As one of our college-age daughters is working in Richmond this summer, we'd like to drive down from NY to see her and then stay at the beach/lake/river within easy reach. She could then come and visit us for a long weekend.

We don't need to do Williambsburg. We'd been thinking of the Northern Neck area - any thoughts there? Any other suggestions?

Thanks for the advice.

Virginia Beach. The Sandbridge area is nice.

Nags Head, NC

How far is Nags Head? Sandbridge looks nice - is it overbuilt?

I live in Virginia Beach and Sandbridge is great. It's has a lot of rental properties and a few condo bldgs (new ones going up), but VERY little in the way of tourist shops, restaurants, etc. It's a great location because you don't have all the hustle and bustle of the Virginia Beach oceanfront, but you are definitely close enough to go to that area if you wish. Here you will find lots of great restaurants, shopping and lots of things to visit and do.

If I remember correctly, it takes us about 1 hour and 45 minutes to drive to Richmond (depends on traffic on the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel) and it takes us about the same amount of time to get to Nags Head, so I would say it would take about 3 to 3 1/2 hours to get there.

Nags Head is also nice. Lots of rental options as well as hotels (forgot to mention that I don't think there are any hotel options in Sandbridge). Plenty of restaurants, shopping, things to do, but everything is really spread out. Nothing actually "On the beach" like you have in Virginia Beach with the boardwalk and the strip.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the input.

While I investigate Sandbridge, can anyone tell me about the Northern Neck? If we stayed in two different places there, what should they be?

Not sure if you can find anything at the Northern Neck to rent but if you can, I suggest going there. The primary differences are that you're not on the ocean and the Northern Neck is comprised of small towns and is more rural. There are some lovely towns like Urbanna and Irvington. Middlesex and Mathews are more rural, but nice too. It's only an hour or a bit more from Richmond and much more laid-back in the summer than Va Beach or the Outer Banks. Your daughter would be miserable driving to Nags Head for a short weekend - traffic in the summer is rotten. Good Luck!!

Thanks -- it looks as though we're really down to a weekend and I'm thinking of staying at the Hope & Glory Inn in Irvington. The Northern Neck looks like just the ticket, but I'm curious about the swimming. Obviously, there's plenty of water and lots of boating, but are there any swimming beaches?

I should have been clear about swimming - river, creek, bay or pond - all ok! I'd just like to know if, or where, there might be swimming on the N. Neck.

Thanks, out there!

ttt