summer vacations in northern VA, MD, NC area?

[Daruma]

Family is planning on doing a vaca during first week of july. Been searching around for places to go that are decent in VA, MD, NC area but am wary about the major attractions. Went to virginia beach last year and that was a mistake. Not only the worst effing food that was over priced but I felt like the russian mob and bizaaro doppleganger stores were dropping us into an episode of the twilight zone. Would not recommend ever going their with your family. Upon researching ocean city it seems like the very same thing just slightly better than VB. Now looking at OBX to see if anything worthwhile.

Anyone ever had a good vaca experience around VA, MD, NC areas? One that you could bring your family to and is not so overpriced that your wallet disappears ?

thanks in advance for any info

[bechyni]

Depends on what you are looking for in NC and what the term family actually means. You have some kids or just mainly adults? What do you like to do? GIVE ME INFO

[Devolver]

The outer banks of NC is a pretty chill spot if you're just looking to go somewhere to relax, but there's not much more other than that there. The mountain areas of NC isn't too much of a vacation area, unless during winter for skiing. But other than that, there's not too much NC has to offer.

Edit: Unless you dig going to big cities, Then Charlotte has a good bit going on usually.

[Cayos]

I live in Norfolk and my family has always gone to the OBX or Massanutten, which is a four seasons resort in the Shenendoah Valley. They have this huge indoor water-park they put in a couple years ago, which is pretty cool. Arcade, eating area, the works. It would be great for kids. There are some pretty neat hiking trails and some pools that you may or may not need a membership to go to. A lot of the rental houses are right on a golf course, or atleast our timeshare is. Definitely do some research and see if you like it.

Edit: Also, I don't know why you would go to Virginia Beach for a vacation.

[Daruma]

Its a me and my wife and kid for the vaca. Yeah we have never been to VB before and just decided to go there on a whim.....stupid mistake that was

[Penthesilea]

Rent a place on the coast and go fishing/beach/whatever?

Usually we do a week down in Morehead City, NC fishing and beaching it. It's relaxing but there's not much there.

How old is the kid, old enough for rollercoasters? Why not Busch Garden's Williamsburg and all the stuff in Williamsburg?

[Daruma]

nah 3 years old would be not a good idea for coasters. Just hoping to do something beach wise. OBX still sounds like it could be decent. Not looking to do much cept eat and loaf around on the beach/relax.

[Cail]

I'm supposed to be goin to OBX 2nd week of July. So I guess I'll piggyback the OP. Any suggestions on things to do down there? I'm 26, theres gonna be about 5 people my age, and then our parents+grandparents. So anything you think some mid-twentys would have fun doin as well as soemthing for all of us. (Of course, my job is fucking retarded and won't give me the days off, but i hate the job anyway...so maybe quitting time /endrant)

[bechyni]

Could take him out on the battleship at Wilmington think he might enjoy that then you could go relax at the outer banks

[Lucavi]

Ocean City, MD is always a good time. A lot of beach, a lot of attractions, and you can get some good prices. Its one of the biggest hotspots in MD over the summer.

[ZarakiKujata]

bro it up w/ tyven and/or mizango??

[Absolutely Virtue]

If you're going to the east coast to go to the beach and you're going anywhere but Florida, you're doing it wrong. I've been to every beach up and down the coast, and a shitty beach in Florida is better than a nice beach anywhere else on the coast.

If you're going to OBX, there are two pretty different scenes. Across the bridge and north takes you to the more 'family' part with towns like Corolla and Duck. If you go south, you get Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills, which are where more young people go. But if you go /way/ down south you get less crowded and more family, like down toward Hatteras.

Don't ever go to Virginia Beach. Don't ever go to Ocean City, MD.

If you're looking for something different, take the suggestion about the mountains in VA. Or maybe try something like Annapolis, MD. That's in between Baltimore and DC and there are lots of tourist things to do.

If you come to DC, bring extremely comfortable shoes. The monuments are far apart, and our founding fathers weren't so fat they couldn't walk a half a mile between them. But every summer it's a fucking show watching modern superamericans have heart attacks dragging their fat asses across the Mall.

[Cail]

We're staying in Corolla actually...even if i do nothing but sit out on the beach for a week, itll be awesome

[Absolutely Virtue]

Corolla (cuh rahl uh, btw) is a nice beach, although sometimes it can be a bit eroded if the weather has been bad. Definitely chill though. I understand there are a few bars and things up there now. But if you're craving that kinda thing, you can always drive down to Nags Head. It's only about a half hour away.

