Taking a vacation to either Ocean city MD or a north carolina beach.

[disneyofcourse]

I'm looking for places in either place. But, I've never been to a beach to north carolina . I'd love to hear ideas on where to stay. I would love to find a "beach town" look with a boardwalk and all those mini golf places around, seafood places etc. Basically I like being able to take a tram or walk around to get places. I'd like to spend less than $1000 on hotel for 4-7 days if possible. Any ideas on what beaches or places to look at?


Or if anyone knows of a website where I can book a place either for ocean city or a NC beach online. I remember being able to request rental booklets- do they still have those?

 

[KTSMOM]

Unfortunately NC doesn't have any "boardwalks". We do have some nice beaches though. Atlantic and Wrightsville or two of the most popular ones. Atlantic has an area with putt putt golf and seafood restaurants. Also, right over the bridge is Beaufort NC which is a quaint little town with a cute downtown area to visit.
Check out crystalcoastnc.org for some info. I'm sure there are booklets that you can order for free. Maybe check www.visitnc.com.

 

[Promomx2]

Atlantic Beach is great. Nice beach, not too rough waves, not too crowded. If you go be sure to go to Beufort and take a boat ride to one of the islands to get huge sea shells, sand dollars and to see the wild ponies. And don't forget to take in the Fort. It's gorgeous there.

 

[Belle1962]

Ocean City has a boardwalk, tons of mini golf, the bus that you can ride all day, and lots of great seafood places. Try vrbo.com for a private condo rental. The streets are named, then numbered, it's been awhile so someone correct me but I think the Boardwalk runs up to around 30th street, Of course the further uptown you go and the further off the beach, the cheaper it will be. Bayside is usually cheapest but you have to cross a mega highway to get to the beach. People do it all the time but if you are hauling stuff you may want to be oceanblock. Dumser Dairyland for ice cream (123rd street). YES!!!!!

 

[erinsn77]

Well let me just say Im from NC and visit the beach every year although I go to Topsail now because I like a quiet beach, but I would take Ocean City any day over Myrtle beach I just dont see the big deal over Myrtle I hate it!! We actually drove 9 hours one year just to stay at Ocean City and we had a blast..

 

[TSMAMI]

I have never been to North Caolina beach but have been to Ocean City many times......Ocean City to me is beautiful but expensive....

 

[Kathi OD]

Am I the only one who thinks that Ocean City is overdeveloped? Personally, I hate all those high rises on the beach....We were there last year and all I could think was that it was trying to be northern Miami. Not at all what I consider a relaxing beach vacation.

 

[bluesaturn]

I believe there is a tram that runs that entire length of the boardwalk in OC (up to about 30th). You can take that up and down versus driving or walking 30 blocks.

 

[swkmom]

I've been to a lot of beaches in NC and FL and also to one in TX. But, I have to say my favorite beach of all time is Emerald Isle, NC. It is beautiful, the last time we went we stayed near the point of the island and it was almost like having the beach to yourself with some great shells. I do want to try Topsail next time we go but I can't say it enough I love Emerald Isle.

 

[tinytink]

yes, the tram does run up and down the boardwalk in OC but it's a nice relaxing stroll. We usually stay at the new Hiton hotel and we have walked up to 123st before with the kids in a stroller. We are able to use our hilton honors points to book our stays there because during peak season it's about $500 a night but on the up side the rooms are 2 room suites with a full kitchen. The property is beach front and has an adult pool, kids pool and an indoor pool. Free fresh fruit all day and free washer and dryer(they even give your tide and downey at the front desk), there also kids activities through out the day. Our kids love it here but this year we are heading down to Myrtle beach book again on our rewards points. If you stay at am embassy suites they provide a free contential breakfast and manager's cocktail reception. I am not sure if you can priceline this hotel or not.

I've been to Topsail beach back in 1999 and it's a very quiet beach community but we were stationed not to far from there so we didn't need accomodations.

Good luck.

 

[labdogs42]

How about Ocean City, New Jersey? That is one of the most family friendly beaches around. I grew up going to the Jersey Shore, so maybe I'm biased, but Oc, NJ is just like you described. Boardwalk, family fun, great beaches, and you can find some good rental prices there, too. Now, I have also been to OC, MD (I don't care for the highrises) and the OUter Banks. I LOVED the OUter Banks for relaxing and just plain having beach fun, but I missed the boardwalk. Good luck with your decision, I know there are a ton of great beaches out there! Let us know what you decide and how it goes!

 

[eliza61]

I have never been to North Caolina beach but have been to Ocean City many times......Ocean City to me is beautiful but expensive....

It is pricey.
We're going down 7/19. we're renting a 2 bedroom oceanfront condo for 1600/week. Contact shoreline properties, they had a lot of studios and 1 bedrooms that were cheaper. Do it soon though, the season fills up fast.

