Looking to getaway for a quick weekend? Well, a few weeks back, I took a fabulous trip to Wilmington, Delaware, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it. There are so many great things to do in the area – whether you want to eat all the things or go museum hopping, there’s something for every “type” of traveler. Here’s what was up for my trip this time ’round…
Where to Stay
Hotel Du Pont
Hotel Du Pont’s easily one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. Located at 42 W. 11th Street, this historic building’s nothing short of extraordinary. My mom and I stayed in one of their luxury king rooms for the weekend, and it was spacious, comfortable, and well, luxurious.
The room had striking mahogany pillars along with a large bathroom with a tub and four-fixture bath. It was impeccable in terms of cleanliness AND design – think classic with modern comforts – and the bed was wonderful. The internet was quick which is definitely worth mentioning because so many of us work “from home” now.
I also loved that they were a dog-friendly establishment – I take Daisy everywhere so if you’re like me, you’ll be happy to hear that your furbaby can tag along for a non-refundable fee of $100 per night. The only other cost to consider is valet, and that’s $25 per night – there’s plenty of street parking available though so that’s an option if you prefer.
Where to Eat
Le Cavalier
Located inside Hotel Du Pont, Le Cavalier was recently taken over by chef Tyler Akin, the epic restauranteur behind Philly restaurants Stock and Res Ipsa Cafe. Inspired by the flavors of North Africa and Provençe, the menu features French classics, both traditional and reimagined.
Start your meal off with at LEAST 2 appetizers because their petits plats are exceptional. I recommend their French onion soup, hen of the woods mushroom and lobster tails! As for entrees, you can’t go wrong with steak frites, but their branzino was exquisite.
Bardea
I can’t make a trip to Wilmington, DE without stopping by Bardea. If you follow my food account (@nomtasticfoods), you already know that they’re one of my favorite restaurants on the east coast.
They source their ingredients locally and offer traditional Italian staples with a truly inventive spin. Must try dishes include their avocado, whatever tartare’s available, their ricotta gnocchi and mushroom tart.
DE.CO
I was starving when I first checked in, so naturally, I went to DE.CO to pick up some grub to enjoy in the comfort of my room. I saw that Bardea had a pizzeria on site so I figured why not get a huge Detroit style pizza?
I went with the Upside Down – $22 for a GINORMOUS pie topped with fresh mozz, grana padano, ricotta, garlic oil and tomato drizzle. And I may or may not have eaten pizza for breakfast for the next few days. Don’t judge. I have zero regrets.
What to Do
Currie Spa
There’s a ton to do in the area, but my main focus this time ’round was R&R. I ended up spending quite a bit of time at Currie Hair, Skin and Nails, and I highly recommend you guys make the trip to do so as well. First things first, I was blown away by how gorgeous the salon was.
This flagship location is a state-of-the-art space, and it’s easy to see why it’s a destination spa for both men and women. With everything from infrared sauna treatments to hair and makeup, there’s something for everyone. It’s been a minute since I’ve gotten a body treatment and facial so I decided to treat myself.
Montalcino Thermal Mud Body Treatment
Just wow. My skin felt so unbelievably smooth after this treatment. They use thermal waters from Montalcino in Tuscany, which is said to detoxify, revitalize and fight cellulite. A blend of essential oils are also massaged into your skin to encourage the mobilization of accumulated toxins to ultimately restore vitality and drain tissue in one blissful hour.
Hydrafacial
They offer 3 different hydrafacials: signature, deluxe and platinum. I went with the first, a 45-minute treatment that deeply cleansed, exfoliated, extracted, and hydrated my face using a reallllly fancy looking machine filled with super serums that contained power ingredients like antioxidants, peptides, and hyaluronic acid.
I was worried the process would be uncomfortable, but it was actually enjoyable. I loved feeling the machine travel across my face, and my skin looked amazing afterwards. I thought it was especially cool to see all the nasty gunk that was “pulled” out during the process. Ask your esthie to show you post-facial – it’s actually pretty crazy to see all the build-up right in front of you!
So, what did we all learn from today’s post? You need to take some time off and book a trip to Wilmington because life’s just too short. For those of you in the DMV area – …and for those of you who aren’t – Delaware’s an awesome option for a fun weekend away. Have questions about my recent getaway? Leave me a comment below or shoot me a quick email at info@sensiblestylista.com.
