Ok, fellow Fodorites, I need the benefit of your experience and the frankness of your opinions!

My husband and I are planning to vacation again in the States from the UK with our two daughters (17 and 13) in August this year - yes, I know it will be really hot and humid but we're tied to UK school holidays!!

The year before last we rented a house in the Briarwood area of Naples and had a super time. We would be happy to return there but were wondering about trying somewhere different this time.
Essentially, we like to completely switch off during our vacations - so maybe a touch of gentle sightseeing, but mainly catching some sun, swimming a bit and catching up on some reading. We love to eat out but also enjoy perusing the American supermarkets for goodies to try at home - so we will definitely go for a condo or house.

Like most teenagers, my girls like to shop but really, any well equipped US mall would do them - the usual Gaps, PacSuns, Gadzooks etc are very different from what's on our high street!

We were thinking about the beach areas near Charleston and in particular the Wild Dunes area on the Isle of Palms. In previous years the girls have not really had too much opportunity to meet people their own age - as we have rented homes in largely residential areas. I wondered if a community like this might afford them a better opportunity to do so.

Ok, that's about it. Let me have it!!

I think the Charleston beaches and Wild Dunes in particular would be a great place for your family.

One huge difference, and this could be a deal breaker, is the color of the water.

While the water temps will be almost the same with SC waters only being a couple of degrees cooler, the water in Naples is that clear caribbean turquoise/aqua blue. South Carolina waters have waves and the water color varies according to the weather. While generally a pretty blue in August, it cannot compare with Naples. I'll try and find photographs.

Remember that August starts Hurricane season you would be better off in Naples gulf coast then on the east coast of SC IMHO more hurricanes take that pat then in Naples

Hurricane Season starts June 1 and ends December 1 and Naples is has the exact same chances of being hit that the SC coast has.

Gotravel, I must ardently and gently disagreee with you about the color of the water in SW Fl area. The water is not very clear there IMO. We are divers, and it was hard to find decent diving on the west coast. YET, I do agree with you about SC & the Isle of Palms. I LOVE the greater Charleston area and it has tons of siteseeing that anne is looking for.

I suggest you consider staying at a resort with organized teen activities, perhaps Amelia Island Plantation on Amelia Island, FL (On the Atlantic coast), the Cloister resort on Sea Island, GA or on the gulf coast of Florida, South Seas Plantation on Captiva island. There is plenty of shopping in and near all of these resorts. They all have condos and homes to rent. Your girls would find plenty of other vacationing teens to meet at any of them.

We have been to Wild Dunes several times. It is nice but not quite as upscale as the other resorts I have listed, and it has fewer amenities. You would want to cook or leave the resort to eat as the dining is just average. However, Charleston is a wonderful city to sightsee and explore, and has many great restaurants.

Judy, I haven't spent much time at all in Naples and just assumed the water was much clearer and had a higher visibility than the South Carolina coast. Depending on our weather, our visibility can be as little as 10 feet.

Thanks for your comments so far.

Go Travel - the colour of the water may actually be an advantage - my elder daughter won't be so freaked out by all the 'wildlife' beneath the waves!! The rays beneath Naples Pier when we were there were just too much for her!!
I also read your report of your long weekend to Charleston. It sounds marvellous. I take it though, that as well as the quaint more upscale shopping in the city, there is a nice gaudy mall for my girls to delight in too?

padams - thanks for your suggestions but actually organised teen activities are my daughters' idea of hell! The suggestion about them being able to meet more people of their age was mine and not theirs - it would be nice, but is not essential.

If we are talking about Wild Dunes - what sort of journey time are we talking about for a trip to Charleston?

There are also mall type stores downtown and inexpensive shops. For a mall, the Citadel Mall would be good.

Wild Dunes is about 20 minutes from downtown.

The Destin area in the panhandle of Florida might also be appealing to you. Plenty of shopping, other kids their age, maybe even a little cooler than down in the southern part of the state. If you want a house or condo rental Abbott Properties does a lot there. There are also good resorts as well.