Wild Dunes: April 2010

Friday, April 9, 2010

Where to stay in Myrtle Beach

We are a family of 4 (kids aged 13 and 17) planning a week summer vacation in Myrtle Beach. Haven%26#39;t been before. We%26#39;re looking for recommendations on where to stay, ie. North vs Central, etc. Is the beach nicer in some places? Are some areas safer than others? Any thoughts on the Seaside Resort?

Also, we can go in July or August, is there much difference in weather usually?

Is there good shelling anywhere?

My kids will want to rent jet-skis - are they available/permitted everywhere?

Any other thoughts or advice would be appreciated - thanks!

Where to stay in Myrtle Beach

Seaside is a nice resort and I also sent you a pm for more detailed information.

Where to stay in Myrtle Beach

Location depends on what you want. Do you want quiet and more residential? Or do you want somewhat live and active with some places to walk to? All oceanfront locations are safe in my opinion. No matter where you go just use typical precautions as usual. I have never ever never felt unsafe in MB and I am a female with children. I have walked outside to the garages across the street at night and have sat outside at night and not once did I feel unsafe.

With that, I like the central section of Myrtle Beach because of its convenience to the attractions like at Broadway at the Beach. Note that North Myrtle Beach is its own town. Myrtle Beach is usually catergorized by ';Northern End';, Central (Near Broadway at the Beach), and Southern Beach.

But you really can%26#39;t go wrong with anywhere in MB.

Suggestions on hotels:

-Dunes Village

-Compass Cove

-Breakers Resort (Paradise Building preferred)

-Oceans One

-Sandy Beach Resort (newer building Palmetto Only)

-Island Vista

-Caribbean Resort (Cayman Building preferred)

-Monterey Bay Suites

-Coral Beach Resort

-Camelot Resort

-Long Bay Resort

These are all decent hotels for families they all have pools (indoor and outdoor).

Weather wise, August is usually much hotter but July can be as well. We usually go at the end of August the week prior to school starting and it%26#39;s hot. This year we are going at the end of July so we will see if it%26#39;s any better.

Relating to Jet Skis, you would have to check out the age requirements for riding. I can%26#39;t think of the name of the company that does it should be on this site under things to do.

We don%26#39;t go shelling but a lot of people think there are more near the piers and the northern section of Myrtle.

Coral Beach has the amenities to keep them occupied.

Winter Rentals

I was just wondering if anyone knew of good websites for rental condos/houses for the winter months? Right on the ocean and close enough to place to walk to them. Would it be best to go with a real estate company? Any help would be much appreicated! Thanks! Also, what are the temps usually in the months of January-March? Really cold?

Winter Rentals

Many houses, condos %26amp; hotel rooms can be rented by the month very inexpensively in January %26amp; Feb. Rates in March begins to spike up, but you might be able to get a discount if renting 3 full months.

I would first look at the hotels along the Strand...a lot of info here. You can then use the various discount services to check rates or call the hotels directly.

For houses, smaller condos, %26amp; even privately owned hotel rooms, check with realtors, vrbo.com %26amp; similar owner direct websites.

Jan. has average highs in upper 50%26#39;s, but generally can be all over the place, from freezing to 70%26#39;s, you often get a taste of every kind of weather. A little warmer in Feb, getting pretty nice by March.

Even on a cold morning, when the sun comes out, it can feel quite balmy on an oceanfront patio, %26amp; the sunlight heats living space quickly. On many winter days you can sunbathe just by getting out of the wind, %26amp; swim in outdoor heated pools.

Winter Rentals

I would definitely check first with vrbo.com, homeaway.com or vacationrentals.com. We are property owners and have winter renters in our property right now.

They have been great! I have noticed that a lot of the winter renters come with a group of friends that rent in the same complex. They all have get-togethers, playing cards and having a blast!

Do check the above sites, pick out some that you think you will like, contact the owners and ask for references. As an owner, I like doing business with people who do their homework and want to be in a good, clean unit. They are generally the people who take best care of your units. I wish all our guests would leave our units as do our winter renters. We have only had four in both units combined over the past 11 years and they always leave it as good as they find it. Correspond with the owner you pick and get to the point that you feel comfortable with them.

BabySitting Services

We will be on the island in Sepetember of 09 and I have heard about these types of sevices but didn%26#39;t know if anyone had used them? Thanks.

BabySitting Services

Too bad you won%26#39;t be there 1st week of June. I%26#39;d like to rent out my son to help offset the cost of vacation. :)

Just kidding of course.

BabySitting Services

Check with some of the hotels - Westin, Hilton, etc. Many times they have services, but they are fairly pricey, I believe.

bars and holiday sands south

Is there any place to get a drink on the beach close to the holiday sands south? The hotel itself doesn%26#39;t have a bar.

bars and holiday sands south

Compass Cove which is about two or three hotels down has one.

bars and holiday sands south

Thank you!

How close is Queen's Grant to the Beach?

Does anyone know how far of a walking distance Queen%26#39;s Grant is to the beach? Also, do you know if St Andrews Common is any closer?

Thank you!

How close is Queen's Grant to the Beach?

both are about a 15 minute walk or a five minute bike ride....rd

Plantations

We are two adults 30%26#39;s and 60%26#39;s mom and daughter. We would like to go to one or two plantations. Not sure which to choose.

Boone Hall, Middleton Place or Magnolia Plantation

We will only be in Charleston 3.5 days.

I have heard that the she crab soup at Middleton Place is great.

Are they similar in terms of garden, history, arts and overall amazement?

This is our first time to Charleston and are also going to Savannah for 3 days.

Plantations

My first choice is Middleton Place. Each one has its own personality but none compare with Middleton for authenicity and beauty. If you have time for two, my second choice (not on your list) would be Drayton Hall. It is very near Middleton Place and does not take more than about an hour. Be sure to do the house tour at Middleton Place.

The She Crab Soup is GREAT!!!

Festival Tours

I%26#39;ve looked at the website for the Festival but I%26#39;m not sure I understand how the tours work. Is this an actual tour with a guide for the entire time, or do you walk it yourself and go in houses along a specific route with people in the house to talk about the house?

Also, we will be in Charleston the weekend for April 3-5. There are different tours each day - can anyone recommend which tour is most interesting? Also, any opinions on the harbor tour the evening of April 3rd?

Thanks

Amy

Festival Tours

When you pick up your ticket (any time before 2pm) you will be given a map. The 8 or 9 homes will be marked on the map. Take a minute to orient yourself on the map; most of the homes will be on the same street or within a block or two. If there is a big distance to cover b/w one home and another, they%26#39;ll provide a shuttle bus back and forth.

Only inside the homes or gardens will you have a docent explaining the history/architecture/antiques/etc - you have to make your way between homes (but often it is only a few houses down the street). This gives flexibility to the order in which you see the homes - if everyone started at house #1 there would always be a logjam, so start wherever you%26#39;d like. (some people walk quickly to the end of the tour and make their way to the beginning; some people start in the middle - your choice). Hope that explains things!

Each tour has something you will find interesting, I%26#39;m sure. Every home I%26#39;ve ever been in teaches me a lot about 200+ year old buildings, art, antiques, southern living, etc. It%26#39;s fun and I%26#39;d recommend it!

Festival Tours

Remember to wear COMFORTABLE flats and to carry a small flashlight. The streets can be dark in places and the sidewalks are uneven due to their age.

bloom-

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Traffic on Saturday?

