Delaware/Maryland beaches

[af1212]

We have been going to Ocean City, Maryland For several years now but are ready to try something new.

Here’s what we love -
-We stay in an adorable condo in an 8 unit building with a pool and great big yard for the kids to run around in
-We are one block from the boardwalk, but the end where it’s not that exciting which we like
- the beach is nice and wide
- there are lifeguards
- it doesn’t feel too crowded on the beach

What we don’t-
- It can get kind of sketchy at night
- We have found broken bottles, condoms, and other gross things on the sidewalk when we walk to the beach in the am
- The city itself feels huge

I grew up going to the jersey shore which feels more “small” to me. My husband hates the jersey shore because he says it is too crowded.

Can you find us a great beach town to try out for next summer? We are willing to go an hour or so from ocmd in either direction.

Pool would be a huge plus. Can’t be more crowded than OCMD and less crowded would be a bonus.

[cleo29]

Sea Colony in Bethany Beach is a great. Condos, with a nice beach area (though not as wide as OC), pool, tennis courts, kid camps. You can walk into bethany itself and get dinner, dessert or play mini golf. Bethany Beach is between OC and Rehoboth, so if you want a night to go to the boardwalk and rides, it is easy to do.

This is where i spent my summers and I loved it.

[af1212]

May 23, 2020 20:57:33 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

Sea Colony in Bethany Beach is a great. Condos, with a nice beach area (though not as wide as OC), pool, tennis courts, kid camps. You can walk into bethany itself and get dinner, dessert or play mini golf. Bethany Beach is between OC and Rehoboth, so if you want a night to go to the boardwalk and rides, it is easy to do.

This is where i spent my summers and I loved it.

I looked into that and it looks super awesome but am I reading it correctly that you have to pay an additional $40 per day per person above the rental price? That’s a big chunk of change!! And the units themselves don’t look like they’re in that great of shape especially adding on that giant charge.

[cleo29]

May 23, 2020 21:01:38 GMT -5 af1212 said:

May 23, 2020 20:57:33 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

Sea Colony in Bethany Beach is a great. Condos, with a nice beach area (though not as wide as OC), pool, tennis courts, kid camps. You can walk into bethany itself and get dinner, dessert or play mini golf. Bethany Beach is between OC and Rehoboth, so if you want a night to go to the boardwalk and rides, it is easy to do.

This is where i spent my summers and I loved it.

I looked into that and it looks super awesome but am I reading it correctly that you have to pay an additional $40 per day per person above the rental price? That’s a big chunk of change!! And the units themselves don’t look like they’re in that great of shape especially adding on that giant charge.

We rented a unit a few years ago and I don't remember paying that in addition to the rental, fee, but I can't be sure. i am guessing that the tennis clinics would be an additional charge. There are a lot of units, so I would look at a lot of them. Buildings F-I are the newest. A unit like let's say 508 georgetown house (this was my mom's place) is the biggest. The layouts are all the same, but it is a corner unit and the rooms are all a bit bigger.

All that said, there are a number of places in Bethany that are nice. I think it is a nice beach town that is on the small side, is very walkable, has good dining and for me, was a great place for the summer.

I found our old unit! lol the owner after us updated the kitchen and bathrooms.

www.wyndhamvacationrentals.com/delaware/bethany-beach/508-georgetowne-house-unit

[sdlaura]

I grew up in Maryland and spent a lot of time in OC, including senior week and a very fun summer waitressing in college (and living with 7 other people in a 2-bedroom place). I live in SoCal now but all our family is still in MD. Now when we meet up and go with kids we go either to Bethany or Rehoboth.

[jr009j]

I haven’t been since I was very little but I know that people seeking a quieter experience like Ocean City, Delaware.

[erbear]

We have a place in Sea Colony in Bethany. We love it because it's quiet but we can also do Dewey and Rehoboth if we want bars and restaurants. 

I'm a Philly girl who flat out will not go to the Jersey Shore. Delaware 4 lyfe

[cleo29]

May 23, 2020 22:24:37 GMT -5 erbear said:

We have a place in Sea Colony in Bethany. We love it because it's quiet but we can also do Dewey and Rehoboth if we want bars and restaurants. 

I'm a Philly girl who flat out will not go to the Jersey Shore. Delaware 4 lyfe

Which building are you in? I spent every summer, age 7-19, there. It was the best part of my year, no question.

[erbear]

May 23, 2020 22:25:42 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

May 23, 2020 22:24:37 GMT -5 erbear said:

We have a place in Sea Colony in Bethany. We love it because it's quiet but we can also do Dewey and Rehoboth if we want bars and restaurants. 

