Mid-Atlantic beach spots?

At the end of the month we're heading to our annual SVX/XT6 meet at the Dragon. The meet is Fri-Sun, but I want to extend it a little and head out a few days early.SWMBO has requested some beach time and has heard from a few friends about the Outer Banks.

That would give about an 8 hour drive there earlier in the week and then an 8 hour drive to the Dragon on Friday, so that would be good.

Any other treasures in that area? Really anywhere from Delaware south to Myrle Beach area. Ideally something nice and quiet but with some activities nearby. It will just be the two of us, so we don't need stuff for kids to do.

Probably looking at a day or two there. Also considering a day in DC on the way to the beach??

Outer Banks is fantastic. You want quiet beach time? you will have it. Beach fishing is good, campsites are rather primitive, as in cold water showers. Very quick cold water showers. Lot's of history. The light house that they moved a few years ago. Go north to Carolla, if you have 4 wheel drive you can go to the end of the island for some interesting sights. Wild horses walking around. My nephew Dave had a house there. We visited there and had to dodge horse poop in the car port. Cool car ferry to get from island to island.

Depends on what you want really. I would suggest NC beaches for relaxation and rest. I would go to Myrtle for Golf and party time.

The Outter Banks get my vote almost every time.

I miss living only a couple hours from the outer banks. Carolla and Duck are nice. I miss driving down there for the day with the Jeep and heading out onto the sand.

I love the outerbanks.. every couple of years we rent a house in Avon for a week before the season kicks in..

I hate their beaches though.. the sand is VERY course and the bottom drops off fast. Southern NJ beaches are better.. as are Deleware and MD's

This time of year, all the beaches will be packed, it's just a matter of how crazy they'll be. If you don't want to head all the way down to NC, some suggestions.

Rehoboth Beach, DE

Cape May, NJ

Ocean City, NJ

Ocean City, MD

We did Ocean City, Chincoteague (sp?) and the Outer Banks Last year

Highlights for us were. Old Mill restaurant in Delmar Delaware - best fried chicken I've ever had, it was part of the all-you-can-berkelying-eat blue crab dinner.

Kayak tour in Assateague/Chincoteague - Assateague Explorer was the operator (no canoe!). We were within feet of the wild ponies.

Stayed at a tiny motel in Kittyhawk called the Beach Haven. Cross the street, over the dune, empty beach! The motel was very well kept and I'd stay there again in a heartbeat - and I've stayed at Hilton/Marriot/Holiday Inns a lot.

Okracoke is nice for a kid "less than friendly" place. If you or you're SO is into shelling, take the ATV tour of Portsmouth Island. There is much shelling to do there. We found a E36M3 load of scotch bonnets on Portsmouth when we were there. The ATVs are 2 seat, side by side.

Flying Melon on Okracoke has great fresh local fish, and the burger place at the marina was also very good though the service was slowish. They were packed at the time we were there though...

Hope this helps :)

EDIT The greenheads on Portsmouth were hungry the day we were there.

We found Ocean City to be too built up and crowded. On a scale of 1-7, it got a "meh".

Most of the Delaware beaches are going to be very crowded and parking will be hellish. But if you can find a place to stay, just a mile or three north of Rehoboth is the Cape Henlopen State Park which is quiet, has plenty of parking and decent facilities, and is relatively natural. You can go there for your beach time and then venture in to the other towns (Rehoboth, Dewey, Fenwick) for the party crowd if you want to.

I love Chincoteague, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it in this case. There are a lot of horses to see (same as outer banks), the area is less touristy than the outer banks, more mom and popish, they have Mr. Whippee, and the beach at Assateague is ok. We used to like to make a day trip or even a weekend trip to visit, but there is not a lot to do compared to the outer banks. If you really want to relax and be a little more off the beaten path try Chincoteague.

Do not go to Tangier Island unless you are really curious. The island is made up mostly of two families Crocketts and Pruits. Think the movie Wrong Turn on an island. Lots of cats there as well. I think the cats secretly run the place.

Been to the Outer Banks time and time again. A gorgeous place. The further from Nags Head you are the more pristine the beaches and the lower the crowds. 4x4's on the beach make the trip as you can haul out whatever you feel like. If you have kids it's so much easier to drive a loaded 4x4 on to the beach than carrying all that kid infrastructure over the dunes. Just lower your tire pressure to 20lbs or so you'll cut down on getting stuck.

There are some things to do there but it's mostly about hanging out and relaxing. You won't find crazy clubs. You won't get wild bars. You won't have to deal with a mob scene on the beach unless you like that and stay in Nags Head. Other than my favorite BBQ place closing there, Bubba's, it's still a damned nice place to go.

Last time we drove to Asheville, there was a yellow XT in a field with weeds grown up over it on the way. It looked awfully familiar...then I noticed the Challenge placard on the door! I want to say it wasn't too far from the dragon. I know this has nothing to do with beaches, but I thought you'd like to know.

Save time hit lake lure for driving , then hit triple falls trip falls vid

hit up sliding rock also sliding rock vid

wheel thru time maggie valley moto museum

Get your INGLES super market card for discounts on food at their markets

I camped right in the dunes on the beach at a state park in Virginia Beach one year for a Supra meet.

South of Rehobeth to Bethany Beach is not all that crowded. I love Bethany Beach.
There is a state park just north of there.

As far as the "tourist traps" go (You did say you wanted things to do,) Bethany is the least crowded, and a bit more adult, than the other Delaware/Maryland beaches. Ocean City is for the wild life.

Cape Henlopen or downtown Lewes typically have something interesting going on, although you missed the British car show already.

Rehoboth has the Dogfish Head restaurant. Sample their brews while dining on great food. (No affiliation but I'm trying for a job at the brewery.)

Check out some of the inland fare (Crab Barn in Delmar was mentioned) and don't be afraid to wander. It's a narrow peninsula. Chances are you'll eventually meet water.

I'd also suggest a ride on John Riggi's "Bay Gueen" in Pocomoke, MD to see the eagles and their young. (Only affiliation is he's a friend and I frequent his restaurant.)

I could go on...

Keith