Will be coming to Garden City this Saturday. Will the traffic be heavy on 501 coming into Myrtle Beach from I-95? Or is it too early in the season?

If it is bumper to bumper, is 521 into Georgetown, then north on 17 an option? Or will that be just as busy? We would rather take another route and keep moving, than sit in traffic.

Thanks. Hoping for warm weather, but it doesn鈥檛 look too promising鈥?/p>

Traffic on Saturday?

I was in your neck of woods over weekend, went to new indoor football game. Anyway, traffic should not be too bad this weekend, nothing like summer traffic. I hope you don%26#39;t go thru Florence on 501 and instead go 95N to beach exit 168 (?). Much quicker

Traffic on Saturday?

thanks for the reply and reminder of the bypass. I assume 501 all the way into town is still the best way to go? (Understand you would go N on the highway or 90, and we would go S on 17 bypass.)

They sure didn%26#39;t advertise the indoor football game very much here. You would think they should, to compete with the NCAA BB games.

If you are going North on I95, take exit 170 to the right. After 5 miles, at a stop light , turn left on 376 which becomes 501. When you go 3 miles past Conway, turn right on 544, that will dead end into 17 just North of Surfside, Garden City is 4 miles south. If you have not driven from Georgetown to MB, it is a nice drive and not crowded this time of year and Georgetown is definitely worth a day trip to enjoy the river walk etc.

Traffic should not be bad at all this time of year. When we come in July we take 501 to 544 and arrive before 12pm and have little to no traffic problems. If there is a back then it is usualy at the end of 544 where all of the campers and at the light.

help! vegan friendly restaurants?

Help TA crew -- I%26#39;m in Hilton Head and would like to find a vegan friendly restaurant to take guests to dinner. A %26#39;regular%26#39; restaurant, which would be willing to adjust items on the menu, or to accommodate requests, would be fine. I was wondering about RedFish or any other spot with a good chef. Of course I need the info within the next 18 hours.

Thanks so much!!

help! vegan friendly restaurants?

No purely Vegan restaurants here, but many have Vegetarian dishes. For example Frankie Bones has a pasta dish where the pasta is spaghetti Squash.

Go to hhidining.com and check the menus there. you%26#39;ll find lots of places you can go to.

Stan (hhiguy)

help! vegan friendly restaurants?

Got your message with thanks, Stan. Did not have time to reply. We ended up ordering in from the Magic Mushroom -- veggie pizza was fabulous with a a great salad and a good bottle of wine in our condo overlooking the ocean! Rounded out with dairy free ice-cream and berries from Publix and we were set.

Thank you!

Hawthorn Suites

I know there are a lot of people looking on this forum for places to stay, and I just wanted to say that this place was awesome. It%26#39;s about six or seven miles from downtown, but the money I saved made it worth it. I paid $50 a night for four nights, which included a room with a king size bed with a TV, a little kitchen nook, a large bathroom and a separate living area with a couch and chair and another TV. And the place was very clean.

They had a room with two computers with high-speed internet, which came in handy for getting directions. They also have an indoor pool and a fitness center. I didn%26#39;t use either one, but for families with kids, the pool is nice.

They also had breakfast each morning, including eggs, bacon, a waffle-maker and bagels. Nothing fancy, but a lot places don%26#39;t even provide a hot breakfast.

When I looked up this place before booking, the only complaints were about the staff. The staff was great during my entire stay. They were all courteous and helpful. On the day I checked out, the head housekeeper had to check me out because the person working the desk DROVE a couple to one of their tours after they missed their ride.

So, if anyone is looking for a pretty cheap hotel within range of the city, I%26#39;d highly recommend this place. If I ever come back to Charleston (which I hope to).

The only major issue I had was that I had to pay for parking everywhere in the city. Obviously, you have to drive to Charleston from the hotel, so to go anywhere, you have to pay to park. It%26#39;s not too expensive, but it definitely adds up. I think I spent close to $30 just for parking, but the extra money I saved by staying a few miles outside of the city more than made up for it.

Also, I went to Savannah for a day and I have to say that it doesn%26#39;t even come close to Charleston.

Anyway, hope this helps someone who%26#39;s looking for a nice place to stay!

Hawthorn Suites

Thanks for the info - yes, many people are looking for alternate places to stay.

And - for your return trip - Murray Blvd (at Whitepoint Gardens/ Battery) has free parking. It is a bit of a walk if you%26#39;re going to upper King St but you can walk there in about 20 minutes. (It%26#39;s not far - there are just some street lights that will slow you down)

I think your Savannah comparison explains why when people say they only have one day we recommend Savannah - when they can ';linger longer'; they will love Charleston.

Thanks again - see you soon! :)

Hawthorn Suites

Thanks for the report!

I frequently drive past Hawthorne Suites on my way into Charleston. The hotel is only a couple of years old. The West Ashley location on Rt. 17 is not scenic, but is very convenient if you have a car. Sounds like a good option for a budget traveler.

Thanks for the report. I saw a Hawthorn Suite van at the airport the other day picking up a flight crew...I do not know if it is for the same property.

You%26#39;re right, Savannah Highway isn%26#39;t very scenic, but it had just about anything you can think of along the way (including an oddly high number of cash advance places!).

Thanks for the parking tip CultureHound, I guess I should have asked about that before I came down :D

And you%26#39;re definitely correct about Savannah being a better one day stay. I really liked the historic, touristy kind of feel of Charleston much more. Savannah is still quite a busy, industrial city. Not really a complaint, I guess it just takes away a bit of the nostalgic feeling that I get when I walk around Charleston.

summer 2009

Thinking of a week holiday in Myrtle Beach. Looking for a nice place on the beach, near where the action is, but also want a quieter part of the beach. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

summer 2009

Cherry Grove section of North Myrtle Beach is your best bet.

summer 2009

Check out North Beach Plantation - a new resort that will be opening in early summer. It is between Ocean Creek and Beach Cove. The beach to the south is very quiet, while to the north a little busier. It%26#39;s also across from Barefoot Landing which provides all the restaurants, shopping and entertainment you could want. Look at www.northbeach1016.com to see pictures of the property and it%26#39;s progress towards completion and closinng. Rentals can be found at www.northbeachrentals.com.

The Old Lake Arrowhead Campground

Does anyone know what is now built on what used to be Lake Arrowhead Campground?

I was so young when I visited that I don%26#39;t even know what area it was in. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

The Old Lake Arrowhead Campground

When I was young, we spent two weeks every year at Lake Arrowhead- I have re-visited a couple of times, but not recently. The last time I was there there were condo- like things built where we used to camp and it looked like a tacky resort. Yuck! I googled it and some hiking website says the campground still exists, but I couldn%26#39;t find their website. I do remember that the Hilton was, literally, next door. A visit to their website says they added ';cabins'; or some such thing. I wonder if some of the old campground is now part of the Hilton? There was a Howard Johnson%26#39;s next door to the south, also, but I%26#39;m sure that%26#39;s gone. I%26#39;d really love to bring my kids to see where I had so much fun- we just roamed around and did whatever we felt like doing- the beach, the pool, the mini-golf, the playground, the Hilton entertainment center... Wish it was all still there.

- Laura B.

The Old Lake Arrowhead Campground

The campground is still there and NOT part of Hilton.

Arrowhead is next door to Kingston Plantation. Rumors have flown around for years that the campground was going to sell. Unfounded. It%26#39;s still a great campground and has the Apache Pier which is very popular.

It%26#39;s in a great location. Just a short drive off 17. Very quiet part of the beach and still very popular with campers of all varieties.

