Hotels with best pools???

I am planning a week-long trip to Charleston with my family which includes my two kids aged 9 and 14. I have been reading a lot and have a pretty good idea of things to do, so now I have to find the perfect hotel. My kids%26#39; only requirement is that it has a nice pool. We considered Folly Beach, but my hubby prefers to get the ';downtown experience.'; Any ideas for a nice hotel with a super-cool pool? Thanks!

Hotels with best pools???

glory, I can%26#39;t speak for the downtown hotels, but the Town and Country Inn, on Savannah Highway about 10-15 minutes from downtown has two pools! One is inside, with a nice workout area with stairsteppers and stationary bikes upstairs so you can still see the pool. I believe there is a juice bar in there as well. The other pool is, I believe, indoor/outdoor - but don%26#39;t quote me on that cause I ain%26#39;t sure.

Hotels with best pools???

The Mills House Hotel, in the historic district, has a lovely pool on the roof. The Inn at Middleton Place (historic plantation, but not in town) has a pool. There may be some B%26amp;B%26#39;s in the historic district that have pools.

Otherwise, you might have to stay in a less historic area to find what your kids are looking for. There is not a lot of space in downtown Charleston for a ground-level, outdoor,hotel pool. A number of the old homes have pools; but, of course, those are private. In public areas, there is more emphasis on gardens and parks.

Don%26#39;t despair. It is very easy to drive into Charleston and park the car for the day. parking lots are cheap and convenient..

Planning a trip to Hilton Head

My family and I are planning a trip to Hilton Head in July. If there are any local experts out there that can tell me about some other beach resorts then I would greatly appreciate it. We are looking at any part of SC except for Myrtle Beach...too busy, we want a quiet, relaxing vacation. So I figure the top two spots are Charleston and Hilton Head??? If there are any other famous beach spots in SC please let me know. Also I guess, if you have any knowledge of Charleston hotels then that would also be greatly appreciated.

Planning a trip to Hilton Head

Hi! I think if you are looking for a quiet relaxing vacation, you have made a great choice in Hilton Head. It%26#39;s pretty much the polar opposite of Myrtle Beach. I don%26#39;t know the ages of your family, but mine just returned from our 4th annual pilgrimage to HHI and that includes my 63 year old mom, 25 year old sister and her husband, my husband and I, who are 42 and 40, respectively, and four of our kids ages 19, 13, 11 and 4. There is horseback riding, dolphin tours, deep sea fishing excursions, day trips by boat to Savannah, over 200 restaurants with every imagineable offering to choose from and miles and miles of bike paths to enjoy. There is one small mall (I think it has 25 or so stores) and several smaller shopping plazas. You won%26#39;t find any neon lights here; I think there%26#39;s actually a law against it. The island is very lush and beautiful and the beaches are clean and have been voted some of the best in the nation. You can stay in one of the plantations the island is divided into, or you can stay at the ';hub'; of activity; Forest Beach. And by activity, we are still talking extremely laid back. Not the ';drive two blocks in 30 minutes'; kind of traffic you get in Myrtle. We have stayed at several spots up and down the east coast and for us there%26#39;s no place like Hilton Head. Stan, the local HH expert has posted several ';stickys'; on restaurants, places to stay, island history, etc. I have found his information and insight right on the money and extremely helpful when planning our visits. Go back on the beginning page of forums and just look for anything with HHIguy attached. I don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll be a bit disappointed with Hilton Head. Hope this helps!!

Planning a trip to Hilton Head

Kiawah Island is my favorite place in the world. It is relaxing and pristine and has many activities to do such as golf, tennis, nature tours, a spa and a kids camp. I recommend contacting Pam Harrington Exclusives and renting a home ';past the second gate';. This is more private than the rest of the resort and you can feel more like home. They will drop off bikes for you to get around on. Love it!!

My family has vacationed both at Hilton Head and Kiawah.You%26#39;ll certainly have a great time in Hilton Head. HOWEVER, for me, Kiawah wins hands down. The resort is basically the entire island, so it%26#39;s much smaller and much less commercial than Hilton Head. Extremely laid back, yet tons of neat things to do for all ages and interest. Some of the youth and family activities are almost hokey-quaint, like an ice cream social, a capture-the-flag tournament, or an outdoor movie night. But coming from a large urban area, my gang really enjoys this stuff! The golf courses are actually rated higher than the ones on HH. The tennis program (there are two centers) is also nationally known. It really excels in it%26#39;s nature programs. They even ask for volunteers occasionally to escort the baby turtles on their trek from the nest to the ocean! Once you drive into the resort, it%26#39;s basically t-shirts, shorts and bikes the rest of the week.

Obviously there is no night life outside of the bar at The Sanctuary, the new ultra luxury hotel on the island. Charleston though is only a 30 minute drive with all it%26#39;s wonderful restaurants, bars and historic spots.

It%26#39;s great to hear everyone saying nice things about Kiawah, which is our favorite place in the world for a family beach vacation. I can say that even though I grew up in Florida!

On Kiawah you have the uncrowded 12-mile firm sand beach and the unspoiled river and marshes - along with top-rated golf and tennis, if you are interested. As well, you are an easy drive into Charleston for sightseeing or dinner.

The only hotel on Kiawah is the luxurious (and expensive) Sanctuary Hotel. Most families rent cottages, houses, or condos which are availble through the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, ResortQuest, Pam Harrington Exclusives, or Beachwalker. You can also find ';villa'; accommodations by renting from individual owners through sites like www.vrbo.com.

Adjacent to Kiawah, is Seabrook Island, which is also extremely relaxing and laid back. Seabrook has not quite the beach or amenities that Kiawah has, but it is a very nice place for a family vacation.

Bagels? Oysters/Crabs?

Can anyone recommend a good place to get bagels and cream cheese spreads on the island? What about an authentic seafood restaurant where they serve oysters in a bucket and crabs that you shell and throw the scraps in a hole in the middle of the table?

Bagels? Oysters/Crabs?

You are referring to Steamers which is in Coligny Plaza. But don%26#39;t order Oysters unless you are coming after September 15th. they aren%26#39;t local or fresh otherwise.

Bagels are best from the bagel bakery which is located in South Island Square where the Longhorn is on 278. It used to be known as the Chesapeake bagel bakery. Some people like the bagels from the Atlanta Bread Company at Festival Center near Indigo Run.

Stan (hhiguy)

PS Prescotts also serves Roast Oysters in season.

Bagels? Oysters/Crabs?

We throw oyster shells in a hole in the table at oyster roasts. I never heard of doing it with crab. Local crab are delicious, but they require a lot of picking, so they are usually prepared in other ways.

Be sure to try wild local shrimp. You can usually get ';peal and eat'; shrimp in a bucket, and they are fun to eat with a group.

makeup skin

Bay Watch 1 BR Amenities?

Can anyone tell me if the 1 bedroom units at Bay Watch Resort have in-room dishwashers and a washer and dryer?

Also, how well equipped are the kitchens? Do you need to bring condiments/ paper products/ foils/ wraps/ trash bags?

Thanks!

Bay Watch 1 BR Amenities?

northmyrtlebeachtravel.com/book/鈥?/a>

Link from Elliott Realty. Looks like one bedroom units have washer, dryer and dishwasher.

Yes you need to provide your own condiments. Also your laundry and dishwashing soaps. Most people wait until they get there and buy the small sizes just to get them through the week. Saves on packing and space in car.

Paper products? Don%26#39;t know who you%26#39;re renting from and what they provide. Elliott gives you couple rolls of TP and trashbags at check in. Need more you go to store. Might get more if you go back to realtor but it%26#39;s just as easy to get some at store. Plastic shopping bags make great trash bags.

Something you might need to check on is linens such as towels,washcloths and bed linens. Most rentals don%26#39;t provide them. Either bring your own or rent them for small fee from realtor. We pay the extra $20. Again it saves room in car and less laundry when we return home.

Bay Watch 1 BR Amenities?

Thanks for the info. A friend booked the room for us and others the reservation is in their name and I don%26#39;t know who they went through. They thought dishwasher, washer, dryer in room but only got confirmation number no room assignments yet.

My family and I stayed at the Baywatch last year and got a great price on a 2 bedroom. The room was fanastic there was a washer/dryer and a full kitchen. There%26#39;s plenty of local places (Wal-Mart, Bi-Lo, Food Lion, etc) to buy the condiments/ paper products/ foils/ wraps/ trash bags you%26#39;ll need.

But beware of the parking! The parking deck is located across from tower 3, so it%26#39;s a walk from towers 1 %26amp; 2. This causes a problem if you have young children. like myself Also the loadin/unloading 15 minute parking is not respected by the other guests and not enforced by the Baywatch!

This year we%26#39;re staying at Palmwood Villas which is next to the Baywatch and looking forward to a better stay.

Thanks for the reply! We leave this Saturday so, I am thinking take inventory of the room first - shopping next!

My kids are 10 %26amp; 13 so they should be ok if we are a distance from the car.

How did you like the Bat Watch?

Just got back from Bay Watch this evening.

Had a great time and no complaints from Bay Watch.

Trash cans had bags in them and were changed daily, towels were changed daily and the bathroom %26amp; floors were cleaned daily. They also provided dishwasher soap, small bath soaps %26amp; small shampoo %26amp; body lotion that we didn%26#39;t use. The bathroom did have a hairdryer but I brought my own.

I did a quick inventory prior to shopping the first evening so everything went smoothly.

