Road Trip to the Ocean

March 6, 2006 5:38 PM

Travelfilter: My girlfriend wants to take her mother on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to see the ocean.

My girlfriend wants to take her mother on a driving trip to the ocean this June. Her mother has traveled very little in the past and is now in her sixties. At this point in her life, she has decided she wants to see the ocean for the first time - perhaps the only time in her life.

The starting point would be Missouri and then eastward. My girlfriend has narrowed it down to the following states but has not made a final decision yet: Georgia (Savannah), South Carolina (Charleston) or North Carolina. After seeing the ocean, they would most likely drive north to visit D.C. and possibly swing through a bit of Pennsylvania down through West Virginia or Kentucky back home to Missouri.

My girlfriend is overwhelmed with the options available. She would like your input on where a great place to see the ocean is for the first time in the aforementioned areas and any other insight or advice you may have. Also, they are on a budget. My girlfriend thanks you in advance for your input.

posted by Atreides to travel & transportation (20 comments total)

How about Assateague Island? It's phenomenally beautiful; it's a state park, so it's cheapo, and it's not too far from D.C.

If you're going to the ocean, go where it's (relatively) quiet! Nothing worse than people to spoil the magic.
posted by metaculpa at 6:00 PM on March 6, 2006

I would try to go someplace where your view of the ocean isn't blocked by a barrier island so you get the full effect. metaculpa's suggestion is excellent; it's a park so it's gorgeous, peaceful and you can see both the bay side and the ocean side of the island. And there's pony cuteness.

Savannah isn't too oceany, if I remember rightly nor cheap. I've been to some beautiful spots near Charleston but they were quite crowded, they might do better a little further from the city.
posted by fshgrl at 6:16 PM on March 6, 2006

Bah! The east coast has no waves. If you want to see the Ocean, Big Sur or the the Oregon coast. The weather will be much nicer too.
posted by doctor_negative at 6:23 PM on March 6, 2006

Savannah is a beautiful city, and aside from the cost I would recommend it for a trip of this nature. However, it sits on a river, not on the ocean, and the islands (Tybee) are nice but not the most breathtaking ocean viewing.
posted by samh23 at 6:23 PM on March 6, 2006

Hunting Island State Park, outside of Beaufort, South Carolina. You can camp right on the beach (reserve your spot!), and they have a lighthouse you can climb. The beach is great for swimming, bike-riding, etc. You don't say when you'll be going, but I was camping there in summer during a full moon and they had a midnight kayaking program (no skill required) to see the phosphorescent jellyfish and plankton. Quite spectacular!

It puts you a bit further south of D.C., but hey, that just gives you more ocean to drive along.
posted by ewagoner at 6:29 PM on March 6, 2006

go west.
posted by rbs at 6:53 PM on March 6, 2006

Second Assateague. If it's offseason, visit the Outer Banks.
Don't listen to the east coast haters.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 6:57 PM on March 6, 2006

I'm an east-coast lover, but man! If you want to show someone the ocean for the first time, you simply must head to the Pacific Coast Highway.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:52 PM on March 6, 2006

The Pacific Northwest is fantastic. I've lived on the east coast for a good while, and haven't found anything as lovely. However, I haven't looked too hard either. Also, the amount of non-ocean *stuff* is just greater on the east coast (as in, cities and landmarks and museums etc. per square mile). Pennsylvania is a beautiful, hilly state, and if your sister can go on some two-lane blacktop there I'd recommend it. Murder for bicyclists, but really fun and scenic from a car.

The Baltimore waterfront might be a nice choice for part of her seaside adventure because of the National Aquarium, where she can see a dolphin show and many many many marine animals.

You might consider going to Havre de Grace, MD, which is right where the Susquehanna meets the ocean. There are some rather nice views there, and Havre de Grace is a relatively small town with a very friendly elderly couple working at the Visitor's Center, who told me a great story of a French guy running across the U.S. who decided to run through the town because it sounded French. Alas, no actual francophones were to be found for him. I stayed at the Motel 8, and while not deluxe accomodations, it's also a very short drive or long walk from the waterfront. I'd call their visitor's center for more information. One problem is there will likely be plenty of people about, but perhaps the visitor's center has ideas on where you can find a secluded area. I like the idea of the ocean have some "terrain" to it, which is why I favor areas with rivers breaking into the ocean, or islands, something of that nature.
posted by lorrer at 8:28 PM on March 6, 2006

Just a note: Be careful which beach you hit in June. It is the perfect time for graduating high school seniors to have their "beach week," where they pack too many kids in cars and timeshares, and too many beers in the kids. Popular beaches like Ocean City, MD, Virginia Beach, and Myrtle Beach are probably to be avoided. Most older folks I know are fans of Rehoboth Beach in Delaware.