I have read this forum and would love to know, if anyone would know if lake arrowhead campground has a website. I to have many, many fond memories of this campground. My family would spend 2 weeks a year at the campgound. My favorite was waking up and having the beach right there and the arcade was the best with the skee ball. For fun we would walk next door to the Hilton and i remember as a little girl, walking at night on the beach and looking up at the top floors of the hilton and it being all lit up. Please let me know if anyone has more information on this campground.%26#39;

As a child, My family revered Lake Arrowhead as hollowed ground. We camped in a travel trailer on the beach. There was so much to do, and it was always safe! One year we even stayed 3 weeks! What a wonderful time growing up! Before the pool area was built, we would go to the arcade and sneak over to the Hilton. We would even swim in the Hilton pool! Remember the drums played by the pool in the evening over there? How many week long summer relationships did you have? We would ride the paddle boats, chase the mosquito killing ';smokey Joe';, play putt-putt, volleyball, and run loose for two weeks straight! When the pool was built and arcade upgraded we thought we were in a true resort. Apache didn%26#39;t offer the space or the amenities, but we would go over and make friends with a host of those folks as well! There could be a site developed just for those folks that visited to recount such wonderful times.

Are you sure Lake Arrowhead campground still exists? I can find no contact information for this place at all. My understanding is that it was developed long ago into Kingston Plantation, etc. The Apache pier is located at the Apache Campground. This campground is totally a different campground than the old Lake Arrowhead campground... I think! I have sent an email to Apache asking them about this and am waiting to hear back.

Follow up post....

The people at Apache Campground tell me Apache is NOT the old Lake Arrowhead Campground ...that Lake Arrowhead no longer exists. That location is now a resort.

Kitty - Did the folks at apache happen to tell you what resort is built on the old lake arrowhead campground?

That is such sad news. Wonderful, wonderful memories there. I would have loved to take my son there.

The kingston plantation resort is indeed built on what used to be lake arrowhead campground. I ,like so many of you that have posted replies on here,used to camp there with my family when i was growing up . We went every year from the time I was born till it no longer existed! We were very sad when it closed and we never camped again after that. It was a wonderful campground and we have so many great memories from there! I guess all good things must come to an end. I%26#39;m just thankful that I was able to spend so much time there growing up. I%26#39;ll never forget it.

I was lucky enough to work on the beach at Arrowhead for 4 summers in the 70%26#39;s. Mr. Jordan drove the truck that sprayed for mosquitoes. Joe McVay was my boss and those were the best summers of my life. I sometimes walk the beach where the campground used to be. I%26#39;m from Huntington WV and back then it seemed like 50% of the cars were from WV. I really miss those days before all the high rises.

coral beach resort

Has anyone ever stayed there? Wondering about the restaurant in the resort and the bar and grill. Prices/ menus?

Thanks so much!

coral beach resort

stayed 3 years ago it was good would recomend only ate breakfast there but hit the bar every night nothing fancy but serverd the purpose after golf heading out next week staying at breakers this time

coral beach resort

We have ate breakfast there before when we stayed there also. It was your normal grits, eggs, meats, pancake, fruit breakfast. It was about 8 per person if I rember correctly.

Stayed there 3 times so far, there rsturant food I would not recommed, The only bar that is ever open is the pool bar. Go out to eat at Sea Captains house. yum

Hotel with a beautiful pool

HI everyone! My husband and I are planning to go to Myrtle Beach the first week in August. We are looking for a place with a beautiful pool and nicely decorated clean rooms...not in a bad area, and oceanfront. We usually stay at the Ocean Reef...we really enjoy it there, but thought we might try something different. Alot of the hotels seem to have such small pools.Any help would be appreciated...would like to try and stay in the $1200 range for the week.

Hotel with a beautiful pool

Dunes Village would meet that criteria but maybe not your pricerange.

PS: I went to school at Kirkridge, top of the hill on 191, halfway to Bangor.

Hotel with a beautiful pool

The place we are going to in June has nice pools and live outdoor music. It is the Hilton next to the Royale Palms. Also, we really enjoyed the Beach Cove the past few years, very tropical like and also has live outdoor music with a pool bar.

Our first few trips to Myrtle Beach we stayed at the Ocean Reef as well and loved it. A few years ago we tried Sea Watch Resort and loved it so much we are going back this year. They have a couple of pools and they are about the same size if not bigger than the Ocean Reef. The beach location is great, just a few miles north of Ocean Reef. And, if you can get one of the ';summer deals'; on their website, the price should be about the same.

Good luck finding your place! Have a great time!

Our favorite is Marriott Grande Dunes. It has an unbelievable pool area that is HUGE, with this cool thing where there are flags on your beach chair - you put the flag up, and the waitress comes and gets your drink/food order! It%26#39;s a little pricier to stay there though, but really worth it IMO.

I would second the Marriott Grand dunes. The Island Vista also so has a very nice pool area.

$1200 for the first week in August is going to be tough to get at Marriott Grand Dunes. But it%26#39;s worth trying.

You can get a King room, oceanview at Royale Palms for just under $1200 for the first week in August. (With tax)

Part of the Hilton/Kingston Plantation complex. Plenty of beautiful pools to choose from. Great outdoor bar that overlooks the ocean. Live entertainment at Kingston Plantation. The rooms are gorgeous and the building is 2 years old. Landscaped grounds are fantastic as well.

Great location. 1 mile from Tanger Outlets (route 17). Plenty of restaurants a short drive from the complex.

https://secure.hilton.com/en/hi/res/your_information.jhtml;jsessionid=BUZTKRK5UZEXKCSGBJBN2EQ?_requestid=140971

THAN YOU everyone for all of your help and suggestions...I will check out all of the websites...The $1200 was just a ballpark figure. Thanks again!!!!!!

Hampton INN and Suites in south MB is good also like Coral Beach up the street from Hampton. check out there website.

Be sure to check out www.vrbo.com, www.homeaway.com, and www.vacationrentals.com etc. etc.

Charleston restaurants prix fix menus

Notice several of the upscale Charleston restaurants have fixed price menus..Tristan, Magnolia, McGrady%26#39;s among others. Are these full-sized portions or just ';tastes';? Worth getting versus the regular menu items?

Charleston restaurants prix fix menus

I think the ';tasting'; trend is a personal choice - some people prefer the constant attention of the waiter presenting each course, which in some restaurants comes with a specially-paired wine. You can expect each course to be small, sometimes smaller than appetizer-sized. One thing that is true is that if everyone at your table does the sample thing it%26#39;s fine - if some want to and others don%26#39;t it becomes a service nightmare; most of the time they won%26#39;t split a table that way - it%26#39;s all or nothing. Whether it%26#39;s worth it or not...???...there is a lot of attention to detail when you%26#39;re only getting one scallop on a plate or 3 beans and a dollop of potato, and it will be delicious, but I probably wounldn%26#39;t choose the tasting menu if I were very hungry.

Charleston restaurants prix fix menus

I have had them at some restaurants and they are huge portions and others are more like tapas so ask the restaurant.

Vacation Budgets..

We%26#39;ve never really been on a trip by ourselves, its just the two of us. So I%26#39;m trying to figure out a budget for two 22 year olds staying May 12-16. Our room total is about $450, so including the room total I%26#39;m guessing we%26#39;ll need about $1000 each. About $550 each, $1100 total, over 4 days with eating out once a day, and minimal shopping. Anyone have any opinions or suggestions?

Thanks :)

Vacation Budgets..

