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Virginia/Maryland Area Recommendations

Nova98

Nova98

VUSports.com Legend
Jul 15, 2001
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Hoping this newsgroup can help with a few ideas:

I had a family vacation booked for next week when I got one of those middle of the night phone calls last night about the sudden death of a close relative. As a result, depending on services, I may have to cancel my original plans. The services will be in the Northern Virginia area. Since my wife and I already have the weeks booked as off from work I'm trying to make the best of a bad situation and take my wife & 4 year old somewhere for 3-5 days (basically the second half of next week). I was hoping for a beach destination but I'm not sure where is good down in the area as I have heard mixed reviews of lots of places. In addition, this being the last minute and the second to last weekend of summer I'm not sure what is even available. Anybody got any ideas?
 
Nova98 said:
Hoping this newsgroup can help with a few ideas:

I had a family vacation booked for next week when I got one of those middle of the night phone calls last night about the sudden death of a close relative. As a result, depending on services, I may have to cancel my original plans. The services will be in the Northern Virginia area. Since my wife and I already have the weeks booked as off from work I'm trying to make the best of a bad situation and take my wife & 4 year old somewhere for 3-5 days (basically the second half of next week). I was hoping for a beach destination but I'm not sure where is good down in the area as I have heard mixed reviews of lots of places. In addition, this being the last minute and the second to last weekend of summer I'm not sure what is even available. Anybody got any ideas?
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You have a few options:S. Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia Beach or OBX. Given where you live, it makes as much sense to book something in South Jersey. College kids are gone so you can find places anywhere. You can go after services and be down the shore in 3.5-4hours. Outside of that, you could try Rehobeth area. I never go there but here it's beautiful. Best place is OBX. It's cheaper this time of year and midweek you can be there is 4.5 hours from Northern VA. However, it's the opposite direction of your home, making the commute back a bitch. IMO, no-brainer to go down the shore and find something in Ocean City or Stone Harbor. You'll find it. If not, hit Eastern Shore Maryland/Delaware and take the ferry to Cape May on your way home.
 
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Checked and you go find hotels midweek-weekend in AC, Ocean City, Cape May and Wildwood Crest. If not, I know Lowry loves Ocean City, Maryland so he can point you in the right direction.
 
Thanks for the info Alex. Definitely some more options to think about. Anyone know of a good place to stay in Stone Harbor/Avalon?
 
Nova98 said:
Thanks for the info Alex. Definitely some more options to think about. Anyone know of a good place to stay in Stone Harbor/Avalon?
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Golden Inn is a decent hotel on 78th street. The Reeds looks pretty nice on 96th street.
 
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FWIW, even the closest beaches to the DC area (including the aforementioned OC MD and DE beaches) will still take you 2.5 hours-plus without traffic, substantially more with traffic -- one of the big negatives to the DMV in my view. A trip to S. Jersey means 95 and the DE Memorial bridge (then can take back roads which are nice) or Cape May ferry.

Anyway, adp is tweaking me, don't go to Ocean City, MD unless you want a Wildwood-type feel (plus college-type bars on the boardwalk). I actually think adp is on point here for the most part, go with nicer S. Jersey beaches or DE, or if you're willing to chance the drive, OBX.

His estimate of 4.5 hours drive time to OBX may be overly optimistic, though doable if not traveling on a weekend and since it's later in the year, if your wife and 4 year old only require very minimal stops. Have done OBX twice in recent years around summer peak times, driven on weekends and various stretches of 95 and 64 on the way were nightmarish traffic wise, added hours and frustration to the trip -- have to cover about 250 miles or more on roads with no real alternatives so the odds of there being an accident that snarls traffic somewhere along the line go way up -- if that happens and you only have 3 or 4 days may cut your relaxation significantly. However, there is more fun stuff to do in OBX outside of beach and boardwalk (no boardwalk there), has more of a true out of the way vacation feel, if you haven't been, worth trying. The huge sand dunes down there are lots of fun, as is Roanoke Lost Colony area (though I enjoy history more than most). Also Wright brothers first flight but not much to see there IMO.

Also, due to the OBX layout with very narrow barrier islands a couple miles out in the ocean, beaches there not good for swimming -- very quick dropoff almost like a lake, tiny waves. Beaches also will not be crowded, at any time, few hotels, so basically just you and whoever else is staying at local houses at any section of beach. Some people don't like that.
 
Most beaches in the eastern US suck. If you are in NoVA for a funeral you are very close to DC, which is great for tourists. If you like water go down K street on the Potomac and rent a canoe. Spend a day in Georgetown shopping and eating. The Museum of Natural History is a big hit with kids. Your options are great there.
 
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Put your head in a plastic bag and breathe deeply. Your life is over once you start taking bland trips to NoVa.

