We are looking for the best place to just relax/play at a beach within a 10 hour drive of Rochester NY. We obviously don't have reservations anywhere yet...Cape Cod? Jersey Shore? Where should we try? We have 3 boys aged 11-17 so nothing too remote...would need some diversions besides the beach.

There's no one "best place", just different places and all of them will have family oriented activities. Any beach town north of Virginia Beach can probably be reached in under 10 hours from Rochester, provided you don't plan on driving to/from those destinations on weekends (everybody and their cousin "drives to the shore" beginning Friday afternoon into Saturday mornings and then go back home on Sundays.

Anyway, besides a beach, what type of activities are you seeking, what type of hotel budget do you have?

August is peak time on East Coast beaches so don't wait too long to solidify your plans and make reservations.

You are on the right track - look at places along the Jersey Shore - towns like Toms River, Long Beach Island, Seaside Heights, Long Branch, Manasquan come to mind. In Delaware look at Rehoboth Beach, Assateague or Chincoteague might interest you. On Cape Cod look at Wellfleet, Truro, Chatham

If you are willing to drive a few more hours the Outer Banks in NC is a great destination.

Assateague is in Maryland and Virginia, Chincoteague is in Virginia. Both are wonderful. Assateague has two campgrounds (Maryland DNR and National Park) on the Maryland part of the island, and wonderful Atlantic Ocean public beach areas north and south. Chincoteague (read the book Misty of Chincoteague for nostalgic background) is tucked inside the southern end of Assateague, so it has no Atlantic beach. It is getting populated with "quaint" B&Bs. It is mainly known for its wildlife refuge, and there are no kiddie amusements close by. It only gets exciting when a rocket blows up at the NASA launch facility on nearby Wallops Island.

As far as I'm concerned, the beaches on the northern (Maryland) end of Assateague are some of the best in the world. Oh, and did I mention that on Assateague you'll be surrounded by wild ponies! The kids will love them until the equines sneak up and slurp down their sandwiches. And you will have to deal with pony poop, but it's worth it to see the ponies cavorting in the surf, as they sometimes do. Ocean City is just 15 minutes away by car, but you are more likely to stay at OCMD and drive to Assateague, unless you can snag a campsite (good luck with that, as they are usually all taken up by the end of January). Do drive down one day and see the ponies and the excellent exhibit center.

Ocean City, Maryland (OCMD, as opposed to OCNJ) is an excellent choice, with exactly what you say you are looking for. I prefer it to the Jersey beaches, as the beach is cleaner and I've never had the jellyfish problems at OCMD that I've had at the Jersey beaches. Lots of amusement parks, a long boardwalk, and tons of mini golf spots.

The Delaware beaches are also very nice, and somewhat more low-key than OCMD. Dewey Beach is quite accepting of alternative lifestyles, just so you're ready for that and won't get culture shocked.

Wildwood NJ has shoals offshore, so the waves aren't too big, and when I was there it had the worst jellyfish infestation I've seen at an Atlantic beach. Brigantine Beach is OK, and it is just a couple miles north of Atlantic City and the casinos, if you're into that kind of thing. It doesn't have as much stuff for kids as OCMD, though.

I love the wonderful houses in Cape May NJ, but since the place is so small and it is a "destination" it can get crowded, and also has no amusement park.

Coming from Rochester to the DelMarVa (DELaware, MAryland, VirginA) beaches you'll probably want to take Rt. 15 to York, then I-83 to I-695. Go across the top of the Baltimore Beltway to I-97, then Rt. 50 across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. That should be just within your ten-hour radius, excluding massive traffic problems.

If you do go to OCMD, you need to dine at Fager's Island at sunset. They are on the bay side of Ocean City and the sun sets right on the water. The DJ plays the 1812 Overture, and times it so that the music peaks right when the sun hits the horizon. Applause breaks out. Good food, too.

You might look into West Harwich, Cape Cod. We often stay at The Commodore. Pool and 1 min. walk to beach. For kids you've got the Cape Cod BB league, batting range, those little cars that go around a track, trampolines, summer theater, ice cream stores etc etc.

I agree that Cape Cod is a great option!

You say little other than being at some beach. I would agree with places on the Outer Banks and unlike at least one suggestion you can actually go into the water without turning blue in August.

Thank you all for the ideas and feedback...especially Disambiguous.

The water surrounding Cape Cod will be warm and in September tne crowds will be gone. Late August may be OK as sxhools are opening, but earlier in the month the Cape is very overcrowded.