North Carolina - Coastal region tips

Old Nov 7th, 2011, 04:02 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
North Carolina - Coastal region tips

I am seeking the wisdom of the Fodor community! My partner and I are planning a 2 week holiday next year coming to North Carolina (from the UK) in the last 2 weeks of June 2012. We are looking for a mixture of rest (because we will have just had our civil partnership ceremony and the associated party!) and golf and exploration. Neither of us has been to NC before. Originally we were thinking about going to OBX - one of my dream locations - and while we will definitley visit over there I am slightly concerned that it might feel too out on a limb as the base for our 2 weeks. We plan to rent a villa, look for a short golf school (I am a rank beginner and need to remember which end of the stick is which, and my partner is a great player with a single figure handicap and is always looking to enhance her skills),do a bit of shopping and generally explore the coastal area.

Do you have any tips on good places to make our base for the holiday? We would like to be near water if not on the OBX and so I am thinking of somewhere around one of the Sounds but would welcome any of your great advice. (We will probably fly into New York and then take a local flight down to Raleigh or thereabouts, and pick up a hire car).

Many thanks in advance for your time and thoughts.
casseopia is offline  
Old Nov 7th, 2011, 04:14 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,876
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I am going to suggest South Carolina. Around Myrtle Beach there are over 100 golf courses. You don't have to stay in MB (I would NEVER recommend that). Take a look at the website for the LItchfield Beach and Golf Resort. It is a gated community about 20 miles south of MB so very accessibile to a good airport with houses, condos available. Our daughter's boyfriend took 3 days of lessons at a nearby course that he said was EXCELLENT. I can find the name, although I imagine if you look online, you can find many. The area has the best seafood restaurants on the coast within a 10 mile radius--not counting the ocean!! Excellent shopping nearby. There are at least 10 courses very near Litchfield of all types (TPA design to inexpensive but accessible). There are many "packages" available along the coast.
If you still want the NC coastal area, look at Wrightsville Beach (Wilmington's beach) or Ocean Isle, but there is not nearly as much to do there.
The OBX were hard hit by the hurricane, and as beautiful as they are they are really hard to access.
Further south from Litchfield/Pawley's you could also consider the beaches around Charleston.
Gretchen is offline  
Old Nov 7th, 2011, 04:21 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Gretchen,

Thank you for your swift response! I had overlooked the hurricane effect and am really grateful for you reminding me. I will certainly add South Carolina to the equation. Will it be incredibly hot and humid at the end of June? I start to go a bit funny if the temperatures start with a "3" and end with a "C"!
casseopia is offline  
Old Nov 7th, 2011, 04:28 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 42,574
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
If you are MAINLY interested in playing golf then yes, i would agree that Myrtle Beach is a good choice and please don't forget that ALL of that area both North AND South Carolina are subject to hurricanes although June is VERY EARLY in the season for such storms.

IF. OTOH, you are looking for UNSPOILED beaches and not a LOT of high rise hotels (which is what you will get in Myrtle Beach, then the OBX is much better...in fact MUCH better but the golfing opportunities are slim.

Another possibility might be Hilton Head Island further south in South Carolina and easily accessible from the Savannah-Hilton Head airport and the added attraction, like the area around Charleston further north, is the presence of fairly nearby Savannah itself.

Do NOT get spooked by the possibility of storms...they happen and this past season part of the OBX was DEVASTATED by one: roads washed away, flooded homes, etc. We've been renting beach houses down there for YEARS and have only been affected twice...luck of the draw.

Again, take at least a look at Hilton head.
Dukey1 is offline  
Old Nov 7th, 2011, 04:36 AM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks Dukey - that's very helpful. My problem is going to be too many choices - which is not a bad problem to have, when all's said and done! We'll keep researching and then one day - I guess we will just have to book something. But it is hugely helpful to have these comments from people in the know.
casseopia is offline  
Old Nov 7th, 2011, 06:51 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,876
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I am NOT recommending MB at all. Litchfield does have 6 high rises but it isn't MB.
Hilton Head is so sterile. AND highly developed also.
The hurricane effect I was speaking of is THIS year's damage. Very unlikely in June.
And yes, both NC and SC will be very hot in late June. Not much difference there. But on the beach there is usually a nice breeze.
Gretchen is offline  
Old Nov 7th, 2011, 07:21 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,661
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Congratulations! So happy for you.

I'm going to also suggest you look at some spots in SC. I love the Banks and spent many lovely weeks there. But if you look a a map you'll see there are a string of very skinny islands. If golf is a serious priority, look at Kiawah or Seabrook south of Charleston. The nice thing is you can also visit a nice city between rounds of golf and the beach.

It will be a little cooler on the northern sections of the Banks than in SC in June. But, to me, June is not so bad. In August you won't want to be playing golf. Or moving at all for that mater.
suewoo is offline  
Old Nov 8th, 2011, 04:07 AM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks again to all of you. Suewoo - thank you for your good wishes, I am hugely excited about our celebrations next year and the holiday will be the icing on the cake! I think we'll keep on reading, investigating and come up with a decision in the next month or so. I will do my best to do a trip report after the event. Good wishes to you all.
casseopia is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
georgec
United States
16
May 14th, 2005 08:23 AM
JulieR
United States
6
Apr 10th, 2003 07:50 AM
Bill
United States
6
Jan 30th, 2003 05:26 PM
Laurie
United States
7
Sep 19th, 2002 04:18 PM
FRED
United States
6
Jul 21st, 2002 05:17 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -