Cincinnati Babies

Recommend your beach vacation

Hey ladies:

We are wanting to do a family vacation to a beach once Max gets his vesicostomy closed so I am starting to gather some information to get some ideas of where we should go.

We are thinking North or South Carolina.  What are your favorite places?  Things to do?  Places to stay, etc?

Thanks ladies.

Beth

Re: Recommend your beach vacation

  • We stayed in Ocean Isle Beach, NC for about 2 weeks in the summer of 2009.  We loved it there!  Cute beach town, nice grocery store, and it's about 45 minutes from Myrtle Beach, so you could do the big time touristy stuff if you wanted to.  B was 11 mos old and walking; it was perfect for him. 

    In high school, I stayed at Holden Beach for a week twice.  That beach is just north of OIB, and it was also nice. 

    The nice thing about those beach towns is you can get reasonably priced rentals and it's pretty peaceful. 

     

  • We always went to Myrtle Beach growing up.  It's a very touristy place, but I always thought that was a good thing growing up because there is a lot to do.  DH and I have been twice since we've been together and had a great time. 

    We've always stayed in North Myrtle Beach.  There's good shopping (Boardwalk at the Beach, Barefoot Landing, outlet malls) lots of putt-putt, an aquarium, water parks, go-karts. 

    We went to Destin this past summer and didn't enjoy it as much as places like Myrtle Beach...there just wasn't much to do in the evenings there.  It all just depends on what type of vacation you're looking for.

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  • I am a sucker for SC.  We just booked a house there this week for July.  We're going to MB only because it is closer to some other family down there, but further south like Hilton Head is nice too.  I love love love Charleston too.

    We used this site to book.  I thought they had nice options.  surfsiderealty.com

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  • Oh, and when I went on my girls trip in 2009 to Myrtle Beach, we stayed here:

    https://www.myrtle-beach-resort.com/

    It was nice, and definitely family friendly. 

  • We did Myrtle Beach and Destin growing up and I definitely prefer MB! SO much more to do! We are actually going on vacation there this summer! 
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  • We have been going to the Outer Banks, NC for (scared to admit this)...28 years!  We stay in Avon or Frisco, NC each year in a rented beach house.  They are perfect for a family vacay, and the homes are large enough to accomodate extended family.  I like it for the laid back style there.  The food is great, and you will not find any franchised restaurants.  It's all mom and pop.  Night life is limited, but it is sooo relaxing, that we never miss that much.  You can find bars and such, but it is limited.  We much prefer relaxing on the deck, or using the hot tub in the evenings, so it is a nice getaway for us.  Beach access is great, even better with a 4 wheel drive.  Some of the beaches are super kid friendly.  They stay so clam and shallow that even the wee ones can play in the surf.  Kayaking is wonderful there, and you can sailboard or kiteboard if you are so inclined.  Fishing is good right off the beach most days.  Kitchy mom and pop shops are abundant too.  Lots of stuff for everyone.  Nightlife is more abundant in Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, and the Northern Beaches, but those are more crowded and full of shops and franchises.  We love it there.  I can't imagine not going there at least once a year.  
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  • Another vote for Ocean Isle, NC. We love it there. Small island, family friendly, affordable, and a great beach.
  • I have to add another vote to the beaches of North Carolina. We stay at a very quiet beach called Wrightsville Beach in NC and have been going there for about six years. There are a lot of hotels, condos, and smaller mom and pop places to stay, but there is no wild nightlife-- just quiet, beautiful beaches. It's never been overpopulated and the restaurants are wonderful. We love it. Here is the website:

    https://www.visitwrightsville.com/

     

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  • Add me to the Ocean Isle Beach crowd. Love the houses, love the beach, love the price.
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  • Love the beaches outside Charleston.

  • imagehav2run:
    We have been going to the Outer Banks, NC for (scared to admit this)...28 years!  We stay in Avon or Frisco, NC each year in a rented beach house.  They are perfect for a family vacay, and the homes are large enough to accomodate extended family.  I like it for the laid back style there.  The food is great, and you will not find any franchised restaurants.  It's all mom and pop.  Night life is limited, but it is sooo relaxing, that we never miss that much.  You can find bars and such, but it is limited.  We much prefer relaxing on the deck, or using the hot tub in the evenings, so it is a nice getaway for us.  Beach access is great, even better with a 4 wheel drive.  Some of the beaches are super kid friendly.  They stay so clam and shallow that even the wee ones can play in the surf.  Kayaking is wonderful there, and you can sailboard or kiteboard if you are so inclined.  Fishing is good right off the beach most days.  Kitchy mom and pop shops are abundant too.  Lots of stuff for everyone.  Nightlife is more abundant in Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, and the Northern Beaches, but those are more crowded and full of shops and franchises.  We love it there.  I can't imagine not going there at least once a year.  

    I wholeheartedly agree with this.  We've stayed in Duck, NC (Outer Banks) for a few years and the atmosphere is so relaxing.  The beaches are good and you don't feel overwhelmed by the touristy thing like you would staying in Kitty Hawk.  We would stay here every year if we could!

  • I love Myrtle Beach.  Love it.  We used to go to the Outer Banks every year, but my uncle now has a house in MB, so we started going there for vacations.  I much prefer MB to OBX, for reasons most people DON'T like MB.  I like that it's commericalized.  We like going out and doing things in addition to hanging out on the beach, especially with a toddler in the mix.  And despite MB being a crowded area we are always able to find nice spots on the beach without it being too crowded.  Have fun wherever you decide to go--I LOVE the beach!
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  • Just thought I'd throw another option out there - Virginia Beach. It's very clean and family friendly. Not quite as touristy as Myrtle Beach, but still plenty to do. How exciting to be planning your first family trip to the beach! :)
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  • You really can't go wrong at any of the NC or SC beaches.  Had sorority sisters that had beach houses all over, so i've been to a lot of areas. Outer banks is great as already mentioned, Love Hilton Head, Charleston is gorgeous and so historic, Edisto and Fripp Island are awesome, as is Pawley's Island.

    I know it's slighty further, but don't rule out the Georgia Barrier Islands.  St. Simons/Jekyll/Sea Island is one of my favorite family vacations we ever took.

     Good luck deciding, you really can't go wrong with any of it!!

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