I am looking for a family friendly oceanfront beach vacation in South Carlonia the week of Sept 4 - Sept 11 2004. I would really like to know what beaches are going to provide me with the best value and the best family friendly location. Litchfield, Pawuleys Island, Isle of Palms, Garden City, Hilton Head, Kiaweh Island, ... there are so many choices.

Please let me know your thoughts on beaches and recomendations for oceanfront vacation rentals for a family of 6.

Huge differences between your options.Please remember hurricane season will be in effect.My thoughts:IOP&Kiaweh-high end,beautiful beaches,little to do;Myrtle Beach-best value(by far)due to miles of great hotels,great shopping,golf & nightly entertainment;Litchfield-great resort with easy access to Myrtle Beach & Charleston;Hilton Head-subjectively my favorite;huge beaches;lots of nearby shopping;45 minutesz from Savannah;the Sea Pines section could be the nicest resort in the US.Read earlier SC POSTS for more debates about SC beach preferences.

I'm a big fan of Hilton Head (we're actually going on 8/28). It is great for families but doesn't have the commercialization of some other spots. We rent a house in Palmetto Dunes through Island Getaway (www.islandgetaway.com). It's pretty reasonable that time of year and you can get right on the beach path for a short walk to the beach. I also like it that we have our own pool so my husband and I can swim/relax while the kids are napping or after they go to bed at night (which we wouldn't be able to do in a condo). Hilton Head has lots of great restaurants and family friendly activities (miniature golf, water parks, entertainers). We're going to try a 2 hour nature cruise this time as well. Let me know if you choose HH and have any additional questions!!

Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort may have a great sale for that week. Beautiful beaches, best seafood restaurants on the SC coast just north in the town of Murrell's Inlet. Can get to MB for a trip if the kids really need it.

There is zero commercialization in Pawleys Island. They passed an ordinance about 15 years ago allowing no businesses on the island or anything other than single family homes.

Since I have spent time in all the places you have listed, in this order from best to worst:

Pawleys Island
Isle of Palms
Litchfield/Kiawah Island/Hilton Head
Garden City

Honestly though, they are all very nice beaches and there geographically, there is no difference and socially, little difference.

With Isle of Palms, you are only about 20 minutes from Charleston. Kiawah about 40 minutes from Charleston. Pawleys and Litchfield are about 40 minutes from Myrtle Beach and Garden City is closer to 30 minutes.

Thanks for the great replies. We have settled on the Charleston area the week of Aug 28th though Sept 4th. We get the beach and the history educational experience of Charleston. I have 3 more questions:

1) What is the difference between Isle of Palms and Folly Beach? It looks like accomodations are much cheaper in Folly.

2) What are the must do things in Charleston? I have four kids ages 8 and 13.

3) Where should we stay for reasonable rates and oceanfront accomodations.

I know there are Folly Beach fans out there, but my personal feeling is that the rentals are more hit and miss than on Isle of Palms. Also on parts (maybe all) of Folly, you lose your beach are when high tide comes in. I prefer to hang out on Isle of Palms but, having said that, we still drive out to Folly every time we go to Charleston to walk on the beach and collect shells. Folly is more of the old time beach town than IOP is.

You can take your kids to the aquarium, they should love that and I think Charleston still does Eco tours for kids. My niece was completely fascinated by this.

I am not sure about the cost of rentals on the beach because we usually stay in downtown Charleston and then drive to the beach (IOP) every day. I do think Folly might be cheaper if you want ocean front though.

Isle of Palms is the barrier island north of Charleston that is home to Sullivans Island and Wild Dunes.

Folly Island (no one calls it that) is the barrier island than is home to Folly Beach that is south of Charleston.

If you look at a map, you will see that these islands are both very close together. Charleston proper is on the penninsula on the mainland.

Isle of Palms rentals are more costly for two reasons; it is home to more upscale communities of Sullivans Island and Wild Dunes, and a lot of the island homes had to be rebuilt after Hurricane Hugo so they are newer.

Folly Beach is a more laid back Low Country family beach whereas outsiders own a lot of Isle of Palms.

I just finished a month-long obsession over renting a house on the beach near Charleston for Aug 26-29.

In general, I could get ocean front at Folly for approximately the same money that I could get across the street or farther away at IOP. Ocean front on IOP was not only VERY expensive, but there were practicaly no houses left to choose from anyway.

Why is that? For one thing, the houses tend to be newer and bigger on IOP. Also, I think it's a more popular destination w/ families 'cause there is a bit more activity.

Beachdreams pretty much summed up the differences in the flavor of the beaches. I will say I don't mind when the high tide comes up so close to the porch you could practically spit in the ocean. (a selling point the home-owner so delicately pointed out to me the first time I ever rented on Folly)

I'm paying $1150 for 3 days for a 4 bedroom house if that gives you some idea (oceanfront Folly) including tax and cleaning fees. If you don't want a house, I could recommend Sea Cabins condos on IOP. There are plenty of condos on FOlly, but I don't know anything about them.

for the kids: The aquarium and the IMAX theater are next door to each other and you can get a pass to both for a reduced rate. And take them on a horse-drawn carraige ride.

I'm a 39 year old kid and am taking a surfing lesson!