Inexpensive Chesapeake weekend?

In My Humble Opinion
1

So the Mrs. and I are looking to get away for an extended weekend over Labor Day. We both want to crap out on a beach for a few days with a thermos full of gin and soda, read some books, and eat some seafood.

Our first thought was the Outer Banks, but there are a serious lack of decent flights between Norfolk and my town. Like, a “getting out of bed at 3AM to catch the return flight” lack.

So my next thought is somewhere within an hour or two of DC or Baltimore, where the flight situation is far more flexible.

Problem is, neither of us know anything about the Chesapeake. Can anybody point me in the direction of quiet-ish towns with decent beaches and a reasonable variety of low key stuff to do?

2

Did you also try the Newport News airport? It’s only slightly further north than Norfolk. It’s an AirTran destination and a couple other airlines go there too. That’s where we flew in for my husband’s family reunion in the Outer Banks.

You can also consider zapping down to the Dominican Republic for the weekend. It’s low season so you can probably find a real cheap all-inclusive.

3

My family’s gone crabbing at both St. Mary’s (day trip) and camping/clamming on Assateague island, so I’d suggest those.

4

Ocean City, MD is two hours east of Annapolis straight down route 50. It’s your best bet for miles and miles of beach and prices in all ranges.

5

Did anyone else read this as Inexpensive Cheapskate weekend? Why the tautology, I thought immediately.

6

My wife and I go to North Beach and Chesapeake Beach in Calvert County MD every weekend. We live in the DC area and it is only an hour from Fairfax County. The towns are quiet, full of pleasant people and strangely uncrowded. It isn’t exciting, but it is conveient to St. Mary’s and other nice local beaches. T

There are two excellent uncrowded beaches. Both cost $10 per person per day, but are well worth it. Breezy Point State Park is our usual daytrip. It has nice clean bathroom facilities, plenty of parking and a nice beach. If you go, you will see a liquor store just before you enter. It is also a cafe with surprisingly excellent food, great barbecue and hush puppies, it is a great place to head out and get lunch and go back to the beach. North Beach is in town and close to ice cream and other shops and has a nice fishing pier.

7

There’s your main problem. Gin and soda? Where did you get that from?

8

Where are you flying / driving from, if I may ask? Might help give options.

9

cheap gin and fresca is the makings of a delicious gin bucket.

10

Even better - some stinky gin, like Hendrick’s or genever - or hell, even a half measure of poteen - plus club soda or seltzer, and a bunch of lemons. That’s refreshment right there.

North Beach looks spot on, and day trips to St. Mary’s or Assateague look intriguing.

Thanks, folks.

11

The Firebug and I are down at the Farmers’ Market in North Beach pretty much every Friday evening between 6 and 8 pm. Beach access is free during that time, and a bunch of classic-car aficionados gather along the street between the Farmers’ Market and the boardwalk every Friday. If you show up for that, we should get together. (And maybe fruitbat would be interested as well.) So if your plans for a North Beach getaway firm up, and if you’re interested in some sort of informal Doper get-together as part of it, start a thread (or bump this one) a few weeks from now.