OT:Experienced NC vacationers or who can ever help

[coach's wife]

I know this is OT but my family (DH, DS6, DD1 and I)want to take a vacation in August. We have never been able to take an entire week, this will be a first. We are looking into NC. I heard it is a great place for families to go. I don't know anything about NC. So that is where I need some help. Here is my list of questions:

Where in NC do we look (we like the beach but will go where we will have the best time)

Where do we stay (hotel, rent something?)

What things are there for the kids to do?

OK..I'm sure I'll come up with a dozen others but that is it for now.

Any places you have been that are just your idea of a great family vacation?


Thanks

 

[DVCLiz]

You have some great choices!!!! Just over the border is Nags Head/Outer Banks, and that's a great family beach vacation. A few hours in the opposite direction, and you have all the wonderful mountain activities you could ever want- hiking, tubing/white water rafting, biking, gem mining, fishing, swimming, boating, etc. If you like to camp the park system is nice. Like to hike up to a waterfall and go down a natural water slide? It's all in the NC mountains.

But I'd choose the beach since you are in VA and it would be a shorter drive. NC beaches are nice - not white sand like Florioda, but still great waves and beach front for swimming and sunbathing. You can fly kites on the beach, look for shells, build sandcastles, and everybody will be really tired and take nice long naps every day!!

Enjoy your NC vacation!!!

 

[pperfectmom]

My DH's family goes to Oak Island every summer and rents a beach house. It is a great laid back kind of place for a beach vacation. Personally, I don't really enjoy spending an entire week with his extended family so we have given up on that tradition temporarily. We also went to the Outer Banks when DD was a baby and I LOVED it. We stayed in a condo in Kill Devil Hills and it wasn't terribly expensive. There are tons of things to do in that area-the Wright Brothers Memorial, many lighthouses, putt-putt, restaurants and just enjoying the beautiful beaches. I have wanted to go back ever since. I also enjoy the mountains in North Carolina around the Pisgah and Cherokee National Forests if you are into the great outdoors! Whatever you decide, have fun.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

I live about 45 mins. from the OBX, so I am biased....but I think it is a great place for a family vacation !! I would especially recommend renting a cottage in either Duck or Corolla. Those areas are the "less" developed, more upscale (in my opinion) communities.

Another option would be Ocracoke Island. It's a little further off the beaten path (you have to take a ferry to reach it), but I think it is a charming place to visit. This would be your best bet for a more low key and relaxing vacation.

 

[ppan77]

Look into Wrightsville Beach NC! Lived there for 8 years! Wilmington is right there with lots of shopping, restaurants galore!!, movies, arcades, go carts, etc. Its not as secluded as some of the other beaches mentioned.

 

[ppan77]

Holiday Inn Sunspree is a great family hotel or look into renting a house!!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Holiday Inn Sunspree is a great family hotel or look into renting a house!!

The Holiday Inn Sunspree is curently closed for renovation, but it is supposed to open for the summer season. It has a great location on the beach!

Wrightsville Beach is great - we are lucky enough to live here now! The Outer Banks are great for wide beaches and relaxation. If you wanted to do something else, you can do the big city thing in Charlotte (take your kids to Discovery Place), enjoy the mountains and visit the Biltmore House in Asheville, enjoy the museums, shopping, etc. in Raleigh, visit the NC Zoo in Asheboro - the possibilities are endless!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Forgot to mention Tweetsie Railroad in western NC, panning for gems in Hiddenite (not far from Charlotte), touring the waterfalls of western NC, etc. Whatever you like to do, you can probably do it in NC! Happy planning!

 

[coach's wife]

Forgot to mention Tweetsie Railroad in western NC, panning for gems in Hiddenite (not far from Charlotte), touring the waterfalls of western NC, etc. Whatever you like to do, you can probably do it in NC! Happy planning!

All these sound good. Please keep them coming. The more information the better.

 

[tripplanner]

Of course there is the Biltmore House in Asheville. You could stay in the Inn, tour the house, ride horses, ride bikes, fish, and hike there. Old Salem in Winston Salem is good for touring a historic Moravian community. There is the zoo in Asheboro. Blowing Rock (in the mountains, near Tweetsie) is lots of fun in the summer.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

All these sound good. Please keep them coming. The more information the better.

We always welcome appreciative new residents! Seriously, a vacation in NC can be as relaxed or as active as you'd like, and as rural or as citified (almost) as you'd like. You can hunt for sand dollars on the beach or hike in the moutains, go skiing in the winter or swimming in waterfalls in the summer. You can watch movies being filmed in Wilmington and tour a film studio, see where Last of the Mohicans was filmed in Chimney Rock, go across the swinging bridge at Grandfather Mountain, climb the lighthouses of the Outer Banks, or just watch the sunrise and hear the waves at your beach house.

Can you tell I'm proud of my state?

 

[SGB13]

My favorite beach is Emerald Isle. We always rent a house. It's a short drive up to Salter Path to the Aquarium and to Atlantic Beach to Fort Macon.
Try EmeraldIsle.net to find more info. Just get vacation insurance if you go in August. You never know when a hurricaine might show up!

 

[leslieseagle]

If you are going to do the mountains, the Asheville area has a lot to offer. We love Grove Park Inn(pricy), the hotels on Tunnel Road are more affordable. Lake Lure is also beautiful, and there are plenty of hotels, motels, and resorts in the area. Our beaches are also wonderful. I have seen many suggest the OBX, they have a nice aquarium, and there are also a series of ferrys that will take you from the top to the bottom, a fun option if you have more than a few days. We also love the Sunspree in Wrightsville Beach, the Blockade Runner is another option. If you get to the Wrightsville area, you must have lunch/drinks at Dockside. It is a must do for us, as is J. Michaels Philly Deli, and Trolley Stop. If you have any questions, I would love to help.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

If you get to the Wrightsville area, you must have lunch/drinks at Dockside. It is a must do for us, as is J. Michaels Philly Deli, and Trolley Stop. If you have any questions, I would love to help.