How about Ocean City, New Jersey? That is one of the most family friendly beaches around. I grew up going to the Jersey Shore, so maybe I'm biased, but Oc, NJ is just like you described. Boardwalk, family fun, great beaches, and you can find some good rental prices there, too. Now, I have also been to OC, MD (I don't care for the highrises) and the OUter Banks. I LOVED the OUter Banks for relaxing and just plain having beach fun, but I missed the boardwalk. Good luck with your decision, I know there are a ton of great beaches out there! Let us know what you decide and how it goes!

I'm going to seriously disagree here with OC New Jersey, while it is a nice beach I HATE, LOATHE & DISPISE the fact that they make you PAY to freakin' sit on the beach (can you tell this bugs me ) Why should I pay $30bucks for me and my kids to even step foot on a beach (I'm not buying that "we have to pay for lifeguards crap"). I'm only 15 miles away and I refuse to go.
Sorry for the yelling this makes me so mad.

 

[DaisyD]

We go to OC, MD every year for a week or two. It has plenty of min golf, seafood, shops, and a long boardwalk for strolling. I stay at the Holiday Inn and Suites in 17th Street and Boardwalk. It is pricey, even compared to WDW, but we love it the pool and also being on the boardwalk. The summer vacation isn't complete without a trip to OC.

 

[ffindis]

Have you thought about Virginia Beach? It seems to meet all your criteria.

 

[irish_trip_mom]

We live in Baltimore, only a few hrs from Ocean City, yet we choose to drive to the Outer Banks of NC for our family vacations. We can get a very nice house in OBX for my extended family (sleeps 14-16), has private pool, ocean front, private walkway to the beach, pool table, hot tub for what comes out to about $1200/bedroom. We choose oceanfront to make it convenient for us, but you can pay much, much less for a house across the street.

I haven't been to OC, MD for any extended period since my senior week 20 years ago. We prefer the quiet family atmosphere of OBX over the boardwalk. And ultimately, it's cheaper for us because we don't go out each night to dinner, or to the boardwalk. OC, MD (in my vague memory) was where we had to go stake our little square on the beach. In OBX, we can spread out, and not hear the person next to us and their conversation. Just works better for us.

 

[marcyinPA]

We like O.C. MD on the off season. We were just there over Mother's Day weekend. The weather wasn't the greatest, but we still had fun, walking the boardwalk and then the beach. We always stay at the Flamingo Motel on 32nd (I believe it's 32nd). It's steps away from the beach, they have an indoor and outdoor pool, and different room set-ups, from a standard to a suite. We got a great rate (they do anniversary weekends, and you pay the price of their anniversary. This year, we paid $45 a night for Mother's Day weekend). It's a family run motel, and clean. No frills, but clean and the people are very nice. They advertise as a "family" motel too, and they don't put up with any partying crap. I love that!!

O.C. is expensive for sure, but we never go for a whole week. Two or three days is plenty of beach for us. We get those coupon books while down there, and bring snacks along. One thing that is a MUST is Thrasher's fries. We get a big bucket and that is our lunch!

I've never been to N.C. but my youngest DS goes every year with friends of ours and he can't say enough good about it.

 

[DonnaL]

Our family also loves OBX beaches......we usually go to Corolla which is the most northern beach on the Banks "on the paved road" meaning there are a few beaches further north, however, the only way to get to the homes located there is by 4 wheel drive vehicle "driving the beach". We see the Corolla Wild Horses on every visit by driving up the northern beaches which is where the Corolla herd is located and runs free. However................if you're looking for boardwalk and that sort of activity.......OBX is not the place to look. The beaches are the absolute best, golfing is great, there are some family activities......but it's really just a place to relax and then relax some more. We also rent a house, but, we choose to rent on the sound side rather than beach side since we would rather swim in a pool (we get a house with pool and hot tub) and then we just take the trolley to the beach when we want to walk the beach.

 

[disneylovinfamily]

I am an OC lover. I grew up in Baltimore and we went to OC every summer. My dad and his brothers own a trailer in Montego Bay so I take the kids for at least a week every summer and they love it as well. I disagree with the expense part (except rental properties because I don't have experience in that area) but the activities and food are comereable to any other resort town. You can do OC on the cheap. PM me if you want any ideas if you decide MD is the way you are going to go.

 

[leahjade]

Depends what kind of vacation you're looking for. We loved the pretty beaches of the Outer Banks but the kids were bored, and I didn't like having to drive everywhere. Ocean City is full of traffic and overdeveloped, but I love being able to walk to eat and go to the boardwalk, and there's a lot there to occupy the kids.

 

[Jakesmom504]

I haven't read through all of these but I can tell you when I was a kid we went to OC, Md for 2-3 years in a row, then tried OBX, NC and other than this year cause we are doing Disney, we've been going ever since! This year would have marked our 20th year in OBX. We love it! It's very nice and relaxing and I also just heard that they have really lowered prices of the home rentals for the summer because they are supposedly hurting from the economy being so bad. Not sure how true that is but I do know we would get a huge house every year with a bunch of people and would usually end up at about $200 pp. Great deal in my book for a gorgeous soundfront house with a pool and within walking distance to the beach! Just my opinion but good luck!