OT: Beach town vacation ideas

[XLCenterFan]

My wife’s family has been going to Eastham since the mid 1950s. Never bought. Too bad. I think they only missed 1 year. I’ve been going since 1980, when I joined. Our family now continues the tradition, joined with one or more of my wife’s siblings and their families. We used to have 2 cottages next to each other, but have split up more lately needing more room. Hard to find 6+ bedrooms.

My family went to Eastham for 1-2 weeks every summer growing up. Always a house on Bayberry Lane at First Encounter Beach. We would rent a different home on that street every year. We no longer go to the Cape every summer, but when we do it’s Welfleet. In my opinion, there is nothing better than the Upper Cape in July and August. Nothing. It’s where my ashes will be tossed into the wind.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I like st croix better and the bvi's.

Anguilla is my favorite of the places I gone in Caribbean but $$$

anguilla definitely has the best restaurants and some gorgeous beaches but I tend to prefer the more lush islands like St. John or St. Lucia.

 

[8893]

In my opinion, there is nothing better than the Upper Cape in July and August. Nothing. It’s where my asked will be tossed into the wind.

The Vineyard; I made my money in July and August but prefer June and September.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Wow, I've never heard that before. Savannah is much more depressed and gritty than Charleston. I always get a laid back nobody cares at all about appearances or who your are vibe in Savannah whereas Charleston has a slightly snobby New England of the South vibe to me. Charleston seems like it may be hard to be accepted and fit in if you're not from there, Savannah seems totally welcoming to everyone of every stripe.

Completely agree. And Beaufort, which is more or less where my parents are, is also quite nice and certainly not phony in any way. Lots of history down in the low country. Lots of eco tourism now. It’s not hard to avoid the touristy crap. I will admit that Charleston doesn’t have anything as obviously tacky touristy as River Street in Savannah. But it’s certainly more snobby as you describe. Savannah is eclectic as hell. Embraces weirdos.

 

[HuskyHawk]

My family went to Eastham for 1-2 weeks every summer growing up. Always a house on Bayberry Lane at First Encounter Beach. We would rent a different home on that street every year. We no longer go to the Cape every summer, but when we do it’s Welfleet. In my opinion, there is nothing better than the Upper Cape in July and August. Nothing. It’s where my ashes will be tossed into the wind.

I am not fond of the isolation. One road in and out. Also, you really simply can’t go in the water beyond knee deep on the ocean side anymore. I’d probably hang around waiting for a seal predation. Friends have a place in Truro that faces the Bay, gorgeous sunsets. But I really like North Falmouth which also gives me those sunsets, has better swimming, and is an hour from my house. More restaurants too.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

If you live in CT and don't want to travel far, staying around the Stonington/Watch Hill area is a regular jaunt for us without having to break the bank.

Between Mystic, Stonington, Watch Hill, Newport, Block Island and Providence, there are a lot of different places in a small area. Depending on our focus for the trip, we really liked staying at the NYLO in Warwick as a central base.

 

[brihman]

Anyone do Aruba? Thoughts for a family with a youngster (5) who loves the water

 

[Chin Diesel]

Completely agree. And Beaufort, which is more or less where my parents are, is also quite nice and certainly not phony in any way. Lots of history down in the low country. Lots of eco tourism now. It’s not hard to avoid the touristy crap. I will admit that Charleston doesn’t have anything as obviously tacky touristy as River Street in Savannah. But it’s certainly more snobby as you describe. Savannah is eclectic as hell. Embraces weirdos.

I stay around Beaufort for work bout once a year.

Bay St and the riverfront area have a good feel to them

 

[Chin Diesel]

Serious question, how are the waves in the Gulf?

On a UConn related side-note: For all accounts and purposes, 1999 was pre-internet for consumer travel. And I had 2 tickets to the Final Four without a way to get there. So I'm on the phone for a long time with a patient travel agent who finally came up with a decent flight I thought: Providence to Ft. Walton Beach. I had never heard of FWB but it was Florida so how far could it be? Pretty freakin far since I had to drive to Venice.

Nice 8 hour drive.

Waves on north gulf coast can be anything from flat to 6'-7' feet.

Winds out of north tend to suppress the waves whereas as southerly winds tend to make 'em a bit higher.

Most days are 2'-4' which is perfect if you want to hang out in water waste deep with a cold beer. Also good for boogie boards.
Which brings us to another point. Almost all the gulf coast beaches on the Panhandle are alcohol allowed- just no glass.
I know a few surfers and you can ride the waves but this isn't Hawaii.

 

[Husky1972]

My brother-in-law and his wife built and now live in Fernandia Beach. Beautiful area.

Fernandina Beach! As you know, it's on Amelia Island and that's where I'm sitting right now. Arrived yesterday and will be here until the first week in May. Then we head to Maine for the summer & early fall.
We bought here June, 2019. It rents out really well when we're not here. What area of the island is your brother-in-law at?

 

[XLCenterFan]

The Vineyard; I made my money in July and August but prefer June and September.

Too many snobs on the Vineyard. Otherwise it would be great. Also, I don’t want to drive, then take a ferry, then drive again. Getting to the house takes a whole day there, and then leaving again as well.

 

[8893]

Too many snobs on the Vineyard. Otherwise it would be great. Also I don’t want to drive, then take a ferry, then drive again.

Stay out of Edgartown and you see a lot fewer snobs. We rarely go there.

Being on an island is a pita and a bonus.

 

[Husky1972]

If you live in CT and don't want to travel far, staying around the Stonington/Watch Hill area is a regular jaunt for us without having to break the bank. Between Mystic, Stonington, Watch Hill, Newport, Block Island and Providence, there are a lot of different places in a small area. Depending on our focus for the trip, we really liked staying at the NYLO in Warwick as a central base.

