Beach Vacation

[MarkBarbieri]

We're already planning our vacation for next summer. We are looking hard at two options - spending a few weeks on the Mid-Atlantic coast primarily playing at the beach. We were considering some place like Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach. Option number two is to rent a sailboat or catamaran for a week in the British Virgin Island.

We'll be doing WDW in January, and we really don't want to repeat it during the summer. We're not cruise people, so we're not interested in the Disney Cruise.

It will be me (cranky old coot that likes to take pictures), my wife (adventurous hot babe), and my boys (they'll be 7 and 9). The kids love playing in the sand and water.

Any suggestions, warnings, advice?

 

[AbsolutLaney]

Playing at the beach will be great.

 

[fitzperry]

Have you considered Kiawah Island, SC? It's probably been a dozen years since we've been there, but we preferred it to Hilton Head. Very relaxing, nice beaches (less crowded than HH in my experience, though that no doubt depends to a large degree on where you stay), and of course fabulous golf (if you're into that--we were when we were there but not so much now). Also, we haven't been to Kiawah since having children, but I remember that the Kiawah Island Resort had kids' programs that sounded like a lot of fun. The proximity to Charleston is also appealing--plenty of photographic potential there. Of course in HH you're not far from Savannah, which isn't bad either. We've spent more time in HH as we have friends whose parents have a condo there. We've also been to HH with the kids and they enjoyed it, but I think they'd prefer Kiawah too. In fact, I've been considering it as a potential destination next year.

We have friends who love the Outer Banks in NC, but we've never been there.

I've always wanted to rent a boat and sail the Caribbean too but we haven't attempted that yet. We're not cruise people either. A big glitzy ship is not my idea of a Caribbean vacation.

You could consider New England too. We plan to take our kids to Cape Cod and Nantucket in two years since we honeymooned there and it will be our 20th anniversary.

Can you tell I've been thinking about traveling too? The only way I can get over a vacation ending is to plan another one.

 

[SC Mouse Fan]

Myrtle Beach has a lot of activities to go to for the kids. We went to Surfside Beach which is near Myrtle Beach in July. It was very crowded at the water. Way too many people at the beach for my liking. Back in the late 80's, early 90's we would go to Isle of Palms or Sulivans Island near Charleston. My inlaws would rent a house. We got spoiled by the uncrowded beaches and having wall to wall people at Surfside was not fun. We did have access to a pool this year and really enjoyed the shopping and restaurants at night. One thing that was really cool was standing out on the balcony on July 4th. All up and down the beach, you could see fireworks going off. Lots of towns and piers were shooting fireworks and which ever way you looked you could see them. Too bad we had power lines in the way for any picture taking. We were also one row off the beach so we had houses in the way too. I really like the Myrtle Beach area. It is fun but just know that there are a lot of people there in July. If you in June, it may be better.

 

[RainyDays]

You might want to consider Chincoteague Virginia or Assateague National Seashore if you want beach and water fun along with a lot of great photo ops. If you are going in July they have the annual wild pony swim, penning and auction held in Chincoteague. Just a warning it gets pretty crowded for the pony swim, but if you are there in June or August the crowds are much lighter Renting a scooter for the day is a great way to see the island. Assateague Island National Seashore is a bit farther north in Maryland and its not uncommon to see the ponies on the beaches there. (They swim the ponies from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island for the auction). There is lots of info online about both places and either would make a great family vacation.

 

[dr_zero]

Myrtle beach was nice but had grown alot since my last trip was bit too touristy for me I like more of the quiet places kinda like they said above.

There was lots of mini golf and music shows the house of blues was cool and there was lots of people the board walk area was neat also but the park there was closing they said don't know what happened to that did I mention there was lots of people

 

[jann1033]

We're already planning our vacation for next summer. We are looking hard at two options - spending a few weeks on the Mid-Atlantic coast primarily playing at the beach. We were considering some place like Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach. Option number two is to rent a sailboat or catamaran for a week in the British Virgin Island.

We'll be doing WDW in January, and we really don't want to repeat it during the summer. We're not cruise people, so we're not interested in the Disney Cruise.

