Hilton Head, Charleston, or Myrtle Beach?

#26
#26
None of the above! The Gulf Coast beats the NC beaches and it's no contest! Yes, I've been to all 3 NC beaches. I realize drive time and cost of fuel may be a factor. ie I spent $250. driving from E Mid TN to SWFL (to close to Behr :))
 
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#27
#27
Myrtle Beach is the Panama City of SC, imo. Overcrowded, too many run down beach front condominiums that are 40-50 years old. Redneck Rivera 2.0. But there are more things to do here like water parks, Goonie Golf, go carts, etc, if you're into that sort of thing. I wouldn't recommend Myrtle Beach, though.

Charleston is just about my favorite city in America. So much history there. And the main parts of Charleston are absolutely gorgeous. The downtown tours are actually worth it in a city like this, imo. The food is amazing as well. A lot of stuff to do in the city. The beaches at Charleston are solid too, but they are almost entirely residential, from what I recall, so you have to back inland to find a variety of places to eat.

Hilton Head is a lot more low key and a lot more scenic nature wise. Beaches are great and never overcrowded. And it's within 1 hour to Savannah and less than 2 hrs to Charleston, so you could spend a couple days touring those cities. Plenty of restaurants on the island to choose from. Great golf courses there too, if you golf.

Can't go wrong with either Hilton Head or Charleston, imo.
 
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#28
#28
kiddiedoc said:
Have you considered the Florida panhandle? White, clean sand, calm water, . . . much more baby/little kid friendly. Destin, Navarre, 30A/ Rosemary/Seaside area.

We had a great trip to Isle of Palms when ours were little, but the beach isn't the same

Hilton Head is great for golf, dining, etc

Myrtle wouldn't even get consideration from me. Pigeon forge by the ocean.
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Used to love the panhandle. Now it's overcrowded. Takes you 30-45 minutes to go 8-10 miles in Destin/Pensacola/Miramar areas.
Beaches are definitely beautiful though.
 
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#31
#31
Carp said:
Used to love the panhandle. Now it's overcrowded. Takes you 30-45 minutes to go 8-10 miles in Destin/Pensacola/Miramar areas.
Beaches are definitely beautiful though.
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That's why we go in Jan/Feb. Otherwise it is as you say, and that's on a 4 lane hwy.
 
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#35
#35
Mom and Dad have a condo in Ponce Inlet, just south of Daytona Beach. We go there a couple times a year at least. Beach is great because it's mostly residential. Very few public beach accesses. Not many high rises. Can't drive on the beach.

I would love to try the Tampa/Ft Myers area. I haven't been to that area since I was a kid and we went to Marco Island.
 
#37
#37
K-town Vol Fan said:
There are still things to do, but its much more "chill" and slightly higher class than MB. MB is actually kinda crazy, because there are nightclubs, bars, the boardwalk, "the strip", where people cruise every night, and hundreds of hotels. But it is very busy and the crime rate has skyrocketed recently. Thats why I say if little man could enjoy all the the attractions I might lean MB, but I think HH offers the best balance currently.

I have never stayed in Charleston so I can't speak on that.
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MB has to be looked at in perspective. MB proper is loud, kinda dirty, and can be not so safe. North MB/Atlantic Beach is the much better choice, and almost on the NC line.

Charleston is a must visit place at some point in your life. Beautiful city. Good food scene. Several good choices for beach days.

Keep in mind, unless you are going late fall, there is no upcoming "cool" time anywhere on the southeast cost. Some are worse than others. August is typically seaweed month on the beaches. St. Augustine is a great family vacation historical town. As well as Savannah. All wil be super muggy for the foreseeable future.
 
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#40
#40
I hate Myrtle beach. Me and my family went there once for a 4 day trip and we got a condo/ townhouse/ whatever and it was nasty. I wouldn’t go to myrtle again, even if it was free.

My aunt and uncle went to Charlestown for years. They loved it there. They even talked about moving there. I think they go to Top Sail in NC now.

I think Hilton head would be nice
 
#41
#41
MB is like PCB, FLB, or Daytona Beach. They go through cycles where they have to "clean up" and re-brand themselves. MB has not done much of that lately.
 
