My DS (7) decided he would like to go to a beach this year. I have no idea of where to even start! We live in Illinois so not really tons of beaches close. We don't mind flying as long as we can find decent priced airfare. I would prefer to stay within the US if possible. We would be traveling during June-August sometime. Any help on really good beaches that don't cost a fortune would be appreciated!!
Best Cheap Beach Vacation?
- Thread starter Corbin3
- Start date
I personally LOVE Gulf Shores, AL (that's where we're going this summer, in fact 
) but to fly, you'd have to go to Mobile, which is not a major airport (meaning NOT cheap to fly into).
Gulf Shores is very beautiful and family oriented (translation- not full of drunken college students, and has a lot of fun things for kids besides the beach) however, I'm not sure it would be the easiest place for you to get to unless you're driving. If you fly, you'd have to rent a car in Mobile - it's about 45 mins from Gulf Shores. Mobile is fun for kids too, btw. Mine love touring the USS Alabama, and they have a great hands-on science museum. But between the flight and the car rental, I think "cheap" would get left in the dust.
Maybe someone who knows about East coast beaches near a major airport will post a suggestion for you.
) but to fly, you'd have to go to Mobile, which is not a major airport (meaning NOT cheap to fly into).Gulf Shores is very beautiful and family oriented (translation- not full of drunken college students, and has a lot of fun things for kids besides the beach) however, I'm not sure it would be the easiest place for you to get to unless you're driving. If you fly, you'd have to rent a car in Mobile - it's about 45 mins from Gulf Shores. Mobile is fun for kids too, btw. Mine love touring the USS Alabama, and they have a great hands-on science museum. But between the flight and the car rental, I think "cheap" would get left in the dust.
Maybe someone who knows about East coast beaches near a major airport will post a suggestion for you.
freckles and boo
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What about a Lake Michigan beach? Of course you could go to any of the city beaches in Chicago, but the dunes beaches in Indiana and Michigan are beautiful, too.
NotUrsula
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Closest beach to you is probably Indiana Dunes Nat'l Lakeshore about an hour east of Chicago. The town that it is closest to is Portage, IN.
http://www.us-parks.com/indiana-dunes-national-lakeshore
If you want ocean beach, your cheapest bet for flying is Florida, particularly in August, which is hurricane season. I don't know where in Illinois you are, but there are cheap flights out of both St. Louis and Chicago to the west coast beach areas, especially Tampa and Ft. Myers. (Be aware that lodging in Ft. Myers is generally more expensive than in Tampa/St. Pete.)
Driving to an ocean beach would mean the Gulf Shores area. Depending on where you are in Illinois, that would be a 10-14 hour drive each way.
Lodging is quite cheap there, though.
http://www.us-parks.com/indiana-dunes-national-lakeshore
If you want ocean beach, your cheapest bet for flying is Florida, particularly in August, which is hurricane season. I don't know where in Illinois you are, but there are cheap flights out of both St. Louis and Chicago to the west coast beach areas, especially Tampa and Ft. Myers. (Be aware that lodging in Ft. Myers is generally more expensive than in Tampa/St. Pete.)
Driving to an ocean beach would mean the Gulf Shores area. Depending on where you are in Illinois, that would be a 10-14 hour drive each way.
Lodging is quite cheap there, though.
When you go is very important. Last year we had to go to a dance competition in Myrtle Beach the week of 4th of July. The hotel cost 4 times as much as it does in the winter and twice what it costs any other week in the summer.
We love the Warren Dunes Beach for a 1 day trip.
Further away we like the Gulf. Haven't been to Destin yet, those who have like it a lot...
.
Further away we like the Gulf. Haven't been to Destin yet, those who have like it a lot...
.
We LOVE going to Destin/Okaloosa Island in Florida. It's beautiful there. Fun mini-golf places. Good food places etc. Another place I can think of is Myrtle Beach, SC.stsomewhere
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We enjoy the Muskegon , Mi area. The beaches are beautiful and clean. My kids like to go to Michigan Adventures amusement park. Further north, there are dune buggy (Mac Woods Dune buggy).
How about top notch place for 1/2 the price?
I just booked my favorite Pink Shell Resort at TravelZoo price, 50% OFF for $99/night.
Here are the Top 20
I just booked my favorite Pink Shell Resort at TravelZoo price, 50% OFF for $99/night.
