East Coast America
Mar 27th, 2016, 11:21 AM
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East Coast America
Greeting from across the pond. I am thinking of taking a trip to your country for a 12 night break this coming June. I was thinking of Tampa area in Florida but more of the Carolinas or Virginia and Georgia coasts. Living in England these places are not in the usual holiday brochures for us so we don't know much in the way of which town/ city to go to.
We like a bit of night life but not the rowdy partying you get in Cancun for example. Good restaurants and the odd evening show or cabaret are our thing as are live bands and acts. Nice beaches are a necessity as is good hotels on a budget.
Can any of your readers give a Brit a bit of information please? We would be very grateful, thanks
Mark
We like a bit of night life but not the rowdy partying you get in Cancun for example. Good restaurants and the odd evening show or cabaret are our thing as are live bands and acts. Nice beaches are a necessity as is good hotels on a budget.
Can any of your readers give a Brit a bit of information please? We would be very grateful, thanks
Mark
Mar 27th, 2016, 04:24 PM
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Sounds as if you want a resort town atmosphere with a great beach, plus the entertainment options.
There are beautiful places in Florida - like Sanibel Island, Clearwater, etc. and they might work if Florida is your first choice.
OTOH, I recommend Myrtle Beach, SC. for a few days. It is touristy, there are some tacky areas and traffic can be bumper to bumper late afternoon into evening in summer, but You can avoid most of that and the rest is great.
The beach is wide, soft sand and miles long, great for walking and sunning from early morning sunrise to late evening. There are tons of decent hotels right on the beach at very reasonable prices. There are dozens of good restaurants in a wide range of food and cost. There are many shows and music venues. There is also fun shopping, and if you want a bit of top notch art, Brookgreen Sculpture Garden is a few miles south. There are other little towns up and down the coast for easy exploring. One more plus. If you play golf, Myrtle Beach is golfers' heaven.
Charleston is just a few miles South, so you could spend a day or two there.
Virginia Beach, VA. also has excellent hotels and very good restaurants bordering a beautiful Boardwalk on a gorgeous stretch of miles of beach. There are not as many entertainment venues, but there are many interesting smallish towns nearby with music, shopping, some very fine museums, etc. It is also touristy with some tacky on the main drag, but the beach side of things is really nice.
You should also look at Cape May, NJ, and Ocean City, Maryland. I have not spent much time at either, but many friends go to both and rave about them. I have visited Ocean City, looking to rent a house, and it looked charming. It is more old style American beach town with many houses, ice-cream shops, etc. and fewer hotels. Nice place to rent a house for a week for a family.
There are many great beaches, but not all have what I think you are looking for. If these don't seem a good fit, there are many more options.
There are beautiful places in Florida - like Sanibel Island, Clearwater, etc. and they might work if Florida is your first choice.
OTOH, I recommend Myrtle Beach, SC. for a few days. It is touristy, there are some tacky areas and traffic can be bumper to bumper late afternoon into evening in summer, but You can avoid most of that and the rest is great.
The beach is wide, soft sand and miles long, great for walking and sunning from early morning sunrise to late evening. There are tons of decent hotels right on the beach at very reasonable prices. There are dozens of good restaurants in a wide range of food and cost. There are many shows and music venues. There is also fun shopping, and if you want a bit of top notch art, Brookgreen Sculpture Garden is a few miles south. There are other little towns up and down the coast for easy exploring. One more plus. If you play golf, Myrtle Beach is golfers' heaven.
Charleston is just a few miles South, so you could spend a day or two there.
Virginia Beach, VA. also has excellent hotels and very good restaurants bordering a beautiful Boardwalk on a gorgeous stretch of miles of beach. There are not as many entertainment venues, but there are many interesting smallish towns nearby with music, shopping, some very fine museums, etc. It is also touristy with some tacky on the main drag, but the beach side of things is really nice.
You should also look at Cape May, NJ, and Ocean City, Maryland. I have not spent much time at either, but many friends go to both and rave about them. I have visited Ocean City, looking to rent a house, and it looked charming. It is more old style American beach town with many houses, ice-cream shops, etc. and fewer hotels. Nice place to rent a house for a week for a family.
There are many great beaches, but not all have what I think you are looking for. If these don't seem a good fit, there are many more options.
Mar 28th, 2016, 12:29 PM
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Hi,
We really enjoyed visiting Savannah, Georgia. It's a very cool small Southern city with nightlife, interesting history and architecture, and an easy drive to the coast for beaches.
Enjoy your trip!
