Hi All - We are planning a family vacation for the extended family. We do this every other year and it includes parents, siblings/spouses, and children. Other years we've done Ireland, Clubmed Cancun, Carsbad/San Diego. There will be 10 of us - 8 are adults (ranging in age from mid 40's to mid 70's) and 2 children who are 4 and 6 now. The trip is for Summer 2013. We are looking for a beach house to rent in the US for a week. We'd like 5 bedrooms and a minimum 3 bathrooms - more is better. We'd like to be right on a pretty beach in an area that is quiet, clean and safe swimming. Our idea of fun things to do would be anything water related (sunbathing, kayaking, paddle boats, swimming, snorkeling, sand castles, boogie boards (the normal kind of beach activities) as well as bike riding, visiting nearby little beach towns for icecream cones or window shopping, bbq'ing on the beach, wine or cocktails for the grown ups after the kids go to bed. Most of the grown-ups work out so we like to have access to a gym or at least a safe place to jog (outside) and lift weights.

We don't like heavily touristy areas - and we definitely don't need night life - preferring something more toned down given the ages of our group. Does anyone have any suggestions? Everybody lives on the West Coast except my sister and her spouse and daughter - they live in Michigan. Our budget for the beach house is about $5k - $6k for the week. If we don't have to worry about lots of expensive airline tickets we could spend more on the rental house. Any ideas? We've been thinking about the Fla keys, San Padre Island? Maine coastline, North or South Carolina, the Hamptons? Somebody told us that Alabama beaches are awesome. I didn't know that. We are very open minded and will consider most anything that seems to match our needs.

We rented a terrific house at Ocean Isle Beach (NC) for $3500--7 BR and 7 baths--on the ocean. had a cute gazebo off the deck where we could all gather.
OIB actually has everything you list--maybe not paddleboating. I would say it is a VERy popular beach, and in summer fully rented. BUT it isn't like Myrtle Beach. Small beach town.
We loved the house. It was a year when our own beach condo building was being repaired.

Actually I had saved the link.
http://www.sloanevacations.com/Ocean...trPropId=166E1

Definitely look at some of the Barrier Islands in South Carolina such as Hilton Head, Isle of Palms (Wild Dunes Resort), Fripp Island, Kiawah Island - there's plenty more. Those areas have everything you are seeking.

Maine waters would be too cold for snorkeling, boogie boarding, swimming. Also not really many "houses right on the beach" for rent there as it is more rocky coast.

How about Hollywood Beach near Ventura, Ca?
www.beachrentals.com

Or the Summerland/Carpinteria stretch of beach homes just south of Santa Barbara?

Hamptons are great - but there are two issues:

North Atlantic so the water can be quite rough

There are houses for that price range - but not on or really near the beach

And I would think the south would be too hot - if you're going in July or August. You might find something on the Jersey Shore or Cape Cod.

Nytravelers says--is such a "New YOrk state of mind" thing to say!!
"And I would think the south would be too hot - if you're going in July or August. You might find something on the Jersey Shore or Cape Cod." HILARIOUS!!

Going to the beach in the carolinas is more a way of life than maybe anywhere else in the country!! AND when we went with our kids 30 years ago it was in houses with no AC--just like it was when DH's family went 60 and 70 years ago--to the same beaches.

There are MANY many houses available for a group your size--on many many beaches up and down the coast--and on the oceanfront. Personally, if I can't stay on the ocean, I'm not going!!

Gretchen - thanks so much. I will definitely look into this - the price of the 7 bedroom is good so we may actually look into that one and have a little extra room. Thx again.

Hi Tracy2cents - Santa Barbara is this yr so we were looking to mix it up abit. Thx so much for the reply, though....greatly appreciated.

Hi NYTraveler - thanks for the tips on Hamptons - good points and helpful. We used to live in CT so we have been to the Cape several times. While I love the Cape, the others were looking for something new. I like some of the ideas of NC - would be something new for most of us! I've been to Hilton Head a few times but some of the other options are new so I think we'll look into that.