I did not think that the pools were dirty or have any problems with any of the facilities at all.

Any questions pleae ask. We stayed in room 520 of the main tower.

Mini-Golf?

Hello! My husband and I are traveling to Charleston next week and was wondering if there are any mini golf courses on Isle of Palms or Folly Beach? We like the go-kart/mini-golf scene (really only on vacation) and wasn%26#39;t sure if there was anything like this.

Of course we are going to check out downtown, the Audobon Gardens/Swamp and the beach, but didn%26#39;t know about the nighttime, non-bar scene.

Thanks!

Mini-Golf?

I don%26#39;t believe there are any of these places on either of the beaches you mention.

The only place I know of is Frankie%26#39;s Fun Park, which is about a 25 minute drive in non-rush hour traffic. They have a double-sided mini golf course, batting cages, two go-kart tracks (oval and road course), a big gaming room, and some other stuff.

Franie%26#39;s is a bit of a drive, but worth it if you like that kind of stuff. Which I do!

Mini-Golf?

There is a also a small mini-golf (only not go-carts, etc) at the edge of Mt. Pleasant just before going over the bridge to Sullivan%26#39;s Island. I think it is called Classic Golf.

Thanks very much! Think we%26#39;ll check out the small mini-golf place. Has been a vacation tradition :) That other place sounds cool but don%26#39;t love the drive with gas so freakin expensive. Thanks again for your help!

FWIW, we took our Sunday School kids to the one in Mt. Pleasant a few years ago and it was a dump. Hopefully it has gotten better since then.

If you do go, there is a antique place right across the street called Page%26#39;s Thieves Market. Very low key place; not your average Charleston hoidy-toidy antique joint.

Also across the street is Momma Brown%26#39;s barbeque - an excellent barbeque restaurant! I highly recommend it; it%26#39;s a lot better than that old western N.C. barbeque.

just kidding!!

Has anyone ever stayed at the Coral Reef Resort ?

I want to go to Myrtle Beach for my Honeymoon and I have looked at several hotels but I have never been there so I%26#39;m not sure of any of them but I really like the looks and price of the Coral Reef I wanted to know if anyone had heard anything on it before I made reservations??

Has anyone ever stayed at the Coral Reef Resort ?

I think you may be referring to the Coral Beach resort....they are right on the ocean and you may want to check out some of the reviews to the left side of the page. This property has gone thru some major updating and I think they have done a good job....its a large property and has a number of amenities, so as far as looking for things to do at the resort, I dont think you%26#39;ll ger bored! And they have a pretty hoping lounge area with live music!

Congrats!

:)

Has anyone ever stayed at the Coral Reef Resort ?

I think that you should love Coral Beach Resort.

awe stayed there 2 yrs ago. Nice, you will like it.

Are you referring to Crown Reef? It%26#39;s a very nice place. I tihnk it%26#39;s a resort. I%26#39;ve never stayed there but its like 2 hotels away and its nice and there isnt too much noise around.

Brighton tower at Kingston Plantation

I have recently booked a condo at Brighton towers at Kingston Plantation and was told by the condo owner that the pools at the resort including the Caribbean splash pool are included at no extra charge. Does anyone know this for sure that has been there?

Brighton tower at Kingston Plantation

I stayed here.. I rented privately thru an owner..

The water park was brand new at that time.. and we were charged

.... I complained.....to management then and when we got home..

** I found a way around it..tho..

I am so sure things have changed!...This was about 3 years ago ...

**maybe this was because I rented privately.. hmm...

The waterpark attendants had a list (computerized) of all registered

guests at all Kingston Plantation resorts..

Brighton tower at Kingston Plantation

Our condo in Brighton last August faced the Splash Park. We have college aged kids but we walked over there a couple times and were never charged. We were only over there a short time - stood under the big bucket of water - It is VERY crowded so get there early!!!!

Just returned from MB and stayed at the Embassy Suites at Kingston Plantation. Yes, you will be able to use the splash pool and all pools at the Embassy Suites. Brighton is right next to the Embassy Suites and a just a short little walk. There is a nice pool and hot tub at Brighton also. We liked Kingston Plantation so I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll be happy there. The Birghton tower looks very nice.

Thank you all very much. We stayed at Embassy Suites last year and had a great time. This year we chose the Brighton Tower condo to have access to a full kitchen and a washer and dryer. The private condo owner assured us we had full access and I was fine until I read a few posts that stated that the splash pool that my kids enjoyed so much last year was an additional charge if you weren%26#39;t staying in the Embassy Suites Hotel. I can also remember someone in front of me last year that said they were in a villa and weren%26#39;t allowed access. I would like to hear from someone who stayed in Brighton Towers and knows for sure. Thanks again for the responses.

While I was staying at the Embassy Suites we were told that everyone staying in the condos was allowed to use the Embassy pool, but Embassy guests could not use the different condo pools. We know poeple who stayed at Margate and Brighton towers and yes, they used the splash pools- no charge.

I stay at the Brighton every year in June and yes you have access to all the facilites including the water park. The main pool area is crowded, but they have a band and chairside service, which is very nice!!

makeup skin

Smoking in South Carolina?

Just recently Quebec passed a law where you must be 9 meters (20 something feet) away from a public building to smoke. I would just like to know if there is any law in South Carolina about public smoking (me and my family can%26#39;t stand the smell of cigarette smoke).

Smoking in South Carolina?

Well....since you are in the heart of the tobacco belt, I hate to say that there isnt alot of regulations on smoking here at the beach. Some restaurants are smoke free...and most do offer a smoke free section ( :) )......but nothing quite that agressive.

:)

Smoking in South Carolina?

You can smoke really anywhere you want unless there are signs or something saying ';Smoke Free'; other than that you can smoke. But I never notice it%26#39;s not a big problem or anything.

Shouldn%26#39;t be a problem. Non-smoker here married to a smoker. There is almost always a breeze down there. Even if you%26#39;re downwind you%26#39;d have to be right next to the smoker for it to be a problem.

We are from NYC, where all restaurants and bars are now smoke free. Judging from the political spots on TV, the issue of anti-smoking legislation is being debated now, here in South Carolina, just as it was debated in New York a couple of years ago.

We dislike smoke, and my husband is allergic to it. We have never experienced a problem here, although we have certainly seen some people smoking in restaurants. People here are extremely courteous and respectful of other people%26#39;s sensitivities..The sea breeze helps, as well.

I have never had any trouble in MB, just the normal things. (Restaurants that are NS, etc.)You should be fine.

Driving Directions

We are drivng from St. Louis MO to Charleston, SC. Can anyone tell us the best route to take? AAA takes us thru Knoxville/Asheville but other routes take us thru Atlanta. Any suggestions?

Driving Directions

My parents drive here from Louisville, Ky, through Knoxville/Asheville. They say it is a pleasant route, and that they really enjoy it. They have been making this trip for many years.

If you have time to stop, Asheville is a beautiful resort area and home to the famous Biltmore Estate and gardens. Look it up in the AAA book if you%26#39;re not already familiar with it.

Driving Directions

We do the I-40 route every year to Seabrook Island. We%26#39;ve done the route thru Atlanta during racing season. This was not fun. Traffic was backed up for miles! Stick with 1-40 especially during the summer.

If you are going during the summer months, the trip across I-40 to Asheville to I-26 to Charleston will probably be the quickest. (Winter can bring snows through the mts. along 40.) As the other posters said, traffic in Atlanta is heavy and may cause delays, especially during rush hour. You shouldn%26#39;t get the same delays through Knoxville, Asheville, Spartanburg, or Columbia.

Greenville Zoo

I must say I am very disappointed that you have NO information about the Greenville Zoo!

It would seem to me that perhaps you should go there so YOU could put some information on this site for travelers. I will be visiting Greenville next month. So far, I have not found much of anything to do there!

Greenville Zoo

Please go to the member guide, I have personally put a few things down about greenville

Greenville Zoo

www.greenvillezoo.com. Not much here but it gives you the basics.

The Greenville zoo is very small but its sweet and the staff is nice. Dont expect the San Deigo zoo or anything but it make for a fun hour or 2. If you have little ones it makes a perfect trip.

Walking Tour In Charleston, SC

We recently visited Charleston, SC and took a wonderful walking tour....The Charleston Stroll. Highly recommend it to everyone visiting that area. We saw historical mansions, Churches, secret gardens, cobblestone streets, and best of all...The Battery. Our tour guide was the highlight of our day. Very knowledgeable, well versed, and very friendly! Can%26#39;t beat the price...$16.50 per person for a 2 hour tour. Kids 12 and under are free! Visit their website at www.charlestonstrolls.com for more info. Enjoy!

Walking Tour In Charleston, SC

Thanks for the recommendation. We will try it.

8 days to go !!!!!

We%26#39;re leaving next week for MB, and I can%26#39;t wait. We%26#39;re driving down from northern Ohio, and the original plan was to leave at approx. 3 a.m. next Thursday morning and drive all day. Last night we decided to leave after work Wednesday evening drive for about 4 or 5 hours and stay overnight somewhere. We will be on 77 / 64 right around the time we decide to stop. Any recommendations on a hotel for the night or the best area to stop in? (We don%26#39;t want to hit morning traffic when we get back on the road Thursday morning).

8 days to go !!!!!

Akron/Cleveland. Four to five hours would put you in Charleston or Beckley area.

