Anonymous
Post 05/27/2025 08:39     Subject: Good beaches near Maryland to buy a vacation home?
Bethany is crowded. Why are people saying it isn’t? Just because OC is worse? Check out the beach cams at Sea Colony in season. I don’t see the appeal of Bethany at all, and I have a family member with a home there where I can stay for free.
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2025 22:08     Subject: Good beaches near Maryland to buy a vacation home?
Would you consider Bayside in Selbyville ;
adjacent to Fenwick Island?

My ILs bought a condo new in 2005 but there are houses and townhouses there, too.

There used to be a beach shuttle to OC but inside if that still runs.

Multiple pools, fitness center, golf, restaurants, grocery store, SUP, trails.



Anonymous
Post 05/26/2025 21:13     Subject: Good beaches near Maryland to buy a vacation home?
Anonymous wrote:OP did you look at the north end of Ocean City? It’s a lot quieter than midtown or down by the boardwalk. There are some quiet neighborhoods on the bay that are still walking distance to the beach. We can’t hear the highway at all from our place. We drive north to DE to eat and shop a lot more often than we drive south. But occasionally we go down by the inlet where there are a couple of good restaurants.

I wouldn’t call Bethany quiet and not crowded, at least not on summer weekends. The downtown area is packed. But it is family friendly. There are a million teens everywhere because parents feel it is safe for them to walk around, which is nice for them.



The downtown anywhere is crowded on the weekends. With Bethany it’s locals inland and weekenders coming. But it’s relative because OC and Rehoboth by the main strip is 20 times worst. Plus if you just go 2-3 blocks away from the bandstand, it is quiet.

As to young kids, sure there teens but they are there with family. Compare this to OC and Rehoboth, where they party, drink, etc…. The party kids consider Bethany boring which is just fine by us.
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2025 21:10     Subject: Good beaches near Maryland to buy a vacation home?
The beaches north of Virginia Beach are too cold since the Gulf Stream veers too far offshore to warm them.
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2025 21:05     Subject: Good beaches near Maryland to buy a vacation home?
Chincoteague is much much quieter. But to be honet (I grew up by there) it's maybe too quiet. No grocery stores on island (and the closest is Food lion, and the next closest is WalMart). No direct beach access (Chincoteague is the island tucked behind the barrier island and beaches of Assateague, VA.).
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2025 20:46     Subject: Good beaches near Maryland to buy a vacation home?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The beaches just don’t feel real until you go to mid to southern North Carolina and points south of there.
I’d want a house on stilts on the oceanfront beach with a private boardwalk from my house to ocean.
The Delaware beaches just feel like a little town near a beach.


For me, the real beaches are up north in New England. Yes, quite different, but that's what I think of when summering and a second home near the water.


Same. Grew up in New England and the Cape / Maine (lakes and coast) / Hamptons / Vineyard / Nantucket are all so much better than what we have driving distance in the DMV.
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2025 20:27     Subject: Good beaches near Maryland to buy a vacation home?
It's too north, go south like VA Beach or lower
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2025 20:23     Subject: Good beaches near Maryland to buy a vacation home?
Lewes
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2025 19:33     Subject: Good beaches near Maryland to buy a vacation home?
OP did you look at the north end of Ocean City? It’s a lot quieter than midtown or down by the boardwalk. There are some quiet neighborhoods on the bay that are still walking distance to the beach. We can’t hear the highway at all from our place. We drive north to DE to eat and shop a lot more often than we drive south. But occasionally we go down by the inlet where there are a couple of good restaurants.

I wouldn’t call Bethany quiet and not crowded, at least not on summer weekends. The downtown area is packed. But it is family friendly. There are a million teens everywhere because parents feel it is safe for them to walk around, which is nice for them.
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2025 16:47     Subject: Good beaches near Maryland to buy a vacation home?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The beaches just don’t feel real until you go to mid to southern North Carolina and points south of there.
I’d want a house on stilts on the oceanfront beach with a private boardwalk from my house to ocean.
The Delaware beaches just feel like a little town near a beach.


For me, the real beaches are up north in New England. Yes, quite different, but that's what I think of when summering and a second home near the water.
m
Op here - Yes, we would love that, it’s kind of the ideal for us, but too far. We don’t have want to be reliant on air travel and driving further than 3-3.5 hrs with young kids isn’t comfortable for us.
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2025 09:03     Subject: Good beaches near Maryland to buy a vacation home?
Anonymous wrote:The beaches just don’t feel real until you go to mid to southern North Carolina and points south of there.
I’d want a house on stilts on the oceanfront beach with a private boardwalk from my house to ocean.
The Delaware beaches just feel like a little town near a beach.


For me, the real beaches are up north in New England. Yes, quite different, but that's what I think of when summering and a second home near the water.
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2025 08:52     Subject: Good beaches near Maryland to buy a vacation home?
The beaches just don’t feel real until you go to mid to southern North Carolina and points south of there.
I’d want a house on stilts on the oceanfront beach with a private boardwalk from my house to ocean.
The Delaware beaches just feel like a little town near a beach.
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2025 08:47     Subject: Re:Good beaches near Maryland to buy a vacation home?
Do you have kids? Ocnj ( south end).. for more upscale- avalon or Stone harbor
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2025 08:38     Subject: Re:Good beaches near Maryland to buy a vacation home?
Bethany is the answer if you want something on or near the beach.

You don’t even have to drive if within town limits, because there is a free shuttle that stops right in front of your house and runs all day till 9pm. Or you can just do 5 min bike or 10-20 minute walk, easy.

If you are in north Bethany, homes on private beaches all to yourself

South Bethany on beach or just few blocks to beach with waterfront canal houses and basically semi-private.

Bethany is not cheap though. Above comes with premium and prices driven up because of the wealthy DMV crowd.
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2025 07:12     Subject: Good beaches near Maryland to buy a vacation home?
Check out Lewes, DE, Bethany, DE, and North Shores, DE (north of Rehoboth). There's also a stretch between Rehoboth and Dewey (I think it's technically Rehoboth?) that is quiet and the beaches are less crowded. You could bike to go to Rehoboth or Dewey if you want to go into a town.

We love Downtown Rehoboth but it might be too busy for you.