Now that we are full swing into the summer season and schedules are becoming more flexible, day trips and weekend getaways have become one of the hotter topics of conversation recently. When I began thinking of which close by beach vacation destinations we’ve enjoyed the most over the years, I found myself having a hard time choosing.
We have been to various spots along the East Coast, mostly between New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. We can always find a lot of activities to keep us entertained no matter which location we pick!
I decided I’m going to give information on just a few areas we love the most, this time around. I will go into more detail about others a little later. (Stay tuned for that!)
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New Jersey
I guess I’ll start with the New Jersey end, since that is the beginning of my exposure to random beach getaways and day trips in the first place! I grew up in Southern New Jersey, a relatively short drive from all of the more well known beach towns, such as Cape May, Stone Harbor, Atlantic City and so on. All of those beach towns were pretty much my backyard, and my family took complete advantage of that!
To keep it simple, I’ll start with the most northern beach town on my list and work our way down to the more southern towns along the way. That would make Atlantic City my starting point of favorite beaches I have to recommend.
Atlantic City, NJ
Whenever I think of Atlantic City, I think good food, entertainment, the nightlife, and just a small break from adult life in general. That’s the best way I can sum it up. We are not big gamblers, so going to the casinos isn’t with the idea of winning big money. In fact, if we do go there with the intention of gambling, we often spend just a few hours on the casino floor before moving on to a nice dinner at one of the casino restaurants. (If we win along the way, even better!)
While a satisfying meal at the end of the evening, is a reason to visit all by itself, it’s just one reason. The various concerts, shows and other live entertainment regularly available at any given casino, at any time, are yet another reason.
When you need to step out of the glittering casino lights, take a walk along the boardwalk. With it’s many cafes, shops, and amusement park rides, the fun goes on for as long as your heart desires!
If nothing else, Atlantic City is bustling with excitement!
If you want a little less excitement, don’t worry! There are plenty of more reasons to visit Atlantic City. One of course, would be the sandy beach and ocean waves. You can’t go to the beach without putting your feet in the water, after all! Maybe you’ll even want to go kayaking, fishing, or even on a short cruise.
Atlantic City is also well known for it’s spectacular golf courses that keep you coming back. Then, there are historical monuments, lighthouses, along with nearby parks and forests to keep you busy with what little time you may have left, after exploring all of the other attractions the city has to offer.
Atlantic City has a number of reliable forms of transportation that run throughout the city at all hours of the day. Tour in style with one of the available Jitneys, Rolling Chairs or Boardwalk Trams!
Looking for a daytrip? Take a short drive to one of the nearby ocean side towns a little further down the road, for different options! Regardless of what you may have in mind, Atlantic City is a great place to start.
Further down the NJ coast…
Ocean City, NJ
Looking for a nice kid friendly beach town where the entire family can have a great time? Not only is Ocean City, NJ known for it’s clean beaches and various sources of entertainment, but it is also known for being the ideal family centered beach community.
In fact, it is so family friendly that it is also known as “Dry Town” to many folk. The town is very strict about public drinking and you can only get a drink at a few places within town borders. So…if you want that cocktail at the end of a long day, it is definitely a B.Y.O.B situation. And keep it on the low…Not in public!
Aside from the soft sand and ocean waves, the town offers a 2.5 mile long boardwalk of family fun. Between arcades, amusement park rides, concerts, shops, and restaurants, there is certainly no lack of entertainment within the small area!
Want a change of pace? Go golfing or fishing or even take a day trip to one of the various other seaside towns a short drive away. There are a myriad of things to do. The best part? Ocean City is just far enough away from the more lively beach towns, so that it is quiet and relaxing. Yet, it is affordable!
Cape May, NJ
I mentioned Cape May in an earlier post, so I’ll just expand on the town a little bit here. Many people in the northeast have heard of Cape May, NJ. It is one of the smaller eastern shore beach towns, but with much to offer. It is a quaint little town, away from the party atmosphere of the busier nearby resort towns, yet close enough to catch a glimpse of the excitement for an afternoon.
Cape May is know for it’s little boutiques and high quality shops, most of which can be found within or around the well known Washington Street Mall. When you’ve had your fill of shopping, replenish at one of the many restaurants within walking distance. Even better if you happen to visit during one of the Cape May Restaurant Week events hosted throughout the year!
Enjoy a leisurely day catching some sun at the beach or visit the Cape May County Park & Zoo for a bit of interaction with more than 250 different animal species.
If your interest is more water related, Cape May is the home of many different water activities. You can go kayaking, fishing, jet skiing, or dolphin watching, just to list a few. There is no shortage of adventure in the Cape May area.
At the end of the long day, settle in at a nearby hotel, bed and breakfast or even a campground with all of the comforts of home! There are a few campgrounds in the area that have a load of nice features, for less than what you would pay at a hotel. And they offer pet accommodations if you have your furry friends along for the trip! Check it out!
Before you end your stay in Cape May, consider taking a day trip over to the Lewes and Rehoboth Beach, De area. A hop, skip, and a jump away, lies an entirely different adventure with waterparks, games, and tax free shopping! Definitely worth the quick trip if time allows. Which brings me to….
Welcome to the First State!
Lewes, DE
Better yet, welcome to the First Town of the First State! With it’s rich history as a back drop, the quaint little town of Lewes, DE invites you to stay time and time again. It never gets boring. It is the perfect break from every day life, for all ages!
Take a leisurely walk around the town and browse the small, privately owned shops or stop in at the Zwaanendael Museum for a brief history lesson of the town. Spend a relaxing day at the Lewes Beach and grab a bit to eat afterward, at one of the award winning restaurants in town!