It will be me (cranky old coot that likes to take pictures), my wife (adventurous hot babe), and my boys (they'll be 7 and 9). The kids love playing in the sand and water.

Any suggestions, warnings, advice?

we used to love hilton head about 20+ yrs ago but then it got really touristy..( think a scaled back gatlinburg) so depends on if you like that or not.( we obviously don't ) we went to edisto island sc 2 yrs ago..nothing there( they are of course building condos, a campground, i think maybe 2 restaurants, we were there after labor day and most stuff except a pizza place and the sea cow( really good pancakes) were closed for the off season) but i kind of like that if you want to purely relax,reminded me of a beach vacation in my younger yrs( you know before cars were invented). they have sea turtles nesting in June-oct, ( i think or july not sure now, we were there in sept and some idiot family was digging up the remaining nests ). and it's about an hr from charleston so nice for a day trip, if you are camping the bathrooms were buggy. ( always my #1 priority). James island sc is really nice as well, good bathrooms, laundry, sites have some greenery so you feel pretty private ( course this is in fall when we go, summer may be a whole different story) think they have a water park, trails etc in the campground but it's by a salt marsh area not the ocean. it's not that far but i think the closest beach is Folly beach and maybe 15-20 min drive( but you can get in free if you are at the campground). imo great bathrooms, nice cove pond, birds, dophins ,manatees etc, surfing ( usually us, some fisherman at the pier and a handful of surfers on the beach in Nov) and lots of stuff nearby( ie merrit island is about an hr away(?), they have a couple nature type centers in the area, we aren't really into minigolf type stuff so not sure about that stuff) is sebastian inlet state park although the sites are butted up against each other, but that is fl so you probably don't want that twice in a row.

 

[fitzperry]

we used to love hilton head about 20 yrs ago but then it got really touristy..( think a scaled back gatlinburg) so depends on if you like that or not.( we obviously don't )

I tend to agree with you. I think our first trip to HH was about 18 or 19 years ago. We've been back there 4 or 5 times, most recently last year after at least a 10 year hiatus. It had changed a lot. The beaches were much more crowded than I remember, though we did stay in a different place than we had on our previous trips (this time we were in Sea Pines on the Harbourtown Course). The island is much more developed now.

 

[We-Luv-Disney]

IMO and it seems like everyone else agrees Myrtle Beach is too crowded during the summer months, and pretty much any other time schools are out. I enjoy the Charleston / Beaufort area much better, they are less touristy and the area is just beautiful.

 

[JimbobJimbo]

I would suggest either the following:

Isle of Palms/ Charleston SC- lots of great sites to see around Charleston, plus the beaches at the Isle of Palms are great.

Outer Banks of North Carolina- great things to see here as well, several light houses, large sand dunes (Jockey's Ridge). Plus you can usually find a pretty secluded beach area to visit.

I would also consider Kiawah Island, SC as well as it is in between both Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA that make for great day trips to see the sites and history in both cities. Very nice beaches there as well.

 

[dr_zero]

IMO and it seems like everyone else agrees Myrtle Beach is too crowded during the summer months, and pretty much any other time schools are out. I enjoy the Charleston / Beaufort area much better, they are less touristy and the area is just beautiful.

Charleston is a place I want to go back and visit! The downtown looked cool to visit lots of history.
We had lined up to stay at the Francis Marion till the dance competition got canceled in Charleston if you go check it out. http://www.francismarionhotel.com/

 

[YesDear]

Mark:

I live in NC and my family had a house at Myrtle Beach for over 30 yrs. Rather than a long commment here you can pm me and I can answer any questions you may have. I have been to Hilton Head a number of times.

Basically MB will be the fun in the sun place with tourist paradise. Hilton Head quite yuppie location, Outer Banks the place away from everyting, sort of.

Love to have you come visit!!!

 

[pointandshoot]

If you like tourists, shopping, golf, and resturants, go to Myrtle. I grew up in Virginia Beach and sometimes like the activity of a resort beach.

