My family took a vacation for the first time in Charleston, S.C. where we rented a house on the ocean with another family - 11 people total - and had a great time. We walked the beach every morning and the kids swam in the pool every day. We live in New York and instead of flying south, we would like to travel in August and drive to the coast somewhere closer to us. We still want to rent a house on or near the ocean and we've heard that there might be discounted rates if we wait to travel the last week in August - before school starts for us but may have already started for another location. We are thinking RI, NH or southern ME. We do not need a lot of activities, just the ocean and a pool at the house for our pre-teen kids. Hoping to keep the price at $2000 for the week. Please help!
north east beach vacation
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Rhode Island has some nice ocean beaches with good swimming, but the areas I know will cost quite a bit more for actual oceanfront, and very few have pools (there's only one house in our summer community that has a pool, and he doesn't rent!)
However, if you are willing to settle for within walking distance of the beach, say one or two hundred yards, and let the younger kids swim in the salt ponds, you should be able to find something that suits you for the right price. Check out Quonochontaug ("Quonnie") East or Central beach areas, Shady Harbor, maybe Shelter Harbor. The last two are on the salt pond, not the ocean, but have private beaches a short drive or boat trip away. Only about two and a half hours from the city. The surf can range from dead calm to good fun to pretty rough, but most families bring all the kids to the beach.
Not too familiar with NH's shore. Maine has the most beautiful coast in the east, imo, but the water is too cold for most. None of the places I've rented there had a pool, so I'm afraid I can't help. Many people in Maine drive to nearby lakes for swimming.
Thanks for the advice. I am getting discouraged about finding a beach vacation in the areas mentioned that also has a pool. You did warn me. I'm thinking I need to re-think my plans. There are days we don't want to have to go to the beach and just hang out in the sun around the pool and I'm not willing to forego that.
Some of the places in the Old Orchard Beach, Maine area might fit what you are looking for, but probably would be more the condo rather than a beach house to get the pool. There are also places on Cape Cod that are motels with kitchenetts that also may do but the cost might be a bit more.