Lesser-known places on southern East Coast

[mom2lns]

Looking for suggestions of places to visit along the southern east coast that are a little bit less touristy than Virginia Beach, Myrtle Beach, Charleston and Savannah. We'll be driving from Washington, DC to FL in July (I know, hottest time, but work dictates). We'd be interested in making a couple short stops along the way or making just one long stop along the way.

TIA.

 

[Straitlover]

Wilmington, NC is a nice area to visit. If you're coming down I-95, jsut hop off onto I-40 and it takes about 2 hrs to get there.

Go to visitnc.com and type Wilmington in the search box. One thing to note: they will be shooting Iron Man 3 there soon; don't know if they will be through by July.

 

[mrsklamc]

We LOVE Kure Beach, which is just south of Wilmington. Not at all touristy, but a nice little aquarium and a Civil War site if you are into that kind of thing.

 

[Golf4food]

Jacksonville/St. Augustine/Fernandina Beach has some nice beaches, natural areas, historic attractions, a nice zoo in Jax, some nice museums, etc. Most everything within 20-30 minutes or less of I-95 to get back on your way when done.

 

[albarellic]

The Outer Banks in North Carolina are gorgeous if you're looking for something by the ocean. The farther down the islands you go the less touristy they are. The beaches of Rodanthe and Avon on Hatteras Island are practically deserted. The ocean is particularly rough for swimming, but the intercoastal waterways have some very nice calm beaches. There's Kitty Hawk and Roanoke Island, plus numerous lighthouses to visit.

 

[HeatherC]

Hilton Head Island!

 

[descovy]

My vote is for Jekyll Island, GA.

 

[PatchPixie]

My brother has a house on Fripp Island, SC that we love to visit! It is close to Hunting Island, the town of Beaufort, SC and not much else! It is pretty chill and family friendly.

 

[griswalds]

Ok, this might not be helpful to you in your decision making but you really can't go wrong on any of the above places. I've vacationed or lived at all of them except Willmington. This is funny, my DS12 just walked by and read the post and said "Fripp is amazing" then he said "they're all good places, that will be a hard decision". So I guess I'm saying don't worry too much about it because where ever you stop will be great. And let my throw in Tybee Island outside of Savannah, nice quaint little island also.

 

[madcat]

My brother has a house on Fripp Island, SC that we love to visit! It is close to Hunting Island, the town of Beaufort, SC and not much else! It is pretty chill and family friendly.

PatchPixie, I was born and raised (and still live) in Beaufort you are right it is a very family friendly town not an awful lot to do here (which can be frustrating for a local) but thats what day trips to Charleston and Savannah are for. For anyone that visits in July we have the Beaufort Water Festival which is several days and nights of concerts and activities.

 

[mom2lns]

Thanks everyone. Looks like I have some research to do. Everything sounds wonderful.

 

[minniebeth]

Last summer we spent a week in Myrtle Beach and took a day trip to Wilmington to see the Battleship NC. Hands down it was our favorite family activitiy of the trip. Right across the river there are some sweet shops and restaurants.

We have a lot of friends that love St. Augustine~ on our list of places to visit.

Hilton Head is also a good middle point between DC and Fl.
We go several times a year (have family there) and love it! It's busy in the summertime but not touristy.

Have fun deciding where to go!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Hilton Head Island!

I think Hilton Head is pretty well known.

 

[minniebeth]

I think Hilton Head is pretty well known.

You laugh, but before my in-laws moved to HHI, I had no idea it existed.
I'm a Jersey girl and growing up we pretty much stick to our own beaches.
A lot of people I grew up with knew of Myrtle Beach but not HHI.
Here in Ohio, EVERYONE knows about HHI, I think Ohio people think it's the only beach (I say that in jest...every other license plate there is an Ohio one)