Following (my own) tradition of avoiding malls and stores on Black Friday, I spent the day in Cape Charles, Virginia with my brothers. It was cold (for this part of Virginia) and blustery, but the beach had an austere, solomn serenity that I found beautiful. 

Cape Charles is on the Eastern Shore of Virginia which means it is situated on the Cheasapeke Bay rather than the ocean (although it has tides that are influenced by the nearby Atlantic). Cape Charles is undergoing a revival, with many grand old houses currently undergoing renovations. I imagine it would be ideal for a family vacation since the town is very walkable, the downtown small and welcoming and the beach wide with a gentle surf. I’ve also been told that the sunsets over the water are specactular.