Excerpt:
Nothing says “I’m on vacation” quite like a beach bar. And often D.C. residents don’t have the time or resources to head all the way to Turks and Caicos (or even the Outer Banks) to get their fix.
A few bars fall into this category inside the Beltway (think everyone-is-welcome Arlington gay bar Freddie’s Beach Bar, boater’s paradise Island Time Bar & Grill at Columbia Island Marina, or Falls Church surf-y stalwart Clare & Don’s), and some arguably in the metro area, like MacDowell’s Beach in Leesburg. But realistically, you’re going to have to drive at least a little in order to reach sand, frozen drinks, and even a wave or two.
Here are a handful of destinations that aren’t too far of a trek (note that while many self-identify as tiki bars, a genre with a complicated history, this is more in the straw-hut-on-the-beach sense, versus elaborate Polynesian decor or historically-influenced rum drinks).
Click here to read the entire article.