When I go to the beach, I just wanna sit my ass on the beach.

[Soa]

Went to virginia beach last year and that was a mistake. Not only the worst effing food that was over priced but I felt like the russian mob and bizaaro doppleganger stores were dropping us into an episode of the twilight zone. Would not recommend ever going their with your family.

Quoting for extreme amount of truth.

I don't really get the hate for Ocean City MD, there's tons to do, its easy to get around, and its family friendly. I guess its a bit too touristy for some people but its not a bad place to spend a week.

The Outer banks are nice but there isn't a whole lot to do there besides chill on the beach all day. I used to take day trips down there when I lived in VA Beach and they were well worth it.

I've been to every beach up and down the coast, and a shitty beach in Florida is better than a nice beach anywhere else on the coast.

I take it you haven't been to Bradenton Beach, which isn't really a beach so much as a dump for broken sea shells and sharp as glass rocks.

[Bregor]

Don't ever go to Virginia Beach. Don't ever go to Ocean City, MD.

^

I would suggest somewhere quiet to relax like a B&B or Virginia wine country but with a three-year-old that's probably not going to happen. If you're locked into a beach somewhere, I went to Nags Head, NC as a kid and I remember it being a pretty awesome time, but that was like a million years ago.

Don't come to DC for tourist-y stuff, you'll walk around all day in the humidity and the kid won't remember shit. Come back when you all can appreciate everything without sweating through all your clothes. If you do end up doing that, I recommend museums (read: air conditioning) until the sun goes down, and then the monuments. They look better lit up at night anyway. I actually just went to the Newseum and it was pretty boss, and the west building of the National Gallery of Art (the classical one) has always been my fav.

Annapolis is actually an excellent idea, my dad went to the Naval Academy so we would visit often. There's plenty of stuff to do and it's on the water, although not your typical beachfront vacation. The good thing is most stuff is cheap (so the middies can afford it) and it's way less crowded than your Ocean City/Virginia Beach madhouses.

[Judai]

Ocean City sucks. I don't have any clue why people like it. Maybe it's because I have been to so many beaches across the world but the beaches in MD/VA are horrible. The only reason to come to DC for a vacation is downtown DC and the monuments, the Smithsonian and other museums and the Zoo(which needs to be renovated). A couple hour drive to the Baltimore Aquarium and the Harbor is a nice day as well. Anything you do in DC is going to involve a good amount of walking though and some driving if you plan to go anywhere else, so if you want a nice relaxing vacation go somewhere else like the Outer Banks or a completely different part of the country.

Otherwise go to the mountains or something but don't come here for the beaches because they suck. I have no clue why people get excited to go to Ocean City or Virginia Beach but I can only assume they haven't been anywhere else.

edit: and it's hot and humid as hell in the DC area right now, better to come here closer to fall or mid-spring to enjoy the museums and such. Really sucks to walk around DC in this heat but in Spring the Cherry Blossoms are nice and in the Fall the weather isn't killer.

[Absolutely Virtue]

I take it you haven't been to Bradenton Beach, which isn't really a beach so much as a dump for broken sea shells and sharp as glass rocks.

I'll give you this one. I will also include Jacksonville Beach (where my family is originally from). Not awesome. But the beaches nearby are great.

There is stuff for little kids to do out in the VA mountains, though. Skyline drive is awesome, and kids dig Luray Caverns.

[Daruma]

We live in NoVa so anything in this area has been done: skyline drive rocks, DC is fun for a couple hours but is a pretty fucking bland city if you ask me (compared to NYC or boston), found a kick ass park in vienna called Meadowlark Gardens (which we will be doing for the cherry blossoms next year). Been to the cherry blossom festival about 3 times...nice if you hit the weather right and not many people (yeah right) but otherwise a pain in the ass to navigate the mall area in DC. And I have pretty much accepted the fact that in NOVA/DC area everything takes a long time to get to even walking. But overall so far thanks for the great tips on places to stay. Any suggestions on hotels/places to stay in OBX if we decide there? Going to look into Annapolis too since thats about 45min - hour drive from where we live.

[EternityEnd]

As an NC resident, it baffles me why anyone would come here to vacation.

Don't. lol