Don’t forget to stop at the famous King’s Ice Cream for a local favorite desert!
If you’re feeling a little more active, rent a kayak for the day and tour the Delaware Bay right out of Cape Henlopen State Park. If you need a source of entertainment for the kiddos, head on over to Jungle Jim’s water park for the day. With several large water slides, a wave pool, and activity pools available, the kids will definitely sleep well through the night!
There are walking trails, biking trails, along with golf and fishing, for other outdoor activities. The Lewes Farmer’s Market is yet another thing you won’t want to miss out on…the freshest local foods and produce at your finger tips!
If you’re looking for air conditioning instead, visit Tanger Outlets for tax free shopping or head over to Lefty’s Alleys and Eats for bowling, arcades, and axe throwing! Fun for the entire family!
There are various options for accommodations, from bed and breakfasts, to hotels, and campgrounds. The Cape May – Lewes Ferry is right there if a day trip over to Cape May is on your agenda. In the opposite direction and a little closer to base, take a tour of the brewery that is the home of the famous Dogfish Head beer.
So many options, all from the starting point of the charming little town of Lewes, DE.
Rehoboth Beach, DE
Rehoboth Beach is the center of the action for southern Delaware and one of the most popular beach vacation destinations along the eastern shore. It is just a short 2-3 hour drive from multiple states including New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and others. Hence one reason it’s such a popular tourist spot.
Aside from it’s convenient location, Rehoboth Beach is well known for it’s ocean waves, large sandy beach and entertaining boardwalk. The boardwalk is 1 mile from beginning to end, filled with delicious food, boutiques, shops, and of course, Funland! So much excitement packed into such a convenient space!
The kids will love Funland with the amusement park rides and various arcade games. The parents will enjoy the endless activities to keep the kids entertained. Play a game of miniature golf for a bit and stop for lunch at any of the eateries right on the boardwalk or along the side streets. Tons of different food within the immediate vicinity! Awesome for even the pickiest eaters.
While we are on the topic of the boardwalk, don’t forget about the famous Thrasher’s Fries for a little mid day snack. It’s just a thing for the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk experience.
Oh… and don’t dare ask for ketchup! They only offer vinegar as a topping for the fries. Again, it’s just a thing. Almost a right of passage. (psst…do what I do. I carry a ketchup packet with me if I’m not in the mood for the vinegar!)
Afterwards, grab desert at Kohr’s Bros, on the boardwalk for some delicious creamy soft serve ice cream.
Then, finish the day in your room at the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and fall asleep to the relaxing sound of ocean waves! Perfect.
Other popular tourists attractions are of course, Jungle Jim’s Water Park, Tanger Outlets, Lefty’s Alleys & Eats, and Midway Speedpark. Because Rehoboth and Lewes are so close by each other, they share a lot of the same attractions, activities, culinary options, etc.
For a day trip, Rehoboth Beach is also close to the Cape May – Lewes Ferry.
As for food, there are a variety of favorites in the Rehoboth/Lewes area. If you’re looking for delicious pizza, Crust and Craft is a very popular restaurant with the locals and tourists, alike. It offers different menu options if pizza is not what you are craving. However, I suggest going with the brick oven pizza. It is excellent every single time! Yum!
Other local favorites include Bluecoast Seafood Grill & Raw Bar, 1776 Steakhouse, Dogfish Brewing & Eats, and Irish Eyes (Lewes). All great places to satisfy any appetite!
Last, but not least…
Ocean City, MD
Ocean City, Md is another hot beach town destination that offers more to do than you can possibly have time for! You can participate in many different watersports, such as kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, boat tours, cruises, and more! The beautiful beach and ocean waves will be waiting for you when swimming is on the agenda.
For those days when you want to stay dry, there are plenty of land activities to keep the whole family entertained. There are bike trails for exercise and numerous parks for a leisurely picnic with the kids. Parasailing is another popular activity, as is the Jolly Roger At The Pier. Of course, we can’t leave out golfing and mini golf.
Looking to collect a few souvenirs? The boardwalk offers a variety of boutiques and shops for finding that perfect treasure. If you don’t find what you’re looking for in the boardwalk shops, not to worry. There are outlets and shopping centers everywhere you look throughout the town of Ocean City!
Everyone wants to enjoy good food while on vacation. Ocean City has no shortage of delicious restaurants, cafes and eateries for any meal of the day. It offers a very vibrant and diverse culinary experience to keep your taste buds happy.
Beach bars and grills with their overstuffed sandwiches and perfectly fried finger foods, offer a more casual vacation vibe. If you’re looking for a sit down place with fresh seafood and other entre options, check out the Longboard Cafe’, Sunset Grille, The Hobbit Restaurant, or even The Dough Roller for a more casual family meal!
Day trip destinations in the Ocean City, Md area, are not hard to find. For activities suitable rain or shine, check out Ocean Pines, Md and Berlin, Md. Between the Ocean Pines Farmer’s Market, Ocean Downs Casino, Frontier Town Adventure Park, and various other activities, there won’t any time to be bored!
Looking to include a little more nature in the trip? Assateague Island is the place to be! Maybe you’ll even catch sight of the wild ponies that come along to say hi every once in a while!
Wrapping it up…
I have been to every single one of these lovely vacation spots over the years many times over, and we never run out of things to do at any one of the locations. Each area offers so much, that you have to come back again to get the entire experience! The accommodations are always nice, the food always delicious and the fun nonstop.
All of the towns are clean, family friendly, and affordable, and just a short drive away. What’s stopping you from taking that much needed long weekend?
Be sure to let us know in the comments, what beach destinations you like the most!
Thanks a lot for this amazing collection of hints and ideas! 🙂
Thank you for reading 🙂