Jasmine Porch is an upscale vacation treat that is perfect for a splurge. Of course, there are also lots of traditional aquarium displays. Ocean City has a wealth of outdoor activities and entertainment options to keep visitors with or without children busy for days. The menu includes casual fare like sandwiches, salads, shrimp and grits, crab cakes, and more. Ocean Grove, New Jersey Neighboring St. Simons Island, Jekyll Islands claim to fame is its un-commercialized scenic beauty and gorgeous driftwood beach. And when it comes to dedication for sun seeking, 24 percent of Americans are willing to drive 5 to 8 eight hours to get their beach. For more adventure, check out the other nearby options below. Jekyll Island has an abundance of spectacular natural areas that draw thousands of visitors each year and is home to some of the top beaches on the East Coast. By VacationIdea Staff on June 28, 2023 - Updated. With huge casino resorts overlooking the water to 5-star restaurants and high-end shops, AC has something for everyone. Trained lifeguards consistently patrol the eight-mile stretch of pristine shoreline, home to some of the best East Coast Beaches. Alcohol, dogs, and fires are not permitted on the beach at any time. Jack Mackerels Grill is a casual family eatery with a varied menu, including pasta, seafood, sandwiches, and burgers. The recorded history of Great Cranberry Island dates back as far as 1688, when the land that now comprises the Cranberry Isles was deeded as part of the Sieur de la Mothe Cadillac Grant. Why We Recommend This Beach There are no beaches in St. Louis, in the traditional sense. For a beachfront hotel try Tides Folly Beach. This adorable tiki cottage is sure to put a smile on your face and is just steps from the beach. But, its also located directly between Destin and Pensacola which are both bursting at the seams with lively attractions. For kids, the island does have a small playground and a fun Serpentarium, which features a variety of snakes, alligators, turtles, and lizards. Creve Coeur Lake 13236 Streetcar Dr Maryland Heights, MO 63043 Sitting about 19 miles east of St. Louis, this 2,145-acre park is the nearest beach spot to the city. Because the coast is at an angle, and doesn't run straight north to south, you spend just as many hours driving someplace like Ocean City. For out-of-town visitors, Ocean City has a wide selection of hotels, vacation rentals, bed & breakfasts, and campgrounds available. TacoLu has a gorgeous outdoor eating area with funky street art. Together with her hubs and kiddos, she spends her time exploring, homeschooling, and making memories. The Best Beaches Near Sacramento - California Beaches You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Destin is the closest beach to Knoxville TN on the gulf of Mexico. A variety of wildlife may be observed on the island, including deer, red foxes, loons, and gray and black back gulls. All are family-friendly, and each has a unique feel. In 2002, the island began to pursue secession legislation to become an independent entity from the town of Cumberland, Maine, which it had been affiliated with since the late 19th century. Rehoboth Beach is slightly further south than Atlantic City and is one of the ocean beaches with 8 hours of Ohio. The three-mile-long island has a year-round population of approximately 350, with summer population more than tripling due to tourist activity. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Perfect for shell hunting, body surfing, or simply a day lying in the sun, Ogunquit beach has been rated one of the top 25 beaches in the country. Walk straight to the beach from the backyard of your private beach home. A focus on seafood permeates the dining opportunities on Block Island with local favorites including clam cakes and fish sandwiches. 3. 15 Best Beaches Near St. Louis, MO (2023) Top Beach Spots! View beach Bodega Dunes Bodega Dunes is a large state park campground and coastal dunes structure in the town of Bodega Bay. Kids will also love to explore several area parks for a variety of activities from basketball to crabbing. Though the light station was deactivated temporarily in 1933, it was reactivated in 1951 and is continuously lit, with white light shown on its west side and red light on its east side. North Beach Drive from Austin: 3.5 hours What's most captivating about North Beach is its proximity to some of Corpus Christi's coolest attractions. This pink beauty has to be the cutest cottage ever and is just a few minutes walk to the beach. The Crab Shack offers a wide variety of fresh seafood including shrimp, crab cakes, oysters, and more. What is the closest ocean beach to Ohio. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Bubba Gumbos is a waterfront gem serving shrimp, crab cakes, burgers, jambalaya, fried fish, and of course, their signature seafood gumbo. Known for not only its stunning, white sandy beaches but also for its world-class shopping, Kennebunkport is a delight to the eyes. Renting a bicycle on which you can tour the small town and its waterfront is a perfect way to enjoy the charm of this national treasure. funbeaches.com is a good resource for travelling to the Grand Strand as well. South Walton, Florida, 302 miles. more. 1. Raccoon Creek State Park 7. For times when the weather is poor, Ocean City holds indoor activities like storytelling, arts and crafts, and indoor sports. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Though all seasons in the Kennebunks are full of activities and sightseeing opportunities, this area of the country is truly at its best during the fall when nature paints the trees in oranges, golds, and reds. Yorktown Beach, Yorktown, VA Located in Historic Yorktown, Yorktown Beach offers guests both a relaxing day on the water and an energetic night at Riverwalk Landing, a popular dining and shopping experience for beachgoers. They also have a variety of nature paths for walking and biking. If you'll be taking a road trip with kids, be sure to plan a few stops and you'll still be there before bedtime! Mississippi River State Park Beach Arkansas 4. 15 Best Beaches Near Pittsburgh, PA (2023) Top Beach Spots! Swains Seafood Shack offers a scrumptious variety of fresh and fried seafood as well as pasta, chicken, and steak for land lovers. The area serves as a popular tourist destination for visitors throughout the New York and New England regions, offering a variety of family and visitor attractions, including the Maine State Aquarium, which offers a 20-foot touch tank. Aside from having beautiful coastal areas, Wildwood Crest keeps families safe by staffing its beaches with trained lifeguards during the peak months for tourism. This post may contain affiliate links. The beach is lined with gorgeous sun-bleached driftwood that forms large natural art sculptures along the shoreline. As most beaches and shorelines in this area of Maine are dominated by rock, this nearly 300-yard-long beach provides a lovely, sandy spot from which to enjoy the sea and mountains simultaneously. This is one of the most popular beaches near Tennessee. 1. The beaches run for miles and can get windy, but you can't beat the views! Everything is connected, from your resort to ice cream shops to restaurants, just steps from the beach. It is surrounded by oceanfront vacation rentals and long walking paths. In addition to the attractions of Great Cranberry Island, a number of visitor attractions are offered on Little Cranberry Island, including the Isleford Historical Museum, which offers a variety of exhibits related to the islands social and cultural history. 1. Not far from a college town, this beach is a popular spot for surfing with many area surf shops to explore. The lighthouse is located on a military base, so it's important that guests over the age of 18 bring a form of ID when they visit. Things to do in Ocean City. 7 hours from Ocean Beach - Within Hours Although they do have a small menu, there are salads available for the health-conscious crowd. Located off the coast of North Carolina, Oracoke Island appeals to visitors of all ages. 16 beaches dot this coastal area, with something for everyone. Several other islands were granted to the governor, including Little Cranberry Island and nearby Baker, Bear, and Sutton Islands. This beach needs almost no introduction. They also have scrumptious frozen daiquiris and a stunning ocean view. Located in Cranberry Isles, Maine, Great Cranberry Island is the largest of the towns five islands, measuring approximately two miles long and one mile wide and offering attractions such as a history museum and public visitor trails. Here, you can visit Fort Caswell, which was in use for much of the 1800s and 1900s. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Several restaurants are located on the island, including the Slow Bell Cafe and the Niblic, located at the Chebeague Island Boatyard. If you're thinking of heading to the beach this summer, you might not have to travel as far as you think. Here is a detailed list of the best beaches within driving distance from Pittsburgh. Jersey Shore - Just like the beaches in Delaware, the Atlantic coast in southern New Jersey is an approximately 7-hour drive from Pittsburgh, offering a wide range of beaches, from the urban boardwalk and famous casinos of the Atlantic city to the amusement parks and calm Victorian beauty of Cape May in Wildwood. In 1762, the islands were granted to Massachusetts Governor Francis Bernard, who named the islands after the 200-acre cranberry marsh on Great Cranberry Island. This is a very popular summer vacation destination and reservations are needed ASAP. 17 Best Beaches: Closest Beach to Chattanooga TN - East TN Family Fun With more than 100 free activities geared toward families, Ocean City is among America's best places for a family vacation. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. It is probably most famed for its stunning driftwood beach along Botany Bay (pictured above). View the disclosure page for more information. Though visitors are not permitted on Bear, Baker, or Sutton Islands, the Bear and Baker Island Light lighthouse are visible as part of ferry and water taxi tours of the region. Entertainment includes shows, museums, an aquarium, mini-golf, go-karts, and much more! With a 3-mile Boardwalk, you can walk or ride bikes along the water. Pensacola Beach, Florida. As a Buckeye, we agree that Hilton Head Island is very nice for a family vacation to suit a variety of budgets. Wrightsville Beach is a beautiful ocean beach located just outside of Wilmington, North Carolina. A Lowcountry Backyard Restaurant is a local favorite that has even been featured on the Travel Channel. Weekend Getaway within 3 1/2 hours of Columbus!?!? Of course, the fun doesnt stop there. The roadhouse offers a variety of seafood, burgers, sandwiches, salads, steaks, ribs, and more! Grab your swimsuit and let's head to the beach! All private rentals must be arranged by contacting the property owner directly via phone or email. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Last Updated on June 11, 2022 You are probably wondering, are there any great beaches near Pittsburgh? Edisto is a low-key gem offering opportunities for rest and relaxation, including short hiking and biking trails. 14 best beaches within a day's drive of Atlanta Wrightsville is known for its crystal waters and excellent surfing. After exploring the town, you can visit a gorgeous lighthouse, a history museum, or Fort Clinch. Generally, you can leave in the morning and arrive at an ocean beach by dinner time. At Folly you can meander through quaint shops, indulge in scrumptious southern cuisine, and enjoy all the water sports the coast has to offer, including fishing, boating, swimming, and more! The most popular beaches, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, and Kiawah Island, are all within a 30-50 minutes drive of Charleston and offer their own family-friendly restaurants, attractions, and amenities. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Great Cranberry Islands year-round population was 40 at the time of the 2000 census, though its summer population expands to over 300 due to regional tourism. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-67293120', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Columbus area for the last 19 years. I will be traveling with my husband and 2 kids (ages 19 and 17). Although Ohio is a midwest state, it is not as far from the ocean as you might think! Choosing the right park is always a challenge especially when your day is planned around your toddler. One, Read More Disney World Stroller Rules: What You Must Know Before You LeaveContinue. Overnight accommodations are offered at the Ocean Gate Resort, which also rents canoes for tours of the islands surrounding waterways, and the Newagen Seaside Inn, which offers premium guest room and cottage accommodations. Ocean View Beach, Norfolk, VA 1. If you are looking for adventure and entertainment all right along the beach, Atlantic City is your closest ocean beach to Ohio. Myrtle Beach is located on the east coast of South Carolina and is a popular beach for many Ohioans to visit. Marshlands and thick forests contribute to the uniqueness of Kiawah Island's environment, and the area is also rich in wildlife and sea life. But after a few days of nonstop fun, visiting Animal Kingdom with, Read More The Closest Beach to Disney World: 13 Best Family Beaches Near OrlandoContinue, Your email address will not be published. There are plenty of activities for kids to enjoy like mini-golf, go-karts, and more right along the Boardwalk. Not far from Charleston, South Carolina lies Folly Beach our southernmost beach. Chebeague Island is accessible from the mainland via the Casco Bay Lines passenger transit service, which transports more than one million annual travelers to eight islands within Casco Bay and provides mail service and education transportation for island residents. For a trip with history, surf and sand, Virginia Beach is the place for you. The nearby Cranberry General Store also sells farm-fresh produce, baked goods, and meat cut to order. Believe it or not, there are amazing beaches just a road trip away! There are also theatre shows, a lighthouse, arcades, a ninja warrior course, trampoline parks, escape games, mini-golf, and much more! At just under six hours away, this beach location offers an easy drive and tons of rest and relaxation. 