Exit 95 in Charleston would be easiest on and off with several motels and places to eat nearby.

Exit 44 in Beckley would be the same way.

If you really pushed it. Exit 9 in Princeton.

Eight to nine hours to beach from Charleston. Seven to eight from Beckley.

8 days to go !!!!!

Well, I think in about 4-5 hours from you, you should be somewhere in the mountains of VA/WV around like Charleston, WV (is that right). It%26#39;s nice in that area. So any hotels that are a part of the chains would be nice. You can sort of look at them and tell how they are (trucker stops, or whatever). Nice tourist area.

Just returned from a trip to MB. On our way home we stayed over in Beckley, WV. We stayed at the Hampton Inn which was nice- there is a Bob Evans and BBQ restaruant next door. Beckley would probably be a good stop over on your way down.

I was thinking of stopping Beckley. I had originally thought about Charleston but then I thought about morning traffic. I figured I%26#39;d probably avoid that in Beckley.

If you%26#39;re heading south on 77, isn%26#39;t Beckley right before both of the tunnels? I%26#39;ll have a first time vacationer with me and I%26#39;d like to make sure we hit the tunnels and go through Virginia during daylight so he can actually see the scenery.

Exit 95 is right on the south edge of Charleston. Wouldn%26#39;t have any problem with morning traffic. Most of it would be coming north into town while you%26#39;re heading out.

Hour to hour fifteen minutes to Beckley from here. Guess you need to figure where you%26#39;ll be four to five hours after work.

Gets dark around here in the 8:00pm- 8:30pm range. Maybe even a little sooner in the valleys driving down the Turnpike. You know what they say. ';Where the sun don%26#39;t shine.';

Drive time from here to beach would be in the 8-9 hour range depending on driving habits no matter which routes you take. Leave motel around 8:00am and be at beach for dinner.

Would have to do some research but pretty sure there%26#39;s a Country Inn and Suites right off the exit and a Motel 6. There is a Days Inn but it%26#39;s located right next to truck stop and is getting bad rep lately.

IHOP and pretty sure Bob Evans nearby.

I think the tunnels are in Virginia- so yes, I think if you stayed overnight in Beckley you would hit the tunnels during daylight hours the next morning. Drive safely- we saw so many accidents in West Virginia and Virginia!

marriott resort at grand dunes

hi.. has anyone evr stayed at the marriott resort at grand dunes? my family has been to myrtle beach 3 or 4 times and each time stayed at coral beach and coral reef. how would you compare these? thanks

marriott resort at grand dunes

Well from what I%26#39;ve heard from people who stayed there; there is no comparison to the coral reef or coral beach.

If you are looking for price wise, you will pay more for the Marriott. Also, it%26#39;s in a much quieter area of MB. Not saying that the other 2 are horrible but sometimes there%26#39;s not much to compare (you know what I mean) A co-worker stayed there and she said that customer service, cleanliness, pools, location, rooms, and all were top quality for marriott. She did however say that the regular double rooms were a little on the smaller side as compared to other places. Not cramped but just not huge unless you get the Suites which she said are a nice size and very clean and nicely decorated. She felt that it was like staying at one of the hotels she%26#39;s been to in the islands, the way they have it decorated and the way the hotel is layed out and the staff.

Hope this helps.

marriott resort at grand dunes

The Marriott is a beautiful property and the rooms are very nice. The only downside we see to that hotel is that the rooms are just a standard room and very few of them have an actual balcony (I think just the ocean front ones). The location is nice and private.

Reservations for Carriage Ride

Hi Everyone,

I will be visiting Charleston Memorial Day(overnight) and am planning on taking a carriage ride with Old South. How far in advanced do I have to call for reservations. We are planning on doing the carriage ride on the second day thinking it would be a nice thing to see first thing in the morning.

Any info as always is appreciated!

Thanks Jenn

Reservations for Carriage Ride

I think they only take reservations for very large groups. If you would like to go first thing in the morning, show up a little before 9 (which is when they begin). The tours sit about 10-14 people and they fill them up first come, first served. Discounted tix avail. at the visitors center: $16.50 per adult!

Enjoy your tour!

Reservations for Carriage Ride

Ener is correct. I don%26#39;t think that Old South takes advanced reservations. If you are wanting to do a private tour with 2-4 people then I would call in advance. If you want to do the public tour like Ener stated, you should stop by the Visitors Center and get your advanced tickets. We sell them a lot cheaper and then you can use them anytime. For a historic tour they run from 9am-5pm.

Thanks for all the information! I can%26#39;t wait to get down there :)

how can you get a private tour? we are a family of 7 - do you think a private tour would be bettp53-F

how can you get a private tour? we are a family of 7 - do you think a private tour would be better?

You can get a private trip, but that requires calling ahead. The carriage we went on had 12 people. There are a lot of carriage tours so getting all of you together in a carriage ride will be no problem. We used Old South and loved it!

You can get a private trip, but that requires calling ahead. The carriage we went on had 12 people. There are a lot of carriage tours so getting all of you together in a carriage ride will be no problem. We used Old South and loved it!

blackheads

Any recommended family hotels for first timer

Hello everyone,

My wife and i will be travelling to MB in August for the first time with our 2children, ages 2 and 5. After countless hours of visiting sites Im not quite sure where to stay. I would appreciate some advise from others that have visited this area and stayed at certain hotels. As we earn average incomes, we would also enjoy a bit of savings or any deals which may be available. We would prefer a location that offers a room set up like a suite so to be able to seperate ourselves from the kids at bed time or for naps in the afternoon. Thank you so much for your help and I look forward to hearing from anyone who could share their experiences.

Any recommended family hotels for first timer

Hi.. Mark and Kristin....

We stay at Ocean Creek Resort..South Towers..

you can check out this website.. vrbo

They have 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom suites there..

the layout .. is the master suite is ocean front... and the

other bedrooms are in the back..

They also offer.. several types of accommodations, from garden homes to lodges.. to the Towers..

Another place you may check into is Kingston Plantation...

lots of accommodations to choose from as well...

Any recommended family hotels for first timer

I would suggest getting a condo in North Myrtle Beach. Kids that age will be thrilled spending hours at the beach daily (our are!). Elliott Realty (northmyrtlebeachtravel.com) has a great website and hundreds of selections. If you want to save a couple bucks, stay in a 2 bed, 2 bath condo (2nd row). Location would be across the street from the beach, but rates are much less than ocean front.

We have stayed bunches of times at Dayton House. We love it! It has several pools inside/outside, lazy river, hot tub and it is very clean and safe. There are tables with umbrellas on the grassy area between the hotel and the beach. They also have some porch swings too. Check out their website it is very good.

We have also stayed at Hampton Inn Oceanfront it is not as big but it is VERY nice and they have a great free breakfast every morning.

There are several condos in North Myrtle Beach and the Cherry Grove area. Sometimes those are booked months in advance.

-Hampton Inn Oceanfront (www.hamptoninnmyrtlebeach.com) they are a little expensive if you are watching your spending. Average in August will be around $300.00 p/night. They have suites that you are looking for. The later in August the better, after the 20th or so. They also give you free breakfast.

-Dayton House (www.daytonhouse.com) they have pretty reasonable rates. I haven%26#39;t seen any hotels that are that reasonable and yet I have never seen a negative (other than a security issue and a customer service issue) on any forums or other websites. I have been in their lobby and their pools looked clean and the rooms from what I understand are clean as well. They have the suites that you are looking for.

-Breakers Paradise Towers only (www.breakers.com)(we are staying here this summer in August) maybe a little expensive but we will have an extra paying adult. Got a 2 Br 2 Bth, LR, DR, Full Kit, washer and dryer. Oceanfront $1,000 for 3 nights. I would have never done this if the other adult wasn%26#39;t paying for half. Also, we stayed at the Breakers resort hotel and we love the hotel itself but the Resort hotel needs updating. Paradise towers is fairly new (2004) so it%26#39;s still looking good. Nice pool area as well. My 5-year old loved the Pirate ship and the Lazy River. The 2-year old just put her feet in the water with mommy and floated on the Lazy River.

-If you are staying more than 4-5 nights, I would suggest renting a beach house/condo or something. I got one of the beach house books and you could rent an entire house for 7 days depending on location in MB (north, strip, southern) for $1,500 or a little more. Only downside is you don%26#39;t have maid service (you are on vacation) you don%26#39;t have the lazy rivers and pool attractions like at most hotels, that the kids will love and it%26#39;s free with your stay.

-Compass Cover (www.compasscove.com) The Pinnacle Building has recently been upgraded (it needed it, we stayed there 4 years ago and it was a little outdated and the elevators I hear are still slow.) The Mariner Building is nice they have the newer accomodations and the suite that you are looking for. Nice pool area. Close to Family Kingdom, pavilion, and other attractions.

We recently stayed at the Kingston Plantation Embassy Suites and really liked it. There are many pools including a splash pool for children and a lazy river. There are daily childrens activities planned. The rooms are nice for a family- living room w/fridge %26amp; sink and a seperate bedroom. We found the hotel rooms to be very quiet. The bedroom and living room are divided by the bathroom for extra quietness during sleeping times. The beach is great and there are lifeguards, chair %26amp; umbrella rentals if needed. The breakfast which is included with your room was really nice for a family with kids- one less meal to buy. We liked the location of Kingston Plantation- the grounds are nice and in the northern part of MB so not as crammed in like some of the hotels in the southern part (depends on what you prefer). The website is www.kingstonplantation.com. Good luck choosing a place to stay.

