How Outer Banks Veterans Faired At More Crowded Beaches
Since 1997, my family has been going to the Outer Banks, North Carolina every two years (if your family can afford to take a vacation every year, tell me how. And I mean, without charging it!). If you would like to read more about our love for the Outer Banks and tips on vacationing there, check out my post from last year. My brother is in college and he’s staying around campus this Summer. Since he’s working, it was hard for him to get a week off so we decided to stay closer to home.
We rented my parent’s neighbor’s condo for the week near Lewes and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. It had been years since my parents have vacationed near these beaches (Rehoboth, Bethany and Ocean City, Maryland). My husband and I had family friend’s that lived right along the bay (Indian River) and we would go down and stay with them for a long weekend up until our second child was born. At that point we felt that we were imposing and they moved away from the beach anyway. We knew the area pretty well however, we’ve never stayed there in July, let alone around July Fourth.
Some things that we didn’t realize, unless you go to the super crowded beaches, you need to pay to get onto the less crowded beaches. Going to a less crowded beach is basically essential as a parent of young children. We paid $20 to get onto one beach north of Rehoboth. Many of the parking is metered and you have to pay to park to go to the beach. We also didn’t realize that you are not allowed canopies on the beach. We are use to having canopies on the beach in the Outer Banks. It is so nice for bigger families that don’t all fit under two umbrellas. Luckily, my mom brought down two of her beach umbrellas but not in the van that day. So we had to rent an umbrella. Luckily, the lifeguard was gracious enough to loan us a baby tent for our youngest and it fit his big brother too.
The next beach day, we went to Cape Henlopen. This only cost us $10 for the day. They do have a deal where you can buy a multi-day pass and save money. This is across the state of Delaware. They still don’t allow canopies but we got a closer spot to watch the boys. I really like Cape Henlopen. It is such a nice State Park. We also like going exploring at the Point on Cape Henlopen. It has sandbars that the younger kids can walk out to and they can wade in the water. There’s lots of creatures to discover. This time we saw- snails, crabs and schools of fish. There weren’t any jellyfish luckily. I have never seen any all the times we’ve gone there.
I do think the traffic is a little more congested than the Outer Banks Coastal Highway. But they are two different places. When you go to the Outer Banks you pretty much stay in your community when you go to the beach. It’s much easier. You can walk from your house to the beach. If it’s a few blocks you take a beach wagon to carry all your belongings. Simple as that.
I do however, like Delaware beaches for a quick beach getaway for us Northerners. We can get there in about three hours and have done day trips there in the past.
So what are the pros and cons of Outer Banks vs. Delaware/Maryland Beaches?
Do you prefer the Outer Banks or Mid Atlantic beaches? Let me know in the comments below! I always love hearing from my readers.
