Aduff

OK, my wife and I have hit the beach twice, now its the kids turn. In May or June of 2005 we hope to spend a week on the SE coast. My kids will be 1,6,8, and 10. I am trying to relive my experience as a kid when my Dad took me to Emerald Isle, NC.

As a kid I remembered the somewhat tacky beach atmosphere of the Outer Banks that seems to be gone. Our trip to Myrtle Beach a few years back was fun, but the beach was "busy" and the comercialization was disappointing. My wife and I drove through Hilton Head and that didn't impress me at all. Our last trip was too Tybee Island. I know many people think it is tacky, but it reminded me of my childhood impression of the Outer Banks in the 70's.

The question: What does Emerald Isle and it's neighbors look like now? Is Charlston's beach laid back? Why don't more people go to Tybe Island?

Needless to say our accidental finding of Tybe was fun, and will probable be the choice again, but what other suprises are out there. I hate to make a mistake with my kids memories!

Angus

cheapbutnice

I always have to vote for Hilton Head. You missed the tremendous, hard-to-access beaches in your drive through.Take a look at the Sea Pines and South Beach Village websites.Secluded beauty with summer, evening entertainment for the kids!

wliwl

I'd still suggest the Outer Banks - maybe the Duck area. Not tacky, very beachy. May and June the water may be a little too cold to swim in though. Have you considered Sanibel? If you like the tacky thing try the Jersey shore. That has its charm too.

Tandoori_Girl

Tacky is back -- though for many of us, it never left. Here's a great site about efforts to preserve the "recent past": http://www.recentpast.org

I'm not familiar with the Emerald Isle but as the article states, some of the best examples of tacky are Treasure Island, FL, and Wildwood New Jersey. If you like that sort of thing then you might give them a try.

Litespeed_Chick

Well! My parents took me to Pirateland in Myrtle Beach where we RV camped for two weeks every year. I was in freaking heaven as a child and up til about 18. It has to be the tackiest place on earth. I enjoyed Ye Olde Arcade immensely. Also the guy who made leather accessories stamped with your name and various decorative thingys that you got to pick out and watch him pound into your new leather hairbow. Putt putt on site w/ lots of giant plastic pirates. Grape ice cream.

So...maybe you don't mean THAT tacky

Subway_Scoundrel

Not sure Emerald Isle is tacky but it does have a water slide and a few rides near the Swansboro Bridge but most of the island are nice houses. Now work you way up to Atlantic beach and there is some tackiness, but all is good. The thing I like about Charleston is you get the beach and can also get the city and historical items. I would stay on Sullivans island as it is near both Mt.Pleasant and Charleston and you are on the beach. Go to the Fort and see Fort Sumter while also watching a huge ship cross into the harbor. Hilton Head is nice but somewhat sterile but does have Sananhah near by. Duck is very high end and new but all you have to do is drive south and you can find a certain amount of tackyness in the Nags head area, along with the Wright Brothers memorial. All is good in the Carolinas. For myself, I go to Emerald Isle due to the family beach house being located there.

Jayne1973

Tandoori Girl and Litespeed Chick-- Glad I'm not the only one who appreciates tacky ! Kids LOVE tacky too! Would Ocean City Maryland, qualify, or is that not far enough south?

Aduff

I really didnt mean to imply that I was after "tacky" only. I dont mind the 70"s look is what I should have said. I like what was said earlier about HH, sanitary. It did not seem inviting at all, unless you golf.

Thank you for all the comments, keep them coming!!
Angus

Litespeed_Chick

OK, serious answer:

I prefer Folly Beach to all other beaches I've been to in SC. It has what seems to me as an "old fashioned beach town" vibe. I think I've probably said there here ad nauseum. It's where the surfers mostly go, many of the houses are fabulous, many are run down. There aren't as many McMansions on the beach as on IOP. The marsh is right across the street on many parts of the island. And it's an easy drive into Chas. historic dist.

