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.

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

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody refers to the DE and MD beaches as the eastern shore.

We refer to St. Michael’s and other areas on the east side of the Bay Bridge as the Eastern Shore.

Signed,

Lifelong Marylander with deep ties across our beautiful state

Agreed. And the Eastern Shore has a beauty of its own.

Agree, Eastern Shore refers to the region south of the Bay Bridge down and including the Eastern Shore of Virginia. It also includes Sussex County Delaware.

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I’m right there with you. The Atlantic beaches are hideous. I’ve never taken my kids there. Florida is much better. We like the panhandle a lot. Gorgeous white sand beaches.

Plus sharks, gators, and the occasional bear on the beach.

Aside from the wildlife, the beaches in the FL panhandle are lovely.

Are you familiar with the panhandle at all?It’s near the Gulf of Mexico? There are no “gators” on a saltwater beach, sorry. Alligators make their home in freshwater. Nor are there bears. And as for sharks, well the Atlantic Ocean actually has a higher diversity and density of sharks, along with significantly more shark attacks.

You sound like an idiot.

We saw a Florida black bear along the main road in Apalachicola. We were several blocks from the Gulf. I'm sure they wander on the beach. We've also seen the Florida black bear in the Ocala National Forest. This was in the middle of the state.

Florida has Florida black bears and we also have panthers. I have some clients that have seen panthers on golf courses in south Florida.

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.

I grew up going to the beach in OC and in Bethany, and my dad still owns a home there. We have a house in Southampton that we bought when DCs were in middle school, but they have spent significant time on the Eastern Shore as well. They are 18 and 22 now, and if you ask them which location is their favorite, they would both probably tell you Bethany. The Eastern Shore can be a really fun place for kids . . . mini golf, boardwalks, crabbing, easy to access beaches, rides, big restaurants with party vibes, etc. The Hamptons are pretty and have their own kind of fun, but there is something magical for most kids about summer memories made in beach towns that are a little less rarefied.

Anonymous wrote:https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/alligator-surfing-alabama-beach-dauphin-island-waves-video/

We have friends and family with vacation homes on the AL and FL beaches, so we hear about instances where sharks, bears, and even gators are spotted on the actual beach.

I linked the AL beach incident in 2023. There have been similar instances in FL Gulf Coast towns.

It’s also possible to see rather large snakes on the FL gulf beaches. My friend always sends JS pics when they see them.

And I’m sure everyone saw the articles when the bear was caught on camera on the beach.

Regardless, the shark attacks have prompted better tracking and alarm systems in Alabama. Florida won’t be too far behind.

Thanks. Like anyone needs more reasons NOT to go to Alabama and Florida,

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.

Fwiw I’m the nostalgia poster and I don’t see the appeal of the Cape. I’ve visited many times and enjoy the hospitality of those who own lovely homes on the Cape, but it seems to have limited beaches that aren’t really meant for swimming, the situation is abundantly apparent, and the nice restaurants seem very crowded. Like OBX, it seems like a destination where you mostly relax at home rather than venture out to eat. The shopping is good, but there’s a lot of driving involved.

No insight on the Hamptons, although I have several close friends with places on Fire Island.

I’m curious if people who vacation on the Cape or Hamptons have thoughts on the upscale enclaves in SC or GA?

Regardless, there are many affluent people and a smattering of celebs who enjoy the DE beaches. I saw Julianne Moore in Bethany with her kids many years ago and Hoda Kotb routinely talks about Rehoboth and DE beaches (apparently DiFebo’s is her favorite restaurant).

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.

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/alligator-surfing-alabama-beach-dauphin-island-waves-video/

We have friends and family with vacation homes on the AL and FL beaches, so we hear about instances where sharks, bears, and even gators are spotted on the actual beach.

I linked the AL beach incident in 2023. There have been similar instances in FL Gulf Coast towns.

It’s also possible to see rather large snakes on the FL gulf beaches. My friend always sends JS pics when they see them.

And I’m sure everyone saw the articles when the bear was caught on camera on the beach.

Regardless, the shark attacks have prompted better tracking and alarm systems in Alabama. Florida won’t be too far behind.

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?

I’m right there with you. The Atlantic beaches are hideous. I’ve never taken my kids there. Florida is much better. We like the panhandle a lot. Gorgeous white sand beaches.

Plus sharks, gators, and the occasional bear on the beach.

Aside from the wildlife, the beaches in the FL panhandle are lovely.

Are you familiar with the panhandle at all?It’s near the Gulf of Mexico? There are no “gators” on a saltwater beach, sorry. Alligators make their home in freshwater. Nor are there bears. And as for sharks, well the Atlantic Ocean actually has a higher diversity and density of sharks, along with significantly more shark attacks.

You sound like an idiot.

Anonymous wrote:You really don’t seem like a recent transplant from France.

To me they do. They're rude! French people are rude af.