How far to the closet oceanfront from pittsburgh? (Erie, Sandy: beach, swimming)

[creepsinc]

Originally Posted by hempfield mania

Pymatuning Resevoir

I've gotta get up there and see that spillway with the fish.

[MakeItBrown]

Originally Posted by AVYinzer

I can't believe no one mentioned Deep Creek, Maryland. It is much nicer than Lake Erie. It is surrounded by amazing properties (lakefront) to rent by the week.

Deep Creek is the #1 hangout spot for redneck families. It's a nice lake, but the town of McHenry has maybe 2 pizza shops, a burger king, and a few gas stations... not exactly my ideal vacation.

[solibs]

I got 366 miles to both Belmar, NJ and Atlantic City, NJ - although experience tells me that the traffic between King of Prussia and the Walt Whitman Bridge is a lot heavier than the traffic between KOP and the Turnpike bridge.

If you're heading towards AC I would recommend the beaches in Brigantine - but if you're staying at a hotel in AC there's nothing more convenient than walking across the boardwalk. They are two very different experiences and it depends on your tastes or what you're in the mood for that day but I wouldn't put one above the other.

Ocean City, NJ is also pretty cool.

If you do the central Jersey beaches Asbury, Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach, Avon, Belmar, Spring Lake, Sea Girt and Manasquan are all great places that all have different vibes and each has their own little downtown a few blocks back from the beach with restaurants and shops. This part of the shore is much more year-round than the South Jersey beaches so hotels are usually a short-drive inland along one of the highways but in September and early October you can get amazing deals renting a house for a week . . . and the weather is still great and the water far warmer than what you'd find in Washington.

[By~Tor]

Originally Posted by creepsinc

Actually, OBX is Outer Banks, NC (get it? Outer BanX..cute). Trust me, I know. I'm from VA, you think there's a lot here?

MY BAD!---Thanks for clarifying!--I've still got alot to learn about this place, here!!!!!!

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by MakeItBrown

Deep Creek is the #1 hangout spot for redneck families. It's a nice lake, but the town of McHenry has maybe 2 pizza shops, a burger king, and a few gas stations... not exactly my ideal vacation.

When was the last time you were there? You would be hard pressed to find any local restaurant/bars, most are all chains. The DC/Baltimore money has pushed the values of homes up so high that the locals can't afford to live there. Boating on that lake is a nightmare, if you want to ski prepare to get around 6 AM, and no jet-skis during mid-afternoon. A friend of mine sold his property a few years back due to all the crowds.

Take a drive down there now and you'll see more Mercedes than you will pickup trucks.

[lukeduke711]

id save the trip and go to Erie, no different from the ocean and just as stunning

[GirlFromJersey]

I'd go with the Jersey shore, but then again I'm a little biased. If you want a less crowded boardwalk I'd go for the Spring Lake/Sea Girt area. If you want a nice residential area that's not touristy I'd go for Cape May. It's a longer drive but it's quaint and much easier to find a private beach.

[fleetiebelle]

Erie, no different from the ocean and just as stunning

Lake Erie can be beautiful, but it's different than being at the ocean.

[ainulinale]

Baltimore on the Chesapeake Bay is only 190 miles away (as the crow flies).

[magyar4321869]

Have they replaced those rocky beaches with sand in Erie? How much have they cleaned up the lake? Just asking..