And, having grown up on the East Coast and now living on the West Coast, I'd say show her the Atlantic. You want her to be able to feel her toes while she's wading in the water, don't you? ;) Plus, I think the shells are better on the Atlantic side.

And as a 3rd generation native Marylander, I'll second Havre de Grace (pronounced "Have-urr-dee-grace").
posted by sarahnade at 8:31 PM on March 6, 2006

Emphasis on "have!" Also there's a road in town that's "juniata" and pronounced that way- not "juanita!" Anyway... I just looked and Havre de Grace doesn't abut the wide open seas! So if you're looking for that... maybe stay in Havre de Grace and take a day trip to the place where the world looks curved and blue...
posted by lorrer at 8:40 PM on March 6, 2006

I'll third (or whatever) Assateague Island, where I go to beachwalk when I can't stand the city (D.C.) anymore.

Kitty Hawk and the Outer Banks of North Carolina are nice too. I would also recommend Charleston over Savannah. Savannah is nice, but the view from the Charleston harbor is awesome, particularly since you are surrounded by historic houses.
posted by gemmy at 8:57 PM on March 6, 2006

Second Hunting Island for the beautiful, uncrowded beach; if you'd rather a lovely city/water outlook, second Charleston.
posted by rob511 at 9:53 PM on March 6, 2006

I recommend the Outer Banks as well. If it's a bit off-season, you should be able to score a good condo rental. What $$ do you mean by "budget?"
posted by desuetude at 6:48 AM on March 7, 2006

I've been to Assateague and Hunting Island, and can confirm that both would be great places to see the ocean for the first time. However, since you want to swing by DC, I'd recommend Cape Henlopen State Park, near Lewes, Delaware. Beautiful and uncrowded, relatively cheap, and you'll see dolphins right up near shore--I've even swum out to them. When I went, I stayed at the Inn at Canal Square, and I'd recommend it. I consider it the destination beach for the DC area.
posted by MrMoonPie at 7:13 AM on March 7, 2006

I've got to third the Outer Banks, but in particular there is an island that you can only got to by ferry - Ocracoke - which keeps it much more laid back and enjoyable than the rest of the Outer Banks. I love that place.
posted by iurodivii at 7:45 AM on March 7, 2006

Go to DC, see the sites, then head out 50 to Annapolis. Cross the Bay Bridge and just stay on 50. Once you hit Ocean City (how appropriate) just keep driving down the coast stopping off from town to town down the Delmarva, especially Chincoteague/Assoteague. Cross back to the mainland over/under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel, which will definitely leave an impression. If you still have time hit some more towns on the VA coast, then head home over the Blue Ridge mountains.
posted by Pollomacho at 7:51 AM on March 7, 2006

Havre De Grace is located where the Susquahannah feeds into the Chesapeake Bay so it is not on the ocean. That said, it is a neat little town and was once considered as the location for the US capitol.

A nice side trip is to travel up I-95 to the Perryville exit, get onto Rt 222 and travel up the Susquahannah to Rt 1. Turn left and head over the Conowingo dam, take the next left after the dam and drive down to the parking lot at the foot of the dam. Probably the best spot to see bald eagles on the east coast.

A nice alternative for your gf's mom: Go to Lewes, DE. Take the ferry to Cape May. Gf's mom will get to see the ocean from a decent sized boat and Cape May is a cute town.
posted by jaimystery at 8:37 AM on March 7, 2006

i live in Kansas, and the only ocean i have seen was Topsail Beach in NC

seing the ocean is definately something everyone should do
posted by BSummers at 9:02 AM on March 7, 2006

Okracoke is the only place I've ever been that I've had the entire beach to myself, literally as far as I could see. There is (was?) a campground about halfway up the island, several miles from the nearest development, so you could stay there dirt cheap, as long as you can stand cold showers. It's a haul to get there, since it's so remote, but really fantastic.
posted by MrMoonPie at 7:39 AM on March 9, 2006