I would spend it in either Cape Cod or Maine.
Chatmham Bars resort, Ocean Edge resort.
Kennebunkport has some great hotels that are reasonable and excellent food and shoreline.
Sorry, I don't know your budget but there is a priceline for all budgets.
Love Cape Cod!

Considering that 1 1/2 year old is not much brighter than a cat, you could just dangle a thread in front of her if she gets bored . . . but i would urge you to think about renting a cottage in SW Rhode Island. You would have an ocean beach, proximity to an aquarium with dolphin shows, a shopping outlet forty-five minutes away and salt ponds for the cat -- I mean kid -- to play in. Look at rentals in Charlestown or Westerly.

Perhaps consider Lake George. It might just be the "lazy" water vacation you seek. There seemed to be a lot of places to eat and could easily handle early morning activities for your daughter. Not sure if you would think that area is too kitchy, as to my taste Cape Cod is but everyone has a different feeling about that term.

Thanks for the replies. I failed to mention that we are planning on going for at least a week.

Fra: I'd like to think my daughter is a little brighter than a cat. She certainly has way more of a temper than one. Ergo, the need to keep her happy and entertained.

As for Lake George, that is almost a day drive from Montreal. Too close, too kitschy and too small to spend a week there. Plus, she's too young for Storytown and I'm too pregnant for the Great Escape.

Is Myrtle Beach too kitschy for me?

You definitely a place where you can rent a cottge or a condorightonthe beach - whichmay be difficult this late in the game.

I would look at

1) cape cod
2) amagansett on LI (there are a bunch of condo colonies right on the beach that rent by the week for fairly reasonable rates
3) jersey shore- I don;t know enough to reco specific towns

IMHO farther south isjust too hot in the summer.

I would recommend Ocean City, NJ. It's the ultimate family resort. It has beautiful beaches, a great boardwalk and plenty of stores and movie theaters for rainy-day activities.

You could drive or fly to Philadelphia and rent a car.

Here's a good Ocean City preview:

http://www.MyJerseyShore.com/?page_id=19

We lived in the central NJ/eastern PA area for five years and loved vacationing in Cape May, NJ. We generally only spent a few days there at a time. But the beach is nice there and there are lots of great restaurants, shopping, etc. The town is also very pretty with many old Victorian homes. Other NJ beach towns are a short drive away, as is Atlantic City, so there are plenty of side trips, if you need more stimulation...

Another vote for Ocean City.

Contact a real estate agent to see about a last minute rental of an apartment. Stay 1 or 2 blocks from the beach (or on the beach if you can afford it), and within walking distance (north half of town, say) of the boardwalk. All of the OC rental agencies have websites that you can use to get a look at the properties.

If the rental doesn't work out, try the big grand hotel (forget the name, but its pink and huge, at the north end of the boardwalk), or one of the condo agencies.

There are many little B&Bs that are private homes with the bedrooms rented out (there will be a sign on the front lawn), and you usually get the use of a general room to -- but I don't think they have much of a Web presence. I have found lodging by just showing up, walking door to door and asking if they have a room free -- but that's kind of risky for a family with kids.

IF that doesn't work out you could also try Wildwood, Stone Harbor, Cape May, Avalon, etc. All good for families, with lots of mini-golf, ice cream shops, and toy stores to buy kites and sandbuckets in.

If the Jersey shore looks too kitschy for you (not sure about where you draw the line), then head for Cape Cod. Try the same last-minute rental idea -- they probably have a handful of last-minute deals. Personally I would go to Wellfleet but other towns are great, too.

Cape Cod. Plenty of beaches to walk on at 6 AM. Rent a cottage or condo but plan on eating out or doing take-out - the idea is to balance the challenges of asking a 1 year old to sit and eat nice in a restaurant 3 meals/day (even very casual ones like Cape Cod) and the need for Mom to get a vacation - which it is not if you still have to cook 3 meals/day.

It will not get too hot, but when it rains there are not as many things to do as you might wish - or they involve driving in nasty traffic with everyone else trying to do the same thing. There is a small mall indoor mall in Hyannis. Try mid-Cape (Dennis, Catham, Hyannis, Yarmouth) area. As a generalization, the farther out you get on the Cape the less cheesey (until you get to Provincetown which is a whole other story). There you will have a choice of ocean beaches (waves too big for baby or pregnant woman but beautiful), bay beaches - calm, shallow water - great for wading and looking for sea creatures and shells, and even some lakes.

"Access to food at any time of day" - no place except a big city has restaurants open 24 hours/day - but almost every place has 24 hour supermarkets and you can certainly plan ahead and shop for snacks. A cottage or condo has advantage of kitchen.

I have responded to at least one of your other posts - and am very familiar with much of the east coast US - so tell me what exactly about this is driving you crazy? It might be hormones, your setting up an impossible task of Mom feeling she has to find the "perfect" vacation spot for all, or setting unrealistic criteria - you want activity and things to do but not cheesey beach-type attractions; you want 24 hour availability of amenities but not crowds. Don't think such a place exists.

And as far as your daughter's intelligence versus that of a cat - as parent of 2 almost-adults, I still remember my husband and I trying to judge at what point our kid was smarter than our cat - and then when they get older you try to figure out when they start being able to outsmart the parents. From years of experience travelling with our kids from birth and on, my opinion is that at the age of your dtr, it is never truly a vacation for Mom - which might argue for staying near your brother in NJ if there is any chance they will babysit or trade that task so you can have a few precious hours off.

I would suggest Long Beach Island on the Jersey Shore. It's about an hours drive from Wildwood so if you wanted to meet up with your brother, it wouldn't be too difficult.

LBI has lots of rental homes. If you book in the area of Beach Haven, there is a large kiddie park with rides and there is an abundance of restaurants. You could rent bikes or take a drive to the north part of the island and go to the Barneget Lighthouse. Lots to do and see in the area. Atlantic City is about a 40 minute drive depending on where you're staying on the island. Beaches are gorgeous and the island is very family oriented. No matter where you stay on the island, you can walk to the beach. The water is absolutely beautiful.

I like Ocean City, Maryland but it's very crowded as is Ocean City, NJ.