Do families really drive all the way to Bethany Beach for a one day trip?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We do daytrips to Rehoboth every summer. Pack and do as much as possible the night before. Wake up and throw on bathing suits and just get on the road early by 6:45/7a at the latest. Even earlier if you can. This only works if you really get out the door early.

Arrive in Rehoboth around 9/9:30a and it's pretty easy to park within walking distance (one block) of the beach. We go for the parkmobile type spots a few streets down from the main circle area.

Back on the road around 4p, stop for iced coffee at Rise Up, then for ice cream at Vanderwende's farm creamery.

On occasion, have stopped for dinner on the way back - Annapolis or crabs.

Been doing this for a few years now when the weather looks nice.

Oh true, parking is WAY harder than it was for our parents. Parking is in shorter supply, maybe more enforcement too.

Worst case driver parks a town over and Ubers to beach but that adds expense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't how this is fun for parents or the children. I'd rather relax at a local pool and use the gas money to buy some nice steaks and burger meat to grill. But I guess that doesn't get you a facebook check-in or whatever these social media obsessed people do for a dopamine hit.

No kids want to sit around and grill steaks. Kids want to go to the beach and Funland and win crappy prizes and tickets and eat ice cream and fries and funnel cake.

[Anonymous]

Sounds dreadful.

[Anonymous]

My DD have had a tradition of getting up at 5 am and driving to Bethany/Rehoboth just for the day. We do it just to get away, go shopping and be somewhere that feels like vacation. We don’t come back the same day, we like to get dinner and stay over then come back first thing in the morning. But yeah it’s a thing. My DS has friends who just go for the day, he’s gone with them.

We are in NOVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do daytrips to Rehoboth every summer. Pack and do as much as possible the night before. Wake up and throw on bathing suits and just get on the road early by 6:45/7a at the latest. Even earlier if you can. This only works if you really get out the door early.

Arrive in Rehoboth around 9/9:30a and it's pretty easy to park within walking distance (one block) of the beach. We go for the parkmobile type spots a few streets down from the main circle area.

Back on the road around 4p, stop for iced coffee at Rise Up, then for ice cream at Vanderwende's farm creamery.

On occasion, have stopped for dinner on the way back - Annapolis or crabs.

Been doing this for a few years now when the weather looks nice.

Oh true, parking is WAY harder than it was for our parents. Parking is in shorter supply, maybe more enforcement too.

Worst case driver parks a town over and Ubers to beach but that adds expense.

It is super easy as long as you are there by 930ish and not a holiday weekend, park in the first block from the beach on the side streets with parkmobile spots. I cant speak much to how difficult after 930. I think we arrived by 10a once and it was still fine but not sure if the weekend was slow or if that is typical

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD have had a tradition of getting up at 5 am and driving to Bethany/Rehoboth just for the day. We do it just to get away, go shopping and be somewhere that feels like vacation. We don’t come back the same day, we like to get dinner and stay over then come back first thing in the morning. But yeah it’s a thing. My DS has friends who just go for the day, he’s gone with them.

We are in NOVA.

You're describing a one night stay. Much different. You have a hotel as your base, a place to park, change clothes, cool down, rest, and shower. You don't drive back until you're refreshed in the morning. That is the way to do it. There and back same day with kids makes you a skinflint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where do families change clothes and shower if you’re at a beach all day? I feel gross after being at the beach or a pool for a few hours. I’m certainly not in the mood to go out to dinner or shop without a shower, clean clothes, and maybe a quick rest.

Beach for a day is not for you.

I don’t know how most of these people manage life if they can’t do a day trip to the beach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD have had a tradition of getting up at 5 am and driving to Bethany/Rehoboth just for the day. We do it just to get away, go shopping and be somewhere that feels like vacation. We don’t come back the same day, we like to get dinner and stay over then come back first thing in the morning. But yeah it’s a thing. My DS has friends who just go for the day, he’s gone with them.

We are in NOVA.

You're describing a one night stay. Much different. You have a hotel as your base, a place to park, change clothes, cool down, rest, and shower. You don't drive back until you're refreshed in the morning. That is the way to do it. There and back same day with kids makes you a skinflint.

Or your kid needs to be at camp the next morning and you need to be at work. Needs by way of he needs to be cared for while I work.

I would hate to waste the morning driving home when there is night time to do so. Oh and risk bed bugs while youre at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’ve never personally done it, but the underlying issues with your BIL and SIL are clear in your post, so might want to examine that instead.

+1

[Anonymous]

If you’re military or DOD civilian (basically if you can get yourself into the installation), the local military bases run buses to the beach in the summer. Leave at 7, return at 7, and you don’t have to worry about driving or parking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD have had a tradition of getting up at 5 am and driving to Bethany/Rehoboth just for the day. We do it just to get away, go shopping and be somewhere that feels like vacation. We don’t come back the same day, we like to get dinner and stay over then come back first thing in the morning. But yeah it’s a thing. My DS has friends who just go for the day, he’s gone with them.

We are in NOVA.

You're describing a one night stay. Much different. You have a hotel as your base, a place to park, change clothes, cool down, rest, and shower. You don't drive back until you're refreshed in the morning. That is the way to do it. There and back same day with kids makes you a skinflint.

I'm a happy skinflint who does this!

PS, "skinflint"... Really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re military or DOD civilian (basically if you can get yourself into the installation), the local military bases run buses to the beach in the summer. Leave at 7, return at 7, and you don’t have to worry about driving or parking.

WHAT?? Like Andrews or a
Myers Henderson

[Anonymous]

We’ve done it. It’s a lot of fun and better than just staying home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not from DC. I went to Rehoboth once during covid for the day. It was awful.

Cool story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom was a nurse. She would have days off during the week. On a warm day in May she would tell us that we weren't going to school that day; we were off to the beach.

It is one of my fondest memories of my childhood. As an adult now, I can see how hard that trip is---3 hrs each way; a day in the sun and water chasing 2 kids.

I love this. What a great mom.