We really enjoyed visiting Savannah, Georgia. It's a very cool small Southern city with nightlife, interesting history and architecture, and an easy drive to the coast for beaches.
Enjoy your trip!
Mar 28th, 2016, 01:35 PM
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What is "good hotels on a budget"? That phrase is meaningless.
Speak in dollars per night for lodging.
And the tidewater area of Virginia contains not only Va. Beach, but Newport News, Hampton and Norfolk, which means more dining, amusement and entertainment options. The whole area is a top 50 population market but none of the cities is particularly large so you get mid-size city feel in an area that will have many options.
Speak in dollars per night for lodging.
And the tidewater area of Virginia contains not only Va. Beach, but Newport News, Hampton and Norfolk, which means more dining, amusement and entertainment options. The whole area is a top 50 population market but none of the cities is particularly large so you get mid-size city feel in an area that will have many options.
Mar 28th, 2016, 01:47 PM
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I vote for Savannah and/or Charleston. Gorgeous beaches very nearby, great history and culture.
Virginia Beach and Myrtle Beach are quite kitschy, really, and lack good night time amusements for adults, other than tacky bars.
We lived in the Tidewater area, and it is dullsville--sorry to be so blunt, but it really is. Areas of historical interest and pockets of local charm are engulfed in seas of chain stores and chain restaurants.
Keep in mind that Tampa isn't actually on any beach, so you'd have to choose between staying in Tampa and driving 45 minutes or more to the beach--no public transportation, I'm sorry to say (I live here)--or staying somewhere at the beach and driving into Tampa for more citified amusements.
Virginia Beach and Myrtle Beach are quite kitschy, really, and lack good night time amusements for adults, other than tacky bars.
We lived in the Tidewater area, and it is dullsville--sorry to be so blunt, but it really is. Areas of historical interest and pockets of local charm are engulfed in seas of chain stores and chain restaurants.
Keep in mind that Tampa isn't actually on any beach, so you'd have to choose between staying in Tampa and driving 45 minutes or more to the beach--no public transportation, I'm sorry to say (I live here)--or staying somewhere at the beach and driving into Tampa for more citified amusements.
Mar 28th, 2016, 06:42 PM
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As much as I like Sanibel you can forget about any real "nightlife."
The sort of beaches you may not be used to (Redcar might be a conspicuous exception) might be found along the Outer Banks in North Carolina which are somewhat more unspoiled (due to the presence of the National Seashore) than in some of the other places along the East Coast.
I assume you are familiar with places such as Great Yarmouth. Is THAT the kind of atmosphere you are looking for or something quieter?
The sort of beaches you may not be used to (Redcar might be a conspicuous exception) might be found along the Outer Banks in North Carolina which are somewhat more unspoiled (due to the presence of the National Seashore) than in some of the other places along the East Coast.
I assume you are familiar with places such as Great Yarmouth. Is THAT the kind of atmosphere you are looking for or something quieter?
Mar 29th, 2016, 06:19 AM
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You don't have to put up with Myrtle Beach to really enjoy that beautiful part of the southeast coast. Go a little south and stay at Litchfield. The Litchfield Inn is right on the beach (uncrowded also) and can be economical. Enjoy the good seafood restaurants in the area or just 5 miles up the road in Murrell's Inlet. It is also where Brookgreen Gardens is which was mentioned above.
Don't miss Charleston!!
Don't miss Charleston!!
Mar 29th, 2016, 08:23 AM
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My concern about Litchfield is that it's too quiet for the OP, who did say they wanted "a bit of nightlife" and "Good restaurants and the odd evening show or cabaret are our thing as are live bands and acts."
Mar 29th, 2016, 09:46 AM
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I also lived in Hampton Roads for several years. Norfolk/Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads area has tons of great entertainment and things to do, everything from Wells theater (theater itself is a jewel inside and has top notch productions) to Chrysler Hall (stage shows of all kinds) to American Theater (entertainers from around the world) just across the tunnel. Some really fantastic museums too. The Virginia Museum of Contemporary art has held special exhibits by such greats as Dale Chihuly. The Chrysler has the largest and most spectacular glass collection outside the Corning in NC. The Mariner's, an hour drive to Newport News is one of a kind and very interesting. That is just a start for what is there, so plenty to do in 5-7 days. If you have not been to DC, you could do Virgina Beach for a few days, up to Williamsburg for a day, then end up in DC.
Myrtle Beach has several large venues doing things like Cirque Extreme. There is House of Bues with Southern food and blues and gospel music by excellent musicians, the boatyard with live music nearly every night. You could do 4-6 nights in that area plus go further South to Charleston and over to Savanah.
