Me and the little babes today went exploring a very different style of beachin’. After a trip to the Baltimore Aquarium, we made a detour before returning home to check out one of the three beaches about 30 minutes from Charm City. North Point State Park offers a few different activities but strikes me as a pretty laid back site. We didn’t do it, but there are a number of trails, a marsh to explore, and biking. Some of the areas are in rough shape, so adjust expectations accordingly.

To get to the beach, continue all the way through the park, following signs for the Trolley. Once you get to that parking lot (B), the small beach is located to the right when facing the water. There are a few paths to get to the beach. We only had a couple of options because of massive puddles.

Today was a cool weekend day, and there weren’t a lot of people around. It’s an interesting setting, and there are some remnants and whispers of the park’s past as the site of an amusement park.

A few other visitors were just hanging out (including an older couple with chairs hanging out in the parking lot???), and some people fishing or walking their dogs. There are a few long piers that appear to be an enjoyable walk and where the fishing happens.

The beach itself is small, with lots of picnic tables all over the place behind and around it. Seemed like there was more seating than people you could fit on the beach. Still, the beach was sandy and the water as placid as can be. Instant serenity. It may not have been the cleanest beach (cigarette butts), and also had some of that ghostly vibe, but if I knew this would not be crowded, I would be happy to hang out here for most of the day.

There is a cost to get in, and while we were off season the entrance was paid with the honor system– putting money in an envelope into a slot and hanging a tag on the car. Off-season and weekdays is $3 per car, $4 during the regular season on weekends. Prices are for Maryland residents. Honestly, I don’t think its worth the trek for those outside the state.

Amenities are in short supply here, so plan ahead. Large port-a-potties, and the visitor center (which is only closed during the peak season) should have indoor bathrooms.

Some very big tips if you plan to visit:

• Days after heavy rain means lots of puddles, large puddles.

• Write down directions for when you leave the park. There is no service. This lack of knowledge cost us about 20 minute of google maps confusion.
• The beach is small, so if that is your main reason for going, make sure you are not going during a primetime. The parking lot is a good size, but if it fills up, then the beach is going to be super crowded.

What we liked:

• Off-the-beaton path feel is my style, and I kind of like the remnants of the amusement park
• Not too pricey even during prime season
• Hubs would love all the picnic tables
• Hiking and biking offer other activities besides zoning out on the beach
• Water looks so placid and shallow. No lifeguard so can probably float around easily
• Not a lot of rules. Only saw signs that alcohol is prohibited. Too bad but better than the other places with the laundry list of requirements

Not a fan of:

• I like a small beach, but I worried that it will feel crowded with more than 30 people. Yikes!
• The puddles. I would love to have walked around more without needing boots
• I am far from high maintenance but parts of the park really need some work. The picnic tables look like they are in rough shape as well.

Concluding thoughts…

There is something alluring and strange and offputting all at the same time about this beach. I doubt it would come into our regular rotation, but if we wanted to do biking, hiking, and a short time on the beach, I would go again. I also might like to just go by myself during the week to lounge out.