I'm a Philly girl who flat out will not go to the Jersey Shore. Delaware 4 lyfe

Which building are you in? I spent every summer, age 7-19, there. It was the best part of my year, no question.

Our place is on the west side, not a high rise. By the big lake, maybe 1/2 off the beach

[cleo29]

May 23, 2020 22:26:47 GMT -5 erbear said:

May 23, 2020 22:25:42 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

Which building are you in? I spent every summer, age 7-19, there. It was the best part of my year, no question.

Our place is on the west side, not a high rise. By the big lake, maybe 1/2 off the beach

The tennis villas, yes. I was actually looking into properties there recently. It is tempting. Played many games of capture the flag over there.

[felicity]

We did Sea Colony a couple of years ago, and one of the things I didn't like was the beach was pretty crowded if you wanted to sit closer to the water. It's a private beach, but they have so many units that it is just as crowded if not more than the public beaches. We were in the last building that borders another private beach (Middelsex I think), and that beach was practically empty. They even had someone hired to sit in a chair whose only job was to keep the Sea Colony people from trying to come to their empty beach. I kept staring longingly over there while feeling packed in like a sardine at Sea Colony. Our unit was really nice, though. It was updated with a gorgeous kitchen and bathrooms. It just depends on the unit you get since they are all individually owned.

[cosmowife]

I’m not personally familiar but a lot of people I know go to Rehoboth.

[icedcoffee]

I’ll ditto Sea Colony. We are obsessed and if condo fees weren’t so ridiculous we would own in the tennis community there. But alas, I’m not rich. 😞

[icedcoffee]

May 23, 2020 21:01:38 GMT -5 af1212 said:

May 23, 2020 20:57:33 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

Sea Colony in Bethany Beach is a great. Condos, with a nice beach area (though not as wide as OC), pool, tennis courts, kid camps. You can walk into bethany itself and get dinner, dessert or play mini golf. Bethany Beach is between OC and Rehoboth, so if you want a night to go to the boardwalk and rides, it is easy to do.

This is where i spent my summers and I loved it.

I looked into that and it looks super awesome but am I reading it correctly that you have to pay an additional $40 per day per person above the rental price? That’s a big chunk of change!! And the units themselves don’t look like they’re in that great of shape especially adding on that giant charge.

I’m about 80% sure it $40 per person per WEEK. So still a chunk of change but not awful IMO.

[campermom]

Rehoboth. I grew up going to OC, but its just.....

Rehoboth is cleaner, more family oriented. The boardwalk is nice and not trashy. It’s just nicer There’s plenty of places to go and it’s easy to get down to OC or do the fun stuff nearby like Jolly Rogers or go to OC for the day. Lots of the same food places too.

[vmars]

Rehoboth beach or Cape May. Both are family friendly. However, Cape May you are more likely to find less crowded areas of the beach. I really like going all the way to the south end because the water is much calmer and if you feel like walking you can get to an area to sit with no one close by.

The boardwalk in Rehoboth is way better and they have Funland where you can basically spend $30 and your kid can go on any ride they want all week. The food in Rehoboth is also a lot better than Cape May.

If you have any questions lmk I have been going to Rehoboth for 17 years and lived at the jersey shore for 34 years.

[carrotsmakemefat]

Ocean City NJ is very family friendly. You have to bring your own alcohol onto the island (no big deal, lots of places right off and an easy drivable distance). So this reduces the crazy sketch and partying out and about.

FI’s family has been going since he was a baby. I love it. We go yearly

NOTE: Ocean City NJ is nothing like the other Jersey beaches AT ALL. It’s like a hidden gem. LOL

[simpsongal]

I grew up near LBI but that’s probably too far for you. Would recommend pt pleasant too but again too far.

Dh and I love cape may.

[cleo29]

May 24, 2020 7:26:44 GMT -5 campermom said:

Rehoboth. I grew up going to OC, but its just.....

Rehoboth is cleaner, more family oriented. The boardwalk is nice and not trashy. It’s just nicer There’s plenty of places to go and it’s easy to get down to OC or do the fun stuff nearby like Jolly Rogers or go to OC for the day. Lots of the same food places too.

Also, the Funland tickets are never changed. So, if you don't use them up one year, just bring them with you next year. I have a bag of tickets still. lol

[erbear]

May 24, 2020 6:09:26 GMT -5 felicity said:

We did Sea Colony a couple of years ago, and one of the things I didn't like was the beach was pretty crowded if you wanted to sit closer to the water. It's a private beach, but they have so many units that it is just as crowded if not more than the public beaches. We were in the last building that borders another private beach (Middelsex I think), and that beach was practically empty. They even had someone hired to sit in a chair whose only job was to keep the Sea Colony people from trying to come to their empty beach. I kept staring longingly over there while feeling packed in like a sardine at Sea Colony. Our unit was really nice, though. It was updated with a gorgeous kitchen and bathrooms. It just depends on the unit you get since they are all individually owned.

