Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP … Brit here who childhood summers in France on various coasts. America is just not as beautiful as Europe. I still miss it every day. The only place that’s anything close is Southern California (where I spent most of my 20 years in America and just moved back to from DC). The East coast is especially underwhelming to Europeans in my experience. We are spoilt for choice with so many amazing places in close proximity in Europe, so we have high expectations.

Another Brit here and I disagree a little. St Michaels, oxford, Easton, and Berlin are nicer than most places in the UK, and than many places in France. Not spectacular maybe, but very pleasant. It’s easy to romanticize places, but spend some time in Blackpool, Skegness or Calais and tell me you would rather be there than St Michaels.

I’m not counting the UK lol … I meant “continental Europe”… as you’re a Brit, I’m sure you too assume we’re rubbish at everything, including beaches

Anonymous wrote:OP … Brit here who childhood summers in France on various coasts. America is just not as beautiful as Europe. I still miss it every day. The only place that’s anything close is Southern California (where I spent most of my 20 years in America and just moved back to from DC). The East coast is especially underwhelming to Europeans in my experience. We are spoilt for choice with so many amazing places in close proximity in Europe, so we have high expectations.

“Southern California,” while nice in parts isn’t even the prettiest part of California. Then there is the coasts of Oregon and Washington State. Wild, spectacular and more majestic than anything in the UK.

Anonymous wrote:OP … Brit here who childhood summers in France on various coasts. America is just not as beautiful as Europe. I still miss it every day. The only place that’s anything close is Southern California (where I spent most of my 20 years in America and just moved back to from DC). The East coast is especially underwhelming to Europeans in my experience. We are spoilt for choice with so many amazing places in close proximity in Europe, so we have high expectations.

Wow! A Brit throwing shade at America and its lack of beauty. The coasts, mountains, and deserts of America top anything in the UK. Next you’re going to tell us how we’re a food wasteland, while espousing the virtues of mushy peas, fried fish, and pork pie.

My husband grew up in New England and he and his family say that places like Cape Charles, Chincoteague and Wachapreague remind them of what Cape Cod was like before it got super touristy. Our kids kind of love going to a little casual restaurant still in a bathing suit, sandy. Not too fancy.

Obx is ugly. Va beach is ugly in parts, ocean city is not pretty. Rehoboth is nice in areas.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP … Brit here who childhood summers in France on various coasts. America is just not as beautiful as Europe. I still miss it every day. The only place that’s anything close is Southern California (where I spent most of my 20 years in America and just moved back to from DC). The East coast is especially underwhelming to Europeans in my experience. We are spoilt for choice with so many amazing places in close proximity in Europe, so we have high expectations.

Another Brit here and I disagree a little. St Michaels, oxford, Easton, and Berlin are nicer than most places in the UK, and than many places in France. Not spectacular maybe, but very pleasant. It’s easy to romanticize places, but spend some time in Blackpool, Skegness or Calais and tell me you would rather be there than St Michaels.

Yes the problem is that OP wanted charming on the eastern shore and picked family beach towns on the atlantic. Very different. Blackpool vs Ocean City would be an interesting comparison.

Anonymous wrote:OP … Brit here who childhood summers in France on various coasts. America is just not as beautiful as Europe. I still miss it every day. The only place that’s anything close is Southern California (where I spent most of my 20 years in America and just moved back to from DC). The East coast is especially underwhelming to Europeans in my experience. We are spoilt for choice with so many amazing places in close proximity in Europe, so we have high expectations.

Another Brit here and I disagree a little. St Michaels, oxford, Easton, and Berlin are nicer than most places in the UK, and than many places in France. Not spectacular maybe, but very pleasant. It’s easy to romanticize places, but spend some time in Blackpool, Skegness or Calais and tell me you would rather be there than St Michaels.

Anonymous wrote:OP … Brit here who childhood summers in France on various coasts. America is just not as beautiful as Europe. I still miss it every day. The only place that’s anything close is Southern California (where I spent most of my 20 years in America and just moved back to from DC). The East coast is especially underwhelming to Europeans in my experience. We are spoilt for choice with so many amazing places in close proximity in Europe, so we have high expectations.

You said it so eloquently and don't sound like a snot like the OP.

It sounds like you did no research, and why in the world would you go to the Eastern Shore in April?? The Delaware beaches are most enjoyable in June through August. You sound so pretentious and need something like Nantucket or Cape Cod.

OP … Brit here who childhood summers in France on various coasts. America is just not as beautiful as Europe. I still miss it every day. The only place that’s anything close is Southern California (where I spent most of my 20 years in America and just moved back to from DC). The East coast is especially underwhelming to Europeans in my experience. We are spoilt for choice with so many amazing places in close proximity in Europe, so we have high expectations.

Anonymous wrote:We just returned from the Spring Break in Lewes Beach. OMG - what was I thinking?! First time there and this was miserable. Close to zero attractions. They have a massive road just outside the town with endless shopping malls. Is that how the beach towns feel like on the East Coast?! We drove to Bethany Beach, which was just so ugly. Zero charm and so much ugliness. Sorry - a recent transplant from France here and my disappointment is huge. Is OXC equally as ugly? Is Florida better?

Yes, to some degree. A lot of beach towns on are just like Lewes. At least Lewes has Cape Henlopen park that is mostly unspoiled. Planning and zoning laws are very different in the US compared to most countries in Europe. In the future, look for somewhere with a state park or a national park nearby. We like St. Augustine in Florida, because we can stay in town or close to some relatively unspoiled beaches and Anastasia Island state park is lovely. Closer to DC, there really isn't much--Cape Charles is a cute town with a very small beach that gets crowded in the summer. Parts of OBX are nice, Cape Cod and the islands are lovely but terribly overcrowded in the summer.

Save your $$ for summer trips back to France.

Anonymous wrote:Idk, never been to the Eastern Shore. Have lived in DC for 25 years and have a place on Cape Cod and family with homes in the Hamptons we stay with. That sounds snotty but honestly don't mean it that way, just not really "beach people" and nothing about this particular area has had appeal besides "close." I think the "nostalgia" person is onto something.

+1

Anonymous wrote:Eastern shore is way overrated. And so expensive in the summer. OBX is not much better.

We used to love going to Hatteras Island. I think it’s beautiful there and enjoy the quietness there and the fact that there isn’t much to do. That said, we have kind of been priced out. Home rental prices are insane and for the same money- or less in a lot of cases, we can go somewhere new and exciting that’s a lot less of a hassle. While we loved are OBX trips, the slog down 95 and across 64, was brutal.

If there is one thing we can fix on this thread can we all agree "Eastern Shore" is the Chesapeake Bay. I've never once heard anyone who lived in the DMV area refer to the actual Ocean as the "Eastern Shore".

https://www.visitmaryland.org/regions-cities/eastern-shore

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just returned from the Spring Break in Lewes Beach. OMG - what was I thinking?! First time there and this was miserable. Close to zero attractions. They have a massive road just outside the town with endless shopping malls. Is that how the beach towns feel like on the East Coast?! We drove to Bethany Beach, which was just so ugly. Zero charm and so much ugliness. Sorry - a recent transplant from France here and my disappointment is huge. Is OXC equally as ugly? Is Florida better?

. Atlantic ocean is mostly ugly. OBX is terrible for me. I like Ft Myers and St Pete beach area and nothing in the states equals San Tropez

+1

I agree.