Wow lots of advice, this is great. I am going to be in Hanover, N.H. 1-13 of August dropping the daughter off for camp, so it will still be into "summer season". I am out in Seattle and the beach waters are frigid here as well, not that I like them that way. I am kind of a wimp having been to St. John a few times. Your ankles hurt if you wade in, even in summer time here. I did do some checking around at rental places and most seem to be the kind you can sleep 10 in and I don't need that. Another question I guess I should ask is if I just wing it and go where ever, is it going to be hard to get a hotel room? I know when i have driven between Seattle and Yellowstone on highway 90 the hotels can all be booked all along the way in every town. Will it be this way back east? Although I would like to just drive to a nice cabin and relax, it sounds like that "may" be hard to find. Thanks everyone. You have been most helpful. Lori

Go to: rehoboth.com

This will give you lots of places to stay.

Not a good plan to "wing it." You could end up staying in Albany! You do want to have reservations along the coast, even into August.

New England ocean water is "ankle freezing" cold, not a lot warmer than the NW. Further south, it depends a lot on weather patterns during the preceding weeks. I have even found the water on the Outer Banks TOO warm sometimes in the summer -- unrefreshing esp. with an on-shore breeze that's hot and humid.

I'm fascinated to think, SusieQQ, that you might believe the "opposite" of what I wrote -- about what? Certainly not $$ or distances. Possibly the Delaware/Md. part of it -- my impressions may be a bit out of date.

So if I understand correctly, daughter's camp is 2 weeks & then you have to go back & pick her up?? Unless you want to spend the entire time in the car (& lots of $$ on gas which ain't free these days), I wouldn't go too far south. There are some lovely swimmable beaches in Rhode Island. I'll try to look up some names. I agree renting a cabin may be difficult (most rentals tend to be for big groups where there are big $$$) but not impossible. Better option might be a condo/motel type situation on a beach or, cheaper still, someplace a few blocks fom the beach.

Of the places that I know that have been mentioned, Nantucket is fantastic-lots to see & do & beautiful beaches but very expensive. If you leave your car behind, take a ferry, rent a bike & stay at a condo or b & b it might be doable. Block Island, I think, would be boring & perhaps lonely by yourself. If you're willing to come as far as eastern Long Island, the beaches are great, theres' plenty to see & do & there are motels & condos with kitchenettes but I think it might be $150-200/night . Look at the listings on Fodors in Montauk & the Hamptons. (more choices in Montauk). You could also look at northern NJ. After that it's too far IMO.

My friends have rented in the Charlestown or Mesquoiet Beach (spelling??)area in Rhode Island. I think you might check vrbo.com listings in NH, RI, etc. See what's available for your dates that looks interesting & then post back. On a quick look I saw some smaller condos in Newport but don't know the area well enough to know how good or bad it might be.

I first recommended Topsail Beach but here is another idea: Spring Lake NJ. I have not been there but it is on my list of places to visit. It is a quiet town with a non commercial boardwalk. Behind the beaches and boaedwalks, the town has beautful homes with well kept gardens and shrubbery on quiet streets which add an extra special charm. Spring Lake is also noted for over 60 shops and boutiques, a variety of gourmet restaurants, and a wide selection of fine bed and breakfast inns. If anyone else has visited here, let us know what you think.

Suki, for someone who's never been there, you describe Spring Lake very well. I've never stayed overnight but have visited (not recently) & it is quite pretty. I didn't suggest it to OP b/c I thought it would be more expensive (and more manicured) than what she's looking for.

pnltybox7 -

A couple of time you have refered to a "cabin" and I'm not sure what you mean by that - assume you're taling about a small, modest cottage to rent by the week - great room with small kitchen and 1 or 2 bedrooms. Sag Harbor on Long Island would have a lot of rentals like that - in several small cottage colonies with a small amount of land around each.

But after rereading I'm not sure if that is what you mean - you're not thinking of an actual primitive-type cabin off by itself sitting by the side of the water? I'm not sure there's anything like that on the east coast unless you go far up into Canada.