WOW! Pretty generous amount of money with eating out only once a day and limited shopping! I am a single MOm with 2 children., Our 4 night trip budget:

Hotel $250

Gas $100

Eating out 2 times a day ( nothing fancy) and snacks $300

No shopping except maybe a magnet

Total $650

Vacation Budgets..

I guess it is generous! I just want to have more than enough (just in case!). I%26#39;m also figuring in cocktails and cab rides if need be, which can get pretty expensive. :) Guess I%26#39;m set, then.

Gotcha! I don%26#39;t drink so not aware of costs involved but your budget should be plenty:-)

$1,100 is a lot. But you stated you will be drinking which can add up pretty quickly.

If you don%26#39;t go to any shows, theaters, or attractions, that is definitely too much. If your room is $450.00 you will probably spend $1,000 total for both of you including a little extra.

You should be able to have a really nice vacation with that amount %26amp; anything left over is just a bonus!

Have fun.

DT - Excutive King or 1 King Larger 2 Rm Suite?

any recommendations on rm type or suggested rm number? executive king has a walk out balcony, larger rm, no lr. suite does not have balcony.

thanks in advance!

DT - Excutive King or 1 King Larger 2 Rm Suite?

For what time of year? There might be times that having a balcony isn%26#39;t a plus - like in August. Balconies can be noisy sometimes, too - the DT is right above the clappity-clap of the carriage rides (I%26#39;d like the noise, but you might not)

eye mascara

Please help with hotel decision

This will be my first trip to Charleston. I am having trouble deciding on which hotel to stay at with my wife. I will be staying for 2-3 nights before moving on to Kiawah Island and would like to experience the rich history of this beautiful city.

I was trying to choose between Planters Inn, Charleston Place, Harbour View Inn and French Quarter.

I would appreciate any and all input and any other suggestions.

Thank you for your help.

Please help with hotel decision

So this is when I become jealous of people who don%26#39;t live here - you get to stay here! I wish I had the chance to stay at these hotels so I can answer ';first hand';, but instead I read the reviews. I was impressed with the way that the Management of the better hotels seemed to log in - has to be every day - to comment on reviews - often times just to say ';thanks for the review';. On occasion, they had to address something not so pleasant but did a classy job assuring readers that the situation has been resolved and always took ownership of the problem instead of saying ';not true';.

You have probably heard that the Harbour View got ';the highest'; accolades lately - but it looks like you really can%26#39;t go wrong with any of your choices.(I%26#39;m assuming you%26#39;ve read the Trip Advisor reviews) Maybe I can find some ';slow night'; deals and compare all 5! For now - spin the wheel and enjoy your visit to Charleston!

Please help with hotel decision

Those are all great options. I personally prefer the French Quarter Inn or the Harbourview Inn. I think that those 2 include more in the rate and have a more cozy and less pretentious atmosphere.

Seaglass vs Harbor lights?

This is our first trip to MB and have no clue. I know Harbor is off the beach but that might be ok with kids 6 and 11, just not sure which would be better for there first time.

Seaglass vs Harbor lights?

It all depends on whether or not the beach is the most important thing to you,if it is choose Seaglass Towers,if not My personal choice is Harbour Lights. we have stayed there 4 different times and have nothing but praises for the place.Harbour Lights has 2 great outdoor pool areas, 1 with a lazy river,a nice size indoor pool,a game room for the kids,and several activities daily for kids and adults .

dress code for middleton place???

Well we have almost everything in place for our trip. We will have reservations at thr Middleton Place for dinner on Saturday evening and was wondering about the dress code. I want to make sure we are appropriately dressed, thanks!!

dress code for middleton place???

Business casual and better?

dress code for middleton place???

Ok, business caual as in tie and sport jacket? And as for me just how dressy do the women get?

Oh and a HUGE thank you to you CultureHound for all your information and input on these forums! You are making a lot of travelers lives easier! :)

First of all - it is MY pleasure to help.

As far as specifics on dress - let the weather help you decide - if it%26#39;s too hot no one would expect you to get overdressed. And I wouldn%26#39;t ever expect ';hose'; (under any condition except maybe at a job interview!) so sandals and a sun dress if that%26#39;s your thing - or - light slacks and a tank with light sweater would be fine. Men - again, weather plays a role - an oxford-type shirt and neat slacks and belt (think ';preppie'; if that works for you as a reference) and you%26#39;ll be fine most places. Walking around the city on a hot day or on the Harbor Cruise to Ft. Sumter - definitely go more casual and don%26#39;t forget footwear that is comfortable! Nice shorts and a loose shirt are fine when it%26#39;s hot. The streets can be rough on the pedicure!

For touring the planation during the day you will see everything. During the day in the restaurant, it is tourist casual.

Evening in the restaurant is more upscale but nothing too formal. Do take a light jacket even in warmer weather because air conditioning in all the restaurants and even the cool breezes on the rooftop bars can be chilly.

Perfect, thank you again

Vacation rentals

I rented at ';A place at the beach IV'; last year. There was a sandwich shop across the street and a bar a few blocks down the beach. (Ocean Annie%26#39;) I am looking for a complex this year that is beachfront, within walking distance to bars, grocery, dining. Does this exist in NMB? Do I have to stay at a resort? If so is there any smoking resorts? Will be there 6/13-6/20.

Vacation rentals

Not exactly an answer to your question, but I%26#39;m wondering how you liked ';A Place at the Beach';. We rented nearby at Pelican%26#39;s last summer %26amp; loved the area. I%26#39;m considering ';A Place at the Beach'; for April because we don%26#39;t need 3 bedrooms.

Vacation rentals

We loved ';';A place at the beach IV';. It%26#39;s very clean and very quiet. I guess I%26#39;m hitting the ';50'; year mark and feel like being around people and being a little more catered to. We were there in mid June and the pool was never crowded and the night life seemed to end around 9:00. There was a sandwich place across the street but everything else was a drive. (Except Ocean Annie%26#39;s which is a short walk down the beach--loud and fun!) I just didn%26#39;t like cooking all the time!

Not sure about the smoking but these may fit you bill...?

http://www.odresort.com/

http://avistaresort.com/

Thanks a lot teach. I think it%26#39;s just what we%26#39;re looking for.

Ocean Bay club is a few blocks from Main. Nice grounds %26amp; pools.

Most of the units I%26#39;ve seen are nice and well maintained.

Car Rental GSP

This is our first time to the GSP airport and we will need to rent a car to drive to CLT. Can anyone suggest a ';cheap'; rental car as we are unfamiliar with this airport and area.

Thank you

hotel within short walk of shopping/dining

i%26#39;m back checking into where the best spot would be to stay with the following in mind-

less than 5 miles east or west from historic downtown (coming from alabama) (but not in downtown because prices are too high) with a price range around $90-130 that has good reviews and is safe, clean that has shopping/dining right near the hotel(within short walk). wanted cont bfast, swimming pool, and free parking. hampton inn isle of palm connector seems too far out and around 140.00. springhill suites seems like a good one but nothing within a short walk. anyone have any good suggestions? really hard to make up my mind since this is a first time visit. thanks a bunch!

hotel within short walk of shopping/dining

You are describing Mt. Pleasant%26#39;s Towne Center to a ';T';. Modern, clean, safe, it%26#39;s even on the bus line to the city so you can leave your car parked for free and take the bus in if you wanted to.

