East coast vacation ideas

[yankebabie]

Taking a break from Disney this year so we can treat ourselves to Wilderness lodge next year. So... Looking for vacation spots in the northeast where we can have some beach time but still other things to do nearby if we want to. Any ideas or favorite spots would be appreciated

 

[havaneselover]

Busch Gardens Williamsburg/Water Country. Beautiful parks and very reasonable ticket prices. If you have any history lovers, lots of historical sites nearby.

Disclaimer: I'm on year 5 of being a season pass holder. Haven't been to WDW since 2009 and we really don't miss it.

Sorry, I just saw you specified NE. This isn't too helpful.

Ocean City, NJ is one of my favorite vacation spots in the NE. So family oriented and so much to do.

 

[figment81]

Rehoboth, Delaware / Lewes Delaware, it gets kinda pricy in spots during peak season, for hotels, but there are some great campgrounds as well. I can vouch for Cape Henlopen state Park ( I worked there) lots of beaches there.

Portland Maine/Old orchard beach Maine - OOB is small and a bit run down but it does have a big beach and portland and other towns around provide a lot of things to do

Bar Harbor Maine Is my favorite spot, Arcadia National park can not be beat!

 

[eliza61]

How about a tour in the cities? I love philly (where I live now) and Washington DC. In the summer there are tons of low cost family things going on.

 

[eliza61]

Kiujyg

 

[amymeyer]

We love the Jersey Shore... and no, not the one from TV - the real one! Wildwood Crest Beach is so beautiful, and pretty quiet. You can get great deals on places on the beach if budget and saving is a concern. Also, just a few miles to Cape May where you can take in the lighthouse, an awesome beach like I have never seen before - Sunset beach which is not sand but small soft rocks, with a sunken concrete boat from the civil? war - and you can still do the Wildwood Boardwalk which is a few miles in the other direction from Cape May for the action packed family night. It's a quaint vacation spot that we hit every year or two. Love it!

 

[eeyorethegreat]

Taking a break from Disney this year so we can treat ourselves to Wilderness lodge next year. So... Looking for vacation spots in the northeast where we can have some beach time but still other things to do nearby if we want to. Any ideas or favorite spots would be appreciated

Acadia National Park http://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm

 

[Eureka]

Acadia National Park http://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm

I second Acadia, I grew up 45 minutes away. Bar Harbor is a cute little town. I also like Ogunquit and Camden. Lots of nice coastal towns down Rte 1 and 1A in New England.

We live in MD now and go to Rehoboth every year, love it too.

 

[LindaBabe]

Lake Champlain Islands - there's a lovely sandy beach, if you don't demand your water be salt.

 

[Iowajes]

Our family vacations at Wildwood/Cape May on the Jersey shore. We do big family trips where all the families get condos near each other. It's a nice vacation with beach time, pool time, fishing, kayaking, and lots of good food nearby.

However, if it wasn't for the lure of family, I'm not sure I'd recommend it. The water is so darn cold none of the adults get in it, and even a few of the kids won't. Most of the swimming is done in pools. I prefer beach vacations where the ocean is just as much of a draw as laying around on the beach.

 

[solfan68]

Ocean City, NJ is one of my favorite vacation spots in the NE. So family oriented and so much to do.

Our family choice as well. Great, clean beaches. Vibrant boardwalk with amusement piers and mini golf locations. Plus, just a short drive from the Cape May zoo. And the public library in town has free wifi and movies scheduled through the summer, in case you get a rainy day at the beach !

 

[mjkacmom]

Our family vacations at Wildwood/Cape May on the Jersey shore. We do big family trips where all the families get condos near each other. It's a nice vacation with beach time, pool time, fishing, kayaking, and lots of good food nearby.

However, if it wasn't for the lure of family, I'm not sure I'd recommend it. The water is so darn cold none of the adults get in it, and even a few of the kids won't. Most of the swimming is done in pools. I prefer beach vacations where the ocean is just as much of a draw as laying around on the beach.

When my kids were little, we'd go to Ocean City, NJ every memorial day weekend, and they were in the water! As in boogy boarding/body surfing. I've never been to the Jersey shore when the water was too cold for swimming - we go down a lot during the summer, and I can't get my kids out of the water.

Have to agree with WW Crest being a great destination - so much to do, beaches aren't as wide as Wildwood, and the boardwalk is great (we prefer it during the week - more families). Cape May is a short drive.

 

[havaneselover]

When my kids were little, we'd go to Ocean City, NJ every memorial day weekend, and they were in the water! As in boogy boarding/body surfing. I've never been to the Jersey shore when the water was too cold for swimming - we go down a lot during the summer, and I can't get my kids out of the water.

Have to agree with WW Crest being a great destination - so much to do, beaches aren't as wide as Wildwood, and the boardwalk is great (we prefer it during the week - more families). Cape May is a short drive.

Yeah, I spent a lot of time in Ocean City as a child and water temperature was never a problem for anyone.

We went to the Outerbanks (NC) for the first time last summer and the water in the middle of July was in the low 60s. It was miserable. I'm pretty sure the water in Southern New Jersey was at least 10 degrees warmer.

 

[rella's fan]

One year we did a split stay in Cape Cod and Newport, Rhode Island. We stayed near Hyannis and took the ferry to Martha's Vineyard one of the days and the ferry to Nantucket on another. Then the last couple of days we stayed in Newport. Lots to do.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

One year we did a split stay in Cape Cod and Newport, Rhode Island. We stayed near Hyannis and took the ferry to Martha's Vineyard one of the days and the ferry to Nantucket on another. Then the last couple of days we stayed in Newport. Lots to do.

I agree with this. SO much to do besides the beautiful beaches. Newport mansions and CLiff Walk. Look into waterfire in Providence. Close to Boston if you want to see that for a day

 

[Iowajes]

I've never been to the Jersey shore when the water was too cold for swimming - we go down a lot during the summer, and I can't get my kids out of the water.

Your family must be braver than mine. We play a bit in the water on the beach, but swim in the pool. My sister actually has wetsuits for her kids this year, so they'll go in the water a little more.



As for Newport RI- LOVED IT as a child (haven't been back as an adult). That may have been one vacation my sister and I didn't argue. We "picked" different houses that would be ours

 

[HeatherC]

For Ocean locations, I would suggest South County, Rhode Island. Great beaches, can drive to Newport, Boston, take ferry to Block Island, etc.

Or...Lake George, NY. TONS to do there.

North Conway, NH in the White Mountains...also lots to do.

If budget isn't a concern, Smugglers Notch Resort in Stowe, VT. Beautiful area!

So many great places! Have fun deciding!