Some great suggestions and I%26#39;ll just add a few others to the mix:

Monteray Bay Suites -- all these units are set up to where when you come into the unit you enter thru the bedroom area, then the kitchen is in the center and a nice size living room faces the ocean. Nice balconies, and there is a queen size murphy bed. This place is really clean, a nice breakfast buffet and an evening dessert reception is included in the rate. The pool area is nice with a decent size lazy river, indoor/outdoor pool and hot tub.

Grande Shores -- just about any size of accomodations that you may be looking for. In the same area at Monteray Bay, one of my favorite areas of the beach.. Good value for the $$.

You might check into www.vrbo.com for some condo options. Look for Southwind Villas, or Forest Dunes.

:)

Just wanted to thank everyone for there input. I have checked most of the placed listed as well as one that a co-worker suggested.

CAPTAINSQUARTERS

It seems very nice and lots to do. we have been quoted 120 + tax which seems reasonable at that time. If anyone has anything to say about this location it would be appreciated. If not this hotel we like dayton House and a smaller property, Johnathon harbour which offers a 5 nite package for 295 + tax.

Again thanx

Captains Quaters is a older hotel that could with stand some renovations.

I hotel that I would reccomend is Coral Beach Resort. They are just south of Captains Quaters. THey have about the same amenties and they just renovated earlyer this year. There web address is www.myrtlebeach-resorts.com/cb/index.cfm

Coral Beach Resort will most likely cost you over $1,000 a week in August. This will be not be a suite...will have 2 double beds in the same room. On the other hand, for the budget minded, you can get a 2 bedroom, 2 bath, full kitchen condo (many have washer/dryers)in North Myrtle Beach for half that price in August. Twice as much room, half the price (if 2nd row).

Planning a family vacation

I am planning a vacation for our family sometime in September. I have three girls ages 18, 14, and 7. We are considering the Marriott Barony, Marriott Beach %26amp; Golf Resort and the Hilton Oceanfront Resort. I am curious as to when the season ends. I have read that many resorts offer activities for the kids through early September but I cannot find a cutoff date. Are they only offered in August? I would hate to go one week later and the kids not be able to have the activities to participate in. Thanks for your advice.

Planning a family vacation

Each Resort my be different, I%26#39;d suggest you call them. Your 7 year old may enjoy the story teller in Sea Pines. I%26#39;m not sure when that ends... Contact a resort in Sea Pines and ask them when the story teller ends for the summer. This person is well known and I%26#39;ve told he is a real hoot for the kids!

Planning a family vacation

Since we get a lot of visitors from Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois in the summer. Our island quiets down the last two weeks of August.

that said many places do continue their activities through September and some into The second week of October. the Barony which is a timeshare resort, has more planned activities than the other two.

My personal recommendation is the Hilton Resort, which is behind the gate in Palmetto Dunes.

Stan (hhiguy)

Myrtlewood Villas-Beach shuttles? Has anyone tried them?

We are leaning toward Myrtlewood Villas for our July vacation. The website says they have shuttles to the beach and the pavilion etc. Since we won%26#39;t have a vehicle we will be using the shuttles if we stay there. Does anyone know if they are reliable? Also, where can we find the best rate on these condos? Perhaps a private owner? Any help would be appreciated. John and Maureen

Myrtlewood Villas-Beach shuttles? Has anyone tried them?

Your on vacation why would you want to rely on shuttles to get to the beach.Myrtlewood is great for golfers but can be a hassle for beachgoers.Try Forest Dunes,Long Bay,Beach Colony Grande Dunes or Southwind and put yourself right on that beach.

Taxi From Embassy Suites/Airport

About how much would a taxi be from the Convention Center Embassy Suites?

I can get a really good rate on that hotel through my work and am trading staying there to have a litle extra money for fun.

Taxi From Embassy Suites/Airport

Where would you be going in the taxi?

Taxi From Embassy Suites/Airport

Sorry from the Embassy Suites to the historic district downtown.

This is a rough guess, but I would say around $25

Any experiences with Cabana inn?

Planning to vist MB and would like to hear from those that have stayed at Cabana Inn. Would this be a reasonable place to stay for a family of 4 (hus+ wife and kids). thanks.

Any experiences with Cabana inn?

Booked there in 2004. It is a total dump. It is filthy, run down, musty, rude staff that refused to refund our money. We left anyway because there were cracks in the ceiling and roaches coming out of them and falling into the bed. It was a nightmare. I wouldn%26#39;t stay there. The stairway was scary and trashy like people hung out there. It was the worst place I had ever been in. Would sleep in a barn or in the streets first. Even tried to report to Health Dept but they don%26#39;t check places in MB anymore. Complained to code enforcement. I could have stayed in anything outdated as long as it was clean but this needed to be torn down many years ago and that was two years ago. It was so scary. Run as fast as you can and as far away as you can if you value your family and health.

4th of July festivities in MB...

2006 July Fourth celebrations

The Sun News file photoThere%26#39;s one thing you can count on this July Fourth: There%26#39;ll be plenty of options for celebrating along the Grand Strand. In fact, the fun begins Saturday in Conway.

BEFORE THE FOURTH

-- %26#39;Round the Fourth Festival, Conway | The city of Conway celebrates the Fourth this Saturday with an all-day festival from noon to 11 p.m. on the river. %26#39;Round the Fourth includes entertainment, train rides, vendors, games and more. Entertainment will be held at the riverfront park, underneath the bridge and at the courthouse. Fireworks are scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Musical headliners are Charlie Brown %26amp; the Coasters as well as Earl Thomas Conley. For more information, call 248-2273 or visit www.roundthefourth.com

-- Independence Day Celebration, Surfside Beach | Surfside Beach celebrates from 6 to 9 p.m. July 3. The festival includes games for children, concessions and prizes (no fireworks). Sea-Cruz will provide entertainment. The event will be held at Martin Field on Sixth Avenue South, two blocks off Ocean Blvd.

THE FOURTH - AND MORE

-- N.C. 4th of July Festival, Southport | The July 1-4 event takes place in the portside Brunswick County, N.C., town of Southport. Opening ceremonies are 7:45 a.m. July 1 at Waterfront Park, followed by the N.C. Freedom Run/Walk at 8. Numerous events then follow through the Fourth, culminating with a 9 p.m. fireworks show on Independence Day. For a full list of events, visit www.nc4thofjuly.com/calendar.htm Call 910-457-6964, 1-800-457-6964.

ON THE FOURTH

-- Fireworks, Myrtle Beach | A fireworks display will be at Second Avenue Pier, 110 N. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach, is set for 10 p.m. Call 626-8480.

-- Fireworks, Barefoot Landing | Barefoot Landing, 4898 U.S. 17 S., North Myrtle Beach, will have boardwalk entertainers from 6 p.m. on for its Fourth of July festivities. Fireworks are set for 10:15 p.m. over the lake. Call 272-8349 for information.

-- Fireworks, Broadway at the Beach | Broadway at the Beach, 1325 Celebrity Circle, will light up the night sky over Lake Broadway with fireworks beginning at 10 p.m. Call 444-3200.

-- July 4th Boat Parade and Fireworks, Murrells Inlet | The 23rd annual event kicks off at 3 p.m. at Garden City Point. This year%26#39;s theme is ';Celebrate Freedom Inlet Style.'; The celebrate ends with a fireworks show over the marsh at 10 p.m. Suggested viewing areas for both are anywhere along the Murrells Inlet marshfront. Call 357-2007 for more information.

-- Fireworks, North Myrtle Beach | The annual fireworks display at the Cherry Grove Pier, 3500 N. Ocean Blvd., begins at 9:30 p.m.

-- Entertainment, La Belle Amie Vineyard | La Belle Amie will hold its July 4th Music Blast at the vineyard, at the corner of S.C. 90 and St. Joseph Road, near North Myrtle Beach Middle School. For more information, call 399-9463.

-- Fireworks, Georgetown | The city of Georgetown will mark Independence Day beginning at 7:30 p.m. July 4 on the front lawn of the Kaminski House Museum with the Indigo Choral Society. The celebration caps off at East Bay Park with a 9:30 p.m. fireworks show over the Sampit River and Winyah Bay. Bring a chair. Call 545-4000 for more information.

-- Parade, Pawleys Island | The town of Pawleys Island will hold its July Fourth Parade at 10 a.m. July 4. Prizes are awarded to floats for best overall, most original, most humorous and more. The town even honors the best spectators. (Parade lineup starts at the South Causeway, heads south on Myrtle Avenue to Doyle Street, left on Pritchard Street, left on Springs Avenue, left on Hazard Street, right back on Myrtle Avenue, continues north on Myrtle, right on First Street, left on Atlantic Avenue, left on Third Street, then left on Myrtle Avenue to the Town Hall, where awards will be handed out.) For more information, call 237-1698.

-- Golf cart parade, Garden City | The annual Calhoun Drive 4th of July Golf Cart Parade is at 3 p.m. July Fourth in Garden City Beach. The parade lineup starts at 1-2:45 p.m. behind Willard%26#39;s Fireworks on Calhoun Drive. The route follows Calhoun Drive to Waccamaw Drive to Woodland Drive, ending at the BP gas station. For information, call 651-4046.

HAVE A HAPPY 4TH!!!!

4th of July festivities in MB...

Bump.....Bump....Happy 4th!