It%26#39;s not too far out at all, and everything is walkable. Did you try calling the hotel directly? They might have deals. There are a couple of hotels right at Towne Center and one at the Seaside Farms shopping center - also has shops (not as many). Anything closer in will be either more expensive or in disrepair (and not really walkable to the selection you%26#39;d have in Towne Center). Plus, TC has a movie theater and is a quick 3-min ride to the beach.

hotel within short walk of shopping/dining

And Hampton has great breakfast.

Shorewood Pool

I saw while looking at rentals tha the pool at Shorewood was being replaced and was expected to be done by March 2009. Does anyone know if that project is complete, or at least near completion?

Shorewood Pool

The Shorewood decided to delay their pool construction - never started.

They do plan to redo their pool area, but no official start date as of yet but it won%26#39;t be until Fall 2009 at the earliest.

We own at the Shorewood.

Hope that helps!

Shorewood Pool

we are looking at renting at Shorewood too- is the pool in bad shape? we stayed there 3 years ago and it seemed ok.

So, is the pool open or closed? DH doesn%26#39;t like to get in the ocean, so I want to be sure I rent at a place that has a functioning pool.

The Shorewood Pool is open.

More importantly, what kind of condition is it in??

Anyone??

Pool Bar Jim's

Is Pool Bar Jim still at the Grande Ocean?

Pool Bar Jim's

yes

Car Rental at GSP

Can anyone who is familiar with this airport suggest a ';cheap'; car rental company as we are flying in on Allegiant Air and need to rent a car to drive to Charlotte area. We would appreciate any help you could give us since this is our first time to this airport.

Thank you.

Car Rental at GSP

GSP is very small so you%26#39;ll have no problem navigating the airport. On the way to pick up your bags you%26#39;ll see a counter with the usual rental companies. The GSP website may help;

http://www.gspairport.com/rental_cars.html

I don%26#39;t know which is the cheapest but I%26#39;ve had good luck through priceline.

Car Rental at GSP

Never used priceline and do not know how to bid, how much, good deal etc. Thanks for your help on this.

I encourage you to give priceline a try. Go to priceline.com, choose ';cars';, enter airport code GSP, enter the dates and it will show you options from multiple companies. You can get a decent car for around $30/day, cheaper if you do the ';name your own price'; option. Good luck!

Thanks, how much do I bid for name your price? Hubby has lost job and I am down to 3 days a week but we REALLY need to get away and need a cheap car rental.

I want to say I have gotten a car for $12/day before. I don%26#39;t think your penalized for attempting a low bid. However, if the bid is accepted, your credit card will be charged. FYI, we use priceline for hotels frequently. We stay in 4 star hotels in Atlanta all the time for as low as 65$ a night! If you need more help let me know. You can PM me if you want.

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$100 Off Elliott Realty on Weekly Rentals of $800 or more

I received this information/flyer in the mail the other day and thought some might find it useful...

$100 off your next beach vacation rental when you mention discount and promo code PC1 at the time of the rental reservation. Offer good on weekly reservations with a rental rate of $800 or more. Some restrictions apply. Not all properties participate in the discount programs. Not valid with other discounts or offers. Not valid on confirmed reservations.

call tool free 888-617-5718 or visit northmyrtlebeachtravel.com

it does not show any expiration date on the flyer.

$100 Off Elliott Realty on Weekly Rentals of $800 or more

I also found discount information/coupons for multiple condo rental companies at www.grandstrandcoupons.com. Elliot Realty has a ';Save 10% on your summer vacation! coupon that says ';must be redeemed by 3/31/2009. Other companies also have some good coupons on this website.

$100 Off Elliott Realty on Weekly Rentals of $800 or more

However....I just called Elliott to book a condo and they said that they were unable to honor any of the coupons/discounts that I had found (including the one on their own website). They said that the discounts only can be used on certain condos whose owners have said that they are willing to allow the discounts.

They also quoted me a price that was more than the price given on the website check-out statement. When I questioned the difference, the woman assisting me was unable to give me an answer as to why...even after putting me on hold several times and speaking with her manager. I finally figured out that she was quoting a base price for the condo that was higher than it is listed on-line. I asked them to honor the price given on-line and she acted like I was crazy.

It was only a $25 or so difference, but her attitude and the fact that even after speaking with a supervisor I felt that they had no interest in providing customer service made me choose not to book the condo. Their inability to honor their specials and discounts was the icing on the cake. I wonder a bit about their ethics and quality of their customer service after this experience and reading other negative posts about Elliott Realty on this forum.

Hmmm. We usually use Elliott when in North Myrtle and they usually are great to deal w/, though we know the area and book online vs. calling their toll free #. If there are any issues, they are very responsive as well. In several years dealing w/ Elliott, I have yet to have a negative experience. However, Century21 Thomas is another viable option if Elliott turned you off.

also try www.northmyrtlebeach.com - Grand Strand Resorts.

Thanks for your feedback on your positive experiences with Elliott. It is reassuring as I wondered if they could be counted on to provide good customer service if something went wrong while we were staying in one of their condos after we had paid. My initial experience made it seem as though they did not care about providing customer service at all. But that was one staffperson. It is good to hear that others have had positive experiences.

Thanks, also for the names of other realty companies we could possibly work with.

We%26#39;re now into travel club type deal and no longer use realtors. Always used Elliott in the past. Maybe one or two trips with Thomas.

Always had good luck with Elliott. Last time we used them they had opened second office in Ocean Drive. Think I saw a third office out on Rt 17. Takes some of the load off main pffice on check-in day.

We always took them up on the linens offer. Few more dollars on the rental but eliminated the hassle of rounding up all the different size linens to match what beds unit had. Plus a few more inches of packing room in the car or van.

We always arrived way early. They would go ahead and check us in hours before check-in time even if unit wasn%26#39;t ready. Then at check-in time we would just go to unit and it would be ready. Avoided the afternoon lines at the office.

Two occasions we needed mantainence people. Each time the problem was corrected in maybe an hour.

Might e-mail them about your problems on the phone. Who knows? They might work with you to make it up to you and get your future business.

Well, here it is over 2 years later...I stumbled across this code (PC1) and keyed it in. It got me a $50 discount, and I was happy with that!

By the way...we have always used Elliott and Thomas for accommodations in NMB. We have found both to have excellent customer service. I would recommend both.

go to the North Myrtle Beach Better Business Bureau, check out all rental agencies and see their ratings. Some ratings might surprise you.

Do you happen to have a link or website for the NMB BBB?

Good Resort off the Beach

Hi, we are planning to go on our yearly trip to MB but to save money we thought we may stay off the beach.

Anyone know of a good resort off the beach (but with walking distance to the beach) with a nice HEATED pool. We are hoping to be south of cherry grove and north of the dixie stampade.

Any suggestions??

Thanks

Good Resort off the Beach

What is your budget and dates of travel?

You never know, there might be some deals out there for OF resorts, so don%26#39;t count them out.

I have seen deals if you book by the end of this month for OF/OV rooms in decent hotels for $125.00 per night.

Good Resort off the Beach

We are thinking the 1st week of May.

Hopefully under $400 for the 5 night. We were quoted 395 at horizon on 77th so i thinking we maybe able to get something cheaper.

http://www.towersonthegrove.com

Has 1 bedroom ov condo for $320 plus tax if you pick grand opening special.

Make sure you ask if pools will be done!

Columbia Photo shoot

I%26#39;m heading to Columbia for college tours. While I%26#39;m in town I would like to take photos. I know the governor%26#39;s mansion needs reservations. I would like to take skyline photos as well - is there a parking garage with a view? I was disappointed the historic home tour won%26#39;t allow photos according to their website. Any suggestions on good spots? Thanks for your help!