There are so many options. When you come back with which ideas appeal most, people can offer more, then help you narrow it down.
Myrtle Beach has several large venues doing things like Cirque Extreme. There is House of Bues with Southern food and blues and gospel music by excellent musicians, the boatyard with live music nearly every night. You could do 4-6 nights in that area plus go further South to Charleston and over to Savanah.
There are so many options. When you come back with which ideas appeal most, people can offer more, then help you narrow it down.
Mar 29th, 2016, 10:48 AM
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Myrtle Beach sounds a bit too commercialised for us. Ideally we would like a more traditional American township type of place. Meet and chat with the locals and such. Smaller town rather than a big city with lots of amusements and not so many kids running around.
Dukey1 Did you mean Redcar and Great Yarmouth in the UK or there in the states? I have never heard of these over there. Over here Redcar is an industrial and fishing port and not very nice and Gt Yarmouth is like Blackpool and Margate.
Dukey1 Did you mean Redcar and Great Yarmouth in the UK or there in the states? I have never heard of these over there. Over here Redcar is an industrial and fishing port and not very nice and Gt Yarmouth is like Blackpool and Margate.
Mar 29th, 2016, 10:54 AM
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<Smaller town rather than a big city with lots of amusements>
This is the rub, though. The kind of amusements you describe don;t really exist in small American beach towns.
Maybe Rehoboth Beach, Delaware? I haven't been there in 5+ years, but it had a good restaurant/bar scene then; you could take the ferry to Cape May, NJ, as mentioned above.
This is the rub, though. The kind of amusements you describe don;t really exist in small American beach towns.
Maybe Rehoboth Beach, Delaware? I haven't been there in 5+ years, but it had a good restaurant/bar scene then; you could take the ferry to Cape May, NJ, as mentioned above.
Mar 29th, 2016, 12:13 PM
#16
Yes, Mark, I did mean Redcar and Great Yarmouth over THERE. I was, in the first instance, speaking more to the beach geography and in the GY case, more to the "amusements" aspect of things.
Rehoboth! It has an extensive restaurant scene for sure and it retains its small-town feel as opposed to Ocean City, Maryland 30 miles south (more like Great Yarmouth). It is filled with folks from Washington, DC, and environs during the season, has a nice boardwalk, outlet shopping nearby if that is of interest, and a state seashore reserve just south which remains fairly unspoiled.
Rehoboth! It has an extensive restaurant scene for sure and it retains its small-town feel as opposed to Ocean City, Maryland 30 miles south (more like Great Yarmouth). It is filled with folks from Washington, DC, and environs during the season, has a nice boardwalk, outlet shopping nearby if that is of interest, and a state seashore reserve just south which remains fairly unspoiled.
Mar 29th, 2016, 01:27 PM
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Another vote for Charleston, South Carolina. Lots of history, culture, restaurants and plenty of nearby beaches. One option is to stay in one of the beach communities (check out Wild Dunes) and drive into the city and surrounding areas to experience the local flavored.
Also look at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Good combination of of resort and residential living. It's close to Savannah and Beaufort for day trips.
Also look at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Good combination of of resort and residential living. It's close to Savannah and Beaufort for day trips.
Mar 30th, 2016, 12:08 PM
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Rehobeth, Bethany Beach, and Dewey Beach sounds like what you're looking for as far as old school Americana. I find Ocean City to be fairly dirty and tacky. The Outer Banks are a favorite in my family for beach time. We're also headed back to Tybee Island, Georgia which might be a nice spot for you to check out. Can't say that those places have much nightlife, though.
Mar 31st, 2016, 09:16 AM
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Tybee Island is right next to Savannah, and there's some night life there.
But you might also want to reconsider the Tampa Bay area, and St. Petersburg in particular. It's not small by any means, but it's friendly, with good beaches nearby, not terribly expensive lodging, etc.
But you might also want to reconsider the Tampa Bay area, and St. Petersburg in particular. It's not small by any means, but it's friendly, with good beaches nearby, not terribly expensive lodging, etc.
Mar 31st, 2016, 09:27 AM
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St. Pete is a good idea. Just be sure to note that St. Petersburg is the city, often referred to as St. Pete, and St. Pete Beach (it's official name, shortened recently) is the beach town.
I think St. Pete would be a better choice than Tampa: walkable, museums, shops, good nightlife, restaurants, breweries, bars, etc., and much closer to the Gulf beaches.
I think St. Pete would be a better choice than Tampa: walkable, museums, shops, good nightlife, restaurants, breweries, bars, etc., and much closer to the Gulf beaches.
