Beaches - I’m sort of lost

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm from FL (gulf coast), and it has ruined me for the "beaches" around here. Lower your expectations immensely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would cross Cape Charles and St Michaels off your list. Basically there are beaches all along the coast of North Carolina, Virginia. Maryland and Delaware. So you could add relatively close by places like Ocean City, Rehoboth, Bethany. Or further away places like Chesapeake Beach, VA, Emerald Isle NC, etc.

It depends a little on what you want-- house vs condo vs hotel and what sort of town you want-- really busy beach town, or quiet not much to do besides beach or maybe something in between.

Townhouse, condo with a community pool, hotel with a pool or beach access all sound good (bonus that I don’t have to cook at a hotel!) Would be nice to be able to walk or short drive to get dinner, or ice cream. May I ask why no Cape Charles? I searched the forum and people said it was good for young kids but maybe not?

Cape Charles and St. Michael’s are on the bay, so not a real beach IMO.

Me again hit submit too soon. Lewes is also in the bay but a very close drive to an actual ocean beach.

Lewes has Cape Henolpen State Park which is all beach to Rehoboth. If one is staying on the bay, it is an easy bike ride into the park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm from FL (gulf coast), and it has ruined me for the "beaches" around here. Lower your expectations immensely.

I'm rolling my eyes hard on this one.

I have been to beaches all over the world and I have enjoyed all of them, including the beaches of this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm from FL (gulf coast), and it has ruined me for the "beaches" around here. Lower your expectations immensely.

I'm rolling my eyes hard on this one.

I have been to beaches all over the world and I have enjoyed all of them, including the beaches of this area.

I know, right?

I'm the person who grew up going to Ocean City. Many people hate it, but I love it (in small doses!). I love the outer banks (though I find it a little boring for a week). Hilton head was great.

I've lived along the northern part of Florida (affectionately called the redneck Riviera) and those beaches are AMAZING. I love it. My parents live on the gulf by Sarasota - love it!

I've been to Caribbean beaches - love those. New England beaches - they are great! Even the rocky ones are fun for tide pooling. I'm less familiar with west coast beaches but love them. Europe beaches - great! New Zealand beaches - amazing!

You can enjoy all sorts of experiences and different price points and different activities and different customs and just really find something to like at any beach.

[Anonymous]

St. Mchaels is not the beach.

I think of the beach as on the ocean.

I don't get we the appeal of the Outer Banks. Either do Dewey or Sandbridge.

[Anonymous]

Also, I agree- fly to gulf coast of florida- it is cheaper in summer than any beach around here and so much nicer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St. Mchaels is not the beach.

I think of the beach as on the ocean.

I don't get we the appeal of the Outer Banks. Either do Dewey or Sandbridge.

Just curious what it is you don't like about the Outer Banks?

[Anonymous]

Whatever you decide OP, please report back after you get back!

[Anonymous]

OBX is WAY TOO ROUGH for non-expert swimmers. Each summer something like a dozen people drown there. No way would I take my kids there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are you from? What is your idea of a good beach? Have you looked at these places on a map? A couple of them are not "the beach". The outer banks is almost 200 miles of beach whereas Lewes is a small town.

West Coast. We vacationed in Southern California often. I generally have an idea that “the beach” here is not what we picture when we think of a beach out west but other than that I have no idea where to even begin to look

Hi there, PP. I'm originally from SoCal, spent my youth within 5 miles of the beach.

It's a much different vibe here with varying rules on beach access depending on where you here. More than anything, East Coasters are really into renting big houses or condos on or adjacent to the sand. Unlike California, pretty much all the beach communities on the East Coast are 2nd home/vacation towns - I think this is the biggest difference in the character of East Coast beaches vs. California beaches. Lots of beaches on the East Coast restrict public access, either by restricting access to only residents/tenants or providing very little to no public parking.

Ocean City, Bethany Beach, Rehoboth, and the Jersey Shore are sort of like California is that the beaches are public, there's a nice boardwalk/pathway, lots of parking and commercial amenities. However, unlike California, they also tend to have a theme park vibe (sort of like a trashier version of Santa Monica Pier). These beaches get very crowded, just like the beaches in Los Angeles County.

I'd recommend the Outer Banks for a true beach experience that is probably somewhat similar to Orange County, California. Low density housing near the long and wide beach, nice sand and good waves, houses are either on the oceanfront or all within a few blocks' walk. The beach is public, but there's very public parking so essentially you only go to the stretch of beach where you're staying. Because of this, the beaches are not super crowded.

Personally, I think you'd maybe like Outer Banks (Corolla, Duck for more lively areas; Rodanthe or Hattaras if you want a more rural beach experience). If you want a proper beach town with a fun boardwalk for the kids, Bethany Beach in Delaware is considered the nicest.

We've also come to really enjoy Broadkill Beach in Delaware (it's on the Bay, but no commercial development and it feels like the 1980s in terms of no crowds, lots of bonfires, and lack of rules) and Fenwick Island, Delaware (also low key).

I would not recommend staying on the Chesapeake Bay, unless you have access to a boat. You can explore the Chesapeake a few years from now; but it won't scratch the itch for a "beach vacation."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OBX is WAY TOO ROUGH for non-expert swimmers. Each summer something like a dozen people drown there. No way would I take my kids there.

This is a factually false generalization. Have even been? OBX is over a hundred miles of beach, many of which are not rough at all.

[Anonymous]

I'd go for the Jersey Shore beaches (Spring Lake is adorable) or the Delaware beaches. The drive from DC to OBX is a death march in the summer, especially the return drive when everyone vacates their McMansion rentals at the exact same time and crawls to 95 for the drive north. Cape Charles is cute but there's very little by way of dining and entertainment, which is FINE if you don't mind cooking/ meal prep for most of your vacation. We had a nice trip there -- pleasant locals, wasn't commercialized, etc, but no break from Mom Life. Delaware beaches are very nice, plenty of restaurant options.

(By the way, you have to pay to enter the beach in New Jersey, so bring a little cash if that's the route you go!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Mchaels is not the beach.

I think of the beach as on the ocean.

I don't get we the appeal of the Outer Banks. Either do Dewey or Sandbridge.

Just curious what it is you don't like about the Outer Banks?

it is a far drive, expensive, the beaches are narrow and the water is not clear and rough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OBX is WAY TOO ROUGH for non-expert swimmers. Each summer something like a dozen people drown there. No way would I take my kids there.

This is a factually false generalization. Have even been? OBX is over a hundred miles of beach, many of which are not rough at all.

Was literally about to post the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Mchaels is not the beach.

I think of the beach as on the ocean.

I don't get we the appeal of the Outer Banks. Either do Dewey or Sandbridge.

Just curious what it is you don't like about the Outer Banks?

it is a far drive, expensive, the beaches are narrow and the water is not clear and rough.

If you drive a peak times the drive is long. Not all the beaches are narrow. Some days it is clear and calm some days it isn’t