Mystic, Stongington, Block Island. Boy, that's my old stomping ground! I grew up in Mystic, went to Stonington HS, my wife went to Fitch HS (we will be married for 50 years come 9/11. Yeah, 9/11's 20th anniversary will be our 50th! We bought a small place on Block Island in the early '90s and kept it almost until we retired. Now we go between Maine (mid-Coast) and Florida (Amelia Island.

 

[husky8273]

Too many snobs on the Vineyard. Otherwise it would be great. Also, I don’t want to drive, then take a ferry, then drive again. Getting to the house takes a whole day there, and then leaving again as well.

a great spot to be in late September/October

 

[huskyinfl]

Savannah is beautiful. Farther South I'd suggest Venice Beach, FL. Not far from Bradenton/Santa Maria like @Mr. Wonderful suggested.

NO! This is where I live!

 

[HuskyHawk]

Stay out of Edgartown and you see a lot fewer snobs. We rarely go there.

Being on an island is a pita and a bonus.

I have friends who live in Edgartown, so we stay with them. It‘s different being with year round townies. The locals all seem to know each other. But they both live out near the Jaws pond, not in the heart of Edgartown. Agree the Island has positives and negatives. Especially for the full time residents.

 

[formerlurker]

NO! This is where I live!

My bad!

 

[superjohn]

Completely agree. And Beaufort, which is more or less where my parents are, is also quite nice and certainly not phony in any way. Lots of history down in the low country. Lots of eco tourism now. It’s not hard to avoid the touristy crap. I will admit that Charleston doesn’t have anything as obviously tacky touristy as River Street in Savannah. But it’s certainly more snobby as you describe. Savannah is eclectic as hell. Embraces weirdos.

Been to Beaufort a couple of times and it seems great, I really like that whole low country area and love the vibe of Savannah. Charleston is really pretty and has excellent food but it just has some of that preppy slightly snobby vibe which is one of the things I really don't miss at all about New England.

I love eclectic with every walk of life, I also love weirdos. When I've spent time in Savannah I never hung out too much on River Street but I love that it's there.

 

[auggie22]

My family went to Eastham for 1-2 weeks every summer growing up. Always a house on Bayberry Lane at First Encounter Beach. We would rent a different home on that street every year. We no longer go to the Cape every summer, but when we do it’s Welfleet. In my opinion, there is nothing better than the Upper Cape in July and August. Nothing. It’s where my ashes will be tossed into the wind.

tossed my dad’s ashes in wellfleet harbour six years ago. So many great memories of upper cape.

 

[upstater]

I am not fond of the isolation. One road in and out. Also, you really simply can’t go in the water beyond knee deep on the ocean side anymore. I’d probably hang around waiting for a seal predation. Friends have a place in Truro that faces the Bay, gorgeous sunsets. But I really like North Falmouth which also gives me those sunsets, has better swimming, and is an hour from my house. More restaurants too.

I agree about North Falmouth. We rented a house on the beach in a private enclave. I believe it was Old Silver Beach. Anyway, there was a bike path right by our house that took us all the way ether to to town of Falmouth or else to Woods Hole, which the kids loved.

 

[uconnfan68]

Anyone do Aruba? Thoughts for a family with a youngster (5) who loves the water

Everyone I know that’s been there loved it. One Happy Island.

 

[ClifSpliffy]

Good example of beauty lying in the eyes of the beholders. Without being a massive Savannah fan, its' less touristy area has a gritty appeal lacking in a few too many of Hilton Head's and Charleston's dressed up rednecks and self-impressed charmers. To their shared advantages, none of the 3 locations are Myrtle Beach.

Unrelated observation: Someone above suggested the Midwest-established and currently headquartered Dairy Queen inexplicably symbolizes New England. Inconveniently, one of Vermont's founders, the Litchfield born and raised Ethan Allen may have objected.

the suggestion was aboot soft-serve, as yankee as it gets. thank-you, Tom Carvel. dq is used only cuz, if ur in uncharted places in new england and you develop a hankering for a mr softee, everyone knows without asking that dq has it. garuntee.
they shoulda let mr. allen keep montreal. he took it fair and square! and forced all of them to love soft serve, according to those green mountain boys ben and jerry. or something like that.
Buy Furniture from This Man!

 

[uconnfan68]

I am not fond of the isolation. One road in and out. Also, you really simply can’t go in the water beyond knee deep on the ocean side anymore. I’d probably hang around waiting for a seal predation. Friends have a place in Truro that faces the Bay, gorgeous sunsets. But I really like North Falmouth which also gives me those sunsets, has better swimming, and is an hour from my house. More restaurants too.

I haven’t been in the ocean side for years now. Young grandchildren keep us on the bayside. I’ve been avoiding that lately too. The golf is still ok though.

 

[August_West]

if the vineyard is too snobby for you dont bother

Lol I was gonna say the same thing.

 

[Umami Zen]

Nice 8 hour drive.

Waves on north gulf coast can be anything from flat to 6'-7' feet.

Winds out of north tend to suppress the waves whereas as southerly winds tend to make 'em a bit higher.

Most days are 2'-4' which is perfect if you want to hang out in water waste deep with a cold beer. Also good for boogie boards.
Which brings us to another point. Almost all the gulf coast beaches on the Panhandle are alcohol allowed- just no glass.
I know a few surfers and you can ride the waves but this isn't Hawaii.

Married on Kauai.. Thatched Hut.. Movie set for Elvis's Blue Hawaii.. Coco Palms Hotel.. Hawaiian Minister..

Hang loose..