DELMARVA beaches.... Ocean City vs Rehobeth or Bethany...UPDATE at bottom

[egoldber]

We were planning to go to VA Beach, but now my SIL and her family are also coming. VA Beach is too far for them, so we are looking at Delmarva instead. We are finding inexpensive places in Ocean City.

But my neighbor told me yesterday she thought we would hate it there, that we would think it was too loud and crowded. We've been to Bethany and Rehobeth before so we know what that's like, but we've never been to Ocean City.

FWIW, we like VA Beach a lot, but again my neighbor said it was a lot more family friendly than Ocean City and they try to keep things quiet there. She and her DH have lived in this area all their lives and are very easy going, so it surprised and concerned me that she was so negative about it.

[TwinFoxes]

I have limited experience with the three, and went pre-kids and pre-LA move, so my advice is 10 years old. Ocean City is definitely the livelier of the three. I would say there are more "partyers" there. But it's not icky or too over the top. It's still family friendly. The boardwalk might be fun for the kiddoes.

But "knowing" you I would think you'd prefer Rehoboth. It's much more mellow. Bethany I barely remember, it was kind of blah.

ETA: OC is definitely the most crowded of the three! More cars and the issues that brings (traffic etc).

[g-mama]

OC is much more crowded and has a lot more traffic than Rehoboth and Bethany. There's a lot more riff-raff there. We took the kids to the OC boardwalk once while visiting friends and I was glad none of my kids could read yet. There are skanky shops everywhere with nasty sayings on them, girls hanging out of their bikinis wearing little else (evenings on the boardwalk) with cigarettes hanging out of their mouths, foul language....you get the idea.

We stay at Bethany and then go to Rehoboth for restaurants and the Rehoboth boardwalk. Totally different vibe there and far more family friendly.

[ciw]

Another vote for Rehoboth out of those three.

We just came back from Cape May which I thought was great for young kids. We did the beach in the mornings and then other activities, like the trolley ride, wandering around the harbor and shopping in the afternoons. There were lots of things we didn't even get to: the Cape May zoo, the aviation museum, tea parties for kids and their teddy bears at the Emlen Physick Estate, storytime at the lighthouse, etc.

Cape May may be farther than you're looking at but if you go to Rehoboth you could always take the ferry over to Cape May one day. If you do that, it'll probably be cheaper to come as a foot passenger and leave your car behind. Without a car, a lot of activities I mentioned in Cape May wouldn't be possible but you could still do the beach and wander around the shops.

I agree with TwinFoxes, I think Bethany is kind of blah. Rehoboth has more going on than Bethany and is cleaner and quieter than Ocean City. And Ocean City, well, I know a lot of teens like the boardwalk but I'm in NO rush to take my child there anytime soon. It's more crowded and a lot rougher than Rehoboth or Cape May.

Have fun wherever you go!

[egoldber]

What about Fenwick Island?

Cost is somewhat of an issue, especially for the other family. We need a place with 4 bedrooms.

[g-mama]

Fenwick is a really small part right at the northern tip of Ocean City, before you get to Bethany. One good thing is that the northern part of OC is much more family-oriented than the southern part. Numbered streets start at 1 (down by boardwalk) and go all the way up to 145th. Fenwick begins (I believe) right after 145th. My mom had a place on 141st for years and it is very different than the lower numbered streets. More peaceful and less crazy. You could drive to the Rehoboth boardwalk in about 1/2 an hour. If the rates are cheaper, I think it's a good choice.

[demommy]

We just booked a oceanfront condo on 141st in OC for labor day week. The north part of OC is has a different vibe, much quiter I think. I figure we can always drive into Rehobeth for their boardwalk the same for OC boardwalk. Good Luck

[ThreeofUs]

OC has a well-deserved reputation. Go a little north for more quiet and family-friendly beaches. I used to love Rehoboth, and Fenwick Is. is I think still quite nice - it's right on the ocean and a bay.

gl!

[egoldber]

Thanks! We're not finding a whole lot in our price range in Rehobeth, but Bethany and Fenwick Island seem very doable.

[SnuggleBuggles]

We have been going with family to Indian Beach, just south of Rehoboth, the past 4 years. Love it! No hotels, just homes to rent. Well, there are some hotels but up in Dewey Beach, which is close to where we are, they really don't seem great (think college kids, party hotels). Last year this time I was still able to find rentals, especially on the sound side.

Another option, not on the ocean, is Deep Creek MD. It wouldn't be a bad drive and there are lots of great rentals. It was a fun resort town. Not as nice as Indian or Dewey Beach but still nice and good outdoorsy stuff to do.

Beth

[drako]

SnuggleBuggles:

Could you list rental agencies for homes in Indian Beach? I haven't found too many agencies. We go to the Outer Banks every year and find it very easy to find house rentals. We already went but want to take a 2nd beach vacation in September to the Delaware beaches. Thanks for any help!

[SnuggleBuggles]

That was an issue, to be honest, and a reason I went to Deep Creek instead. The rental websites were really crappy that I was finding for the Indian Beach area. I agree, the Outer Banks' websites and options were so much better too and we almost went there. This is who my family uses for the rentals:
http://www.jacklingo.com/rentals/index.htm

HTH,
Beth

[egoldber]

What about Lewes?