And if you are going to the Trolley Stop, you have to save room for Kohl's Flavor of the Day next door.

Dockside is great for drinks and for sitting outside, but for food, I'd have to go with Bridge Tender, Blue Water or South Beach!

Love the Sunday brunch at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville!

 

[torinsmom]

I second Emerald Isle. We have been going there every summer since I was a little kid. If you get an oceanfront house, it can be pricey, but if you don't mond being 3-4 houses away, you can get a 3 bedroom for $800-$1000/week. There's lots to do---the beach, the sound(jetskis,sailing, etc), piers for fishing, miniature golf, waterslide, big aquarium right down the street

http://www.ncaquariums.com/pks/pksindex.htm The aquarium has some neat acitivites like snorkeling, surfing and fishing classes that you can sign up for, good restaurants, etc. You can get even cheaper houses if you go a little further onto the island at Atlantic Beach or Salter Path.

From Emerald Isle, Fort Macon State Park is about a 15 minute drive. Its an old civil war fort that has some great exhibits and is free. Beaufort is about 25 minutes away and has some neat old places to visit. You can take all kinds of boat tours from here to the islands where the wild ponies live, to look for shells, to visit lighthouses, look for dolphins or fish.

Marsha

 

[coach's wife]

I love all these ideas. Thanks. I need to get a map out and look up all these places since I know NOTHING about NC.
Sounds like there is alot for my DS6 to do but what about my DD2? I'm not a strong Mom so things like hiking would be out.

What other things do you do while on vacation? I'd like to hear to get some ideas.
Feel free to let me know some food places as well (diet what diet who said the word diet while on vacation )

Keep 'em coming!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Here are some links of things your DD2 can enjoy as well as your DS6. Once again, once you decide where you want to go, we can help you fill your time! Of course, even your DD2 can build sandcastles and jump waves if you decide to do the beach.

Discovery Place in Charlotte:

http://www.discoveryplace.org/home/discovery_place-home.asp

Tweetsie Railroad (western NC):

http://www.tweetsie.com/

NC Zoo

http://www.nczoo.org/

Children's Museum of Wilmington (new and great for your kids' ages!):

http://www.playwilmington.org/

Jungle Rapids in Wilmington (water park more for DS6, play areas for DD2, mini golf for everyone):

http://www.junglerapids.com/index.html

NC Museum of Life and Science in Durham:

http://www.ncmls.org/

Biltmore Estate in Asheville (your kids would probably most enjoy running around the gardens, but they might be impressed by the BIG house!):

http://www.biltmore.com/

Aquarium at Fort Fisher:

http://www.ncaquariums.com/ff/ffindex.htm

Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores:

http://www.ncaquariums.com/pks/pksindex.htm

There are other things that your DS might be more interested in than your DD2, like the Battleship NC in Wilmington. But the waterfront area is very pretty for DD2 to run around with mom or dad while DS6 goes on the battleship with the other parent.

Two other links for you for the Wilmington area:

www.capefearcoast.com

www.capefearcoast.com/hometown/

The second link is to a program for Wilmington residents where we get free admission to local attractions tomorrow (March 4). I am including the link FYI because it lists several area tourist attractions all on one list. Might help narrow things down if you come our way. Happy planning!

 

[DawnM]

We moved to NC about 2 years ago. It is great!

I will also add that we like to go to Wilmington. My boys LOVE touring the USS North Carolina. Now, I will say that I have heard that in August the metal boat is like a sauna, but still worth seeing!

Dawn

All these sound good. Please keep them coming. The more information the better.

 

[bibbity bobbity boo]

NC sounds like a great place to vacation!

 

[coach's wife]

Here are some links of things your DD2 can enjoy as well as your DS6. Once again, once you decide where you want to go, we can help you fill your time! Of course, even your DD2 can build sandcastles and jump waves if you decide to do the beach.

Discovery Place in Charlotte:

http://www.discoveryplace.org/home/discovery_place-home.asp

Tweetsie Railroad (western NC):

http://www.tweetsie.com/

NC Zoo

http://www.nczoo.org/

Children's Museum of Wilmington (new and great for your kids' ages!):

http://www.playwilmington.org/

Jungle Rapids in Wilmington (water park more for DS6, play areas for DD2, mini golf for everyone):

http://www.junglerapids.com/index.html

NC Museum of Life and Science in Durham:

http://www.ncmls.org/

Biltmore Estate in Asheville (your kids would probably most enjoy running around the gardens, but they might be impressed by the BIG house!):

http://www.biltmore.com/

Aquarium at Fort Fisher:

http://www.ncaquariums.com/ff/ffindex.htm

Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores:

http://www.ncaquariums.com/pks/pksindex.htm

There are other things that your DS might be more interested in than your DD2, like the Battleship NC in Wilmington. But the waterfront area is very pretty for DD2 to run around with mom or dad while DS6 goes on the battleship with the other parent.

Two other links for you for the Wilmington area:

www.capefearcoast.com

www.capefearcoast.com/hometown/

The second link is to a program for Wilmington residents where we get free admission to local attractions tomorrow (March 4). I am including the link FYI because it lists several area tourist attractions all on one list. Might help narrow things down if you come our way. Happy planning!

Planning is gong to be easy now. You are awesome. Thanks for all the links. I don't know how you found all these..but I'm very happy you did. I plan on calling on all of you who gave ideas when we get closer to help plan my timing of things YEAH!!!!! Thanks all.