Colonial Beach - nice to visit? (Virginia Beach: where to stay, rent, hotel)

[trying2moveup]

I have recently read about Colonial Beach and decided it might make a nice long weekend jaunt for my family (we live in No. PG County, MD). I was actually thinking of going down there in mid-October as we already have summer vacation plans firmed up for this year.

My question is - we have what will be 3 and almost 5 year old, by that time, girls and is Col Beach "entertaining" enough for 2 nights for their age group? Obviously we won't be going in water but just to sightsee, get away from home, etc. I thought it may be nice.

Any recommendations on where to stay? We love little inns, b & bs, so it doesn't have to be a chain hotel.

[mtarrani]

Wow, I haven't been there in over 50 years, but have fond memories of the place. I am pretty sure I would not recognize it today.

[michgc]

We went there for the day 2 years ago. It was a nice place to visit. I don't know if I would stay two nights. One night might be enough. There didn't look like a whole lot of activities to do, but if you just want to hang out, it may be fine. We had a nice day. It was my husband, myself and three little ones.

[tgbwc]

My brother lives and works there. I don't think there is much to do beyond a one night stay.

[CaseyMac]

Yeah, I've gone there for the day and that's about it. For the same cost of a hotel at that time of year, why not go to Virginia Beach? There are tons of beach and non-beach things to check out.

[triplej68]

Don't know how it is now but it's a great place to visit for the 4th of July they shoot fire works up over the water. But I heard a lot of the area was destroyed during a hurricane 5 or 6 years ago. But I am sure they rebuilt by now.

[car54]

Colonial Beach was a happenin' place back in the days when Maryland had legal slot machines. While Colonial Beach is in Virginia, the Potomac River belongs to Maryland, so they built a pier out into the Potomac to put the slots.

There were even flights from DC to CB aboard old Boeing 247s and DC-3s.

Alas, that all ended about '68 when Maryland outlawed the slots....


I pull into Colonial Beach harbor to take on diesel every now and then, but haven't been tempted to go ashore.

[trying2moveup]

Thanks for the responses. I used to go to VA beach every summer as a child and love it, but it's an additional 144 miles, at the minimum, past Colonial beach and I don't think I want to go from Northern PG County in MD all the way to VA Beach with a 4 and 2 year old juuuust yet. . . .

Anyway, i heard there is a comfort inn on the boardwalk or something like that - is that true? Any b&b's anyone would recommend?

[tygger]

I've been to CB a few times. It's a nice low-key place, perfect for just hanging out. You can rent golf carts to drive around the town... which was different that what I was used to.