4th of July festivities in MB...

Thanks for the info.

Interesting that there will be a 3pm boat parade at Murrels Inlet starting at Garden City point, and at the same time 3pm there will be the Golf cart parade at Garden City.

Don%26#39;t they try to coordinate the events so people don%26#39;t have to choose? Or are there just that many people to both events even at the same time? The boat parade sounds more fun though.

You would think that, wouldnt you? But really, there are sooooo many people at both, and really different events....different strokes, you know...but the boat parade is really fun! We usually hit that every year...then stay for the fireworks there!

:)

Oh, you stay there for the fireworks? But the boat parade starts at 3pm, and I understand finishes around 5pm. The fireworks is at 10pm.

So you stay there for 5 hrs, which means you%26#39;ll need to eat there.

How long does the fireworks go till? I have scuba diving next morning at 7am. Would we see the firework almost as well from where we stay (Seawatch Landing Inn, at 215 Atlantic Av., Garden City)? I%26#39;m also concerned the traffic getting back, and my kids not to get to bed too late.

blackheads

Heritage Passport?

There used to be something called the Heritage Passport that included admission to several sites in historic Charleston as well as Middleton Place and Drayton Hall but I haven%26#39;t seen anything on this recently.

Does it still exist? If so, can you tell me how much is it and where it%26#39;s available?

Thanks.

Heritage Passport?

Yes. It is available from The Charleston Heritage Federation (www.heritagefederation.com).

Heritage Passport?

Thanks, kiawahvilla, I checked out the website and that%26#39;s exactly what I was looking for!

Happy to be of help. Have a great visit to Charleston!

I think that I may be too late to comment but I just wanted to let you know that the Heritage Passport is a fantasic deal for you if you are wanting to see the historic sights in Charleston. The new 2 day Passport has been selling like hotcakes.

Thanks for your insight, O%26#39;Meila. Since I won%26#39;t be going until early next year, your post is right on time :-)

Looking at the website, I understand you have to use the 2-day pass on consecutive days, but I don%26#39;t think we can fit everything we want to see in just two days. Would they consider a four-day pass, like Paris%26#39; Museum Pass, in the near future... say before I take my trip?

I think we%26#39;ll spend one day visiting Middleton Place and Drayton Hall . Then it might be another two days to see all the other places included in the passport as we will also be visiting other sites during the same time, such as the Exchange %26amp; Provost Dungeon and Old Powder Magazine. I%26#39;m hoping the Slave Mart Museum will also be open when we go.

Even the yearlong passport looks to be a good deal considering we will likely hit all the sites it covers... and we don%26#39;t have to try to cram everything into two days!

The Pavillion

I read that the Myrtle Beach Pavillion is closing at the end of this season. Does that include the amusement park, also? That was, really, a landmark/ attraction for Myrtle Beach. Does anyone know what the plans are for that area?

The Pavillion

Everything is going.

The Pavillion

Yes, this will be the final season for the Pavilion. That does include the amusement park. If you go to myrtlebeachonline.com and scroll almost to the bottom where it says special coverage,One Last Summer,last season of operation (where the girl is on the roller coaster) that will bring up a whole page about the Pavilion. A petition has also been started with thousands of signatures on it. It is a pretty sad time for so many memories has been created there!

Yep, it%26#39;s all going to be gone except for the memories. From what I can gather from the locals in the area it has not been decided what will become of the space. There has been discussion of a memorial of some sort to the Pavilion. I was given a website by some of the local experts on these forums. It is http://www.mbchamber.com/pavilion/ if you would like to check it out and share your memories.

In todays local newspaper...

Pavilion much more than amusement park

By Dawn Bryant

The Sun News

Meet me at the Pavilion.

Chances are you%26#39;ve been told that, said that or overheard it.

The phrase is frequently used in planning get-togethers at the beach, though the times, days and reasons for meeting have varied since the first group of teens hung out there 58 years ago because there wasn%26#39;t anything else to do.

The Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park has been the local landmark that everyone knows, the high-profile place charities use for fundraisers. Locals through the years have flocked to the park for dance recitals, religious services and even wrestling, long before Ric Flair made it cool.

It%26#39;s an unofficial gathering spot that attracts people for reasons way beyond rides and funnel cake. Locals don%26#39;t want to lose that this fall when the Pavilion calls it quits.

';I%26#39;m not sure if Myrtle Beach is doing the right thing,'; said Mary Penn, who has lived in Surfside Beach since 1986 and enjoys the amusement park and the community events at the Pavilion%26#39;s oceanfront stage. ';I%26#39;d like for them to keep an area here in the center for the concerts, the sunrise service, the sandcastle. Still have something here that would bring a lot of people together.';

Pavilion owner Burroughs %26amp; Chapin Co. Inc. says the redeveloped area will keep some of its feel as a gathering spot by the beach, but officials wouldn%26#39;t elaborate. B%26amp;C won%26#39;t announce details of the new development until this fall, at the earliest.

B%26amp;C has said it will be a mix of lodging, stores, restaurants and attractions.

Creating some type of public plaza, in addition to the boardwalk to be built by the city%26#39;s Downtown Redevelopment Corp., will be part of the Pavilion plan, B%26amp;C spokesman Pat Dowling said.

';The Pavilion has always been a central point,'; he said. ';You%26#39;ll still have the same identity as you did in the past.';

But the uncertainty over what will be built at the Pavilion site already has some groups, including the March of Dimes%26#39; fundraising walk and the Sun Fun Festival, coming up with other plans.

And several alumni at Myrtle Beach High School are planning one last reunion at the Pavilion to say good-bye to the landmark they grew up with.

For a town that doesn%26#39;t have a traditional downtown with a community plaza, the Pavilion - with an oceanfront stage and building resembling an auditorium - has filled that void, said Tommy Vaughn, interim youth minister at First Baptist Church of Myrtle Beach and president of the Myrtle Beach Ministerial Association.

';That area lends itself to that type of thing,'; he said. ';That%26#39;s kind of the core. People have just become accustomed to it. People associate having meetings and concerts with that area. Whether the Pavilion is there or not, people are going to see that as the Main Street of Myrtle Beach.';

bump

Try this link:

www.myrtlebeachinfo.com/pavilion/default.html

Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort

Looking for anyone who has stayed here. How is it? Can%26#39;t find anything on the logs about it. I guess no news is good news!

Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort

It is under Holiday Inn on the south beach.WE stayed there two years ago and we loved it.The pools are great for the kids, and they have a poolside bar with karokee and music.Are room was oceanfront and was clean.The breakfast was good but crowded and free.This saved us money and time in the a.m. The parking was not good there was only about twenty to thirty parking places and the rest of the parking was across the street in a garage.So if you stay with kids you should drop them at hotel then have someone park the car for safety reasons.There are a lot a bad reviews on this hotel but we didn%26#39;t have any of these problems.We would stay there again.I am pretty picky on where i stay so that should tell you something.Was there something about it that caught your eye about staying there?I could try and help you answer any other questions ,let me know I will be happy to help you.I would say for the money it is about average price for myrtle beach.We have been to several hotels in myrtle beach.You should avoid The Sea Mist(it is old and dirty)they have mold.They do have a good family fun package that is a great value.

Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort

forgot to tell you it is within walking distance to restaurants and family kingdom amusement park.Let me know if i can help anymore.

The problems with the Sea Crest are the same problems with many of the hotels in the same area.

- Parking - bad. If you park in the garage, you have to cross the road. That%26#39;s OK at 8am, but not at 10pm! Very dangerous

- LOUD - OK, the ';honking'; and ';rap music'; thumping from the cars all night is bad in this area.

- LOUD #2. With the hotel tower next door, the pre-teen kids constantly yell and make noise at each other over the parking lots. Where are the parents??? We%26#39;ve stayed at the Sea Crest 5 times, and it gets worse every year.

- Pools - just like everywhere else, they can be crowded and dirty during the summer. There are several, though, so it%26#39;s not too hard to find one that works for you.

- Beach Bar - What beach bar? There%26#39;s a place where you can get a drink, but it%26#39;s between buildings, smells bad, had no atmosphere, and is expensive.

- Rooms. The tower used to be nice, but is starting to show its age. The stairwells smell terrible, but it beats waiting for the elevators.

The Sea Mist is a MUCH nicer and cleaner place to stay. But, it is also in the same area, so you get the same ';thump-thump'; music all night long from the road.

Well I read on the expedia? travel site some bad-bad-bad comments on this place. They said it should be called the ';Sea Crust'; resort because it%26#39;s starting to show its age. I think that most of the complaints were about the bad smells, the outdated rooms and the pool area. Hope that helps. If you want to stay on that end of the beach, try Hampton Inn Oceanfront, they say it%26#39;s one of the best in MB and it%26#39;s clean and you get free breakfast.

Le Grand Cirque

Has anyone been to this show -

We%26#39;ll be there in July with my husband and two kids 10 %26amp; 8 - I thought this sounded like fun - but don%26#39;t want to be stuck with a really bad choice.

Le Grand Cirque

I%26#39;m a local and have never heard of this show. Which theater is it at?

Le Grand Cirque

It%26#39;s at the Palace Theater at Broadway at the Beach. I%26#39;d like to know about it, too. We think we%26#39;d like to try it this year.

My husband and I saw the show in March. It was very enjoyable. They put on a great show as well as many acrobats that are unbelievable. It was very unique and one of a kind. Kind of kept you on the edge of your seat in wow. It was amazing some of the tricks they could do. I would go see it again when I visit.

