Beach Guide
Beaches in Maryland and Virginia
By: FamiliesONLY
Categories: Family Fun
You don’t have to go far to enjoy a day or weekend at the beach! Beach options in Maryland and Virginia:
Maryland | Virginia
Maryland
Breezy Point Beach and Campground
Chesapeake Beach
Web site
Notes: Open daily May 1 through October 31. Admission fees apply, see site for details. Amenities include: a netted swimming area, shaded picnic areas, grills, volleyball, playground, 1/2 mile of sandy beach, bath houses, a 300 foot fishing & crabbing pier
Calvert Cliffs State Park
Lusby
Web site
Notes: Along with the interesting cliffs, the park offers nature trails, interesting fossils, picnic areas, playground equipment, fishing, historic interest, hunting, youth group camping, shelters and many interpretative programs.
Camp Merryland
St. Georges Island
Web site
Notes: Cost for camping, Cabins for rent
Elms Beach
Lexington Park
Web site
Notes: Located in St. Mary’s County, this park offers great views of the Chesapeake Bay. Swimming is unsupervised. Park includes playground, pavilions, picnic tables, restrooms, grills, swimming, fishing and crabbing
Flags Ponds Nature Park
Lusby
Web site
Notes: Open April to Memorial Day. An entrance fee is required per vehicle, see site for details. Park includes beach, picnic tables, bird watching, trails, and fishing.
Myrtle Point Park
California
Web site
Notes: Located in St. Mary’s County, this nature park offers a beach with no lifeguard. Also included picnic tables, restrooms, hiking trails and bird watching.
North Beach
City: North Beach
Web site
About 100 years ago, North Beach and Chesapeake Beach were very popular beach resort towns, with legalized gambling and long, sandy beach fronts on the Bay. However, the Bay Bridge and erosion have changed all that. Now, they are quiet towns, but worth a day trip. The beach area is now quite small. Entry fees apply, see site for details.
Ocean City
Web site
Popular beach destination for all ages, with boardwalk, nightlife, restaurants, and more.
Point Lookout State Park
Scotland
Web site
Notes: Boat launch, boat rental, camp fire programs, camp sites, cabins, camp store, dump station, fishing, flat water canoeing, hiking trails, hunting, historic interest, hook ups, pet trail, picnic area, playground, swimming, Civil War Museum/Marshland Nature Center and pavilion, restrooms. Day Use Service charges apply, see site for details.
Sandy Point State Park
Annapolis
Web site
Located next to the Bay Bridge is Sandy Point State Park. The Park offers swimming beaches, picnic tables, fishing, crabbing, boating, hiking, youth group camping, and wildlife viewing (particularly waterfowls).
St. Clement's Island State Park
Web site
Notes: Accessible only by boat. Boat tours are offered only on the weekends by the Potomac River Museum. Services include fishing, hiking trails, hunting, picnicking, pavilions (first come/first serve), portajohns
More beaches: For a listing of more small beaches in MD on the Chesapeake Bay, check out TheChesapeakeBay.com.
Eastern Shore in Maryland:
Assateague State Park & Assateague Island National Seashore
Berlin
National Park Web site
MD State ParK Web site
Notes: This is a lovely park with sandy beaches, salt marshes, forests and coastal bays. Nice visitor centers. Park also includes bike trail, boat launch/marina, nature programs, camp sites, camp store, dumping station, food & beverage, fishing, swimming, and kayak rentals.
May 21: Free Family Birding Festival. More info.
(Also, see Chincoteague in Virginia).
Jane's Island
Crisfield
Web site
Notes: Within the mainland portion of the park are the campground, rental cabins and conference center, picnic areas and pavilions, and the boat ramp and marina.
Virginia
Buckroe Beach and Park
Hampton
Web site
Family-friendly beach with playground and park.
Colonial Beach
Web site
Colonial Beach is south of Fredericksburg. Located on the Potomac River, this is a small town with some antique shops and local eateries. It is a bit like driving into the past (circa 1950) when you visit Colonial Beach. The beach is fairly small, but enjoyable for young children. There are some historical nearby places to visit, as well, including George Washington’s birthplace.
If you like bird watching, also nearby is Caledon National Natural Landmark, which has bald eagles in their natural habitat. The park offers some family-friendly events.
Ocean View Beach
Norfolk
Web site
Notes: Beach includes picnic tables, grills, and restrooms. Lifeguards on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Sandbridge Beach
Read FamiliesONLY blog post for more info.
“Outer Banks of Virginia” – Great, family-friendly beach with many house rentals, located south of Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach
Web site
Popular destination with boardwalk, restaurants and more. Many nearby attractions.
Eastern Shore of Virginia
Cape Charles
Web site
Cape Charles is a town located close to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and has a sandy beachfront park and many Victorian homes.
Chincoteague Island
Web site
Famous for its wild horses, Chincoteague is a very enjoyable family destination with many activities and family fun. The NASA Wallops Visitor Center is nearby and a fun visit with kids.
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