jenn16

I am celebrating my birthday in september with a vacation with my husband and my two daughters, 22 and 24 years old. Ultimately I want to stay right on a beautiful sandy beach with clear water - but have some other things to do as well, walk to a pier, restaurants, activities etc - we want to walk out the door and be standing on the beach, sit on the patio for sunsets, etc. My husband isnt super keen to the idea of traveling out of the US and for sure not to Mexico (been there done that). I am looking for ideas - could be florida, southern california, wherever - just needs to check off all the boxes if possible. Does anyone have any ideas? I have been all over vrbo - would need 2 bedrooms and a kitchen. Just cant decide on an area of the US. Thank you!

RoamsAround

You might want to look at rental properties on Captiva Islands on Florida's west coast near Fort Meyers

DebitNM

Do you want to be able to swim in the water? In September, that might cut down on your options.

Several locations in Hawaii would tick all your boxes. Is that an option?

How many nights? Where are you coming from? What is your budget for hotel/house? Airfare?

jamie99

Hawaii would be my choice as well.
The ocean in Southern California never gets all that warm, most of the time you need a wetsuit, although San Diego in September might be OK.

FaceInTheCrowd

Ditto Hawaii. Hanalei in particular comes to mind as checking off all your boxes, even a pier to walk to: http://patricksmithphotography.com/b...cAtHanalei.jpg. And that's not to mention it might be the most charming town in Hawaii. No condos right on the beach, but there are vacation homes and cottages. And September's a great month to visit.

maxima

September in Florida can be humid and its hurricane season. Its hard to predict what the weather will be but I would avoid areas that are in the hurricane belt.

IMLonesomeDove

While it isn't in the US, Bermuda might work for you. They rarely get impacted by hurricanes and September would nice weather. It is so close to US, that it isn't a hassle to get to either.

Have fun where ever you go.

gail

Puerto Rico? Once you get outside of San Juan, it is much less crowded. And there is natural beauty, historic sites, lots of food options. Ponce (on south coast) is an area we liked.

No passports, same US money, cell phones and internet work without surcharges, everyone speaks enough English so you can manage. Non-stop flights from many places in eastern US.

girlonthego

Most of the east coast beach towns would provide what you want and in september at a cheaper rate. The atlantic is usually quite warm still and so you can swim. Look at all the beach towns on a map and pick one!
Hilton Head Island in SC had a lot of condo options that were oceanfront with pools. Beaches are long walking beaches and there are quite a few activities, biking, tennis, golf, little shopping centers etc..

Ackislander

Naples, Florida (pier, shopping, great restaurants, natural attractions, sunsets, gorgeous beaches, but some hurricane risk, though none since Wanda in 2005)

Charleston, SC, perhaps staying at Isle of Palms (wonderful beaches, great historic city, foodie heaven, great sunrises, good sunsets, plenty to see in area, minor hurricane risk, none since Hugo).

Harbor Springs or Petoskey, Michigan (not beachy, but like Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket, charming and upscale, lots to see and do both on land and water, great sunsets over Lake Michigan, no hurricane issues).

Santa Monica, California (sunsets, iconic pier, great walkable and bikeable beaches, great food of all sorts, all LA is accessible, really from Malibu to Orange County, no hurricanes)

The problem with hurricanes like the problem with blizzards is that they screw up air travel at least regionally if not nationally. Your flight may be on a plane that doesn't get to Atlanta or Charlotte or JFK, so you can be stuck for a few days. Travel insurance may cover part of it, but the airlines have no obligation other than getting you on the next available flight. Ask me how I know this.

jenn16

Hi! Sorry it took me so long to respond I thought I would get notifications to my email if someone responded but I didn't so I thought no one had responded. Lots of great ideas, thank you!
Roams around - I will check out captivating islands thanks!
DebitNM yes I want to swim in the water, I want clear blue waters. We live in Michigan, budget is probably $6-7000 for the 4 of us....not sure Hawaii is in that budget but I have been to Maui and loved it.
Jamie99 I looked at San Diego and Oceanside areas...I do like that option.
FaceinthecrowdI am going to check out hanalei...see if it's in my budget
Maxima I am thinking the same thing about Florida and the Hurricanes...except for cruises which I know can generally stay in the nice weather.
IMlonesomedove I didn't think about Bermuda, I will check that out - thank you!
Gail - Puerto Rico is a great idea, thanks - I will look there tonight!
Girls the go - I looked at Hilton head...didn't see too much that intrigued me because it's so geared towards golf, but I didn't realize there were so many other options that you mentioned so maybe I better look again.
Ackislander - I am from Mochigan so been to Harbor springs and Petoskey...love love both of those areas but looking to get out of Michigan. Naples is one of my current choices, as well as Santa Monica,
Thanks again everyone I am going to get looking again tonight!

maxima

cruises during hurricane season, if the weather is not good will generally change course so you end up at a different port.

Curacao and Aruba are out of the hurricane belt and are part of the Netherlands.

In California you might want to consider San Diego .

janisj

>> I thought I would get notifications to my email if someone responded but I didn't

Tabernash2

What about the US Virgin Islands? We loved The Buccaneer Resort on St Croix. You can click on my name and find my two threads about it.

http://www.thebuccaneer.com

There are many types of rooms to choose from. If you want to live in luxury, try their Beach House:
http://www.thebuccaneer.com/accommod...houses-en.html

We were upgraded to oceanfront deluxe doubles, three rooms, for our party of 5 adults. You are right at the water, with a nice private patio.

girlonthego

If you are willing to go out of the country, Aruba is white sandy beaches and there is a large scale Marriott there with time shares (so you can get a two bedroom), walk out to beaches, gambling, lots of water sports. Friends of ours stayed at the Divi divi which was a two bedroom and they loved the beach that fronted their resort. We stayed at the Marriott hotel.

Naples mentioned above is beautiful. You can rent a condo and walk out to the Gulf. Very cute town with shops and great restaurants.

I have read about Tabernash's suggestion of the Buccaneer. It sounds like a very nice resort and technically is still on US soil

Tabernash2

gtg, thanks for the shout-out for the Buccaneer. It is a very low-key, beautiful, family-owned place. It was perfect for our family.

hpeabody

Maui no ka oi ("the best")
Stay between Kaanapali and Kapalua. My favorite areas are Honokawai and Kahana. Lots of VRBO units