My extended family is considering renting a house near the beach in Charleston, SC (Isle of Palms) for a week next summer. On the internet, the house looks fabulous (of course). My question for the ng wise ones is: Has anyone done this sort of thing in the Charleston area? Our group (MIL, FIL--80's, SIL, BIL, DN, DH and myself) all have very differing interests. I know that there will be enough to interest the history buffs. I am a beach person (hope the beach is nice). Two of them are really into flora and fauna. Of course, DN (and my boys if they can manage to schedule vacations) need nightlife. Is Charleston our best choice? Enough to keep everyone busy for a week? (Not a golfer in the group!)
TIA
Judy in Fort Worth quiltedtreasures at flash dot net
I think it is a good choice -- I love the Charleston area. Last summer we went a little further south than that -- St. Simons Island, Georgia. While DH and I are not going this summer (we are headed to Alaska instead) my children have rented the house again this summer. Next summer we are going to Maine but I think we will have to consider South Carolina soon!
I love staying in a house at the beach for vacation. Near Charleston we have always stayed on Folly Beach, but Isle of Palms is also popular. It was a 1/2 to 1 hour drive into Charleston from Folly Beach- the tourist district is fun, great restaurants & lots of things to see (and to buy). Our favorite house was right on the beach, the other times we rented houses across the street to have handicap access for my folks. Traffic into Charleston is heavy. Savannah Georgia is also a daytrip away-think "Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil".
Also in South Carolina is the Myrtle Beach area (North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet). We rented one house in Murrells Inlet on the waterway side instead of the beach to have handicap access & my Dad got to fish off our private dock, there was a small backyard pool, and it was less than a block to walk to the beach. Very touristy, especially in Myrtle Beach, lots of nightlife, restaurants, mini golf(my kind of golf), boat tours of the islands. Brookgreen Gardens for plant and art buffs. Plantation tours are fun. There were a couple of nice quilt shops in reach.
My #1 tip is not to buy food for more than a couple of days at a time. The first time we all went everyone put what they wanted on a shopping list & then often ate something someone else made or went out- we threw away a heartbreaking amount of food at the end when we cleaned out the house- just couldn't haul it all home. The last day or two should be eat-it-up days. If you run out there are always restaurants.
Tip #2 Take or plan to buy detergent and wash your clothes often. You can take smaller suitcases, and it is amazing how many towels we used at the beach.
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