Chesapeake Bay vacation home

[Anonymous]

We are looking for a bay house for weekend getaways. Someplace closer in, if possible (two hour drive), and not too far from restaurants and shopping. A friend suggested the Solomons Island/Lusby, MD, area, but we don't know anything about it. Does anyone have any experience visiting the area or have any ideas of communities there that we should look into? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Chincoteague!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are looking for a bay house for weekend getaways. Someplace closer in, if possible (two hour drive), and not too far from restaurants and shopping. A friend suggested the Solomons Island/Lusby, MD, area, but we don't know anything about it. Does anyone have any experience visiting the area or have any ideas of communities there that we should look into? Thanks.

St. Mikes, Tilghman Island, Rock Hall, Kent Island on the Eastern Shore. Solomon's, Deal, Chesapeake Beach, North Beach, Shady Side and Galesville on the Western Shore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are looking for a bay house for weekend getaways. Someplace closer in, if possible (two hour drive), and not too far from restaurants and shopping. A friend suggested the Solomons Island/Lusby, MD, area, but we don't know anything about it. Does anyone have any experience visiting the area or have any ideas of communities there that we should look into? Thanks.

Will you really use the house that much? As kids get older, they may want to stay close to home to be near their friends, etc.

[Anonymous]

If you are looking in the $1M plus range, you can't beat Gibson Island, MD. Only 45 minutes from DC and you don't have to cross the Bay Bridge. Great for young families. But it is expensive...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chincoteague!

3+ hours away, on the Atlantic, not the Chesapeake. So, not quite fitting the criteria.

Also, while i love it, it's quiet and sleepy, and not close to shopping or anything remotely city like. It is a fun small town, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are looking for a bay house for weekend getaways. Someplace closer in, if possible (two hour drive), and not too far from restaurants and shopping. A friend suggested the Solomons Island/Lusby, MD, area, but we don't know anything about it. Does anyone have any experience visiting the area or have any ideas of communities there that we should look into? Thanks.

My mother had a weekend home near Solomons Island. It was lovely. The shops and restaurants on Solomons Island are really nice and it is not as expensive as St. Michaels. I would definitely visit. There is also a wonderful marine museum with some of the oldest marine artifacts in the mid-atlantic region. My kids loved going there when we would visit. My mother sold it when her health started to decline but we really enjoyed spending time there.

[Anonymous]

How much you looking to spend? This will determine if your drive is 2 hours or 7.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much you looking to spend? This will determine if your drive is 2 hours or 7.

Agree. Price will also factor into whether you are looking for a beach front or beach view. I have relatives with a vacation house right on the beach at Plum Point in Neeld Estate in Calvert County in a lovely neighborhood of older homes but it is really pricey right now. There is a nice community of single family homes up the beach called Breezy Point that is also very nice. It's about 1 1/2 hours away from DC on this side of the bay and very doable for a weekend home. North Beach and Chesapeake Beach have some condos on the water that might work for you as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are looking in the $1M plus range, you can't beat Gibson Island, MD. Only 45 minutes from DC and you don't have to cross the Bay Bridge. Great for young families. But it is expensive...

Totally agree. Amazing place and great for kids and parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much you looking to spend? This will determine if your drive is 2 hours or 7.

At just about any budget, you can find something w/in a 2 hr drive. It's the amentities that will change. If you don't mind a sleepy town or being in the middle of nowhere, the price may be lower. Townhouses vs. SFH will be less (sometimes - but not a given). If you're willing to be near the water, but not on the water, that can lower the price as well. Rock Hall, MD is a pretty small town - but it does have resturants and it's pretty cute. They have a public beach and several marinas so even if you aren't on the water, you can access the water easily enough. I recommend renting places for a few weekends in different towns to get a feel for what you like. In general, the Eastern Shore is way less developed than the Western Shore. If you cross the Bay Bridge and drive north - it's very, very country. If you go south, there's a little more civilization. But the upper Eastern Shore can be nice b/c we don't get the jelly fish up there. I love the bay and have been going there for many years.

[Anonymous]

We have a small place in 20714. Without traffic we get there in under 50 minutes from DC. North Beach and Chesapeake Beach have lots to do (relatively speaking) for a water oriented community. Prices are down.

[Anonymous]

I'm from down there. As a pp mentioned, jellyfish are a big reality so if you are thinking house on the water so you can swim, rethink it.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried the Northern Neck in Virginia - also on the Bay. Reedville? Edwardsville? Kilmarnock? My dad was from there and it's close and very beautiful. Not much going on though. Cheaper than the MD side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are looking for a bay house for weekend getaways. Someplace closer in, if possible (two hour drive), and not too far from restaurants and shopping. A friend suggested the Solomons Island/Lusby, MD, area, but we don't know anything about it. Does anyone have any experience visiting the area or have any ideas of communities there that we should look into? Thanks.

Will you really use the house that much? As kids get older, they may want to stay close to home to be near their friends, etc.

OP here. My partner and I don't have kids, but thanks for the concern.