As for HH, it grows on you the longer you are there. While the plantation thing seems SOOO pretentious/obnoxious and there's no sightseeing, per se...just a "created" resort, still, after a few days you get on "island time" and you don't really care that there's nothing to do but lie on the beach all day and then go out to eat/drink. (Actually, you can roller blade and bike on the millions of bike paths...your kids might like that)

lisabees

Went to Kiawah Island, SC a couple of years ago with my then 3, 6, 9 year olds. They said it was the best trip ever (they always say that LOL). Alligators and lots of nature excursions. Tennis lessons. Tons of family/kids activities. Their favorite thing was biking the miles of paths - nice for EVERYONE to do - even a one year old like yours!

Two things about the place - HOT in the summer and the resort is very large. Of course, you can bike, but at times, it's easier to drive places.

Have fun choosing!

Lisa

GoTravel

These are my picks.

Any of the Charleston beaches: John's Island, James Island, Wild Dunes, Isle of Palms, Sullivan's Island, and Kiawah Island.

Further North:
Litchfield or Pawleys Island (absolute favorite beach in the southeast).

Further south; Fripp Island.

Parker

If you want a beach area right out of the '60s, you should travel on down to Jacksonville Beach. My family used to go to Panama City Beach in the 60s and this is a smaller version of that.

I had to go to J'ville on busisness and stayed on the beach there and LOVED it. Lots of shops (tacky and nice), wide beach, but it also has some very nice restaurants. The last time there, I stayed at the Seahorse Oceanfront Inn in Neptune Beach (couple of miles north of J'vill Beach). I'm sure this hotel was built in the early 60s, two stories in a semi-circle around a pool. All rooms have patios or balconies facing the pool/beach. There's an outdoor bar on the property that's very nice. The little village area of Neptune Beach has lots of nice restaurants and artists shops.

dan_woodlief

As someone else said, the Atlantic Beach area is good for kids and not overly tacky. Amusements, Civil War fort, aquarium, and you can also drive to Beaufort and Morehead City in no time. I love the Charleston Beaches, although I have only visited them for several days on a couple of trips while staying in Mt. Pleasant, not at the beaches.

Kure Beach / Carolina Beach is a nice area that combines quiet with several things to do, especially because of its proximity to Wilmington. It is my personal Emerald Isle because my parents used to take me there a lot when I was a kid.

leahinsc

I agree w/ Litespeed chick. We took our 3 to Folly last year (5,13,15) and they liked it. We got a house right across from a beach access path. No undertow to worry about. Fishing pier where one night we saw a HUGE sea turtle and you are close to Charleston where they have an aquarium and James Island where there is a water park which is very popular with kids.

beachdreams

I am partial to Sullivans or Isle of Palms in Charleston. Both are extremely close to downtown and are very nice. I am not a huge fan of Folly, however I do drive there at least one day to walk it during my yearly trip to Charleston.

We use to own a condo in Hilton Head on Forest Beach back in the 80's to mid 90's. I am not as big of a fan of HIlton Head since it has become so populated. It does not resemble the beach town it use to be.

I do not find Tybee Island to have a pretty beach so I do not go to the Savannah area to visit the beach. It is fine for a day's visit but if I want the beach, I head elsewhere.

I love NC beaches (as much as I love SC ones) so you could not go wrong there. As for Ocean City, I have to admit a secret desire of mine to visit it. I always wanted to go to an old style beach for a week. The ones where they have a real boardwalk right on the beach etc. I have heard it is tacky, but that is okay with me. A little bit of tackiness is good for the soul.

Gretchen

Litchfield or Pawley's Island. Or just north you might try Garden City. It is near enough to the strip along Route 17 to take the kids to Putt putt, but it is across a causeway and a nice beach. The beach at Wilmington is a bit steep for kids, I think, making it a surfer's paradise. And in NC, Ocean Isle and Sunset are wonderful family beaches.