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D.C. Area Babies
JKM416
member
NBR: A somewhat local kid-friendly beach?
JKM416
member
XP from DC Board...
We're hoping to get a few days at the beach this summer, but we want it to be somewhere that the kids aren't getting battered by waves or there's a steep drop-off or things like that. Extra good if it's not a place overrun with tourists in the summer (but we can deal with that if necessary). I went to Cape Cod when I was little and loved the bay side of it, with the tide-pools and shallow water and gentle (non-existant?) surf. If anyone has suggestions for something within a few hour's drive from DC that fits the bill, I would really appreciate it. Thanks!
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Re: NBR: A somewhat local kid-friendly beach?
If you are not committed to salt water might I recommend Lake Anna (appx 2 hours) or Deep Creek Lake in MD (appx. 4 hours). Even closer, for a day trip or a weekend camping adventuer (they have cabins) Cunningham Falls State Park (just north of Frederick, MD on 15) has a lovely lake with a life-guarded swimming area. There are some nice beaches on the Chesapeake Bay as well both on east and west side. If you are looking for a destination with more than just water, Yorktown (in the Colonial Triangle with Williamsburg and Jamestown) has a great life guarded beach on the York River. I wish this was there when I went to WM, we always drove all the way to Virginia Beach. If you want ocean, Sandbridge in Virginia Beach is a great family destination. No hotels, it's all house rentals and is not crazy crowded - it is open ocean though so the waves might be an issue.
I too spent all of my childhood summers vacationing on the Cape with my parents, and although we went to Ocean and Bay a few times, we spent most of the two weeks at Schoolhouse Pond in Chatham.
TTC #2: BFP 12/17/11, m/c 1/7/12 and D&C 1/12/12
baby blog/cooking blog
I haven't been there since I was a kid but Chincoteague, VA might be an option. Both Rehoboth and Bethany (DE) get pretty crowded on the weekends, especially further into the summer. Bethany has a lot of week by week rentals. Dewey actually has a lot of familes that stay during the week since it's so dead of visitors on week days, but I would try to avoid beach week in June. The past few years the drop offs at the DE beaches seemed kind of steep but they are usually pretty good about beach replenishment in DE, the waves could be an issue. I also like the Henlopen State Park which is basically at the North end of Rehoboth
I'm not sure if you'll find a place for only a weekend, but the Middlesex Beach neighborhood of Bethany is awesome for kids. It has a private beach for residents and renters, so it never gets anywhere near as crowded as the rest of Bethany (which I don't think is even that bad, compared to OC). Also, the beach itself is loooong leading up to the water and gets lots of little tidal pools that are perfect for splashing.
We also love Chincoteague. The downside to that is that you have to drive to the beach (and then haul your stuff from the car). Even in peak season the beach isn't all that crowded and the island is really laid back. Plus, there's the whole pony deal for the kiddies. There are plenty of hotels, so finding a place for just a weekend shouldn't be too hard.
Do you camp at all? If so, there's also the MD side of Assateague Island. When we stay near OC, we often drive down there for the beach for the day, rather than OC.
TTC #2: BFP 12/17/11, m/c 1/7/12 and D&C 1/12/12
baby blog/cooking blog
