Anonymous wrote:That's a pretty wide set of criteria.

Nantucket?

Love Nantucket. Not on $2k though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't understand why anyone would brave 95 south to go to the outer banks when we have Delaware right here, 3 hours away. The OBX are nice, but NOT worth the drive. Never again.

If you leave early in the morning, 95 South isn't a problem. We leave around 4:30 a.m. and we fly right down 95. It's obviously a really early start, but the bonus is that we are on the beach in the OBX before noon. We also leave early when we return to DC, to avoid the traffic on 95 North.

I like Rehoboth too, and that drive is short enough for a weekend. We leave early for that drive as well.

You could leave at 6 AM and beat most of the traffic. It all depends on where you are starting from.

To the person that complains about driving everywhere, OBX is not Atlantic City, or Ocean City. People go to OBX to get quiet.

I think there's more than one PP complaining about driving. You know that OBX is quiet, and I know that it is, but OP is not from the east coast and might be expecting a happening beach town vibe. You don't really get that there. I actually don't care for the Atlantic City type tourist traps, but I'd still be bored after 2 weeks in OBX.

+1 AC and OC are kitchy and gaudy for that reason.
Does that (complaining) person think he/she can just walk out of their beach house and magically tour the Hatteras Lighthouse (for example)? And, honestly, it's not a long drive especially the close-in stuff like the Wright Bros. Other activities life fishing, sailing, etc. can also be done on the bay-side which you can walk/drive too.

We often spend the last week of August in Sandbridge. It's the top end of the outer banks, but a shorter drive. There's not a ton to do there, but we rent a condo so there's a community pool where my kids meet other kids and we go to spend time at the beach. The VA Aquarium is nearby, and you can go into VA Beach if you want more restuarants/tourist kitch. We don't usually bother. We also mostly eat at home, so don't care about the limited restaurants. The traffic getting there in late August isn't bad at all--it's past the shoulder season.

OP's kids are young, so the boredom factor is less of an issue than it would be for older kids. My 5 year old would have loved to stay a second week--she gets to swim every day, we go to the playground, we play in the sand, we bring kites, we bring books and toys for in the house.

A 3 bedroom condo in a beachfront property for that time of year runs anywhere from $1900-6000 for 2 weeks, depending on whether you want ocean views and if so how direct an ocean view you want. Those are prices including tax and hurricane insurance. That would still give you an extra bedroom for guests (or you could get a 4 bedroom model).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't understand why anyone would brave 95 south to go to the outer banks when we have Delaware right here, 3 hours away. The OBX are nice, but NOT worth the drive. Never again.

If you leave early in the morning, 95 South isn't a problem. We leave around 4:30 a.m. and we fly right down 95. It's obviously a really early start, but the bonus is that we are on the beach in the OBX before noon. We also leave early when we return to DC, to avoid the traffic on 95 North.

I like Rehoboth too, and that drive is short enough for a weekend. We leave early for that drive as well.

You could leave at 6 AM and beat most of the traffic. It all depends on where you are starting from.

To the person that complains about driving everywhere, OBX is not Atlantic City, or Ocean City. People go to OBX to get quiet.

I think there's more than one PP complaining about driving. You know that OBX is quiet, and I know that it is, but OP is not from the east coast and might be expecting a happening beach town vibe. You don't really get that there. I actually don't care for the Atlantic City type tourist traps, but I'd still be bored after 2 weeks in OBX.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's a good site to find Cape May rentals?

I've done VRBO and HomeAway which have merged.

IMO the very best place to stay in Cape May is Sandpiper Beach Club - right by the beach, pool, kitchens, updated & very clean, beach service (umbrellas, drinks, lunch - no need to pack everything). There is also the Beach Shack which has the same set up - not quite as nice but is also cheaper. Looks like $5k for 2 weeks. They are both affiliated with the old grand hotel there, Congress Hall, which hosts children's activities and has restaurants. Very fun and relaxing beach experience. Everything is all right there. You won't need to drive at all.

http://www.caperesorts.com/hotels/capemay/beachshack/

I love this place too!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's a good site to find Cape May rentals?

I've done VRBO and HomeAway which have merged.

IMO the very best place to stay in Cape May is Sandpiper Beach Club - right by the beach, pool, kitchens, updated & very clean, beach service (umbrellas, drinks, lunch - no need to pack everything). There is also the Beach Shack which has the same set up - not quite as nice but is also cheaper. Looks like $5k for 2 weeks. They are both affiliated with the old grand hotel there, Congress Hall, which hosts children's activities and has restaurants. Very fun and relaxing beach experience. Everything is all right there. You won't need to drive at all.

http://www.caperesorts.com/hotels/capemay/beachshack/

Anonymous wrote:What's a good site to find Cape May rentals?

