Family of five (children 14,12,10) from Chicago area want to summer vacation in South Carolina, specifically Charleston area and coast. We need suggestions for things to do, places to stay, etc. How are the beaches...we especially want to soak up sun and sand along the Atlantic. Also, we're travelling by car from the Chicago area. How long should we plan for the trip?

Just spent a week in Charleston and saw pretty much everything.Number 1 think to do is the U.S.S. Yorktown (aircraft carrier - allow 3.5 hours), they also have a destroyer, submarine and coast guard cutter to visit. These will take a whole day but it's great. Kids will enjoy it to, it's just like a floating city. They may not want to read all the information so you might do it quicker. As for plantations I recommend Middleton Place and Magnolia Plantation (skip Boone Hall). The ships are at Patriots Point about 10 minutes from downtown Charleston. Do check out some of the many historical homes, they are all good in different ways.Walk, walk and walk some more. That is the only way to see Charleston.Down every street and alley there are beautiful piazzas and gardens. There's a great candy store by the market with the best fruit jellies. We stayed at the Meeting St Inn right across from the market. Reasonable with breakfast included and free lemonade,coffee,tea etc from about 3pm on. Also a turn down service at night and they leave a chocolate on your pillow. Perfect location as you are right in the historic district. Do not confuse this place with 2 Meeting St a very exclusive B&B for romantic couples.

Seriously consider renting a home on Isle of Palms for the stay. You can get very good value and stay on a beautiful beach/barrier island a mere 20 minutes from downtown Charleston. Call S.C. information and get the number for the Isle of Palms chamber of commerce. They will hook you up with realtors who can arrange rentals. It is a great way to combine a beach vacation with the history and sites of Charleston.

Can't help with the driving time...but as for where to stay.....I spent half of my vaction staying at a small hotel right in Charlston (Indigo Inn) and the other half renting in a 2 bedroom condo on the Isle of Palms right on the beach (pretty reasonable at $110/night) It seemed like two completely different vacations. Both WONDERFUL! We found the condo through the vistors station/realty company. The beach was only for condo occupants so it was great. There are a few great restaurants, a surf shop and some other smaller stores on the island. Charleston is rich with much history. I suggest taking a carriage tour of the city. Magnolia plantation and the Aircraft carrier are a must as well.

We went to Charleston for spring break. Just my husband and I. We stayed at the Meeting Street in across from the Market also and loved it, but not really a kid's place. My sister loved Kiawa Island because there was so much for her kids and it featured 10 miles of beach -- lots of private homes to rent and hotels as well, though it has restricted access. She thought it was a good deal as well. They liked the ships also. We liked Middleton Place also -- beautiful gardens on the Ashley River. Spent all afternoon there and had a great lunch at the restaurant, though it is a small place. Tour of the house there was interesting. Pick up a walking tour book from the Charleston Visitor shop for $4.25 across from the Gibbes Museum (not worth the admission price. Walk the Battery. Also you might want to check out the Embassy Suites since you have kids. The renovated the old citadel. They have a web site with a picture I believe. It is not in the center of things but within a mile of the center. Good price. There is so much to do and see. Pick up a visitor's guide at the Charleston Visitor Center near the Embassy hotel (all on Meeting Street).

how wonderful, you're going to south carolina. i've been travelling to the state for a good 25 years since my sister moved there. i have seen many sights in the state and have watched areas grow and become first rate resort areas. first, there is the drive. it should take you approximately 16-18 hours to get there, but take your time, the scenery is beautiful through the mountains. my family and i have always split the drive into two days, staying just across the border into tennessee the first night. it is also right before entering the smokies, and you really want to drive through the smokies during daylight, specifically for the beauty of the sights and also because you can go through some heavy patches of fog -- and of course there is always construction. if you have the time, make a side trip to gatlinburg and/or dollywood. it's on the way and you can get there in a day from the chicago area. when you pass the border into north carolina, stop at the ashville welcome center. the view is breathtaking, and pick up a lot of good info. the drive is easy, just be careful of your speed in south carolina, especially around florence, if you go that way. well, on to sights in charleston -- be sure to go to fort sumter, it's a boat ride off the shores of charleston. fort sumter is where the shot heard around the world that started our civil war. someone suggested the battery -- of course, and close to there are the open markets. that is where the slave trading occured, and you can feel the history there. be sure to visit at least one of the historic homes along the boardwalk. and you may be in time for the spoleto festival -- charleston's way of celebrating the arts. it's fun, lots to do. now that you're in charleston, you're also very close to savannah, where there are cobblestone roads and the stepping in back to the time of the belles of the south. and just across the intercoastal is hilton head, famed for its golf courses. but there is no better place than myrtle beach for it's beaches and golf courses. here you can spend a day at the pavillion, where the kids can ride the rides until they are pooped. if it rains, definitely head toward myrtle beach because there is so much to do. head toward the boardwalk area (north) and you can see shows and circuses for the kids. really, you will not be able to do all you want to do. myrtle beach is simple beach, sand and sun. charleston and savannah are more historic, and then there are dozens of places in between. i hope you love the area as much as i do. i try to fly down for the weekend as much as i can, and it's not enough for me. have a great time!!!