We are planning a trip to the Charleston area in mid-August and we are currently deciding whether to stay at the Wild Dunes resort or the Kiawah resort. We are looking to play golf, travel to Charleston easily, keep our 4 yr. old daughter busy, relax and enjoy pretty and tasteful accomodations. Both of these resorts seem to fit the bill, but we were wondering if anyone who is familiar with both can contrast and compare them to help with our decision.

I'm not familiar with Wild Dunes other than from pics, but Kiawah I DO know. I just returned from my annual trip there. Kiawah is much more forested than the resorts to the north of Charleston (mostly thanks to hurricane Hugo). Kamp Kiawah, organized activities for kids, is supposed to be great. It is according to some friends' kids, anyway. Our son isn't old enough yet, so I don't have personal experience with that. They have different options - half day, full day and evening - to give you a chance to do some grown-up things.

There are lots of family activities scheduled every week. Bikes are great to bring/rent on Kiawah. Lots of paved trails and 'destinations' (marsh observation towers, lakes, etc.) and the beach is hard packed and bikable.

As for the drive, I'm not sure how long it is from Wild Dunes to Charleston, but it's a good 40 minutes from Kiawah.

Another vote for Kiawah from someone who hasn't been to Wild Dunes, but loved Kiawah as a child. The bikes have seats where you can strap your kid in, and additionally, there are tons of places to go crabbing/fishing, biking, hiking. The Kiawah kids program, I remember, was terrific.

Haven't been to Wild Dunes but was just at a wedding at Kiawah Resort - the wedding party had rented three rooms there, my sister's being one of them, and IT WAS THE PITS!!! Especially for $227/night. It was small, dark, damp, musty and the small bathroom just plain stunk. She had to wash or have cleaned every piece of clothing she took in that room, because they smelled so musty and bad. She came home with a sinus infection from the dampness. When I visited her in her room, I shuddered. She was supposed to have an ocean view, and we could never find it!!! I think you could definitely not describe the rooms as pretty or tasteful. I think Kiawah is cruising on its' name now!!

I'm assuming the bad experience was with a room at the hotel - where I never stay. Renting a condo or house on Kiawah is the way to go. As for the bad experience at the hotel, they supposedly pride themselves on their customer service - did she ask management for a different room or at least ask them to see/smell it in person? And for the 'oceanfront' rooms: very strict development restrictions are part of Kiawah's success, therefore highrise building above the treetops and out into the dunes in prohibited. I think only some of the condos have true 'oceanfront' views.

The bride's Mom had made the room arrangements, Denise, and my sister did not want to hurt her feelings by complaining too much, and this was at the Inn (hotel), which was totally filled up, so they couldn't switch rooms anyway. But my sister should never have been given such a room to begin with, and Kiawah certainly shouldn't lie and call it oceanview! She was enormously disappointed, as I would have been, also. As a matter of fact, I would have walked out and gone to the Hampton Inn for a gorgeous room off island for $89 / night!