jeniferrlynne

So my husband & I are wanting to take a little vacation with our will be 10month old baby in late Sept/early Oct and are overwhelmed by the options- Outerbanks(Duck, Kill devil - etc.), Southern Banks, and Charleston/coastal area (kiawah, folly, wild dunes, Isle of palms,etc). We can't afford an expensive resort but obviously need more than a tiny hotel room. We don't need a lot of hustle and bustle, golf or nightlife. Our kiddo is great in a stroller, so walking around a town in addition to the beachlife is good. We would like to be able to walk to a quiet(ish) beach (or be right on it) but be really close (meaning little to no drive time)to a town w/ local shops/restaurants or parks. What area would you suggest based on above? I know this is a lot to ask but I am just now starting to research! - Thanks in advance-
Jen

mooselywild

Probably not charleston- I'd suggest looking closer at the other areas.

leahinsc

Friends of mine went to Ocracoke in the Spring and loved it.They rented a house and got a good deal so you might check on vrbo.com or local real estate sites. A bit of a deal to get there - catching ferry etc but once you are there she said you didn't need your car and everyone walked or biked around the town. Cautionary note: You are still in hurricane season that time of year and that area would be especially vulnerable - though all of the coast is dicey. Just keep that in mind and check on hurricane insurance wherever you decide to stay.

Gretchen

Not sure what would be wrong with the Charleston beaches. They are beautiful. Litchfield by the Sea at Pawley's is beautiful and they begin to have specials at different times of the year. Not sure where you are coming from as to distances. The Outer Banks can be daunting to get to.

mooselywild

charleston beaches ARE beautiful- but her emphasis seemed to be on "quiet"....

SAnParis

You may try the Brunswick islands (in NC), that time of year there are many nightly/weekend rentals available but the caveat is you'll have to wait to book. You should be able to get a small cottage on the beach for less than a room will cost you in some of the places you mentioned. You can search NC or click on my name for details...

Gretchen

Are you talking about Ocean Isle, etc. They are great family beaches.

What's so unquiet about Wild Dunes, for example?

mooselywild

haven't been to wd.....just been my experience that places further out, not near popular tourist areas (like charleston) tend to be quieter, cheaper, no less beautiful

Sanparis's suggestion was a good one.....

SAnParis

If Charleston is the attraction, I'd vote for Seabrook Island. Holden Beach & Sunset Beach are bit 'quieter' to me than Oak Island or Ocean Isle. Just my personal opinion. They are a couple of festivals on certain weekends throughout including the Oyster Festival.

Gretchen

The beaches near Charleston in those resorts are quite controlled. Doesn't seem quite fair to comment if you haven't been there.
And while late September and October are WONderful beach trip times, the beach crowds will not be nearly what they would be in the summer.
I love the NC beaches but there isn't much town/shops there.
I'll put up Litchfield again--wonderful restaurants, good shopping, quiet and beautiful beaches.

GoTravel

I agree totally. Wild Dunes is an excellent family destination and unless you've been there, it isn't quite kosher to give advice about it.

Charleston beaches are all very quiet. IOP, Sullivans, Folly, James Island, Kiawah, and Seabrook.

SAnParis

Any of the Brunswick Islands are in close proximity to Wilmington &/or Southport. Although I've spent time & Wild Dunes, Hilton Head, Kiawah, Seabrook, etc. I am not overly fond of resort-type settings, so I will refrain from further comment on these locales.

mooselywild

It depends on your definition of family destination....to me, resorts don't equal quiet or relaxing- I know WD (and most of those charleston areas) are resorts....ergo, I suggested the OP look at the other areas first. And it was ONLY a suggestion....so chill

jeniferrlynne- I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time wherever you choose. All of those areas are beautiful!

Gretchen

Then I will add that they are not at all like a resort like Hilton Head, etc. They have condos and houses and are right on the beach--very well kept and very nice.
I don't believe you even suggested ONE other possibility. WHERE do you like to go to the quiet beach?

mooselywild

A resort is a resort.

I said "maybe look at the other areas than charleston, first"....she mentioned Outerbanks and Southern banks as well. Since you asked...I like Outerbanks- the NC beaches, because as you said- "nothing much there"- that's part of the attraction

Charleston is beautiful, and fascinating. BUT- the OP said she didn't have money for an expensive resort, doesn't need hustle/bustle, or nightlife, or golf....and presumably first class shopping....so, maybe not charleston <shrug>

mooselywild

Oh and jeniferrlynne- don't know how tight your budget is or how flexible you and your husband are- but KOA kabins are a good, cheap alternative to hotel/rentals/resorts. It's a union of campgrounds- very clean/nice showers. "Kabins"- wooden structures with cots/bunks and heater. you bring bedding and toiletries. communal bathrooms, community playground, hot tub/pool, store. Never stayed at the ones in the carolinas, but the ones I've stayed at in other places have been very nice.....here's the website:

www.koakampgrounds.com

then click on "usa", should bring up map- click on NC or SC- the charleston has kottages, which come with private bathrooms (maybe better for you and the baby) NC- shallotte (brunswick beaches) and wilmington both have deluxe kottages- private br plus kitchen and living space. Cape Hatteras looks like the best "beach area/access" but only kabins (communal showers).

KOAs are very family friendly.

Only negative part about KOA- usually more driving time than you probably want. But the saved money usually makes up for the hassle. Anyway, just another idea.....

GoTravel

Mooslywild, please stop. You look foolish explaining why the OP should not go to a place you've never been to and it is very obvious from your answers, you've never stepped foot at any of the Charleston Beaches.

Wild Dunes is a 1600 acre wildlife preserve and development with almost 3 miles of pristine beaches. Wild Dunes is never crowded nor are most of the Charleston area beaches because of the tightly controlled development.

The Charleston Beaches are nothing like Hilton Head.

jeniferlynne, the Outer Banks are also a wonderful suggestion.

I highly suggest you rent a condo so you'll have a kitchen and you can have some quiet time after you put the baby to bed.

Brian_in_Charlotte

Sitting on Folly Beach, Isle of Palms or Sullivan's island, you'd have no idea that you were near Charleston. There is no "hustle and bustle" or "nightlife" at these beaches. You'd have to drive 30 minutes to get to that.

Gretchen

Oh,and I'll be all over a KOA 20 miles from the beach with no AC on the SC coast with the humidity at mildew levels and no private shower. Yeah, that's the ticket. WITH a 10 month old baby!!!
Ah, I see some do have amenities.
And, lest I be labelled "elitist", we have stayed in KOAs in the West.

mooselywild

See- that's the entire point- I never said she SHOULDN'T go to charleston.... and this whole conversation is not all about the beaches- it's also about atmosphere, and price.