Lower Bay trip

[Dream 'Inn]

Well, we decided this year to finally head to the lower part of the bay (actually out of the bay).  It is a 10-day trip, leaving on a Thur evening and heading a couple hours south to anchor the first night.  Fri morning we will make the rest of the ride to Rudee's inlet.  The initial plan is to stay there until Tue morning (the kids love the beach, hence the longer stay).  But this is all I have planned so far.  I know the last two nights of the trip we will stay at Zahniser's in Solomons (one of our favorites).

There is so much to see, I just thought I'd ask for inputs.  I know there are good places in Hampton Roads, Yorktown (maybe riverwalk? or Williamsburg?), Cape Charles (Back Creek or town?), maybe Tides Inn on Rap.  I just thought I'd see what others have to say.  The trip will be the latter part of June.  We have two kids, one is 8 and the other is 10.  Neither mind walking a little (actually we walk them too much), but they also enjoy the beach and pool a lot. 

Thanks for any ideas!

[brown eyed girls]

This is my first (ever) post on this forum, so forgive any mistakes I may make in posting.  We are located within a mile of Leonardtown, MD (about 1 hour up the potomac river).  I can point you at a couple of nice hangouts (restaurants/bars) near us if you are interested in coming up the potomac at all.

We have a 2007 Rinker 300.  We keep it on a lift at our house.

If you are in the area while we are at home this summer, maybe we could raft up.  I have two daughters graduating (one high school, one college) and one daughter getting married, so it is a busy summer.

The dry dock (restaurant) at Zanhiser's is first class.  We eat there occasionally for special occassions.

[Dream 'Inn]

Welcome to the site brown-eyed.  I know your general area, we looked at some boats in colonial beach (stepps) when we bought this one. 

I don't think we'll be heading up the Potomac at all on this trip, we are concentrating on hitting some things at the bottom of the bay while we are there.  But I'll keep you in mind if we ever do.  We've ate at the dry dock a while back, but typically with our younger kids it's not the place we end up at.  We do really enjoy Zahniser's and Solomon's area.

Congrats on the graduations/wedding going on this summer, that will surely make May/June pretty busy!  You must be one proud parent!  If you ever come up towards Annapolis give us a heads up!

[gn86randy]

sounds like that will be a fun trip and Welcome Aboard

[Babyboomer]

This is my first (ever) post on this forum, so forgive any mistakes I may make in posting.  We are located within a mile of Leonardtown, MD (about 1 hour up the potomac river).  I can point you at a couple of nice hangouts (restaurants/bars) near us if you are interested in coming up the potomac at all.

We have a 2007 Rinker 300.  We keep it on a lift at our house.

If you are in the area while we are at home this summer, maybe we could raft up.  I have two daughters graduating (one high school, one college) and one daughter getting married, so it is a busy summer.

The dry dock (restaurant) at Zanhiser's is first class.  We eat there occasionally for special occassions.

Welcome Aboard

[pepmyster]

Welcome!!!!!

[DJ]

Dream Inn,

It's been awhile since I've visited the site
We live in the Hampton Roads area and we keep our boat at Bluewater Yachting Center. Deepnding how many loacations and how long you want to stay there here are my suggestions based on my experience.
1. Tides Inn - They've just installed new floating dock on the marina side. this would be prefered over the lodge docks which is across the creek. They have two pools fresh water at the marina and salt at the lodge. You amenity/elec charge included the use of bikes, canoes, kayaks, kand a par 3 nine hole golf course. The town isn't much, but the resort / marina is worth the trip. FYI- We have reservations the the 4th of July holiday here.

2. Bay Creek Marina / Cape Chalrles - one of the best Marinas in the lower bay, simple put you'll love it

3. Hampton - you have two choices 1. is of course is Bluewater where I'm at, nice pool, Surf Riders Rest on site (best she crab soup I've ever had), They have a water taxi to take you to the downtown docks should you want to make your way to downtonw Hampton which alos has the air & space museum w/ an IMax theater. 2. would be to stay at the Hampton city docks which is also cheaper.

Rudees Inlet is OK but I can't say it's worth the trip unless you want to spend some time at Virginia Beach

[Dream 'Inn]

Thanks DJ.  So far we still only have Friday thru Tues booked at Rudees.  yes, it is all for VA beach, not at all for the marina.  The kids could live at the beach.  The end of the trip is two nights on Fri/Sat at Zahniser's.  We have been thinking about something near Williamsburg and get a car and go there. 

I did consider Tides Inn.  I know several people that have gone there and we do love the resort type of stuff, but I wanted to take more advantage of the areas we will be instead of just a resort (we hit Hyatt and Herrington Harbour South up here).

Cape Charles does look interesting.  Is there much of a town there?  We really like the town type atmosphere as well.  Oh, do they have the nasty flies there like Crisfield and the islands?  The last time we hit Crisfield the flies made us never want to go back.

Thanks for all the info.  It's a tough decision with so much to see.  Maybe we need to cut back some at the beach and go to Hamption Roads.  It's just tough when I know that will be the favorite.

[DJ]

Dream Inn,

I've never seen an issue w/ fles at Bay Creek Marina. The town is very small, that said I wouldn't base my choice to visit there based on the town other then it's nice to ride bikes ot you can rent one of their golf carts. If you decide to see williamsburg by water i.e Kings Mill that going to take to way off course. From Bluewater where I'm at takes me about 1 1/2 (19 - 22mph) to travel to Kings Mill.

[Dream 'Inn]

Well, we leave this Thursday and anchor out somewhere.  Plan on being at Rudee's from Friday thru Monday, then heading over to Salt Ponds marina for Tue and Wed night.  Thur night will be at Chesapeake Boat Basin, just a half way point to Solomon's Island, where we'll spend Fri and Sat night at Zahniser's before heading home.

If you happen to see me stop by for a cold one!

[DJ]

I should be able to catch up with you next Tues. or Wed. at Salt Ponds.

[Dream 'Inn]

It was great meeting up with you DJ!  Sure enjoyed chatting!  Maybe next time we can both meet up with our boats.   The rest of our trip went real well and ride was good all the way up.

[DJ]

It was a pleasure meeting the both of you as well. To bad it was a week day otherwise I would have taken our boat over to Salt Ponds. Glad to hear you had a safe trip.