Travel within 1-2 hours (drive) of Arlington

[Anonymous]

This is OP again. Of the places you've listed that are on the water, which ones have a beach that a young child can play on (build sand castles) and water you can swim in? I know none are great because, but I can't help that we can't travel further. (I have tried to ask this question on DCUM before, and people just argued with me about why we couldn't go further, so I'm super grateful that you all are giving suggestions!)

[Anonymous]

What do you all like to do? Are there mobility limitations once you get there or just inability to sit in a car for a long period? How old are the kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you all like to do? Are there mobility limitations once you get there or just inability to sit in a car for a long period? How old are the kids?

Yes, mobility limitations once we get there. The child is 7. She REALLY wants to go to a beach, which is why I asked the question above. She won't know or care whether it's a beach on the Potomac or a river or lake. But we will need an umbrella for shade, if there's a place that rents those. I realize what I'm asking for might not exist.

[Anonymous]

Have you done Sandy Point State Park? https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/southern/SandyPoint/Beaches.aspx

I remember enjoying that beach although it was 20 years go so can’t speak to current specifics. We stayed in Annapolis.

[Anonymous]

Cunningham Falls State Park
Flag Ponds Nature Park
A cabin at Shenandoah River State Park

[Anonymous]

Areas on the patuxent river in MD are beautiful, like the greenwell state park and should be under 2 hours

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP again. Of the places you've listed that are on the water, which ones have a beach that a young child can play on (build sand castles) and water you can swim in? I know none are great because, but I can't help that we can't travel further. (I have tried to ask this question on DCUM before, and people just argued with me about why we couldn't go further, so I'm super grateful that you all are giving suggestions!)

I just recommended greenwell state park. There is a nice small beach with beautiful sand. The water is not deep and no water enclosure for kids (it gets deep eventually so young kids need to be supervised in water).

Sandy point state park was pretty shallow. Also look at lakes, I know the state parks in MD, not so much VA which may be closer to you. The greenbrier state park lake is very nice for little kids and they have enclosures to swim that are shallow. Lake Habeeb (rocky gap state park) is also sandy, shallow, and great for kids. Cunningham falls state park also have nice lake good for kids to swim (the lake was closed last year so check their website when it reopens).

Also areas on the Chesapeake bay are not deep like the sandy point and Calvert cliffs state park (this one has a longish walk between parking and beach).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you all like to do? Are there mobility limitations once you get there or just inability to sit in a car for a long period? How old are the kids?

Yes, mobility limitations once we get there. The child is 7. She REALLY wants to go to a beach, which is why I asked the question above. She won't know or care whether it's a beach on the Potomac or a river or lake. But we will need an umbrella for shade, if there's a place that rents those. I realize what I'm asking for might not exist.

The lakes have shade from trees but umbrella is a relatively easy fix cause you can buy and install your own umbrella in the sand.

[Anonymous]

Cunningham Falls State Park near Frederick (actually Thurmont, MD) is good. There is also a lake near Cumberland, MD that is very accessible. Lakes near Gettysburg/Carlisle PA at Pine Grove State Park too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you all like to do? Are there mobility limitations once you get there or just inability to sit in a car for a long period? How old are the kids?

Yes, mobility limitations once we get there. The child is 7. She REALLY wants to go to a beach, which is why I asked the question above. She won't know or care whether it's a beach on the Potomac or a river or lake. But we will need an umbrella for shade, if there's a place that rents those. I realize what I'm asking for might not exist.

What about Chesapeake Beach? Only a little over an hour away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you all like to do? Are there mobility limitations once you get there or just inability to sit in a car for a long period? How old are the kids?

Yes, mobility limitations once we get there. The child is 7. She REALLY wants to go to a beach, which is why I asked the question above. She won't know or care whether it's a beach on the Potomac or a river or lake. But we will need an umbrella for shade, if there's a place that rents those. I realize what I'm asking for might not exist.

What about Chesapeake Beach? Only a little over an hour away.

Was going to suggest this. If you don't need a huge beach, the Wylder Hotel in Tilghman Island (near St. Michael's) is super cute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you all like to do? Are there mobility limitations once you get there or just inability to sit in a car for a long period? How old are the kids?

Yes, mobility limitations once we get there. The child is 7. She REALLY wants to go to a beach, which is why I asked the question above. She won't know or care whether it's a beach on the Potomac or a river or lake. But we will need an umbrella for shade, if there's a place that rents those. I realize what I'm asking for might not exist.

What about Chesapeake Beach? Only a little over an hour away.

Was going to suggest this. If you don't need a huge beach, the Wylder Hotel in Tilghman Island (near St. Michael's) is super cute.

This is OP. This is exactly the kind of place I had in mind, except they don’t have a swimable beach at Wylder. I emailed and they said it’s just for launching kayaks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you all like to do? Are there mobility limitations once you get there or just inability to sit in a car for a long period? How old are the kids?

Yes, mobility limitations once we get there. The child is 7. She REALLY wants to go to a beach, which is why I asked the question above. She won't know or care whether it's a beach on the Potomac or a river or lake. But we will need an umbrella for shade, if there's a place that rents those. I realize what I'm asking for might not exist.

What about Chesapeake Beach? Only a little over an hour away.

Was going to suggest this. If you don't need a huge beach, the Wylder Hotel in Tilghman Island (near St. Michael's) is super cute.

This is OP. This is exactly the kind of place I had in mind, except they don’t have a swimable beach at Wylder. I emailed and they said it’s just for launching kayaks.

Do you think you could stretch the driving time to 2.5 hours and go to Lewes (on workdays), summer driving during peak easily gets to 3.5 hours, but if you try to go in off hours / days (maybe drive from Arlington on Sunday evening or Monday after 9 AM) it could work.

[Anonymous]

Sandy Point is a great mellow intro beach and the water’s not too far a walk from the parking lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you all like to do? Are there mobility limitations once you get there or just inability to sit in a car for a long period? How old are the kids?

Yes, mobility limitations once we get there. The child is 7. She REALLY wants to go to a beach, which is why I asked the question above. She won't know or care whether it's a beach on the Potomac or a river or lake. But we will need an umbrella for shade, if there's a place that rents those. I realize what I'm asking for might not exist.

What about Chesapeake Beach? Only a little over an hour away.

Was going to suggest this. If you don't need a huge beach, the Wylder Hotel in Tilghman Island (near St. Michael's) is super cute.

This is OP. This is exactly the kind of place I had in mind, except they don’t have a swimable beach at Wylder. I emailed and they said it’s just for launching kayaks.

Do you think you could stretch the driving time to 2.5 hours and go to Lewes (on workdays), summer driving during peak easily gets to 3.5 hours, but if you try to go in off hours / days (maybe drive from Arlington on Sunday evening or Monday after 9 AM) it could work.

No, we can’t. 2 hours is our stretch. One hour or less is our comfortable point.