One drawback about living in our nation’s capital is its distance from large vacation hot spots. It takes a few hours of driving to get to popular beach resort towns such as Ocean City, Virginia Beach, Myrtle Beach, among others. However, there are some little-known beach destinations to check out in Southern Maryland that are very cheap. If you want a low-key, close-to-home vacation, there are a few spots to check out. Here are a few:
1.) Twin Beaches – North Beach and Chesapeake Beach. The towns of North Beach and Chesapeake Beach in Calvert County, known collectively as Twin Beaches, were popular vacation getaways for D.C. residents back in the first half of the 20th century. The two towns have been experiencing new growth in the last few years. There are some hotels in the nearby area, such as the Chesapeake Beach Resort & Spa, and also a few cheap rental properties to get a house for the weekend. A lovely boardwalk is available for a late afternoon stroll. from the boardwalk, you can access the beach. If sandy beaches aren’t your thing, there’s a sizable water park in Chesapeake Beach. You can spend the whole afternoon in the lazy river, if you choose.
2.) Solomons Island. Further south from Twin Beaches is the fishing town of Solomons Island. Although there’s not as much available shoreline to lounge on the beach, there are plenty of other things to explore. Several chartering services are on the island to take out for a fishing trip. You can even rent some jet skis to zip around the Patuxent River, or a segue to cruise on the boardwalk. Solomons is also home to the infamous Tiki Bar, which sometimes attracts crowds that spill out into the street. There’s also plenty of cheap live music and a dance club. In addition to hotels, there’s also a few little bed and breakfasts for a romantic getaway.
2.) Solomons Island. Further south from Twin Beaches is the fishing town of Solomons Island. Although there’s not as much available shoreline to lounge on the beach, there are plenty of other things to explore. Several chartering services are on the island to take out for a fishing trip. You can even rent some jet skis to zip around the Patuxent River, or a segue to cruise on the boardwalk. Solomons is also home to the infamous Tiki Bar, which sometimes attracts crowds that spill out into the street. There’s also plenty of cheap live music and a dance club. In addition to hotels, there’s also a few little bed and breakfasts for a romantic getaway.
3.) Point Lookout State Park. Point Lookout is down at the end of St. Mary’s County, and it provides a cheap vacation experience a little different from the rest. Point Lookout State Park has access to some very nice beaches, while being a camp ground and a Civil War Historical Site. For a very low cost, you can camp out by the water, go to the beach, or check out some civil war re-enactments and ghost tours. This is a great place to bring the whole family. And don’t worry, the campground area is not haunted!
There are plenty of other, smaller vacation spots around if you look for them. One thing to be sure you do is get some local seafood! Although buying seafood from any of the area’s many seafood restaurants may be expensive, you can save a pretty penny by going to a seafood market. The majority of seafood markets in the area will be glad to cook your seafood right there for you, for you to take with you or even eat there.
Photo via ktylerconk