I just booked front row seats for july 4th.Show looks great and very reasonably priced.It got great reviews on TR (click on attractions above then scroll down to palace theatre) Figured I%26#39;d see the 8PM show and be out just in time for the fireworks...tx for the idea.

One More Question

I also have been tasked by my company to plan the next business retreat this upcoming winter. This is my first time doing this and needless to say, I am a tad nervous. I posted earlier about Wild Dunes for a weekend retreat, would Wild Dunes be appropriate for a business retreat as well? Has anyone ever been to a conference there for several days or would recommend this resort as a destination site for my company? We are looking for an up-scale, grand resort but be able to work hard and play hard too.

Thanks!

One More Question

Since I live on the island I have never had the need to stay at Wild Dunes, so unfortunately I can%26#39;t answer your question. However, I am sure they have a web site, so maybe that will help. Also by answering this, it will bump it back up to the top of the postings and perhaps someone will see it that can provide you with better info!

Someone just recent posted a trip report about staying at Wild Dunes, so reading it may be helpful as well.

Good luck.

ocean temp

Heading to Myrtle beach next week and wondering how the ocean temp is. We have always gone the 2nd week of July and enjoyed swimming. Hoping it is warm now also.Although visiting from the northeast just about anything will feel warm!!

ocean temp

Ocean temps off the SC coast are at around 80 degrees F right now.

ocean temp

that will work for me,I believe it is in the 50%26#39;s here!!!!

seaboard.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php鈥?/a> springmaid pier water station link.

While we were there last week we never did find out the temp. of the ocean, but it was warm and nice. I think you%26#39;ll be happy with the MB ocean compared to say New Jersey ocean water.

The ocean temp today was 79. If you go to wpde.com (our local news), click on weather then on beach forecast, it will give you the ocean temp, sunrise/sunset times and what time high tide and low tide is. It is a very helpful website if you are planning a beach trip. Have a great vacation!

thank you anybob,someone else gave me that website and I have been checking it everday,no need as of tomorrow as we will be there!!!!!

JLF - I%26#39;m jealous! Went to the beach this weekend (ma/nh line) and yes the water felt to be about 50! Kept telling myself 4 more weeks then I can really enjoy the ocean! Enjoy!!!

Just back yesterday and I am ready to go back!!!!

Had a great week and the ocean temp was wonderful.Not even a pause to get wet.Enjoyed the warm water and surf. Now back to the cold MA water.

Enjoy SC.

blackheads

B & Bs in Greenville

We are taking a trip to Greenville and Knoxville looking for areas to relocate. We usually like to stay at Bed and Breakfasts if possible to get a fee for an area.

We have a 7 year old, and would like to stay under $125 if possible. We don%26#39;t necessarily want to stay in the city, anywhere 20-30 minutes out would do.

Any suggestions?

B %26amp; Bs in Greenville

Just as an update, we did find a B%26amp;B in Greenville. It was the American House on the Hill. I think it is a newer one. We had just received the Greenville Visitors Guide and it was listed at a good price.

When we got to the web we found they had a special of $55 per night. We couldn%26#39;t beat it. I think it even serves a hot breakfast. I%26#39;ll report on it after we stay there.

Vince

B %26amp; Bs in Greenville

I just got back from Greenville and staying at the American House on the Hill B%26amp;B. It was an old farm house from around 1887. John and LaVena were very nice and informative and made the stay very pleasant.

Our room was nicely furnished, but we had to share a bathroom with others. The food was pretty good, but not the best we have had.

Overall we enjoyed the stay, especially at $55 a night. But I believe there are probably some nicer places to stay.

Seafood

Wondering if anyone could suggest a local market to purchase fresh seafood for us to prepare at our condo? We will arrive in a month. Thanks for the info. in advance.

Seafood

Benny Hudsons on Squire Pope Road - Not the same as Hudson%26#39;s Restaurant.

Bluffton Oyster Factory - in Downtown Bluffton on Warf Street

Captains Seafood - Beach Market across from Coligny

Piggly Wiggly - also know as Martin%26#39;s Red and White - located in Coligny shopping center. Do not confuse with Poderis Piggly Wiggly in Shelter Cove.

Stan (hhiguy)

Seafood

Thanks hhiguy!

Which place would be your first stop? Does each place specialize in a certain type of seafood or fish?

Looking forward to our first trip to Hilton Head.

All specialize in local Shrimp this time of year. They are branded as %26#39;Wild'; shrimp.

Captains%26#39; Seafood and Piggly Wiggley also have fresh catch off the local charter boats. Benny Hudson also has fresh catch.

If you come in the Fall, Bluffton Oyster is the only remaining Schucking facility in the state.

Stan (hhiguy)

Thanks again for the info. We look forward to preparing some great meals!!

We are planning a trip to Hilton Head the first part of November. What fish can I expect to find in the stores ?

Oyster season is in full swing, so you%26#39;ll find plenty here and in the restaurants. We are still catching Shrimp, so that%26#39;s another possibility.

Blue crab, and softshells are not as plentiful, and it is too early for Stone crab. You%26#39;ll find plenty of Grouper, Mahi, Tilipia, and Snapper at this time of the year.

Stan (hhiguy)

Will the seafoods you mention still be available in November ?

Yes!

Good Seafood

Going to Charleston for a few days and want to eat some really good seafood, any suggestions?

Good Seafood

Almost every restaurant in Charleston serves great fresh local seafood. Our personal favorite seafood restaurant is Hanks, which is popular and crowded, but definitely worth the wait.

Good Seafood

Wow, you sure asked a lot for such a short sentence!

1. Look over there %26lt;%26lt;-- for Charleston restaurants and some reviews.

B. Use the search function and read the forums where folks like Regana have posted wonderful, insightful trip reports. Those may be the best and most up-to-date places to look.

Looking for good restaurants in Charleston is like trying to find a favorite ice cream at Baskin-Robbins - nearly all of them are great so you can%26#39;t really go wrong!

Need some questions answered about Isle of Palms

We are planning a weekend trip to Isle of Palms in Aug. There are 15 of us and we wanted to rent a boat, some jet skis, and maybe some snorkeling gear. Are there any rental places in IOP?

We are also celebrating my husband%26#39;s 30th birthday, any suggestions on places to eat/hang out and also any good bars/clubs in the area?

Thanks!

Need some questions answered about Isle of Palms

There may be some where near Wild Dunes to rent Jet Skis, etc, but I know there is not any where to do that on the other end of the island. You should check at the Isle of Palms Marina and also Wild Dunes Resort area.

There are several restaurants along the beach on the Isle of Palms that you might enjoy. My favorite restaurant (I live on IOP) is on the adjacent island - Sullivans Island. It is called High Thyme and is absolutely delicious, I find it to be superior to any on those on IOP. It is fairly small, so I would suggest reservations.

On IOP there is a bar called the Windjammer that is always busy, it is right on the beach and has a large deck where you can see the ocean. Most nights during the summer they have live music, usually very good band. Some local, some nationally known. You can see their line up on www.the-windjammer.com

Some of the bands sell out, so you may want to consider getting tickets prior to your trip if there is someone you definitely want to see.

There is also a more upscale bar a few blocks away (in the same shopping center as the grocery store) named Budiroe%26#39;s. I have not been there personally, but it is supposed to be very nice, it is only about 1 year old.

Restaurants to consider

on IOP-

Banana Cabana - very casual atmosphere and food

One Eyed Parrot - casual atomosphere, more upscale food

Coconut Joe%26#39;s - very casual atmosphere and food.

Long Island Cafe - casual, more upscale food

on Sullivan%26#39;s Island -

Poe%26#39;s - GREAT burgers and fries, meat ground fresh every day and potatos cut fresh every day. More of a bar atmosphere.

Off the Hook - causual, sandwiches, etc, good, also more bar like

HIGH THYME - casual atmosphere (not a t-shirt and flops kind of place tho) and very good upscale food, my fave!

Station 22 - very good, lots of seafood. Has my favorite dessert, a fudge brownie pie w/ a chocolate sauce on top that is to die for!!!!!!

Hope this is helpful to you.

Need some questions answered about Isle of Palms

This was really helpful!!

Thank you!

Ocean Drive Resort

Has anyone ever stayed here??? If so how was everything??

Ocean Drive Resort

it depends on what you are looking for and how many people you have . it didn%26#39;t work well with us . i travel with my wife ,2 daughters and they%26#39;re friends . the rooms have only 1 small bathroom , everything seemed to be cramped towards the middle of our room . if there is only 4 or less in the room it might be OK . we found we get more bang for the buck renting a condo from someone like Elliot Realty , Condo-World or Century 21 Thomas . very comparable prices and more room and bathrooms . very close in relation to The Ashworth , Ocean Bay Club or Avista .

Where to stay and best time to visit North Myrtle Beach

Hello,

We are a family of 3 looking to vacation in North Myrtle this summer. Just wanted to get some ideas on when the best time is to visit. We want to avoid the crowds as much as possible. We would like to stay right by the ocean and be able to bike and roller blade.

Thanks

Grace

Where to stay and best time to visit North Myrtle Beach

Early June or late August would be less crowded than in between times. Tilghman Beach and Raquet Club in the Ocean Drive section of North Myrtle would be a good choice.