- NickleDimer
 
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98, I know you're actually set on a beach vacation but I'd give serious thought to changing it up and checking out some non-beach places in Virginia. For example, Wintergreen is a very cool ski/golf/tennis resort in the Shenandoah Valley. They have a nice pool and, I think, a man made beach on a lake that is perfect for a four year old.

You also have Colonial Williamsburg though your kid may be a little young to appreciate it.

I'm actually heading down to the Boars Head in Charlottesville this evening for a couple days, which is also a cool place but probably not great for a little kid.
 
Actually, one final thought.......Annapolis. Great spot. Stay at the Marriott right there on the water on Compromise Street. Great outdoor bar on the water called Pussers and your within walking distance to tons of places.
 
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Most beaches in the eastern US suck. If you are in NoVA for a funeral you are very close to DC, which is great for tourists. If you like water go down K street on the Potomac and rent a canoe. Spend a day in Georgetown shopping and eating. The Museum of Natural History is a big hit with kids. Your options are great there.
This is a good option. If you stay in the area, go to the Quantico Marine Base and visit the Marine Corps Heritage Museum - well worth the visit.
 
I love how non-CoP'ers are the people who can give suggestions on places away from the CoP.

Is Strick the only CoP'er who has left the CoP.
 
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CarDashian said:
Most beaches in the eastern US suck. If you are in NoVA for a funeral you are very close to DC, which is great for tourists. If you like water go down K street on the Potomac and rent a canoe. Spend a day in Georgetown shopping and eating. The Museum of Natural History is a big hit with kids. Your options are great there.
This is a good option. If you stay in the area, go to the Quantico Marine Base and visit the Marine Corps Heritage Museum - well worth the visit.
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Not sure I'd recommend DC for multiple days with a 4 year old, little too young to appreciate a lot of stuff. I believe the dinosaur exhibit at the Museum of Natural History in DC is closed. Also, when I was there when that exhibit was open, it was incredibly crowded, as most Smithsonian museums are in the summer/on weekends, that may not thin out too much until after Labor Day. Air and Space Museaum the best for kids IMO.
And walking around G'town with a 4 year old not my idea of a great vacation. Not sure about canoeing with a 4 year old either.
Annopolis maybe nice for adults, have never been in my years in MD, but doesn't strike me as a great destination for kids.
 
I would love to do the DC thing even though I've been there many times but I don't know how much fun it would be for my 4 year old although the Museum of Natural History is definitely a good call. I like Annapolis but we just did that two years ago. Would love OBX but the drive back is my concern.

Rehobeth could be a good possibility.
 
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CoCo Key indoor waterpark in convenient Mount Laurel, NJ.
 
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98…sorry to hear about your loss. I have not been in years but Rehobeth is great for the kids and with the gay influence (not that there is anything wrong with that) there are great restaurants.
 
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If you want OBX feel but much closer, go to the sandbridge area of virginia beach. I'm sure you can still find rentals available for a partial week. The drive will be at least 2 hours less than going anywhere on OBX. Great beach, many places have pools, and there are condo options too. Great military jet traffic that your 4 year old will love.
 
Bethany Beach, DE....a few miles north of OCMD...(the comparisons to Wildwood is spot on, stay away) family-oriented...nice place to spend a few days...has a small Boardwalk...and Rehoboth is about 20 minutes north...much larger Boardwalk, rides and games for small kids, etc.
 
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Love Old Town Alexandria. One of my favorite spots in America.

I echo the Delaware beaches for convenience.

The Reeds in Stone Harbor - beautiful - but very expensive. Golden Inn actually isn't a bad spot for a motel.
 
Just curious. In what world do most of the beaches in the eastern U.S. Suck? The one where you actually want to use the ocean? No one else thinks that's an odd comment? Where are the good beaches in the U.S. If the east coast beaches suck?
 
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Have you never been out of the northeast? Umm, everywhere in SoCal, a thousand beaches in FL, Alabama, Mississippi coasts, even Texas can be better. People who rave about the Jersey Shore beaches are letting their CoP show a bit.
 
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LetsGoNova said:
Have you never been out of the northeast? Umm, everywhere in SoCal, a thousand beaches in FL, Alabama, Mississippi coasts, even Texas can be better. People who rave about the Jersey Shore beaches are letting their CoP show a bit.
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The South Jersey beaches are awesome. OBX are awesome. Palm Beach is awesome. Lots of great beaches. Probably depends on what you look for in a beach. To each their own. I agree there are many great beaches. However, Stone Harbor beaches are great as is the South End of Ocean City, Avalon and I'm sure others in that stretch.
 
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Nd for me, the moment you smell the salt air and your stress level drops to nothing. However, I'm easy.
 
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