Suggestions please on nice beach towns for summer vacation (Virginia Beach: renting, hotel)

[CaseyMac]

The Outer Banks is truly the place for you. Corolla especially might be good. The beaches are great, there are bike trails and best of all, no low class commercialism!!!!

[statecollege]

While a longer drive than you wanted, Hilton Head island is wonderful, particularly the Sea Pines section. Bike trails everywhere. Very wide beaches the are sufficiently firm where the tide has retreated for bike riding on the beach for miles. Wide-tire bike rentals are plentiful. Many restaurants. Family friendly. Fly into Savannah and drive about an hour or so. By the way, a day in Savannah is a great outing.

[Older&Wiser]

Google - Colony IV Motel, Kill Devil Hills, NC (Outer Banks) It's right on the ocean. Recently rebuilt and totally updated. Great for group of 4. Lots to see in the immediate area. Beautiful one hour drive to Hatteras.

[Melbourne Family]

Thanks so much for all of your suggestions. I'm now busy googling all of the towns etc you have suggested (can't believe some of the prices for a week away for a family of 4!)

[juniperbleu]

Originally Posted by Melbourne Family

Thanks so much for all of your suggestions. I'm now busy googling all of the towns etc you have suggested (can't believe some of the prices for a week away for a family of 4!)

Cape May is pretty pricey (as are Jersey towns in general), but if you are fine with not having a beachfront place you can get a better deal. We always drive to the beach at Cape May Point anyway (state park with bird sanctuary, lighthouse, a small museum, nature walks, free parking, bathrooms, and no beach tags required--you also see at least one group of dolphins swim by daily). We also have a friend with a house in North Cape May, which is a little cheaper, quieter, but very nice (most of Cape May is located on the Cape Island, which is separated from the mainland by a harbor and ICW). Since it faces the Delaware Bay you can watch the sunset over the water (beautiful walk). Harpoon Harry's is a decent family restaurant, as well. You also don't need beach tags for North Cape May.

As far as the rest of Cape May, I always liked Summer Station (we stayed in a 2 bedroom apartment). It's beachfront right in the historic district, and is cheaper than getting a house.

[Melbourne Family]

Originally Posted by juniperbleu

Cape May is pretty pricey (as are Jersey towns in general), but if you are fine with not having a beachfront place you can get a better deal. We always drive to the beach at Cape May Point anyway (state park with bird sanctuary, lighthouse, a small museum, nature walks, free parking, bathrooms, and no beach tags required--you also see at least one group of dolphins swim by daily). We also have a friend with a house in North Cape May, which is a little cheaper, quieter, but very nice (most of Cape May is located on the Cape Island, which is separated from the mainland by a harbor and ICW). Since it faces the Delaware Bay you can watch the sunset over the water (beautiful walk). Harpoon Harry's is a decent family restaurant, as well. You also don't need beach tags for North Cape May.

As far as the rest of Cape May, I always liked Summer Station (we stayed in a 2 bedroom apartment). It's beachfront right in the historic district, and is cheaper than getting a house.

Thanks for that info. This may be a dumb question but what are "beach tags"? I've never heard of that term in Australia. Do some beaches here have restricted access or something similar?

[pcity]

Originally Posted by Melbourne Family

Thanks for that info. This may be a dumb question but what are "beach tags"? I've never heard of that term in Australia. Do some beaches here have restricted access or something similar?

Yes, most Jersey beaches charge a set amount per day per person (usually $5-8) to go on to the beach. When you pay, you get a tag to pin onto your swimsuit. Some beaches have people guarding every entrance to the beach checking tags, and others have someone walk along the beach and inspect whether you have a tag on or not.

You can buy season passes for most beaches' tags, so often times, if you rent a house in Jersey, it will come with a certain amount of beach tags so you can go to the beach for no added cost. Also, Atlantic City and Wildwood (and evidently, North Cape May) have free beaches- no tags required, although few people actually go swimming in Atlantic City.

[nwlv]

Originally Posted by Older&Wiser

Google - Colony IV Motel, Kill Devil Hills, NC (Outer Banks) It's right on the ocean. Recently rebuilt and totally updated. Great for group of 4. Lots to see in the immediate area. Beautiful one hour drive to Hatteras.

This looks like good advice for family on reasonable budget that really likes the beach aspect of going to the beach.

[Melbourne Family]

Originally Posted by pcity

Yes, most Jersey beaches charge a set amount per day per person (usually $5-8) to go on to the beach. When you pay, you get a tag to pin onto your swimsuit. Some beaches have people guarding every entrance to the beach checking tags, and others have someone walk along the beach and inspect whether you have a tag on or not.

You can buy season passes for most beaches' tags, so often times, if you rent a house in Jersey, it will come with a certain amount of beach tags so you can go to the beach for no added cost. Also, Atlantic City and Wildwood (and evidently, North Cape May) have free beaches- no tags required, although few people actually go swimming in Atlantic City.

Wow, can't believe you get charged to go on to the beach. We would have looked like idiots just turning up expecting to have a swim for free!Thankfully the idea of charging the public to go to the beach hasn't reached Australian beaches - yet!

[nwlv]

It hasn't reached 99% of America, either.