I had heard Dewey was a "party beach". Is that not true?

[g-mama]

Dewey is a party beach.

Lewes is very quiet. Very. My good friends bought a beach house there a year ago and we've visited twice. It's very nice, very calm, out of the way....but you're 15 mins to Rehoboth so you could drive there to find stuff to do if you wanted.

[lowrioh]

We just got back from a week at South Bethany with my extended family and it was great. The beaches weren't too crowded and it was 100% family orientated. My dad picked up the tab and the 4 bedroom house was ~$3000 for the week. It was on the beach block and pretty nice inside and out.

A few years ago we went to Fenwick Island with my extended family and we had a good time. The house we rented was on the bay side of Rt 1 so you have to cross a pretty busy road to get to the beach and it was ~2-3 blocks. You're kids are older so it should be OK but with DD we were happy to be on the beach side of the main road. Fenwick Island has a really cute water/splash park that is geared for little kids. It is pretty affordable and there is only one big slide so no self respecting teenager would go there.

I would stay away from OC if you are looking for a quiet family vacation. We went to the board walk and it was very interesting people watching.

When/if you go, try to plan your Bay Bridge crossing before 8:30 on the Saturday. Even if you get to the beach before you can check into you house you can go and hang out at Henelopen State park or head to the outlets in Rehobeth for a couple of hours. The bridge can be backed up past the Kent Narrows bridge. Also, if you take 404 across Delmarva, there is a state park (Tuckahoe) that is a good bathroom break....no lines.

[clc053103]

Definitely not Dewey- It's a 1 mile town of college and post college kids walking from bar to bar. (yeah, i had a house there for several summers!) I am also not an OCMD fan- the high rises dont appeal to me.

Rehoboth definitely more family oriented, as is Lewes but I think (don't quote me) you would have to drive to the beach from anywhere in Lewes. Bethany and Fenwick are also very nice and peaceful. There are activities for not-so-nice days in the area- great outlets, Rehoboth shopping, take the ferry to cape may, explore historic Lewes.

[egoldber]

Thanks all. We rented a place in North Bethany.


the 4 bedroom house was ~$3000

Yes, there is a lot of nice stuff in that range, but that is about double the budget!

[LarsMal]

Thanks all. We rented a place in North Bethany.



Yes, there is a lot of nice stuff in that range, but that is about double the budget!

Wish I had seen this earlier. I would've recommended looking into Sea Colony in Bethany. Lots of great ammenities.

We are Bethany Beachers and love it. Easy drive to North OC (we avoid the OC boardwalk- ick- but go to mini golf and some of the restaurants in North OC) and Rehoboth.

Have fun!

[clc053103]

Thanks all. We rented a place in North Bethany.





Great choice, will wish you good weather!!! I'm across in OC NJ for the summer and it's really been great weatherwise!

[SnuggleBuggles]

I guess because the house that the family rents is just 1-3 houses in from the shore we are a bit more isolated from the partiers- they tend to be closer to the main road rather than tucked in. We stay in our little bubble of house to shore or drive up to Rehoboth.

Beth

[egoldber]

Just to update, we had a great time last week in Bethany! It was really just what we wanted. Even Rehobeth (we went for dinner and shopping a couple times) was more crowded than what we wanted.

My only complaint was the surf was really too rough for the little kids to go in and even my 9 year old had a hard time. Next time I might want to try Lewes to get the gentler water.

[TwinFoxes]

Awesome, I was wondering if the "hurricane" might effect you. Maybe that was why the surf was rough?

If you didn't like Rehoboth, your head would have exploded in OC.

[egoldber]

LOL! It's not that we didn't like Rehobeth, it's just a lot busier than we were looking for (in retrospect). Our little beach area was practically empty.

Earl definitely affected the surf the last couple days, but it was rough long before that. And we recall now that the last time we went to Bethany (about 7 years ago) the surf was pretty rough then as well. My 3 year old was too intimidated to go anywhere near the water. The 9 year old got in the water with DH, but she wasn't really tall enough or strong enough to stand up without his help. There was also a pretty wicked rip tide.

But the weather was glorious (other than Friday morning) and the sand was beautiful and the beach was empty. :)

[cindys]

Used to love OC when I was young, single and hot!!!! :D

Cindy
Mama to 3 boys...19, 4 & 22mos:heartbeat::heartbeat::heartbeat:

[weech]

LOL! It's not that we didn't like Rehobeth, it's just a lot busier than we were looking for (in retrospect). Our little beach area was practically empty.

Earl definitely affected the surf the last couple days, but it was rough long before that. And we recall now that the last time we went to Bethany (about 7 years ago) the surf was pretty rough then as well. My 3 year old was too intimidated to go anywhere near the water. The 9 year old got in the water with DH, but she wasn't really tall enough or strong enough to stand up without his help. There was also a pretty wicked rip tide.

But the weather was glorious (other than Friday morning) and the sand was beautiful and the beach was empty. :)

Bethany is wonderful for families! We typically go to Rehoboth (we'll be there this weekend) but I love that Bethany is so quiet and much less crowded.

When I went to Bethany earlier this summer and tried to get in the water, I got completely toppled by a few massive waves :irked: I've been going to these beaches my whole life and never remembered the waves being that crazy! I hope it's not like that this weekend or I'm not going anywhere near the water...