#43
#43
If the child was 5-12 I'd say MB, lots of tourist stuff to do like putt putt, and such. At 1 you'll have your choice of resorts with "lazy river" ride when you don't go to the beach.
IOP is fantastic for me and once they get a little old, but one disadvantage (and maybe someone know better than I) is the typical walk to the beach at IOP is longer and with a one YO you'll be amazed at how much stuff you have to haul.
Where ever you pick, make sure you get a "beach" wagon (wide wheels) to haul everything because you will need it, and if you're taking a tent/awning, get some sandbags (4-8) to hold it down. They are much more reliable than stakes and with a child only one of you can battle a beast created with a gust of wind.
And I believe MB bans thongs, which are permitted at IOP
 
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#45
#45
Wireless1 said:
If the child was 5-12 I'd say MB, lots of tourist stuff to do like putt putt, and such. At 1 you'll have your choice of resorts with "lazy river" ride when you don't go to the beach.
IOP is fantastic for me and once they get a little old, but one disadvantage (and maybe someone know better than I) is the typical walk to the beach at IOP is longer and with a one YO you'll be amazed at how much stuff you have to haul.
Where ever you pick, make sure you get a "beach" wagon (wide wheels) to haul everything because you will need it, and if you're taking a tent/awning, get some sandbags (4-8) to hold it down. They are much more reliable than stakes and with a child only one of you can battle a beast created with a gust of wind.
And I believe MB bans thongs, which are permitted at IOP
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Isle of Palms looks neat but places to stay there are really expensive. Airbnb’s are 300-400 per night. Yikes.
 
#46
#46
knox-townVOL said:
Isle of Palms looks neat but places to stay there are really expensive. Airbnb’s are 300-400 per night. Yikes.
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Just do MB man. I don’t get all the hate as everyone knows it’s a tourist destination. Sounds like you’re wanting to get out and do stuff and MB offers plenty. I’d say staying on the north end around Barefoot Landing/Cherry Grove or on the south end around Surfside is better than staying right in the heart.
 
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#47
#47
knox-townVOL said:
The wife and I, and our one year old son, are wanting to do a fall vacation. We’ve pretty much narrowed it down to the 3 places in the title, but we’ve never been to either one. Can anyone give insight into which is the best?

We want somewhere cool where there are things a baby can do, like places we can stroll him around, aquariums and zoo’s, but also a chill place that’s not too hectic.

Honestly we’re looking for something Gatlinburg’ish, but not G-Burg because we’ve been there 1,000 times.

Can anyone weigh in? Or have any other recommendations?
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I’d stay home before I went to Dirty Myrtle. I’d never take my son there either.
 
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#48
#48
From the adult side of things, and not saying I'm an adult, but the wife and I head to Charleston a good bit. We love downtown, usually stay down there a couple of nights, we walk the town, love the historical aspect and eat at great restaurants and, of course, the wife shops. Then we head to either IOP, Kiawah or Edisto to get some beach time in for a few days. From the family side, Hilton Head is our choice all day when the kids were younger, plus there's great golf down there too. If I'm going to Myrtle, I'm going for the golf, period. But if it's shows and other entertainment you're looking for, you could still stay down on Pawley's Island and it's a short drive into Myrtle Beach. Pawley's is great, laid back and away from the constant madness of being in the middle of MB.
 
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#49
#49
Carp said:
Mom and Dad have a condo in Ponce Inlet, just south of Daytona Beach. We go there a couple times a year at least. Beach is great because it's mostly residential. Very few public beach accesses. Not many high rises. Can't drive on the beach.

I would love to try the Tampa/Ft Myers area. I haven't been to that area since I was a kid and we went to Marco Island.
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Use to go to Bike Week n Daytona n still ride. Loved to go to the Lighthouse Bar n Grill on Ponce Inlet....next to the lighthouse. The best Crab burger you ever tasted!! The racoons would come out of the trees begging for food till the waiters ran them off. IS that place still there...it was a ton of fun....and I hooked up with a really cute lil server one year. (another story for another time)
 
#50
#50
Vol737 said:
From the adult side of things, and not saying I'm an adult, but the wife and I head to Charleston a good bit. We love downtown, usually stay down there a couple of nights, we walk the town, love the historical aspect and eat at great restaurants and, of course, the wife shops. Then we head to either IOP, Kiawah or Edisto to get some beach time in for a few days. From the family side, Hilton Head is our choice all day when the kids were younger, plus there's great golf down there too. If I'm going to Myrtle, I'm going for the golf, period. But if it's shows and other entertainment you're looking for, you could still stay down on Pawley's Island and it's a short drive into Myrtle Beach. Pawley's is great, laid back and away from the constant madness of being in the middle of MB.
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Have you visited historic Savannah? I like it better than historic Charleston myself.
 
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