August 1-13th is peak beach season all up and down the east coast. In all honestly, I'd stay on one of the lovely Northeastern beaches and try to find something available.

You may have better luck finding what you are looking for a row or two off the beach.

Oceanfront property is so expensive that people tend to build big and huge so they can get more money for the houses during the short rental season.

Rental seasons very but you can count on the month of July and the first two weeks of August to fetch the highest prices. In the southeast, peak rental is Memorial Day to Labor Day. I think in the Northeast, it is more July 1 through Labor Day.

Have you looked at condos? I know it isn't your idealic cabin but you can get a lot more bang for your buck and get in a better location.

Unless you LOVE high heat and humidity, I'd stay with the Northeastern beaches in August. I live in North Carolina, and don't enjoy the beaches here in July & August because of the high heat/humidity. Now if you love H/H, disregard my opinion!!! I love Emerald Isle on the Carolina *Crystal* Coast, BTW......

I'VE GOT IT!
Watch Hill, RI
I don't know about rentals there but day trips I've taken have been delightful.
It is not far from other RI locations listed here but more of a town and with a lovely beach.
Also not far from Mistic, CT.

Does it have to be the ocean? The Finger lakes of south Central NY is nice that time of year. But if it must be ocean, try the Oceanview Motel at Montauk Point NY (East End of Long Island) It has kitchenette rooms on the beach for about $150 a night. Also Wildwood NJ has a Days Inn with same type of rooms, clean beaches. Did you know that NH has a little bit of ocean coast line? Save the drive and try that.

I second the opinion about Emerald Isle, NC. I've stayed in Southern Shores (part of the Outer Banks) and Emerald Isle, and EI is definitely a much nicer beach - white sand, clear water, no shell-filled trough where the waves crash on the beach. I've been able to wade out neck-deep and still see my feet, and since it's on the southern current, the water is warmer than the Outer Banks.

I'm going to guess that your daughter plays hockey and she's going to camp at UNH (given your screen name). I looked at that camp for my daughter but she'll just be getting back from a non-hockey camp on 7/30 and didn't want to leave again so soon. Next year.

If the beach isn't a huge deal, there is plenty to do in New England. Maybe spend a week between Cape Cod and Maine for the beach and then a few days in either the White Mountains or in Vermont - beautiful places in the summer. If it was me, I would splurge for a few days and go to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard, then economize if I had to (take the ferry, no car). Given what it would cost you to drive to New Jersey or the Carolinas, you could fly almost as cheaply. You can find some great hotels and B & Bs.
Have fun!

Please help. We would like to go on vacation to Outerbanks (Cape Hatteras)and are looking for a beach house to stay at. What would be a good site to go to do that? There are so many sites!!!


Thank you un advance

Amal

Nothing in New England beats the beaches at Race point in provincetown, Ma.

amal, start a new thread with your question. Click post a new message on the upper left. Good luck. Wish I could help.

Try Joe Lamb Jr. Real Estate. (www.joelambjr.com). We rent the Knapp House (#88) and have always had good luck with this agency.

To abiggers: we have found that Hatteras Realty is great to work with. Hatterasrealty.com

I have to put a plug in for Southern NJ beaches here. Someone said they are "gritty" in a previous message. I have traveled all over the world and have to say that the Jersey beaches rank up there for the prettiest, white sand, beaches anywhere. The state on the whole gets a bad rap but there are some beautiful areas here. Yes, the beaches are crowded but that is because we are between three huge metropolitan areas. Island Beach State Park is a beautiful unspoiled place to visit. There is a fee to get in but there is a snack bar and showers. Ocean City is a great, family type community with some nice hotels and bed and breakfasts. Cape May is a quaint, seaside town with beautiful Victorian homes( most restaurants or B&B's) called the "painted ladies" My favorite is one called Angel-of-the-Sea It is well worth a visit.