The Tides Inn

We’ve stayed at The Tides Inn twice and like it for a family visit at a slower pace. The crowd seems older, but it still works well for families. My kid loved the stuffed toy Amy gave him at check-in and carried it everywhere. She made registration easy, and the lobby and restrooms were clean and organized, including the family restroom. There’s plenty to do without making the place feel hectic. We enjoyed the pool, lawn games, lobby games, and the chessboard by the big windows. There’s no lifeguard, so swimming is at your own risk, but the pool attendants were attentive and kept us hydrated. We borrowed bikes and a kid trailer, which my son loved, plus paddle boards, kayaks, and canoes included in the resort fee. Our room was in an older building, so parts felt dated, but it was clean and comfortable. The bathroom was spacious, the bed was great, and the balcony gave us a water view and fresh air. TV choices were limited, though Google Cast let us stream our own shows and YouTube. Food takes a little planning. We arrived Sunday, when dining in town was tricky, and after our last stay I brought snacks for my kid and fresh food for us. Fresh fruit and simple salads were lacking, and living on tenders and fries gets old. The bars are well stocked, Dean makes good drinks, and breakfast was nice, especially the biscuit and waffles. Some dishes seemed to try too hard and miss, so sticking to basics worked best. The head waiter even looked enough like Travis Kelce to be a fun surprise. They’ll also drive guests to certain local restaurants and pick them up, with the list posted up front. For our family, the mix of a quiet pace, pool time, and play time is a good fit. We heard they’re remodeling some of the older buildings, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it turns out. We hope to return next summer.

The room was always clean and nicely appointed, and we ate well throughout the visit. Service was excellent both at the pool and in the upscale restaurant. My husband and 9-year-old son loved the pool and boardwalk, and the property itself is beautiful and very family friendly. We all had a great time and would recommend it.

The oysters at Merior were delicious. But when we came by boat this summer to have lunch and drinks at the Fish Hawk pool bar, they wanted $25 just to park the boat and visit the bar. Lunch with a couple of drinks for the two of us is already usually about $150, so it isn't cheap. Since then, I’ve tried to find out whether they charge to park on the blacktop when visiting the bar. To the bartender working the day we left, the owners kept your tip of a little over thirty dollars. At least they didn't get it either.

We came for our 25th anniversary expecting a romantic, more adult setting, especially at $700 a night. The first day was the opposite, with a packed pool and lots of screaming kids. The attendant said there might not be any loungers, though I pointed out several that looked abandoned. He wasn’t sure if their owners had left. We put our towels on a chair and got in the pool, then watched him give those loungers to another couple and remove our towels. The manager shrugged off my complaint. It felt more like a Days Inn at Disneyland than the atmosphere we expected. Things improved on Monday, with no kids at the pool and a much more relaxing day. The pool manager was great. We took a sunset cruise, then had drinks overlooking the river, which was the kind of stay we thought we’d paid for. The staff were excellent overall, aside from the first day at the overcrowded pool. The room was okay but its location was awful. We could hear the elevator chime and the ice maker, and the hallway noise continued throughout our stay. The buildings, pool area, and bathrooms also needed more attention. Yesterday, the Inn offered to move us to a quieter room, which was kind, but we were leaving soon and switching seemed like too much hassle. By the last day, the stay had been okay, though it wasn't what we expected, with too many children running around. We spent our 20th anniversary at The Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michael, MD. It cost a little more, but was worth it.