Columbia Photo shoot

Try the historic Horseshoe at the University of South Carolina. Then go over to the Statehouse grounds...

It%26#39;s been a while, but there is a park off of Huger Street and you%26#39;ll find some great places for photography.

Columbia Photo shoot

I%26#39;d also suggest going down to the riverfront park area in West Columbia - there is a walking/biking path where you could probably get some good shots of the city, the river, and the Gervais street bridge. There is parking near the New Orleans restaurant.

Tommy Dew and Ed Grimball tour differences...

We are interesting in trying one of these gentlmen%26#39;s basic daytime walking tours, possibly, instead of doing a carriage ride tour. We would have 3 boys ages 3, 5, and 8 in our party. Any comments, thoughts, and/or assistance would be greatly appreciated. Has anyone out there done a tour with both of these fellows and if so pros/cons?

Thanks in advance.

Tommy Dew and Ed Grimball tour differences...

Hard choice! Both of these tour guides come highly recommended. I know that this is not going to narrow it down for you but I personally would go with either one. You will get a fantastic tour no matter what you decide.

Tommy Dew and Ed Grimball tour differences...

I havent been on either one but my husband and I will be coming down in April and my concierge described the differences as follows:

Ed Grimball is a slower paced, perfect southern gentleman. He shows more of the architecture and beauty, while Tommy Dew is more informative and shares more of the history.

Like I said I have not taken either one but this is coming from a very well experienced charlestonian :)

shall we go?

Hello. I am looking into vacationing in Myrtle Beach this summer. We usually fly somewhere but may have to drive somewhere this year. A few questions on MB-

* I know the ocean is the Atlantic but is it nice to swim in?Is it rough?clean?

*What is there to do at night? Are there plenty of restaurants to choose from? Is there a boardwalk?

Thanks

shall we go?

Myrtle Beach has so much to do you won%26#39;t be able to do everything on your first visit!

Is it clean? Yes! The beaches are beautiful. As for rough, well that always depends upon the weather. Generally no. But if we get a storm passing through it will certainly affect the ocean%26#39;s ';attitude';.

Nighttime? WOW! So much!

Hard Rock Park is trying to reopen by May 31st.

Here is just ';some'; of what you%26#39;ll find in Myrtle Beach.

Tour and Plantation opinions needed please :)

Only 21 days and counting till we come to Charleston and I cannot Wait!! :) Spoke with Kevin from the Holiday Inn and he lived up to and exceeded his reputation, taking time to make sure he understood exactly what we wanted to get from our trip. He had many recommedations, which of course I had to check out on here, and was just wondering if theres anyone out there who could give me their opinion of the following! THank you!!

Morrison Lighthouse Tour take a tour out at low tide and walk to it and spend time there

Barrier Island Eco Tours

Tommy Dew Walking Tour

Ed Macy Ghost Tour

Magnolia Plantation

Gullah Tour

Thank so much in advance for all your input! You all have made the planning of this trip so much easier!!

Tour and Plantation opinions needed please :)

When you write walk to Morrison Lighthouse, from where are you thinking?

Tour and Plantation opinions needed please :)

Which Gullah tour? There are several in town.

I prefer Middleton Place over Magnolia. There is much more to do and is much nicer over all.

The lighthouse tour Kevin told us about was a private boat ride out to the lighthouse at low tide, where you get to spend some time there and then a boat ride back.

As far as the plantations, I checked out Magnolia and think it is absolutely beautiful so we are going there for sure.

I believe Kevin was setting up reservations for us at the Middleton for dinner on Sat evening and it sais that a tour is included for dinner guests. Does this tour include the house or just the grounds? Thsnks all!

Unless you really want to take a short boat ride, I wouldn%26#39;t do the light house outing. It%26#39;s a very little island, and really isn%26#39;t worth getting out of the boat. You can drive to the eastern end of folly, get out and walk out to the end of the island, where the light house is located just off the coast. I was afraid you were trying to walk/wade/swim to the light house at low tide; there are rip tides, with someone drowning last year.

Diane, you are saying that we can walk from the end of Folly Beach out to the lighthouse at low tide? The catch for us was that there was lots of cool shells to collect and you can see the dolphins up close. Could we still do those things by walking from Folly Beach instead of taking the tour? If so that would save us about 120$

I assume you mean Alphonso Brown%26#39;s Gullah history tour, which is excellent!

http://www.gullahtours.com/

You might want to make reservations, in advance, on the website, since the tour fills up. Mr. Brown won%26#39;t take your money until you have completed the tour.

Absolutely do not try to walk to Morris Lighthouse on Morris Island. You can easily view the lighthouse from the end of Folly Beach.

Ocean Club/$800;Tanglewood/$700;Surfs Court/$750--Which One?

Which would you choose? Highest criteria being close to beach and Coligny. Thanks.

Ocean Club/$800;Tanglewood/$700;Surfs Court/$750--Which One?

susan: I tried to find reviews on these places and it%26#39;s very difficult. I have never stayed in any of them. My best suggestion would be to follow the link I am providing you, read all the descriptions and make your best decision that way. As for closest to Coligney, I think they are all just about even. From the descriptors on the link, I think Ocean Club sounds closest to the ocean along South Forest Beach Road.

vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/…a8666

The link above is for vrbo.com and are all private rentals. As for private rentals, they all sound like they will be decorated and updated to the owners tastes and budget. Be warned. Do your homework and ask for additional pics be emailed to you. You can also ask for references from recent renters. The prices you got are pretty darned cheap. Are they offered privately or through a rental company? What is your dates for travel?

Hope this helps,

D in Muskoka.

Ocean Club/$800;Tanglewood/$700;Surfs Court/$750--Which One?

Luckytimer, I felt very fortunate to get those quotes and don%26#39;t think I would have gotten them if my trip were a week later--I hit the week where the prices had just gone up at most places and fortunately found some really reasonable folks along the way. Thanks for the site you passed along. I will put it in my notes for next year.

I literally went at this search full time for 9 days and went in asking the ridiculous every where I went. Ocean Club, from the aerial views, looked just awful to me--rather rotted looking. Tanglewood looked a lot nicer and it was the closest to Coligny, but Surf Court had the exact type of beds we were wanting, so we went with it. The owner and Seashore Rentals

I will tell you there was never a nicer man than Bob Calhoun of Tanglewood and it was hard not to go with his place, especially given he gives renters a 2-hour ride out to the dolphins in his beautiful boat. I found him on Homeaway 223287. Even knowing I%26#39;d probably go with one that had the exact beds we were looking for, he spent an enormous amount of time just telling me all about the places I was looking at (even telling me Surf Court was bigger). He said he%26#39;d ended up on a vacation or two that didn%26#39;t turn out as well as it could have because of a lack of info, so I guess he was paying forward. He reminded me of the Christmas story and what Americans can be like.

Courtside owner Bob Waldeck was awesome to talk with as well and he was willing to give me a great deal but his nice place was just a bit farther away from Coligny than we needed. I like his place.

Alison at Seashore Vacations (hhisleinfo.com) was a great help to me in getting the place at Surf Court and their site has the most useful info I found, even if it isn%26#39;t the most snazzy site. It shows the actual aerial shots, floorplans, and site layout (so you can see exactly where the unit is in the complex) for many of the properties in that area.

Thanks again.

