jc80

We are trying to plan a family vacation in August for 7 adults and 3 kids (under age 3). We'd love to be near a beach. We've discussed Charleston - beach, great restaurants, etc. Yay or nay in August?

Any other suggestions? Thank you!

jessicamartin

I have been lived here for 5 years, for job work. If you are planning to visit, the best time, without a doubt is October- November or April- May. June is too crowded and July and August is the price we pay to live here.

Gretchen

The SC beaches are wonderful in the summer, including August. Yes, it is hot and humid, but on the beach there is always a breeze and the ocean (or pool).
We have a place at Litchfield by the Sea and even in high season, it is not overly crowded on the beach. Take a look at www.litchfieldbeachandgolfresort.com for a variety of places to rent. For that size group, there may be VRBO places available in the area also.
There is tennis on site, many golf courses, the best seafood restaurants north of Charleston in Murrell's Inlet, and if the kids need goony golf, it is also just up the road. If you wanted to spend a day sightseeing in Charleston, it is 1.5 hours, but there is plenty of everything to do in the area of Litchfield/Pawley's Island.
Please do not be put off by the above post--if you were just sightseeing, and not beaching, it is perhaps something to think about.

suewoo

Obviously the OP needs to visit in summer. August is fine. It's cooler on the oceanfront than inland. You may want to book soon.

Isle of Palms and Folly Beach are both closer to Charleston than Kiawah or Seabrook. Sullivans has few rentals. Look at Wild Dunes.

Plan Charleston sight seeing activities early in the am. It get's hot quick.

nytraveler

With 3 toddlers I would go for a place that is less hot and humid and has more for little kids - who won;t be interested in city sightseeing or fine dining.

IMHO a very low key family resort that has a kiddy pool - probably further north for more moderate temps is a good idea. When we vacationed with little ones we rented a house in Sag Harbor Long Island - a house that had both real adult pool and mini kiddie pools - plus access to all sorts of things to see do (both ocean and sound beaches, mini golfs and petting zoos, state parks with wildlife walks, small towns to explore, fishing docks bringing in the days catch, etc). Still possible to get hot summer days there - but nights are usually cool with a breeze and the house gave the kids opportunities for indoor pay when it rained

Dukey1

I love Charleston but how much of your time are you going to spend seeing it? One fourth or less? You said you would love to be NEAR a beach. Are you planning to spend most of your time ON the beach or IN the town? This is important to know IMO. The focus? the town? the beach? the environs? And with three kids to troop around with that can certainly be daunting.
Of course, all the "Charleston folks" jumped on this and for obvious reasons and if Charleston IS the focus then say so.

bankbabe

We have always gone to Ocean Isle Beach, NC. It is about 20 minutes north of Myrtle BEach, and a smaller little family beach. There are a few restaurants, a mini-golf course, a couple beach shops. It is not far from Calabash, which is known for seafood restaurants and shops. The homes are actually closer to the water in OIB than they are at Sunset Beach, so if you can get something oceanfront, the house is not far away if the kids are napping in the afternoon. We rent through this place, and are staying in Fisher's Wharf property this summer.

Have fun!

http://www.sunsetproperties.travel/

Gretchen

"With 3 toddlers I would go for a place that is less hot and humid and has more for little kids "

I really must laugh. Spoken like a NYer (and I lived in NYC) who has not grown up in the South where "going to the beach" every summer is the only thing that is set in stone!! And for the toddlers on the beach?--it is building sand castles and napping under the umbrella.
The beach is hot hot hot--not really humid--honest.

The Ocean Isle rec is wonderful to a point. It is where we went all our kids' growing up years--for that week. Several years ago we were out of our Litchfield place and rented a GREAT house ON the beach at OIB. It had 7 bed rooms for all of us, a nice gazebo out toward the beach. I will try to link that particular house--it was also reasonable.
But I will say that OIB is very crowded and you have to go out and put your chairs and umbrellas out early in the morning. It is a GREAT "old fashioned" beach--the only development on the beach is a fishing pier, rental places, one putt putt and a small grocery. The large groceries are just across the causeway. NO fast food!! It was developed by one family and this is what has been there for 50 years!!

Gretchen

I did find the OIB house. I did misspeak--5 bedrooms but it slept the 11 of us.
The gazebo is large enough for all to eat out there.
There are of course many others to choose from.
Sloane and Cook real estate people are nice to work with.

http://www.sloanevacations.com/Ocean...&period=weekly

I'll still add that Wild Dunes or Pawley's/Litchfield will be less crowded.

Gardyloo

Rent a house on Mission Bay in San Diego - sheltered lagoon on one side, ocean beach on the opposite side of the peninsula.

BritishCaicos

We have visited Charleston mainly in October the weather is simply perfect.

However, we visited once in mid June, it was too hot and too humid to live, just that bad.

I'll leave the locals to comment about the heat in August.

If you have a decent budget Sullivans Island has a great family scene and wonderful beach whist being really close to Charleston. House rentals can be really expensive.

jc80

Dukey1 - all good questions. We'd like to be ON the beach, but close to activities/restaurants (a few options would be nice, don't need many!). We live in the Midwest and spend most family vacations in Scottsdale, so we think the beach will be a nice change (and fun for the kids!).

We are not focused on Charleston, but it's an idea we've kicked around. Hot and humid doesn't bother me, because we want to be swimming, playing at the beach, etc...but is it so hot in August it's unbearable?

Loving the other suggestions too! Excited to hear more!

Thanks!

Gretchen

If you are going to the beach and want to swim in an ocean, it kind of needs to be hot. We are going to Litchfield in August, as we do most Augusts with our whole family. We are also going next week and will not be in the ocean. You get an umbrella or sunshade and spend the day on the beach with your feet in the water.

"Activities for the kids"--they are 3--the idea of Brookgreen is great for the little zoo, and just walking around for the adults in a terrific garden and sculpture collection. Across the road is Huntington Beach State Park. The kids--and adults--would love that also. Alligators for viewing, good shelling on their beach.

http://www.litchfieldbeach.com/?nck=...ZCyBoC8q_w_wcB

3 year olds love playing in the tidal pools or in the sand. And I agree--if I can't stay on the beach, we don't go!!

alisa23

Hilton Head!

Brian_in_Charlotte

Whether it's hot or too hot really depends on the weather at the time. I recall one week in mid-July at Isle of Palms where the daytime highs were over 95 all week - that was uncomfortable even with the ocean and even for us folk used to summer heat. But I've also been in the area when it's been just about perfect in late August (hot, but not too hot).

Are you thinking early or late August? If you can do late August, you'll benefit from (likely) better temps, fewer crowds (as kids will be back to school) and lower rental rates.

janisj

Alex613: you have posted 5 times on Fodors and every single one is to flog hipmunk. One would think . . .