Where to stay and best time to visit North Myrtle Beach

We have vacationed in NMB for 18 years. If you want to avoid the big crowds then go the last week of August or later. The schools go back usually around the 20th or so and the crowds thin out after that. Of course that is the middle of hurricane season [ get travel insurance! ]. You can have beautiful weather for swimming, golfing etc, until October. The rates are lower also. You can go thru one of the realty comp. and get a great oceanfront condo. Just let them know the type of accom. you want - luxury, family style, etc. They have always done well with our trips. We have used Elliott Realty, Grand Strand Realty, Condo World.

Early June or late August. Try Grand Strand Resorts at northmyrtlebeach.com

Depending on the age of your chilren, late August. early September is fantastic. We always went 1st full week of Sept and really enjoyed. Weather nice and not as crowed. Since granddaughter has started school we go 3rd week in August now and isn%26#39;t too bad. HAve been lucky to avoid Hurricanes but do take travel insurance with rental company.

we always go the 3rd week in august. the rates go down this week and it is always wonderful weather.

Ocean Drive area for sure . Ashworth , Ocean Bay Club , Avista or Tilghman B %26amp; R .all good choices . lots of things to do and see within walking distance . Barefoot Landing about 5 or 6 miles down on Rt 17 .

blackheads

compass cove pools ?

Hi, I was looking at the compass cove web site, to see the pools, and I thought they look small, or aren%26#39;t they? were thinking about going to this hotel, but I hate when the pools are over crowded. any help would be appreciated it.

compass cove pools ?

There not small at all. They have the larger ones and then there are some smaller ones. Their indoor pools are a nice size. They have a hot tub between the 2 pools on the inside. It was small but at least 8 people could fit in there but it%26#39;s a hot tub not the pool.

Their lazy river is one of the better ones to me because it goes from inside the building to the outside, so your not in the sun the whole time. Does that help?

compass cove pools ?

Eb,

I love the Compass Cove Hotel because of all their pools. They are not small at all. I will be staying at Compass Cove on 6/30-7/9

and I have already packed my float that I actually lay on in the pools. My teenagers fuss about me taking it but then they end up using it too. The pool chairs do get taken fast so I always go down around 7am after the maintenance people finish cleaning and I save my chairs and nobody has ever stopped me.

Only 3 more days!!

JenLO,

Are there specific kinds of floats allowed in the pools? What about the beach? We%26#39;ll be arriving the day you leave...

Hello Cee,

I have been staying at Compass Cove for years and have always taken floats for myself and the kids into the pools and nobody has ever said anything. Years ago we would put those canvas floats that you can take into the ocean into the pools with us now we just use those plastic blow-up loungers(of course they are not allowed in the ocean) I am taking my laptop I will keep you updated and I just called Compass Cove and they assured me I will have wireless access in my room they also told me I will be on the 3rd floor (they assign rooms 5 days before you arrive they told me) I was a little sad because I had requested the bottom floor and I made the reservations 1 year ago and I stay at this place 8 times a year. I was told the manager prints the list of request and decides himself/herself what request are honored.

I might try the Avista resort at Labor Day!!

2 days!!

Hello:

I am a new poster and live in Cincinnati, Ohio. I am coming down to Myrtle Beach for the first time in about 25 years. I will be arriving the week of 7/23 along with my sister and 9 year old niece. We have reservations at the Compass Cove Pinnacle and are very excited. I have read some of the stories about the slow elevators so I guess I will make stair climbing my workout routine on vacation. Will give me a good reason to avoid the gym. :)

Can a past Compass Cove visitor let me know if we can use our own tubes in the lazy rivers or do you have to use the resort%26#39;s?

JenLo:

I keep getting conflicting stories on the renovations. The reservationist I talked to last weekend told me they are complete but I am seeing recent reviews on Yahoo talking about renovation nightmares. Can you post a review when you return and let us know what is really going on? It would be much appreciated.

We are so looking forward to our trip, my niece is so excited she can%26#39;t see straight.

This is a great forum to visit for info and advice. I have been lurking for the past couple of months and enjoy the posts. I will have to write a review when I return, maybe it will help others out.

Thanks!

BengalsLady: Well, when I called to make reservations there this year, I was also told that they have completed their rennovations. That was actually the first thing he said when he answered. I am pretty sure they are and the comments were just posted before completion. Most of the bad construction comments were about the noise and the workers and rooms missing certain items. (The pictures on their website and some photos I%26#39;ve seen like on expedia, etc. were of the new upgrades in the Pinnacle Building, and it looked nice and clean. They brightened it up because before it was so dark with the color patterns and was a little boring.)

In reference to the tubes: If I can recall when we stayed in 2002, my son was too little for their tubes and we had our own and no one said anything. I do remember a lifeguard/security guard standing right in the middle of it all looking at everyone making sure everyone was safe. I can%26#39;t recall them ever complaining about our tubes.

Floats, I%26#39;m not so sure about. You might want to call their office and ask them if it is allowed to use floats in the pool. I loved their indoor pool. I am not a person to sit in the sun all day so I love the indoor pool options. And the little hot tub they have inside. It was nice and HOT HOT HOT %26amp; BUBBLY. May have had a little too much chlorine so if your eyes are sensitive to it, wear goggles or keep your eyes closed. I didn%26#39;t mind at all. Weird, I actually like the smell of chlorine in the pools. (I know I am crazy) but it just smells so clean and I love the clean smells like that.

Thanks MrsMaryland!!!

Now I am really looking forward to it.

I like to have the indoor pool option also since I am pretty fair skinned and you never know when it is going to rain.

BengalsLady,

My family stayed at Compass Cove during Easter 2006 our room was in the Pinnacle and it was renovated, they also showed us a Jr Suite in the Schooner building (which is the small hotel) and it had the same renovations it looked just like the pictures on the web site. We will be staying in the Schooner building on Friday 6/30/06

I am bringing my laptop so I will update you while I am at the property.

Oh, during the Easter Holiday I didn%26#39;t see any construction going on at all.

I didn%26#39;t like the elevators or the parking deck in the Pinnacle building.

Help me chose between Renaissance/Pickney/Venue/Elliott

I am coming to visit Charleston in a few weeks.

I have 2 nights I am staying at the Renaissance with a good priceline rate.

Now I am going to add 1 more night:

My options about the same rate ($ 120)are:

Renaissance,

Elliott House,

Vendue,

Andrew Pinckney,

Also for just a litle more ($150) is the Holiday Inn-Historic.

Thank you,

Help me chose between Renaissance/Pickney/Venue/Elliott

I would either continue to stay at the Renaissance, the hotel is beautiful and is right in the downtown area or I would move to the Elliott House Inn. It is a smaller more intimate inn. It is also in the middle of downtown and has very nice rooms. The Elliott House has a central courtyard with an outdoor jacuzzi. They include your breakfast in the morning and an afternoon wine and cheese.

info for first timers

Hi! My husband and I will be visiting Charleston over Columbus Day weekend and staying in the historic district for our 4 nights there. We plan to rent a car as we don%26#39;t want to feel confined to the city for the entire trip and want to see some of the beaches, islands etc. surrounding the city. Our hotel offers overnight parking but at a pretty high rate. Is there an overnight garage near King St. ? Also, we plan on going to ';A Taste of Charleston'; being held in Mt. Pleasant on the 8th. How far a drive is this from downtown? Lastly, we have already made reservations at Roberts for Friday evening but want to do one more ';special'; dinner. There seem to be so may good places to choose from it%26#39;s hard to make a decision. Atmosphere is just as important to us as the food quality. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated!

info for first timers

Boy,lots of questions. Here%26#39;s some suggestions/answers:

1)Yes, there are overnight parking garage in Charleston. Sometimes, it is just as cheap to let the hotel park for you. Unsure of the rate. Someone asked this question before. Just type in parking garage in the search part of this forum and you should find some answers.

2)From dowtown the Taste of Charleston is about 12-15 miles. It is about 20 minutes. Not too bad. Bring money to that event.

3) Roberts is a great choice for a very special dinner. Also, try the Woodlands in Summerville. You would enjoy that too.

info for first timers

Parking is a premium anywhere you go. Most of the hotels offer parking anywhere between $10-18 per day. The garages are going to be about the same. I would just park at the hotel, that way you have secure parking and your car is easy to get to when you want to get in and out.

Depending on what time of the day you are wanting to got to Mt. Pleasant it can take somewhere between 10-30 min driving.

For other romantic ';special'; dinner restaurants you can try Cypress, McCradys, Charleston Grill or Peninsula Grill. You can walk over to High Cotton for some after dinner drinks and some nice jazz music to cap off your evening.

Thanks to both of you for your quick responses! I guess we will just park at the hotel; it will certainly be the most convenient and secure. We are very much looking forward to our visit as it has been high on our ';list'; for quite some time. We are both in our late 40%26#39;s and have also heard that there is quite a bit of development going on in some of the smaller coastal towns just north of the city. We have already decided that Florida isn%26#39;t for us when we become retirement age so this will also be somewhat of a scouting mission (albeit a short one). We grew up and live close to the coast now (Ma./NH) so that continues to be a priority. I have NEVER heard anyone say that they didn%26#39;t like visiting the Charleston area; can%26#39;t wait to experience it ourselves!

You might also like to look at Kiawah and Seabrook Islands, south of Charleston, and a very easy drive into the city and to the essential suburban conveniences of the West Ashley area. Although they are not the traditional small, coastal towns you mention, both islands are lovely residential communities with resort amenities.