I've done VRBO and HomeAway which have merged.

IMO the very best place to stay in Cape May is Sandpiper Beach Club - right by the beach, pool, kitchens, updated & very clean, beach service (umbrellas, drinks, lunch - no need to pack everything). There is also the Beach Shack which has the same set up - not quite as nice but is also cheaper. Looks like $5k for 2 weeks. They are both affiliated with the old grand hotel there, Congress Hall, which hosts children's activities and has restaurants. Very fun and relaxing beach experience. Everything is all right there. You won't need to drive at all.

What's a good site to find Cape May rentals?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't understand why anyone would brave 95 south to go to the outer banks when we have Delaware right here, 3 hours away. The OBX are nice, but NOT worth the drive. Never again.

If you leave early in the morning, 95 South isn't a problem. We leave around 4:30 a.m. and we fly right down 95. It's obviously a really early start, but the bonus is that we are on the beach in the OBX before noon. We also leave early when we return to DC, to avoid the traffic on 95 North.

I like Rehoboth too, and that drive is short enough for a weekend. We leave early for that drive as well.

You could leave at 6 AM and beat most of the traffic. It all depends on where you are starting from.

To the person that complains about driving everywhere, OBX is not Atlantic City, or Ocean City. People go to OBX to get quiet.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just beware that you're in the middle of hurricane season which can impact anywhere along the coast. Buy trip insurance.

I think Outer Banks would be really boring after 2 weeks.

Why would it boring after two weeks? We spend the entire summer there and have never been bored.

Agree.
There's a ton of stuff to do besides the beach on OBX - 2 lighthouses, childens museum (small though), Wright Bros, Marine museum, sand dunes, Lost Colony, miles of scenic walking trails, other beaches, NPS, state parks, and the list goes on.
You will not be bored.

Every single one of these is a drive. And often a long one depending on where you are staying. And like another PP said, the restaurants are kind of meh. There are a couple of good ones, and then you're done. And they're also a drive. I love OBX but wouldn't want to spend two weeks there.

Anonymous wrote:I can't understand why anyone would brave 95 south to go to the outer banks when we have Delaware right here, 3 hours away. The OBX are nice, but NOT worth the drive. Never again.

If you leave early in the morning, 95 South isn't a problem. We leave around 4:30 a.m. and we fly right down 95. It's obviously a really early start, but the bonus is that we are on the beach in the OBX before noon. We also leave early when we return to DC, to avoid the traffic on 95 North.

I like Rehoboth too, and that drive is short enough for a weekend. We leave early for that drive as well.

I can't understand why anyone would brave 95 south to go to the outer banks when we have Delaware right here, 3 hours away. The OBX are nice, but NOT worth the drive. Never again.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can do that because first week of September rates will drop. North Georgia -St Simon's is nice, as is St Augustine Florida, but a long drive. People love the Outer Banks but I am done with North Carolina as a state because of politics.

I am partial to Martha's Vineyard and if you are used to west coast water, it won't seen cold to you and that is the warmest the water will be all season!

I understand and even agree with your politics. But by protesting OBX, odds are you are probably hurting your neighbor more than the state. A good chunk of the rental homes are owned by people in NOVA, DC, MD. Of the four closest houses to mine in Kitty Hawk, 2 are owned by NOVA families, one by a DC family, and one by an MD family.

Oh no! Those poor rich folks from the DMV who must struggle to maintain the rental income on their million dollar beach house!

Do you really want us to pity the boohoo beach house owners? FFS.

My two cents: I'd rather cut off my arm than spend two weeks in the OBX with kids. One week is plenty. There's nothing to do there. Limited restaurant options that are a drive away mean most folks end up cooking at home...which isn't my idea of a two week vacation. My kids would get bored there for two weeks. No boardwalk or typical beach activities (options are extremely limited and a long drive away). What will you do if it rains (and it will...that's the beginning of hurricane season, and I'm guessing we will have an active hurricane season since last summer was so mild).

There are restaurants within 2 miles (and I am not talking about Nags Head) of some of the beach houses. I go to OBX yearly, so I am very familiar with the layout and where things are. Some houses have game rooms, so that helps with the kids.

Broad kill Beach, DE. $2k totally doable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just beware that you're in the middle of hurricane season which can impact anywhere along the coast. Buy trip insurance.

I think Outer Banks would be really boring after 2 weeks.

Why would it boring after two weeks? We spend the entire summer there and have never been bored.

Agree.
There's a ton of stuff to do besides the beach on OBX - 2 lighthouses, childens museum (small though), Wright Bros, Marine museum, sand dunes, Lost Colony, miles of scenic walking trails, other beaches, NPS, state parks, and the list goes on.
You will not be bored.

You forgot the most obvious one, fishing. The piers charge to fish off them, but you can fish off the beach for free.