Is Colonial Beach okay for a family trip? (Newport News: rent, violent crime)

[Mom21]

Hi, our family wants to get together for a day trip to the beach. A good middle point would be Colonial Beach, but from looking at another forum it appears that locals have a lot of complaints about increase in crime, etc. Does this affect people just visiting the beach from early morning to just before dusk? If we stay on the beach and picnic, would it be safe? Are the people who frequent the beach there generally peacable?

Thanks for any help you could give!

[tgbwc]

I'd be curious to know about this beach too. My brother just move there, and we are only about 1 1/2 hours away and thought it might be a nice trip, but I hear the beach really isn't very nice...that there are signs warning you to wear water shoes due to the debris.

[cb at sea]

You'll be fine--there's little crime on visitors! But, I really HATE river water! Muddy and slimy! And all the water treatment plants empty into the Potomac! Ick! Not my idea of a "day-trip"!
Go to Va. Beach or Rehobeth beach! Get into real salt water! With sand!

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by cb at sea

You'll be fine--there's little crime on visitors! But, I really HATE river water! Muddy and slimy! And all the water treatment plants empty into the Potomac! Ick! Not my idea of a "day-trip"!
Go to Va. Beach or Rehobeth beach! Get into real salt water! With sand!

Maybe that's what the warning signs are for.

[Mom21]

Thanks for the responses. Since it's a day trip, Rehoboth is way too far of a day trip for VA dwellers.

Does anyone know if there is a better way from Maryland 301 (starting at Nice Bridge) to get to VA Beach than going 301 to 295 to 64? Can you get to VA Beach from Colonial Beach area?

[snosurfa7]

I know you can take 301 to VA Rt. 17S which will dump you out in Newport News - pretty drive, much more peaceful than running 95/295/64...Only downside is closer to Newport News you get more stoplights and you'll need 3 bucks? for the toll after gloucester.

[Mom21]

Thanks, snosurfa7. VA Beach just might be the winner!

[PinchingAbe]

We've had some violent crime, but I am thinking most of it recently was domestic family disputes.

The beach - it is a river beach. It's pebbly in spots and not very easy on barefeet. As a river beach, things do wash up, including sharp shells, trash that flows down river, etc. During summer months, it is not uncommon to see the town out there evening out sand for beach goers.

For tourists, there are a few antique type of stores to go into, and an art gallery that has some very nice paintings from local artists. There's also a few ice cream stands not too far from the beach. The Riverboat casino (with a clearly delineated mark between VA and MD) was reopened a few years ago after the Hurricane came through. It is one, if not the largest, employer in town.

But for the most part, I don't think you'll have any problems with a visit to Colonial Beach. The water does sometimes smell, and we do get some jelly fish in the summer. And to be honest, I don't swim in it and only let my kids wade in and play a bit.

[cuncb]

CB is a great little get away for the day. I live 1.5 hours from there and go often with my family for the day. We love hanging out on the beach in front High Tides Resturant where they have live music on the deck and next store to them is the coolest Beach Shop man they have everything in there. CB is a golf cart community so you can rent carts for the day or week(end). Check it out you maybe a repete visitor. CUNCB

[ProgShred]

I spent almost a year in Colonial Beach circa 1986, and I loved it. I never went in the water. I remember the red tide sometimes. The boardwalk was cool. I don't know how much has changed, but there was a bar called the Reno that was built on a pier over the river, officially putting it in Maryland. At the time, the drinking laws were different in both states and we were able to get hard liquior there. The year, I was there, it was peaceful, then the first day of summer, the whole place was packed with tourists for 3 months and then peacefulness again. I have some pretty good memories of the place. I'd like to go back and see it again.