What is a great private beach house to rent?

What's the best area to rent a beach house near Washington D.C.?

• Jersey shore? Virginia Beach? Myrtle Beach? Others?

• Answer:

  It depends on what you are looking for in a beach house! If you are looking for quiet and solitude then look to the Outer Banks of NC (1 hour south of VA Beach) and about 4-5 hours fm DC. If you are looking for party atmosphere then you need to go to Dewey Beach, Delaware (next to Rehobeth) which is full of cottages and has a great bar scene. (With luck I've done the drive at the right time in less than 3 hours). However, drive with the traffic and it can be a 5-6 hour excursion. If you are looking for family atmosphere where your kids can ride bikes to the shore and the small boardwalk...then Bethany Beach Delaware is the best! About 10 miles south of Dewey between Ocean City. You want Carnival atmosphere 24/7...then Ocean City is for you...though its high rise apartments don't feel very beachy to me. Virginia Beach is a strip of mostly hotel high rises and low rise beach motels 4 hours away.