Hi all -

I'm trying to get some ideas for a beach location that is not TOO PRICEY - but also not TOO COMMERCIAL/DIRTY. It is for a family vacation including my parents, me, dh, ds who is 2 - my sister's family - husband and 3 kids 9 and under... in August just before school starts. My folks are in FL, We are in GA, and my sis is in NC. We want to have the option to fly in - but would like it close enough to drive if one of the families wants to. Ugh! We rented a big house last year - but that was too many people - so ideally we could rent 2 condos in the same building or something. Would love some destination suggestions - even rec. for specific lodging. We'd probably stay a week.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Amy

By Luvn29 on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 12:43 pm:

Myrtle Beach, SC is awesome! I will move to that area someday! The thing is, you can pretty much stay right in the middle of things, where it tends to be a little more expensive, or you can stay either on the North or South end, or in North Myrtle Beach( a totally different city than Myrtle, and very family oriented), or further south in Surfside or such. Surfside is far enough away that you don't have any of the crowds, but you can see Myrtle Beach from the beach way in the distance, and it is within driving distance, 15 minutes or so, of all the things in Myrtle Beach.

I have to mention, too, that even if you stay right on the beach in Myrtle Beach, you can still choose your price, depending on exactly what type of room/hotel you want.

We are staying in an oceanfront two-room suite with a private balcony, and a guaranteed view of the ocean from the huge picture window in the bedroom, in a very nice Resort for eight nights, for about $1200 tax included. This of course has a full kitchen, a living room with a murphy bed, a bedroom with a king size bed and tv, and a large bathroom.

You can find rooms for much less, or much more.

And there is so much to do. Tons. Water parks, amusement parks, dinner and shows, go carts, minature golf, dolphin site seeing boat tours. Water sports, such as parasailing, shopping, arcades, piers, fishing, helicoptor tours, fireworks several times a week all summer long. I could go on and on!

We're a one income family because I am disabled, so we book our room in January, send in a deposit, and send in payments up until our vacation time, and then our room is paid off before we even go.

I could give you tons of information and websites if you are interested. I really plan out our vacation, and was able to get a ton of coupons to save money on lots of things last year, and am doing the same this year.

By Ilovetom on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 01:51 pm:

Edisto Island, SC. Enough said. We have vacationed there for 25 years. We love it. Close to Charleston, but a really, really quiet family beach. No hotels or condos on the beach. Just houses.

I can't wait for July.

By Amyk on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 03:42 pm:

Is Edisto near Harbour Island?

By Hlgmom on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 04:14 pm:

Edisto is beautiful- We stayed there a few days while cruising on our sailboat! Charleston is amazing and you can affordable lodging if you look off the beaten path. Outer Banks of North Carolina are very beautiful- we vacationed there for years and then dh and I lived there for many more! There is alot of housing options...you can fly into Norfolk, Va- and it is about a hour and 30 minute drive.

By Peggy13 on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 07:32 pm:

We are renting a 12 bedroom house on the ocean in the Outer Banks,NC this summer for our parent's 50th anniversary - can't wait.

By Bea on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 11:03 pm:

The Outer Banks of NC are a nice family area. There's this fantastic beach and
a few golf courses.
The Monument to a Century of Flight
Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station
Elizabethan Gardens
Lost Colony Outdoor Drama
Roanoke Island Festival Park
Wanchese Fishing Village
and if you like lighthouses....
Bodie Island Lighthouse
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
Currituck Beach Lighthouse
Ocracoke Lighthouse
The Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse

The beaches are wonderful and there are lots of rentals available. We go every Spring before the tourist rush. I highly recommend it.

By Karen~moderator on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 07:43 am:

I LOVE LOVE LOVE both Myrtle Beach and the Outer Banks! But then, I love I most ANY beach. LOL

Both those places have their plusses and minuses. I think the Outer Banks has more *historical* things to see and I think Myrtle Beach is more commercialized now.

Peggy13 - are you guys renting in Duck to find a house that big there??

By Hlgmom on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 01:33 pm:

Karen- there are plenty that size now all over the Outer Banks...they just keep going up! It was one thing that made us move away- we still like ot go back for vacations though!
Myrtle Beach is too crowded for me but it is nice! I miss the outer Banks from 15 years ago...nothing but a few great restaurants and nice beaches! It is still great now though...I am just predjudiced from living there for so long!!

AmyK- if you decide on the Outer Banks let me know...I can point you in the direction of the best restaurants etc!!

By Karen~moderator on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 04:33 pm:

Heather, that is why we love vacationing on Cape San Blas, FL. There is NOTHING there, not crowded, no 12 B/R houses, no high rise condos.

Of course, the drawbacks are since there is nothing there, you have to drive 15 miles for a restaurant, and it would be boring for kids. And it's not the cheapest place to vacation, and is quite a drive on highways other than the interstate.

But we go for the solitude and the GORGEOUS clean beachs, that are also pet friendly, BTW! The locals take such pride in keeping that area the way it is.

Now, Mexico Beach is another story - it is growing by leaps and bounds and is crowded already.

By Imamommyx4 on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 07:49 pm:

I was going to suggest North Myrtle Beach, too. We went there last summer for our vacation. It seemed that North MB was cleaner and more family oriented than Myrtle beach. But there are lots of fun, family things to do in MB.