-Susan

Fishing and swimming in mid April

Yet another question from my long list! :) We will be there April 15th thru the 22nd. I know one day we want to go hang out at Folly Beach, lounge around and definitely do some fishing. How is the fishing this time of year and what are they typically catching? Im really excited about this, being an avid fisherwoman who hasnt had the chance to saltwater fish yet! Also, is it going to be nice enough to lay around the beach and swim yet??

Fishing and swimming in mid April

The water will still be too cold and laying out on the beach will depend on the temps at the time - april can be either hot, cold or WONDERFUL here. It will probably be nice enough, even if it is cool to walk along the beach.

JT and Floski probably know more about the fishing outlook. I love to fish but the fish usually go on vacation when I arrive with my rod and reel. You will need a fishing license. You can get them at Walmart or some of the sporting goods stores. Be sure to get a salt water stamp, too. I THINK they have a temporary license for non-residents available.

Fishing and swimming in mid April

I have already checked out the license situation and have that planned for. Just the thought of kicking back with a fishing rod and a cold beer for an afternoon is our idea of the perfect day :) OH! Which reminds me, do they allow alchohol on the beach or pier?

You may find the water warm enough to swim, locals don%26#39;t go in that early in the year as the water is colder than they are used to. I looked up the water temperatures for April in that area, looks like low to mid 70%26#39;s. That is like the Jersey shore at the peak of the season in July and August. I don%26#39;t imagine that the water in upper Michigan gets much warmer than that either. So bring a suit just in case and enjoy!

My family and friends who live in England think the SC water in April is ';lovely';! Depends upon your perspective.

I%26#39;m from MI and I would not swim in April. Alcohol that is purchased on the Pier can be consumes. Alcohol is allowed on the beach. Fishing would be from the Pier.

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Dress Code in July

My husband and I will be vacationing in Charleston for 6 Days in July. We are splitting time between the Harbourview and the Boardwalk Inn. What are the dress codes for dining out in the surrounding areas? Being that its July, is it acceptable for men to wear shorts for dinner?

Thanks,

Ssuan

Dress Code in July

Susan -

Charleston is a very casual city that dresses according to the weather. July will be hot and humid.

For men, nice bermuda-length shorts are usually acceptable. That said, for dinner in a top restaurant, your husband might want to opt for khakis and an open-collar shirt. ';Golf shirts'; are fine. Very few (!!) places would require a jacket, but my husband sometimes throws on a light sport jacket for warmth in the icy air conditioning.

For women, although I am a fan of cotton trousers or capri pants, many Charleston women find loose summer skirts cooler than shorts because the skirts allow air to circulate.

Dress Code in July

Don%26#39;t forget the ubiquitous linen! Cool but wrinkly. If you don%26#39;t have any linen clothing you%26#39;ll find plenty when you get here.

I usually wear casual skirts and/or dresses pretty much the entire summer - much cooler I think. That said, keep in mind that some places think that since it is 90 plus outside that it should be about 50 inside. I often find myself FREEZING once inside. I would suggest carrying a light weight sweater or linen jacket. Something that is not too cumbersome to carry around but may be desperately needed inside some locations!

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Another IOP Easter Question

We will be arriving the Saturday before Easter. Will the grocery stores be open on Sunday, or should we stock up on the way in? Also, will local restaurants be open Easter Sunday, and if so, is a reservation advisable?

Another IOP Easter Question

I would think the major grocery chains will be open as will most of the restaurants.

Another IOP Easter Question

The Pig (Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store on the IOP Connector) has ';Daily 6am to 11pm'; listed on their hours. It is the closest full-service grocery to IOP. Bi-Lo, at the corner of Hwy 17 and IOP Connector, is open 24 hours. With those hours I%26#39;d be certain they%26#39;re open on Easter.

Either way - I%26#39;d still stock up on the way in - then you can really start vacationing!

Good advice, thanks. Here in Canada just about everything is closed on Easter Sunday, so I wasn%26#39;t sure if it would be the same in the U.S. What about restaurants? Are they busy this time of year - will we need to make reservations?

March through October is the busy season in Charleston, with periods of ';very busy'; punctuated by days in between of relative calm. The most popular restaurants in Charleston almost always need reservations, so it%26#39;s wise to call a day or two ahead if you can. Certainly Friday nights and Saturday nights you%26#39;ll want to have a plan in advance. If you need advice on restaurants, let us know a) where you%26#39;d like to dine, geographically-speaking (IOP, Mt. P, Charleston); b) type of cuisine you enjoy or dislike; c) atmosphere including whether casual or not; d) price. This should help us help you.

Welcome and Enjoy!

Thanks for the offer. We will be staying at Wild Dunes. We will probably going into Charleston a couple of days, so would appreciate some lunch recommendations. In the evenings, we will either stay on Isle of Palms, or maybe venture in to Mount Pleasant.

We would like to try local cuisine - seafood, barbecue, etc. Nothing too fancy, we prefer casual. Pricewise - I guess around $50 for lunch and $80 for dinner, including drinks.

Appreciate any suggestions.

$50 for lunch can be done anywhere. Casual - try the Long Island Cafe at the little shopping center at the intersection of the IOP Connector and Palms Blvd; go south through IOP into Sullivan%26#39;s Island (try Seel%26#39;s Fish Camp and Poe%26#39;s Tavern). More upscale would be Crave%26#39;s on IOP Connector (near Target in ';Seaside Farms Marketplace'; - where Piggly Wiggly is located) is ';Crave'; for lunch or dinner. For dinner, Boathouse at Breech Inlet is good as are a couple of places (Sullivan%26#39;s, etc) on Sullivan%26#39;s Island.

Don%26#39;t forget the ';Must Go'; area of Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant, and for the place where the locals go for B, L or D try Boulevard Diner (looks like an old Dairy Queen but the food is awesome). Locklear%26#39;s and Mustard Seed (both in the Shem Creek area) are great, too, and there are fun places on the creek itself. Have fun!

Great suggestions. Thanks.

Hi, I live on IOP. As far as the restaurants, culture hound is dead on. I would also suggest High Thyme on Sullivans Island. It is a great place and we eat there several times a month, sometimes several times a week!! They serve dinner and Sunday brunch. Poe%26#39;s is named after Edgar Allen Poe, who once lived on Sullivan%26#39;s. It is full of Poe memorabilia. They grind their own beef daily for burgers, also fresh cut fries each day.

We love Crave, it has only been open about a year.

They have an awesome dessert with pears, walnuts,cranberries, etc. One of my all time favorite desserts.

Many of the retail stores will be closed on Easter.

Enjoy your trip!

Beaufort and Fripp Island- things to do

I will be staying at Fripp Island for two days at the end of April. Besides golfing and the beach, what other activities or things to do are there? One of the websites said Charleston was only 40 miles away, but when I mapquested it, it was more like 80. So a day trip there would be out.

Next, I looked at Beaufort. Is this an intersting town to visit? Is the historic downtown big enough to kill a few hours, maybe have a nice lunch somewhere? I%26#39;ve never been to beaufort, but it%26#39;s close enough to fripp to check it out. I do love historic towns, so anything else to do in the area that would be interesting, not-to-be-missed, etc?

Beaufort and Fripp Island- things to do

Charleston is about 2 hours from Fripp. Downtown Beaufort has some neat shops and there are a few historic sites. There are plenty of places to catch lunch. Also some neat shops in Frogmore on St Helena island on your way to Fripp.

Beaufort and Fripp Island- things to do

thanks so much for your reply!