9. Ogunquit beach provides 3 miles of white sandy beach and grassy dunes. The islands historic schoolhouse, which was closed in 1956, has been converted into a museum facility for the Chebeague Island Historical Society, which is open to the public during the summer months and offers a variety of exhibits on the islands social and cultural history. Wrightsville Beach 4. Panama City packs a mean punch for families looking for adventure. Lake Norman Cornelius (Editor's Choice) 2. They serve all your favorite breakfast items along with some quirky Lowcountry options, like shrimp and gravy and seafood omelets. View beach North Salmon Creek Beach North Salmon Creek Beach is right off Coast Highway 1 just north of Bodega Bay. As the name suggests, they specialize in street tacos of all kinds including traditional meats, a wide variety of fish tacos, and much more. Try North Myrtle Beach, or Holden Beach or Sunset Beach in North Carolina. The restaurant also has a gorgeous waterfront view to complete the experience. The Salty Pelican Bar and Grille offers seafood tacos, burgers, sandwiches, seafood platters, fresh shrimp, oysters, salads, and much more. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Ocean County Beaches - New Jerey Leisure Guide The history of Southport is on display at the Hendricks Hill Museum, which is hosted within a historic house facility constructed by John Cameron in 1810. Open in . We've included approximate driving distances and times from Cleveland and Columbus. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Erica is a long-time resident of East TN and the founder of East TN Family Fun. The waters surrounding Montauk are perfect for almost every water-based activity imaginable, including SCUBA diving, snorkeling, kite surfing, kayaking, and sailing. 1 review 1 helpful vote Closest ocean beaches to Ohio 8 years ago Save I live in Columbus, Ohio and want to plan an ocean trip this summer. Located in quintessential Maine, Bar Harbor is perfectly situated for whale watching tours, scenic shore walks, lighthouse touring, and many more of the activities that have made Maine a vacation destination for generations. About 1/2 hour outside of Savannah, this low-key island is perfect for a relaxing vacation. The Best 10 Beaches near me in Ocean County, New Jersey Over 40% of Block Island remains undeveloped, and those parts that are developed provide a very laid-back, easy-going vacation destination. Tybee Island is a popular retreat among Savannah residents as well as out-of-town guests. Ocean City also seeks to be a budget-friendly destination, so families can find a variety of options for accommodations. Visitors will find the town is filled with small, boutique shops and gourmet, chef-operated restaurants. 167 mi from Dallas city center. Several water taxi services also offer service, including Delight, Cadillac, and Downeast Sailing Adventure Water Taxis. 17 Best Beaches Close to Nashville - Mom's Plan-it Vacation Blog Even the Carolinas experience the seasons, although we think the beaches are beautiful year-round. I didn't see IL's reply, which is also goodlol, On that note, I would also suggest the southern end of the Grand Strand, such as Surfside Beach, Garden City, and Pawleys Island ;o). The pace of life at Sandbridge Beach is a bit more relaxed. 1. +2. Brick Beach 3. Although not incredibly close to any larger city amenities, this relaxing beach oasis boasts several shops and restaurants, water sports, and a few family attractions like the Neptune Park Fun Zone. Ogunquit, the beautiful place by the sea, is an aptly named gem on the Southern Maine coast. 1. Best of all it only takes 30 minutes to drive the length of all 3 beaches, so you dont have to miss anything! I will be traveling with my husband and 2 kids (ages 19 and 17). Few places in the United States can claim to be more historic than Nantucket. 5 hours from Ocean Beach - Within Hours Resort Beach is great for high-energy activities and provides a wide array of options for shopping, dining, and entertainment. "People actually have been camping on the beach at night when it is hot." more.