If you want to get away, the outer banks is the place. We have had a home in Frisco, NC for over 25 years. Ocracoke Island is 12 miles of beach with nothing else. At the end of the island is a small village where bicycle and people traffic take over the streets. You can four wheel on the beaches in certain areas. The northern end of the island is Duck. Bit more traffic but still very nice.

I spent the 4th of July on a sandbar in the sound in Avon without a car or person within 100 yards of me. Bird photography, sand castles with my daughter and god daughter, and splashing in the water for entertainment.

When we want to run, we go to Disney. When we want to recharge, we head to Cape Hatteras. But it is not for everyone. No real commercial business.es More small town feel.

PM if you like to know more.

Chuck

 

[Jeanne B]

We vacationed in the USVI's two summers ago and absolutely fell in love with the Virgin Islands so my vote would be the BVI trip!! We did a day trip to Virgin Gorda in the BVI's and it was just as beautiful as the USVI's.

 

[handicap18]

Pretty much everything on the East Coast in the summer is a tourist magnet. I grew up on Cape Cod and even our tiny little village in a town on the gateway to Cape Cod would triple in population during the summer months.

But people go to these places for a reason. The beaches are great, quohags, fried clams (WITH bellies!!), lobstah, chowdah, scallops (said scall-ups like call on the phone, not scal-ups as in California!!!!) fresh fish and chips, sun, beach, drinks in a bar on the watah, live outdoor music, the smell of the salt water (ok I guess the smell of low tide goes with it too... lol), harbor cruises, biking on islands or along the canal or along Cape Cod National Seashore, OH YEAH! The Welfleet Beachcomber and... "THE DUNES ON THE CAPE!! Sunrises AND Sunsets on the water.

I guess in the end I really do like where I grew up.

 

[orchjoe]

Vote: Hilton Head

We used to go there every weekend when I was on active duty. It is a gorgeous place. Myrtle Beach is good too but I have a lot of great memories of Hilton Head.

 

[boBQuincy]

Ocracoke.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Caribbean

Friends have been going down for years and I joined them for a week in 2001. It's an amazing trip. In fact after renting for several years, sometimes with a captain and sometimes bare boat, they decided to buy a boat. They now sail 3 months a year with their 3 children (currently 4 yo twins and a 2 yo). The rest of the year their boat is in a rental program.

When I joined them we sailed St. Martins, St. Barts, Saba and Anguilla.

 

[Blessed99]

I would suggest Cherry Grove, SC. Its about 30 mins north of Myrtle Beach. Its quiet and small, but still close enough to the action at Myrtle Beach, so its kind of the best of both worlds. We stayed at a beach front condo there. It was awesome, its called Prince Resorts. It just opened last year. You can find out about it by going to Patricia.com (sorry I don't know how to link)

Whatever you choose, have a great time!

 

[AndrewWG]

Pretty much everything on the East Coast in the summer is a tourist magnet. I grew up on Cape Cod and even our tiny little village in a town on the gateway to Cape Cod would triple in population during the summer months.

But people go to these places for a reason. The beaches are great, quohags, fried clams (WITH bellies!!), lobstah, chowdah, scallops (said scall-ups like call on the phone, not scal-ups as in California!!!!) fresh fish and chips, sun, beach, drinks in a bar on the watah, live outdoor music, the smell of the salt water (ok I guess the smell of low tide goes with it too... lol), harbor cruises, biking on islands or along the canal or along Cape Cod National Seashore, OH YEAH! The Welfleet Beachcomber and... "THE DUNES ON THE CAPE!! Sunrises AND Sunsets on the water.

I guess in the end I really do like where I grew up.

My 2 cents on vacationing on Cape Cod would be to see the sites like the CC Canal, National Seashore, and then head to Nantucket or Marthas Vineyard. There are great beaches, you don't have to drive anywhere if you are into biking, stuff for kids to do is somewhat limited, but my DD LOVES it on Marthas Vineyard. The photo opportunities are endless.

Now I agree with all that Kyle has said here but I must add that you should travel from mid week to mid week. Then you will be ON the Cape rather than sitting IN the Cape traffic on a Friday or Saturday (getting here) or a Sunday (getting off Cape).