That's odd. We go all the way to the south part (in front of Island) and it's often pretty much empty, even in August.

[af1212]

May 24, 2020 7:26:44 GMT -5 campermom said:

Rehoboth. I grew up going to OC, but its just.....

Rehoboth is cleaner, more family oriented. The boardwalk is nice and not trashy. It’s just nicer There’s plenty of places to go and it’s easy to get down to OC or do the fun stuff nearby like Jolly Rogers or go to OC for the day. Lots of the same food places too.

My husband has vetoed rehoboth as all of the pics he sees seem too crowded to him

[af1212]

May 24, 2020 10:13:29 GMT -5 carrotsmakemefat said:

Ocean City NJ is very family friendly. You have to bring your own alcohol onto the island (no big deal, lots of places right off and an easy drivable distance). So this reduces the crazy sketch and partying out and about.

FI’s family has been going since he was a baby. I love it. We go yearly

NOTE: Ocean City NJ is nothing like the other Jersey beaches AT ALL. It’s like a hidden gem. LOL

We have been to OCNJ a bunch - weekends, day trips, I think a week a few times in the past. I love it and would be perfectly happy there. He says it’s too crowded for him

[af1212]

May 24, 2020 7:07:15 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

May 23, 2020 21:01:38 GMT -5 af1212 said:

I looked into that and it looks super awesome but am I reading it correctly that you have to pay an additional $40 per day per person above the rental price? That’s a big chunk of change!! And the units themselves don’t look like they’re in that great of shape especially adding on that giant charge.

I’m about 80% sure it $40 per person per WEEK. So still a chunk of change but not awful IMO.

Thank you. I did some more digging and you’re right. It was poorly explained in the first place I saw it. This is much more do-able!

[ksun]

I've been to both Rehoboth and OC (MD) and prefer Rehoboth.

[chchchia]

I am a south jersey girl and I really only like different shore towns in jersey in the off season but we go down to the Chesapeake bay, we go to VA but MD has wonderful and so peaceful spots that are great.

[dottyblue]

I'm going to ditto carrotsmakemefat that OCNJ is fabulous. We try to stay at the north end of the boardwalk and it is much quieter - a little further to walk but not as noisy and crowded during the day. That may help with your DH's "it's too crowded" complaint. We have a couple of little local restaurants that we can walk to from our rentals instead of fighting the crowds on the boardwalk.

We also liked Rehoboth and Bethany Beach. Both are lovely and should be considered, but OCNJ is my favorite

I don't understand the OCMD love at all. We lived in DC for 15 years and made too many trips there. It's big and dirty and requires a ton more driving than I want to do on vacation.

[msmerymac]

May 24, 2020 10:30:28 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

I grew up near LBI but that’s probably too far for you. Would recommend pt pleasant too but again too far.

Dh and I love cape may.

I pink puffy heart Cape May so much. The beach is never crowded. Definitely a different vibe from the rest of the shore towns in NJ. Obviously no boardwalk/rides for the kids, and pools are probably few and far between, but the atmosphere is stellar and the restaurants are good. Nothing cheesy about it. And the Wildwoods are like 10 minutes away if you want a boardwalk. Plus Cape May is right by the ferry to Delaware. 

[ECB]

I used to do a girls weekend in Dewey beach. We always stayed in the surfclubhotel.com/. I actually recently went to their site and they've totally renovated the hotel, which is great because it was really getting OLD.

I haiven't been in years, though, so I don't know how different it may be. But we loved it because we parked our car and never moved it until the day we left. Everything is walkeble.

[Susie]

I can't really wrap my head around vetoing the entire Jersey Shore as being "too" anything.  The different towns are SO different.  Different crowds (both size and vibe), wide beaches, narrow beaches, wide city like barrier islands, some that are like a block or two wide so everything is beach-walkable... free vs. beach tags required... different amenities... Stone Harbor/Avalon feels nothing like Atlantic City or Wildwood.  Cape May has its own vibe, they all do.  

I suggest Ocean City NJ to most families and people who aren't looking to bar hop (as the island itself is dry).  I used to work on the beach patrol there, and it's a great beach town.  The 8 mile beach is divided into 4 zones for beach patrol purposes, and each zone has a distinct personality, ha.  The south end is really quiet.  The 8th-15th street area is where the prime boardwalk is, and that's a lot busier.  For your needs I'd say stay south of about 20th St - i.e. the southern half.

[vmars]

My favorite beach for water quality is Island Beach State Park. 😍