We have a DC trip planned for the end of June. We live in AZ, and have decided to check out the Atlantic Ocean while back east. Have considered Virginia Beach but, still not sure. Teenage sons want the ocean, mom and dad don't want it to touristy.
We will only have about three days (including driving) for a beach visit. Any recommendations?

Hi,

Virginia Beach will be rather touristy, I'm afraid, plus it's a good 4 hrs. from DC even without the hideous I-94 summer traffic. I really don't think you want that. The Maryland/Delaware beaches are much closer (less than 2 hrs.) but Ocean City is seriously honky-tonk. Most families try to go to Rehoboth or Bethany Beach.

Va. Beach is too far away and not that nice. Closest beach to DC is either Ocean City, MD (kind of honky-tonk in style) or Rehoboth Beach, DE (more quaint and less seedy, 50-50 families and gay, great restaurants). Teenagers may prefer Ocean City, parents may prefer Rehoboth. Actual beach (sand and surf) are similar in both. Do a search in this Forum on both towns.

Steve, while I sympathize wtih your not wanting something "too touristy", I must say that the honky-tonk aspect is considered fun and a big advantage by the teens I know.

I visited Rohobeth as a teen (which was not too long ago) and had a great time. There is plenty to keep busy with, while the atmosphere is far less "touristy" than Virginia Beach or Ocean City.

I recommend Reboboth also. It has plenty to do for teenagers, but the boardwalk isn't as crowded and "honky-tonk"

The boardwalk in Ocean City is packed with teenagers, it's where all the kids in Annapolis head to for day trips, you'll get more families and young adults in Rehoboth. Dewey is also nice but not much going on for your sons, unless they only want the beach (no boardwalk).

Lewes is a great town for a day trip, but I'm not sure if there's much of a beach there.

Also, it helps to go mid-week. The traffic to the oceans is horrific on Friday nights and Saturday, it can take hours upon hours to get there. Same with Sunday evenings coming back, but since there is no bridge toll westbound it has helped cut down traffic a little bit.

The New Jersey beaches are almost as close to DC as the Maryland beaches and Ocean City, NJ is not nearly as 'touristy'. It does have a boardwalk which should be enough to appease the teenagers, but also has a nice laid-back family atmosphere which should make mom and pop happy.

We did DC in 1992 with our four kids. Left DC one morning, stopped for a visit at Mount Vernon, then drove on down to Virginia Beach. We didn't mind the drive at all. Stopped at one of the first hotels we came to, I believe it was a Holiday Inn, got a room right on the beach. The kids loved it. It was our daughter's 13th birthday. We only stayed one night as we needed to get back home, but it whetted the kids appetite for a beach vacation so the next summer we did a week at Panama City Beach. I don't think we ever saw the "touristy" part of the beach since we were on the far north end, but my opinion is with teenagers you need the touristy stuff to keep them entertained!

Paige is right. Hit the north end of the beach and it's all residential and quiet. You could take the kids down on the evening for the boardwalk experience.

And, as I talked before about the traffic, it can take up to 4 hours to get to the beaches in MD and DE.