Beaufort is a great town if you like history. Take either a walking guided tour or one by carriage. You will learn a lot about the city either way. Plenty of restaurants, most on the water. Also, a lot of history in Frogmore about the Gullahs.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Fun pool scene, people watching?

Hey all! I am going down to Myrtle for Labor Day weekend this year with my buddy and we are looking for a hotel that is centrally located that has a hoppin pool scene. Obviously a bar is needed and music? We are two 30 year old singles just looking for fun. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for all your help!

Fire Engine Museum

Greetings!

Approx. how far is the Fire Engine Museum from Mount Pleasant? Is there anything else to do in that area?Restaurants of interest?

Many thanks!!

Fire Engine Museum

The Fire Engine Museum is - I believe - right at the Outlet Center in North Charleston, really close to the Charleston Airport. Tons of restaurants, but they%26#39;re pretty much all the chains you probably have in Kalamazoo (although I think a Jim and Nick%26#39;s went in there - it%26#39;s a southern Barbecue restaurant chain). [not positive on that location - someone hopefully will chime in]

It would take you about 20 minutes once you got on 526 to get to the exit (get off at the airport exit but go in the opposite direction; turn left when you see Starbucks - maybe the 2nd light - and the museum will be on the right in 30 seconds). Basically follow the ';Tanger Outlet Mall'; signs.

Fire Engine Museum

The Fire Museum is located at Tanger Outlet as mentioned. The best route is to take 526, exit at airport, left at light and left at 2nd light (you%26#39;ll see the Embassy Suites to the right of the light) and the Fire Museum will be on the right.

I went there last summer and it was interesting. A good spot for kids and adults.

Enjoy your visit!

I just returned from a trip to Seabrook Island and a visit to the Fire Museum.

My teen-aged daughters couldn%26#39;t believe I suggested we visit the museum (they were more interested in shopping at the outlet mall). But guess who I couldn%26#39;t get out of the museum?!?

The Fire Museum is pretty impressive. If you%26#39;re into old cars, you%26#39;ll be in heaven viewing the old fire engines.

There is a short 10 minute informational film (turn left when you enter the museum room) on the history of fires, fire stations, and Charleston%26#39;s fires.

Other informational type exhibits include fire dangers within a home and how to protect your home against fire.

Perhaps the best--for kids of ALL ages-- was the fire pole and the inactive fire engine cab!

And the price is right too! $6.00 admission for adults. You can%26#39;t beat that.

I%26#39;d encourage all to visit the North Charleston%26#39;s Fire Museum.

Gullah Grub Restaurant

Anybody been to Gullah Grub recently? Opinions? Making a short trip this weekend to Beaufort and thinking about trying it for lunch and stopping at the art shops in this area.

Fishing Charters

Has anyone taken a Fishing Charter through Kiawah Island Resorts/Night Heron Park Center? How was the experience? Do you recommend inshore or offshore?

Fishing Charters

I%26#39;ve never taken a charter through the Nature Center/KI Golf Resort, but everything they do is very high quality.

For comparison, you could check on charters offered by private captains at the nearby Bohicket Marina. See information at - http://www.bohicket.com/

Magiquest/Myrtle beach state park

MaqiQuest-read good and bad reviews. Kids are 10-11. Will they enjoy it? Does each kid need a wand? If I want to participate do I need a wand? Basically, is it worth the expense?

Myrtle Beach State Park-

I read that if we wanted to find nice sea shells we should go here. Is it worth visting and will I really find nice shells here?

Magiquest/Myrtle beach state park

MagiQuest was expensive and really not that amusing. Kids could share a wand. We would not go back again.

Magiquest/Myrtle beach state park

Well I%26#39;m 23 and I love Maqiquest!!!

I will admit it takes me about 1/2 hour to get used to working the wand each time I go, (I have only been twice: summer 07 and 08)

the funniest thing is always having 7-8 yr olds teaching me how to use the wand and I usually teach parents over the age of 40 how to use the wand (LOL!)

$25.99 is what it costs for 75 mins of gametime

make sure you keep you and your kids keep your wands because return trips cost only $19.99 for 75 mins of game play

and they have 10 locations all over the USA and even a couple in Japan!

(I%26#39;m going to the one near Cincinnati this summer)

the best part is the wand is good at any of the locations.

grandparents are free admission (w/o wand)

so you maybe able to convince someone, most of the people that work there are high-schoolers anyway.

for $4.95 anyone can get as a Magi-Guide and have your own ancient book of wisdom which is the 2nd most important item to have.

you can pay the $24.99 + $4.95 and have your kids share one wand

It may seem a little expensive put besides mini-golf, and movies it%26#39;s the most affordable entertainment option in MB!

Maqiquest is basically a scavanger hunt, so if your kids enjoy scavanger hunts then they will

definitely enjoy Maqiquest :)

the website is www.magiquest.com

I have a 16 yr old DD and 11 yr old DS and they love it. Definitely keep the wands for future visits. They can share if you think they will have fun doing it that way. It%26#39;s something new and fun and like was said earlier is one of the least expensive forms of entertainment in MB.

Boone Plantation Strawberry Festival and Gullah Culture Days

Ive been reading about Boone Hall Plantation and noticed it has gotten mixed reviews. I checked the event calendar though and they will be having a Strawberry Festival and Exploring the Gullah Culture Day going on when we will be there. Has anyone been to these and do you think it would be worth the time and money??

Thank you !!

Boone Plantation Strawberry Festival and Gullah Culture Days

I would go to Middleton and take the African American Focus tour while you are there (no extra charge) and buy some strawberries at the fruit stand on Hwy. 61 on your way back into town.

Boone Plantation Strawberry Festival and Gullah Culture Days

Another fun thing at Middleton is the carriage tour. The alligators should be just waking up, so you might spot one or two!

eye mascara

best place to eat

out of town visitor. where are the best places to go eat? i%26#39;ve checked them out on the charleston visitor website. want to know from the locals. we%26#39;re southern folks with kids. and is there any restaurant or food establishment that DOES NOT have a bar or serve alcohol? thanks.

best place to eat

What kind of food do you want, what price range, what meals? Almost all the restaurants serve alcohol, but there isn%26#39;t necessarily a bar in the dining room.

best place to eat

nothing fancy or elegant. local favorites. steakhouse; seafood-fish %26amp; crabcakes; bbq; burgers; buffet style/laid back outdoors, just a variety.

and mostly lunch hours when prices are cheaper.

Is no alcohol an absolute?

if there are any i%26#39;d like to know where but if not, i%26#39;d still like advice on the best places anyway.

thanks.

Jestine%26#39;s is great for lunch, and I do not believe serves alcohol. Be prepare to wait in line outside if you are not there at 11:00. Joseph%26#39;s, also, for breakfast and lunch.

Pizza: Lil%26#39; Mama%26#39;s or Woody%26#39;s in Folly Beach for good pizza. You can sit outside, although there is alcohol at Woody%26#39;s, not sure about Lil%26#39; Mama%26#39;s.

A great, cheap, no-alcohol place for lunch is Joseph%26#39;s, on Meeting Street.

Our two favorite restaurants in Charleston are Hank%26#39;s Seafood (for seafood) and 82 Queen (for lowcountry). Hank%26#39;s has a bar, but you can get a table far from the bar. 82 Queen has a small bar in a separate room from the dining rooms. Nowhere in Charleston will there be any pressure to consume alcohol.

Momma Brown%26#39;s in Mt P has a BBQ buffet and no alcohol.

thanks everybody!!!

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