mmmooommm

We are taking our son to college at Wake Forest (from Texas) and are looking to spend a week on the coast prior to freshman orientation. I am not familiar with anything there, and would appreciate suggestions. I have begun to look on VRBO, as we like to have a house, and would love to know any special places you are drawn to!!

We like more authentic places as opposed to touristed stuff. Altho any great place will get a bit touristy. Like to fish, eat, beach, boat....dont care about shopping and drinking! If you are at all familiar with the Texas coast...we prefer Port Aransas to Galveston, South Padre.

Any tips are appreciated!

JaneB

I grew up on the coast of NC but now live in Texas. Take a look at Holden Beach near Shallotte. I think it would fit your requirements. Congratulations on son going to Wake Forest!

Brian_in_Charlotte

Yes, Holden Beach or Oak Island if you want even less touristy.

Dukey1

If you don't want a lot of shopping and other external entertainment possibilities then stay away from Nags Head.

You might enjoy the area around Corolla or you might want to venture further south to places like Rodanthe/Waves/Salvo or "all the way down" in Hatteras (Village) or even further to Ocracoke.

You may want to consider looking at one of the bigger and much more extensive rental sights for the OBX such as

www.sunrealtync.com
www.outerbeaches.com which are two of the larger ones. There are MANY others.

Dukey1

Here's a rental site link for you:

http://www.obxconnection.com/outer-b...on-rentals.htm

Gretchen

You may have to use a hotel or resort for mid-August--it's still pretty high season, unless you find something in VRBO.
We, of course, love Litchfield/Pawley's Island (SC). You'll find people in NC go to SC as much as NC beaches.
You might look at the Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort website for what they have to offer.
enjoy Wake Forest. Winston Salem is a great small city. You'll love visiting it.

mmmooommm

Thank you all!! Yes, I am open to South Carolina, too. And I WILL enjoy visiting.

I am not wanting remote, just not 'manufactured' if that makes sense.

I will follow all these leads! thanks to all!!

HKP

It's "humble" compared to Myrtle (SC) or Nags Head/Kitty Hawk but that's why we go back year after year: Wrightsville Beach, next to Wilmington NC. Another plus is that it's probably the quickest to get to of all those places. It has its "touristy" side, which means you have some options re: where to eat (recommend Oceanic as much for location as food), but that's modest compared to Myrtle or Nags Head.

I think it's what you're looking for.

HKP

This is a decent summary vimeo (and no, I don't work for the W'ville C of C): http://vimeo.com/52496810

Dukey1

Pretty simple IMO: if you want to be somewhere you can walk from your rental onto the beach, look BOTH ways, and don't see anybody else, then you need to consider being in one of the National Seashore villages below Nags Head. Have a great trip.

HKP

Dukey1 is quite right re: those villages. They are much much less touristy because of the distances from everywhere else.

Only a couple of ways onto the Outer Banks - only 2 bridges to the north of the Natl Seashore, and a couple of ferries southward between Hatteras Island/Ocracoke and Ocracoke/mainland -- but in that direction it takes a LONG time. Think about things like groceries and cafes. People certainly manage and love being out on the outer outer banks, but you have to plan.

mmmooommm

OK, I know this is SC, not NC, but have been recommended to a place...Wild Dunes/Isles of Palm near Charleston...comments?

mmmooommm

in a way, staying in a resort might be the easiest thing to do. I am getting overwhelmed with summer already!!

Gretchen

Wild Dunes is lovely. And great for visting Charleston. If you would like a "beach" experience on the NC/SC coast, I'd suggest something a little different.
IF you are considering a "resort", I'd love for you to look at Litchfield.
If you want it to be in a really busy busy place, then look up around Myrtle Beach--the Hampton Inn I think I mentioned above. It may be just fine, but August at the beach is crowded--no getting around it.
I will tell you that the beach at Litchfield even in August will not be overcrowdedl. And while it has "resort" in the name, it is really an area of homeowners/rentals--not an organized resort. Each area has its own pool. There are tennis coursts, bike trails. AND the food around LItchfield is absolutely the best until you get to Charleston--and then it can rival!!
the beaches on the NC and SC coast are just phenomenal--and are "family traditions" that kids "go to the beach" for their entire lives at some time in the summer.

suewoo

WIld Dunes is a lovely gated community on the north end of Isle of Pams. It's gated, so I didn't go in there much when I lived down there. There are lots of nice things about it, but the best, I think, is the proximity to Charleston.

Gretchen

We have visited with friends there, and entertained for a wedding at the hotel on the beach. But recently here there was the post about the bad beach erosion and renourishment efforts they are still undergoing.

Dickie_Gr

Wrightsville Beach is a bit more middle market than Mrytle Beach. Lots of activities there and very close to Wilmington which is a good small city base.

Loisde

To add just a little to Dickie Gr's recommendation for Wrightsville Beach. It's only about 3.5-4 hrs. drive straight down I-40 from Wilmington to Winston Salem.

Gretchen

The other beaches are about that close also (I'd guess Wrightsville to be a bit less), but there is also good surfing there--probably the best along the coast--and would be attractive to the kids.
Wrightsville is also interesting in that while there is a string of ocean front hotels, the streets with houses run perpendicular to the beach (other places there are rows horizontal to the beach) which can make some houses a fer piece from the beach. Just a note of caution. It is a really old style beach community.
There is also Kure Beach and Atlantic beach that would also be nice "old style" places, just south of Wrightsville.