the chance to make our girls’ trip a reality!
On our way back to real life, we stopped to grab a quick lunch in Wilmington.
We originally planned to get our food to-go and eat at a park, or in a parking lot, but they had an open patio area that worked out perfectly.
One of my favorite features of the Mazda CX-9 Signature is the overhead camera view. I’m used to having a back-up camera (and honestly don’t know what I did before I had one!) but the overhead view allows you to see so much more!
Check out this beauty! The Mazda CX-9 Signature is the perfect SUV for a road-trip with the family. It’s not super big but still manages to have plenty of room for 6 people + all their gear – and trust me, we don’t pack that light! ????
I was really impressed with all of the safety features in this crossover SUV: lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring- so many features to help keep your family safe! Plus, with a turbo, this thing is so much more fun to drive than my usual minivan!
Are you team SUV or team minivan?? Let me know in the comments!
What a great trip! BTW- Flaming Amy’s is in my top 5 favorite places to eat. When we go to the coast, it’s a given. I want that car!
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It was our first time at Flaming Amy’s but it certainly won’t be the last!!!