Both Kiawah and Seabrook are covenanted to protect them from the kind of commercial development that has (in my view) destroyed much of Florida. Kiawah, in particular, has a glorious 12-mile packed sand beach and spectacular marsh and river vistas. Seabrook is smaller than Kiawah, but also very nice.

If you come out to Kiawah, be sure to visit the beautiful Sanctuary Hotel. The Ocean Room at The Sanctuary is great for a special dinner (reservations essential), or just have a drink in the Lobby Bar.

We will definitely check these islands out; they sound beautiful! And you don%26#39;t have to twist my arm anytime to stop by a nice hotel with a restaurant/ bar that looks out at the Atlantic Ocean. I wish our trip were longer than 4 days but it is difficult to get more time off from work that time of the year. I will be taking a vacation next April so who know, we may end up further exploring Charleston and vicinity again.........Anyone out there relocate from the northeast and care to share their experience on living in this wonderful area of the country?

We have lived in Boston, London, and New York. We now live in the NYC metropolitan area. We love all of those cities.

Since our children were babies - for the past 20+ years - we have been vacationing on Kiawah. We now own a second home here, and spend as much time in the Charleston area as we can. We would like to relocate here eventually - maybe on Kiawah, but possibly somewhere else in the lowcountry surrounding Charleston.

Charleston is a remarkable place, at once ';down home'; and urbane. This is a very sophisticated and tolerant place, which was consider by the Brits in colonial days ';the only civilized city '; in North America. Along with that, you get the beaches, rivers, marshes, forests, and gardens.

Have a wonderful visit to the SC lowcountry.

Thank you Kiawahvilla, We are looking forward to it! I have a feeling that this may be the first of many visits to Charleston and surrounding communities....... The GOOD thing about purchasing real estate is that we are used to exorbitant prices; we won%26#39;t be facing ';sticker shock!';

Hot Fish Club vs Drunken Jacks

I saw a post on here were someone%26#39;s favorite place was Hot Fish Club! Our favorite place is Drunken Jacks and I was wondering about Hot Fish Club!

What type place is Hot Fish Club? Does it compare to Drunken Jacks. WE have two small children and is it more upscale than Drunken Jacks?

I%26#39;ve been to the website, but wanted a personal opinion!

Exactly were is it located compared to Drunken Jacks?

Thanks

Hot Fish Club vs Drunken Jacks

I really like both of those restaurants, but probably prefer Hot Fish. I enjoy the option of eating inside the restaurant, on the screen porch or out in the Gazebo. I wouldnt say that its more ';upscale'; that Drunken Jacks, but I do think the food is presented that way (does that make any sense??) I think the menu at Hot Fish is just a bit more creative too.

Guess I%26#39;ve seen families with small children enjoy both places, but one thing the Hot Fish diffinately has over Drunken Jacks is the Gazebo area, with the live music and the tire swing! Just like being at a friends house on the inlet!

:)

Hot Fish Club vs Drunken Jacks

I completely agree with everything MBC said. Both restaurants are wonderful but I also like the environment (especially the gazebo area) at Hot Fish Club more. Great food at both though! Enjoy!

Just back from Myrtle beach. where is the Hot fish club????

I thought it was at Murrels inlet and we walked up and down the boardwalk and did not see it. We ate at Drunken Jacks and did enjoy it.

Hot Fish is just about as far south as you can go in Murrells Inlet, and still be in Murrells Inlet...they are NOT connected (yet) to the marshwalk....Not sure if you saw Nances, but they are just a few places down from there....be sure to put it on your must tries for you next trip!

:)

ok will do that. when we were leaving Murrels we drove south just a short distance and then thought we had it wrong and it was not in this area at all. Guess we did not go far enough. Will just HAVE TO go back. :-)

Pelican's Watch Condo & things to do

Will be staying at a condo at Pelican%26#39;s Watch , 9570 Shore Dr., Myrtle Beach. Have 3 children ages 3,5,7 yrs. Are there things to do within walking distance %26amp; places to eat, or must we drive to anything we want to do.

Also, any good, inexpensive places to eat near the Pelican%26#39;t Watch?

Pelican's Watch Condo %26amp; things to do

There are a few little shops not too far from Pelicans Watch in what they call the Straw Market...I think there is still a place to get ice cream there too.....of course if you head to the south from the condo you have River City Cafe and Ocean Annies...there is also an Ultimate California Pizza in the Sands, and just up Lake Arrowhead Road is Finn McCools...decent food, cold beers.

:)

Pelican's Watch Condo %26amp; things to do

Thanks MBC.

Are there fire works every evening? How about bands on the beach? or any entertainment on the beach. Or is that further South at Myrtle beach?

Even tho%26#39; personal fireworks are illegal along the beach, you do see a number of private shows....as for public displays, nothing along the beach front in that area....Myrtle Beach does do fireworks on Wednesdays at 2nd Ave Pier, and you can probably see them from the beach there...Barefoot Landing which isnt far from there does their display on Mondays (and I think they just added Thursdays ?), and I know from the beach at 67th Ave N in MB we can see that display...

Ocean Annies, which is on the beach just south of Pelicans Watch usually has live music....not sure of any other live music in that area...along the beachfront anyway.

Have a great time!

Beach bar in MB?

Can anyone recommend a fun beach front bar in MB? I%26#39;m not looking for a night/dance club. Just looking for a bar on the beach to have a few drinks and feel the ocean breeze. (some live music wouldn%26#39;t be bad either). Any suggestions?

Beach bar in MB?

1. Bummz: just north of the Pavilion on the strip

2. Latitude 22: next to Surfside pier

3. Garden City Pier

Beach bar in MB?

Ditto on Bummz...one of my favs, decent food, cold drinks, good music...and its like being at someones house!

Another is a great locals hangout, with live music on Wed and Sun...called St Clements....Luke and his staff are great! They are located at the Caravelle about 73rd ave N.

:)

Bummz is #1!

If in NMB.....Harold%26#39;s On The Ocean in Cherry Grove

Another vote for Bummz! Enjoy!

Thanks guys!!

MBConcierge - I will be staying near 10th Ave. South. How far away is Bummz from there? Within walking distance?

briezer,

Bummz is located at 20 Ave N...and you are more to the south end at 10th Ave S...it is walkable, but you may need a few beers by the time you get there! lol If I were you, I%26#39;d catch the bus, it goes right down Ocean Blvd and will stop right in front of Bummz....you could wak up the beach, would probably be about 4 miles, and catch the%26#39;bus back! Enjoy! It is a great place! I LOVE the blackened grouper salad there! YUM! And the Ribs!

:)

Ocean Annie%26#39;s at the Sands!

Hi, could you tell me where is Bummz is located from The Hampton Inn Oceanfront??? Is this some where you could eat with children and then they play on the beach after?

Tues/June 27th stopped at Bummz at 3pm for the first time for a quick lunch before heading to the ariport and home.Sat outside and enjoyed the beachfront view. very casual. had the grilled grouper salad,the grouper was delicious.My husband had the grouper fingers and the new england clam chowder. both good.

When do they have music? Both thought it would be nice there at night with the tiki torches lit and music playing. will just have to go back.

blackheads

Spring Maid Beach

We are staying here the middle of April.

I have three children, ages 6, 11 and 16.

Can anyone tell me of any close attractions to this resort as of course, I do not know the area?

Thanks.

Spring Maid Beach

You have Downwind Sails just north of the Springmaid --- see David to go parasailing, banana boat, rent a hobie or a jet ski (they give lessons for the hobie too!)...you can rent a fishing pole and fish off the pier too. Or a surf board, take a lesson and go surfing (Surf City offers lessons and board rental).

The Chapin Art Museum is right across the street -- really a neat museum, call ahead, they sometimes have excellent kids programs.

Midway Par 3 is within walking distance --- nice par 3 golf course and driving range, Jurassic mini golf just on the other side of the par 3.

Catch the trolley (runs until midnight) to the Pavilion area or over to Broadway at the Beach (www.broadwayatthebeach.com).

Check out a great map at

www.golymo.com (click map/schedule)

or local tourist info at

www.strandmagazine.com

Hope all this helps! Have fun! :)

Spring Maid Beach

Hello! I dont know if you are going to be checking this but can you tell me what the Spring Maid Beach Resort was like. I am looking for a hotel. Thank you!

Thanks MBC......the Coast buses look like a great way to save me some hassle getting around, just sit back and let someone else do the driving. Especially back and forth to Broadway and the Pavilion area, no need to hunt for parking!! Love it!

EXACTLY! And its sad that more people dont utilize this service! I know that the buses arent as timely as they should be...and hopefully as more people use this service, that will be rectified.

:)

what are they doing at the Caribbean resort and villa's?

Does anyone know what exactly they are renovating at this hotel and villas. Are they redoing the whole hotel, or just minor cosmetic updating? Are they also redoing or fixing up the chealsa house villas? When will they be done? Anyone been there lately? We stayed 2 yrs ago and enjoyed it, hoping to be back summer %26#39;07 any info would help, thanks!

what are they doing at the Caribbean resort and villa's?

Hi.

They are not touching the villa%26#39;s across the street, however, it is a major remodel for the beach front property. They are tearing down the building that the office is in and rebuilding a much higher tower. They are also putting in a %26#39;water park%26#39; in the back. It should be awesome when it%26#39;s done. We are staying somewhere else this year, but plan to be back next yr.

The last I heard, construction should be complete March 2007.

D