Thank you for this! |
I'm getting the same crap on a different thread. So I'm guessing there is a troublemaker on DCUM at the moment. Anyway, another option is Colonial Beach, VA. About 1.5 hours and on the bay. Easy to access beaches too. You can park right in front of the beach. |
Look into Cunningham Falls State Park, Rocky Gap State Park, or Shenandoah River State Park. |
This. Unsafe. |
+1 They are manmade, warm, silty, and gross. |
Smith Mountain Lake is a bit further. Bernard's Landing also has pools. |
Another vote for Cunningham Falls State Park which has a paved parking lot very close (albeit a paved hill path) down to a lake and gentle beach area great for children. One hour drive, no need to stay overnight. |
Ick NO. We enjoyed this beach several years ago but we went last year in July and it was gross... sand washed away, jellyfish washed up on sand, and many jellyfish in the water. Only a few people were brave enough to swim in the water. My son wanted to leave less than an hour after we arrived. And the town looked shabbier than in years past. That said, there was a storm and sewage spill upstream within a week of our visit so perhaps we just visited there at a bad time. There are online jellyfish trackers you can check before visiting local beaches. One local trip we really enjoy is Calvert County and St Mary's county. Apx 1.5 hour drive from DC and several parks with water access to Chesapeake bay or Potomac River. Sometimes when we go there are few jellyfish. |
Just over three hours from NOVA is Lake Gaston, which is on the VA/NC border. We went a few years ago and really enjoyed! |
So true, reminds me of toilet water. Disgusting. |
There's Greenbrier State Park in MD that's pretty cute and has a sandy beach for the kids to play in. I have only camped there but it would work as a day trip. It may be fun to stay in Frederick for a weekend? |
OP, I would recommend Lake Anna. It's easy to get to from the DMV and you can do a nice big airbnb pretty cheaply. The water is super calm (and warm, which yes, I know bothers some people).
We're going over Memorial Day with some friends and really looking forward to it. |
Chesapeake Bay Hyatt seems like it wouldn’t all of your needs. |
*would fit |
I would go to Lake Anna, but try to rent a house at the southern end of the lake. The water quality issues are almost exclusively north of the 208 bridge, plus it is much busier on the lake north of the bridge. The state park isn't much of an option because there aren't many hotels/motels to stay and you would need to drive there everyday. I do think the state park has some nice cabins to rent though. |