best place to stay by a beach in south or north carolina
 

Hi We are looking to go over from the UK to south carolina for the first time in the first week of July next year. Where would you recommend visiting for a family beach holiday. We are looking to have fun with an 10 yr old and 12yr old. A mixture of a bit of golf and playing by the beach. Any good rental websites for villas etc would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head are two of the most popular SC destinations. Myrtle Beach has 100 golf courses and is a very popular family beach holiday. Myrtle is a larger resort than Hilton Head. Myrtle offers water parks, miniature golf, and many attractions for kids.

The first week of July will be peak season for both destinations. www.vrbo.com is the best condo rental site. I have used vrbo and have been pleased with the service.

Hilton Head is more condos and fewer hotels. Hilton Head has about 20 golf courses. Hilton Head will have less vacationers, but still be busy at that time. Hilton Head Island has bike paths throughout, nature cruises, and Savannah a scenic and historic city is nearby. I personally prefer Hilton Head, but a 10 year old might prefer Myrtle Beach. For Hilton Head, also look at Sea Pines Realty or Marriott Vacation Rentals for other condo options.

For Hilton Head, you fly to Savannah and rent a car to drive to HHI. Myrtle Beach has an airport that you can connect from Atlanta or Charlotte.

You will find several Hilton Head threads on the search option from this site.

many thanks for the prompt reply was really helpful

Cheers
Allan

For something less crowded you might want to check into Fripp Island SC, about an hour from Savannah. It is also near Historic Beaufort and just about 1 1/2 hrs from Charleston:
http://www.discoversouthcarolina.com...ry-resort.aspx

Another nice spot close to Myrtle Beach, but much quieter:

www.LitchfieldBeach.com

Near Myrtle Beach might be my choice--Surfside, Garden City, Litchfield. You can go into MB and the kids can have fun but the beaches will be much prettier and less crowded.
You might check Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort--we have a condo there, and on some July 4th weeks the beach is quite uncrowded!!
I think Hilton Head is very sterile. there are SO many other beaches in North and South Carolina that are more interesting.

Oh, if the kids are into surfing, you might look a bit further north in NC around Wilmington. There is better surfing there.

It really depends on what you are seeking. If you are seeking a true family vacation w/little entertainment then I would suggest this area - www.ncbrunswick.com. I use vrbo.com a lot. If you want to be in the middle of 'stuff'. Shows, multitudes of people, etc. then Myrtle Beach is the place. If you are looking more Resort oriented, then Kiawah Island, Hilton Head or something similar. For any of the places mentioned, you may be as well off (time & $$-wise) to fly into CLT & drive from there. Most any of the beach areas in NC/SC can be reached from CLT in less than 4 hours (besides OBX) & you'd likely change planes there anyway. I think staying close to a city (Wilmington, NC or Charleston) may also work to your advantage, if you've not visited the area before. Be happy to provide some specifics w/more info.

Another option is Isle of Palms near Charleston, SC. It will be hot at any of these places. Bring your shorts:)

Depending on your exact dates, you may be in the US for July 4, Independence Day. I don't know if it's too early to check on festivities in different areas like parades and especially fireworks, if that interests you.

I love Kiawah Island and have been visiting annually since I was a child. My son (now 11) adores it. He likes the beach, nature, bike riding, etc activities there but it is also close enough to Charleston because he loves history. There are many golf courses in the Charleston area so your choice just hinges on the type of course and how much you'd like to pay to play. Many Fodorites have lots of good info on the areas north of Charleston - Isle of Palms, etc. They are closer to downtown Charleston than Kiawah/Seabrook/Edisto.

A really laid-back beach place would be Edisto but there's not a lot of 'entertainment.' Seabrook Island is right next to Kiawah. The islands south of Charleston have kind of a lush, very green feel. A completely different beach feel would be the more open habitat of the Outer Banks in North Carolina

Activities that you and your family enjoy should probably determine where you end up vacationing. If you give the Fodorites some more info about your likes, dislikes, budget, food preferences (do you like to cook your own meals in a house/condo or do you like to eat out for every meal on trips), etc. you will surely get some very specific information.

Some things I do know...it will most likely be hot and humid so plan on doing your touring/walking in the mornings or evenings. The sun is really intense on the beaches in the Carolinas so be mindful. Getting burned to a crisp on one of your first days on vacation does not make for a good trip!

First week of July will include a holiday. You're wise to choice a beach destination and find your accommodations now. Many of the best homes book up early.

Be prepared to rent for an entire week, usually Saturday to Saturday.

Which locale you choose depends on what your family's travel needs are. Do you need to "go and do" or do you want to just relax and enjoy nature?

To "go and do"- Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head are good choices. To relax, any of the islands around Charleston-Kiawah and Seabrook Islands offer the most relaxed nature atmospheres; Isle of Palms, Folly Beach, Sullivans will give you relaxed plus easier access to downtown Charleston.

The areas around Charleston have limited development. Most islands do not have highrise condos. Seabrook Island has no hotel so you'll have to rent a home; Kiawah has a five star hotel but many families choose to rent homes; IOP, FB, and Sullivans have hotels either on island or close by.

Ward Realty. Topsail Island, thirty miles from Wilmington. Very laid back but golf courses are near. I've been vacationing there for forty years since I was a lad of eight.

I'm not a huge fan of Myrtle Beach, but it's a great destination for kids. I think they would enjoy it very much.

I agree with Starrs--the kids need a lot more than Isle of Palms or Edisto. But staying near, as I suggested, could be nicer, in my opinion.

True, but there are lots of fun things in Charleston for kids if they need entertainment away from the ocean: the aquarium, children's museum,the Yorktown, the Hunley and Ft Sumter.