Rent a beach front condo in the tower at Sea Colony in Bethany Beach. I thought I would hate it, but it's actually perfect for families with small kids (multiple pools, chair & umbrella service, activities for families, easy to go from pool back to your room to change a diaper or put baby down for a nap, etc.)

The only thing missing is good on-site dining. But there are multiple restaurants across the road or just order in delivery food.

I can't stress how easy Sea Colony is for a family with kids under the age of 10.

Go to Virginia Beach instead and stay at the Cavalier. It's spectacular and even has a glam indoor pool.

The three nicest places other than Congress Hall are Ocean Beach, Icona and La Mer.

Have stayed at Icona and La Mer. Both are nice but prefer Icona as it's newer and the style of rooms is more what we like. It's hard to get rooms during peak season at all four of these properties.

+1 Sanderling.

Congress Hall is okay and they have one really nice, fancy restaurant that's quite good but I think Cape May is better for kids who are old enough to enjoy the ocean - so preschool to teens. I did not find it really fun or relaxing when DC was your child's age.

If you can do without being right next to the ocean the Beach Plum Inn just a few minutes from the boardwalk is just beautiful. It's the most Martha's Vineyard-type place I've seen outside of Martha's Vineyard.

There are a bunch of upscale inns in Spring Lake and Cape May. Look there. Or Newport.

Nothing driving distance to here is very nice, yet you'll be paying high prices. Just take jet blue to MV or Nantucket and stay at the White Elephant residences. Direct from dca, and you'll be in your room quicker than you'd be out of DE traffic. White Elephant has all of the baby stuff needed there, so you arrive to a room set up for you.

Hilton Ocean City is a good option for this. We have loved sitting on the balcony looking at the ocean, which is right there. Indoor and outdoor pools, too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drive to OBX and stay at the Sanderling

I was going to suggest this too. Much more in line with OPs description of what she wants.

Agreed. This is your answer!

Anonymous wrote:We LOVE La Mer Beachfront Resort in Cape May. Both the hotel and the town are beautiful. They also did a major renovation for most of their rooms so make sure you stay in one of the renovated rooms. The resort is family owned and family friendly.

https://capemaylamer.com/

La Mer has always looked appealing but it seems far from the pedestrianized mall. Do you get in the car for dinner from La Mer? The appeal of the more centrally located hotels (I recommended Congress Hall) is that you can just stroll over.

How about the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay in Cambridge, MD?
It’s on the bay , not the ocean but they have a small sand beach that’s very kid friendly, a spa, nice restaurants, beautiful views, 3 pools, and it’s less than a 2 hour drive from DC. They also have a nice golf course.
We went there a lot when our kids were little.

https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/en-US/chesa-hyatt-regency-chesapeake-bay-golf-resort-spa-and-marina

Direct flight from DCA to ACK takes one hour maximum. Stay here:
https://www.thenantuckethotel.com/

Anonymous wrote:Drive to OBX and stay at the Sanderling

I was going to suggest this too. Much more in line with OPs description of what she wants.

We LOVE La Mer Beachfront Resort in Cape May. Both the hotel and the town are beautiful. They also did a major renovation for most of their rooms so make sure you stay in one of the renovated rooms. The resort is family owned and family friendly.

https://capemaylamer.com/

Anonymous wrote:You know you can fly very easily to the Vineyard from DC? or DC to Hyannis and take the ferry?

Totally!

Anonymous wrote:Bethany Beach Ocean Suites is by far the best option for this. We started going at about that age. Hotel is part of Marriott.

Second this. Direct access to the beach , a nice restaurant with room service, and steps to a family friendly boardwalk. It meets your requirement. It’s a newer hotel so still nice (for a beach town). But not necessarily luxury as you are at the beach