Here are the Top 20
1stluvispooh
<font color=blue>Go straight and never ever stop<b
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My family loves Corolla NC it is in the Outer Banks. It's very family oriented and far enough away from Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills which is really crowded but they do have the first flight memorial. Up and down the Outer Banks there are light houses to see some you can climb and so you can't. We always rent a house which I find to be very economical, my sister usually comes with us, as well as I have control over DD's diet, she has food allergies. Unfortunately like other posters have said there isn't a close airport, Virginia Beach is probably the closest. Unfortunately I think that is going to be the case for most family friendly beaches.
I got this in my email today and thought of you.
If you want to fly instead of drive, this sounds like a great deal.
http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/top-five-off-peak-destinations-for-summer-2009.html?id=2907498&page=3
If you want to fly instead of drive, this sounds like a great deal.
http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/top-five-off-peak-destinations-for-summer-2009.html?id=2907498&page=3
LuvOrlando
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- Jun 8, 2006
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I would suggest (but am partial because we live here now!!) Charleston or Hilton Head Island SC. We're about 10 minutes from the Island, maybe 15 minutes from the ocean. I can PM you the name of a friend who can probably get you a deal on a condo if you're interested. My boys are 4 (5 in July) and 2 (3 in November) and love both places!
In Charleston, we've stayed in Mt Pleasant (just over the bridge from the "historic" Charleston) and gotten good deals and they have great beaches there. We've done the market, carriage tour, water tour and a dolphin tour. By far (and the one we've done the most) our favorite is the dolphin tour. A guy (who's become our friend over time) takes you out to an island to see a lighthouse. You're able to get off the boat and walk on the island and pick up shells. You WILL (I can say that with confidence) find AMAZING shells because you can only get to the island with a boat so they're not all picked over by the adverage "tourist". Last time we went out there, a great white had washed up on the island the night before (we never found it but we walked a LONG time looking for it!). The best part is every time we've gone out we've seen dolphins!!!! My boys LOVE this and it's awesome to see. I never get tired of this! Here's some information on the light house: http://bansemer.com/north_carolina_lighthouses/morris_island_lighthouse.htm
Here's some information on the dolphin tour: http://www.follybeachcharters.com/dolphinsfishing_001.htm
As for Hilton Head, you could stay at the Disney Resort on HHI for a bit of Disney in your beach vacation! Charleston's about an hour and a half away from us. Savannah's about half an hour away. I guess my point is you could visit several different cities/states with your one trip (and Disney's only 5 hours away if you really get the urge to splurge!). 
Here just off the Island we have two outlet malls if shopping's your thing and there are lots of different things to do - there are festivals and stuff going on all summer long to be sure to keep everyone busy.
If you need/want any more information about the area, please let me know. I'd be happy to share anything I can!
In Charleston, we've stayed in Mt Pleasant (just over the bridge from the "historic" Charleston) and gotten good deals and they have great beaches there. We've done the market, carriage tour, water tour and a dolphin tour. By far (and the one we've done the most) our favorite is the dolphin tour. A guy (who's become our friend over time) takes you out to an island to see a lighthouse. You're able to get off the boat and walk on the island and pick up shells. You WILL (I can say that with confidence) find AMAZING shells because you can only get to the island with a boat so they're not all picked over by the adverage "tourist". Last time we went out there, a great white had washed up on the island the night before (we never found it but we walked a LONG time looking for it!). The best part is every time we've gone out we've seen dolphins!!!! My boys LOVE this and it's awesome to see. I never get tired of this! Here's some information on the light house: http://bansemer.com/north_carolina_lighthouses/morris_island_lighthouse.htm
Here's some information on the dolphin tour: http://www.follybeachcharters.com/dolphinsfishing_001.htm
As for Hilton Head, you could stay at the Disney Resort on HHI for a bit of Disney in your beach vacation!
Charleston's about an hour and a half away from us. Savannah's about half an hour away. I guess my point is you could visit several different cities/states with your one trip (and Disney's only 5 hours away if you really get the urge to splurge!). Here just off the Island we have two outlet malls if shopping's your thing and there are lots of different things to do - there are festivals and stuff going on all summer long to be sure to keep everyone busy.If you need/want any more information about the area, please let me know. I'd be happy to share anything I can!
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