famof6

My family's planning a driving trip from Toronto to South Carolina in late April. There will be 2 adults and 4 kids all under 8 years old. We're looking to rent a house on the beach, a quiet beach, where the kids can play in the sand and water all day. We dont want a resort where we'll be chasing them around doing all sorts of activities all day. I'm aware of Myrtle Beach but think we're looking for something quieter. We plan on taking some day trips for fun with the kids but need some relaxing down time. Any suggestions? Would love some help with this. We went to St. Augustine, FL last year and had a great time.

RoamsAround

Check out the following - all are quite "laid back" places but still offering some of the conveniences of staying at a resort. They are perfect for families and each has a variety of houses, villas and condos that you can rent:

Wild Dunes (on Isle of Palms just north of Charleston)
Fripp island
Kiawah Island
Edisto Island
Dewees Island
Daufuskie IslandPawley's island
Seabrook Island

Gretchen

You could rent at Litchfield by the Sea--Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort.
You say SC but I will tell you that NC beaches like Holden, Sunset or Ocean Isle have what you want in spades. They are just a few miles north of Myrtle Beach, but are family/houses type beaches. At Ocean Isle look for Cooke REalty or Sloane.
Garden City and Surfside just south of Myrtle and above Litchfield do also.
The ones listed in the post above are beautiful beaches--and quite upscale.

nlg

We love Hilton Head. We are in Hilton Head right now and it is 73 degrees in January-not usually this warm. It is a great beach for walking and riding bikes. We rented a house here at Thanksgiving for our whole family and they loved it. There are many, many restaurants here that are family friendly. There are miles of bike paths and the bike rentals are very reasonable.

famof6

Gretchen, do you think North Carolina might be too cold in late April? I wasn't sure if it would be warm enough to enjoy the beach there. Thanks.

Gretchen

It can be very warm--or not. The ocean might be too cold for little ones, but they might just be playing in the waves. You say late April I see. It can be downright HOT at that time of year!!
HIlton Head is huge, sprawling and a distance to get in and out of--coming from Canada. You really might like to limit your distance to not much south of Litchfield/Pawley's. Just a thought for the long drive.
I will say that Litchfield, for example will be VERY uncrowded on the beach, there are pools with the buildings, and there is unlimited good eating places--and shopping--if you want it.

famof6

Gretchen, Thanks for your help, will check it out.

Gretchen

One reason you might like Litchfield is because of the pools. Some houses now have pools, but they are pretty "dear". On Ocean Isle there is a sort of condo compound that has a pool--and is on the beach. But you can really be sure of what you'll get at Litchfield.

Ackislander

Let me just say that one often sees Canadian flags at hotels in these areas because no American in her right mind would go into the water that early.

Brian_in_Charlotte

In April, I'd go a far south as possible.

Toots

Look at Holden Beach in NC for a very family friendly and quite location that is just a little further north. You can make a day trip or two to Myrtle Beach.

Gretchen

Ack, you need to recognize "CanAm" days at MB and environs. Not sure if it is exact, but when it "happens", man, they are THERE.

dsgmi

Here's a link to some water temperature averages for some North and South Carolina spots.

http://www.currentresults.com/Oceans...emperature.php

If swimming in the ocean is paramount...you might want to head a little further south in April, though that's not much different than Lake Michigan in the summer! RoamsAround gave you some very good suggestions.

cd

Personally I would go further south, probably Florida, if I were going in April, however accomodations with a pool would be to your advantage.