Does anyone know of any discounts available to the Carolina Opry?
Some of the MB ';welcome stations'; advertise discounted coupons, but I think most of them are fronts for time share sales pitches. If you plan to see other of Calvin Gilmores productions, Legends or Good Vibrations, you can get reduced prices on multiple ticket purchases.
I thought that the One show was well worth it without discounts when I went. I don%26#39;t think that you can go wrong going there.
I am thinking about taking a vacation from Oct. 18-25 and I don%26#39;t know if I should. I have been watching a couple of web cams the last few days and there seems to be NOBODY really on the beaches. Is it because of the weather? Or, is it just because of the time of year? Could somebody please tell me if they think I should spend the money on a trip or if I should wait until next spring???? I know I keep asking about the weather but I just don%26#39;t want to spend the money if it would be a waste. I live in Indiana and I drive an Excursion that is also diesel. So, not only would the hotel be a huge expense, so would gas. Thanks so much to all of you who have replied to my posts. I truly appreciate all the info.
The cams don%26#39;t lie, the beach is empty. This is a slower, cooler, time of year in MB. If ocean swimming is your main focus, you may want to wait.
Speaking for my family, we don%26#39;t go to MB for the beach. During a two-week stay we only spent about 9 hours on the beach. We go for the endless number of fun things to do, and infinite restaurants. Take away the beach and we still would vacation here.
You%26#39;re well informed now. You%26#39;ve read weather reports, viewed the cams and know your costs. The benefits of going this time of year are no crowds, no lines and cheaper hotel rooms. If you%26#39;re hotel has a decent indoor pool, go for it.
This time of year is a great time to go!! We are leaving Sunday morning and I am so glad to hear the beach is empty. This will be our 2nd trip down this year and we spend most of our days on the beach and i am planning on doing that this trip. Hotels are so much cheaper, Crown reef had rooms for 29.00 a night. Dunes for 49.00. As for your vehicle sorry about your luck, we are driving a civic from Ohio and plan on 150.00 round trip for gas. You should go it will be fun.
Hotels and condos are extremely cheap this time of year....at least 50% less than July rates. Crowds are thin, but weather is great for walking, reading, and shelling on the beach. Best time of year, IMO...long sleeve T%26#39;s, maybe a sweatshirt. A diesel Excursion, that%26#39;s another story. Cheapest gas is in SC.
Hello have you ever checked out Flikr and search ';myrtle Beach'; then hit ';most recent'; people post their photos daily. It give you a great idea of what the weather is like just by what the people are doing and wearing in the photos!
This is an absolutely great time to go. We usually go 3 times between Labor Day and New Years. Love MB.
I think the empty beaches are more about kids being in school than about how nice the beach is. I love the off season too. It%26#39;s so nice to walk on the beach and see everything with out the crowds. If your main focus is lying on the beach or by the pool to get a suntan or swim in the pools or ocean, you should wait until June, July or August. In spring, the ocean/pools are still cold and the weather can be iffy then too.
If you want warmer weather have you considered flying further south. The Atlantis in the Bahamas is running some great specials right now. I am hearing that their crowds are really off right now too. It%26#39;s a quick flight and you wold love it.
We just got back Thursday and had a good trip! The weather was great Sun, Mon, Tues and Wed started to cloud up a little in the evening, drizzled rain as we were leaving Thurs. The water temp was good all week, we were in the ocean everyday but the last and walked the beach at night. The only thing we didn%26#39;t do was get in the outdoor pool - it was cold! It was in the upper 70%26#39;s all week and even in the low 80%26#39;s the first day. The wind was a little cool at night but we all took jeans to wear in the evening and out of 6 of us only 2 actually wore them. We did take light jackets and wore those in the evenings. All the condos and hotels on Ocean Blvd had specials on their signs. The beach wasn%26#39;t crowded at all, no bad traffic, didn%26#39;t have to wait to be seated anywhere we ate. This was my first fall trip to any beach and I loved it. We are thinking of going next year at the same time as well. I think the temperatures - water and air - are actually warmer in the fall then spring. No gas shortages anywhere that I saw but one thing to think about gas in NC was higher than anywhere else so don%26#39;t stop there if you don%26#39;t have to and I know this doesn%26#39;t help you with the diesal, but on the way home we got gas for $3 a gallon at BP in Conway. I live in TN and now it is 2.99 a gallon here but was 3.50 when we left. We ate at two great places - Angelo%26#39;s and Bimini%26#39;s - while we were there and I am going to review both in a few minutes.
We went last year in October. The weather was great. We swam in the ocean and pools ....wasn%26#39;t too cold at all...in the evenings we enjoyed the hot tubs. It was my favorite time of the year. We live in Tennessee so the drive over thru Asheville was great too. We got two for one great beaches and great drive with the changing of the leaves. Enjoy.
The ocean water is warmer now than it will be next spring. Highs have been around 80 for 3 weeks now. Crowds at the beach thin out after Labor Day; its the best time to be there. If you%26#39;re looking for large crowds on the beach and super heavy traffic....wait until next June.
the beaches the last 2 days have been empty because the wind is blowing 30-40mph. Check back next weekend.
Please give me your opinions and experiences with the
Camelot By The Sea. I have stayed there a couple of times and I love the location. I just didn%26#39;t know how it compares to other hotels around it as far as price and customer satisfaction.
Thanks,
Cheryl
I stayed there one time. Not my favorite of experiences. The lobby is neat and tidy but once we got to our room it was downhill. In need of a lot of updates and I disliked having all the noise from the parking garage being attached to your hotel. I like The Breakers right next door. Paradise tower at the Breakers is great.
If you%26#39;re happy staying there then that is what really matters. Not what other people think and their experiences at Camelot.
we stayed at the camelot from 9/1-/94 of this year. Rented through vrbo and were allowed to check in at 9 am instead of the resort normal of 3-4pm check in. the room was on the 15th floor so the parking garage noise wasnt an issue. the room itself I cant really say good or bad. It was a room with beds, clean linens, an awesome oceanfront view, a tv couch coupld chairs dining table, utensils fridge, all we needed to cook in house when we did...I guess the only thing i didnt like was the open hall entry ways. I%26#39;ve only been to myrtle beach twice 07 we stayed at the avista...I would rate the camelot a 3star, avista a 4, nothing super special about the avista, but it was newer, and didnt have the open halls..
How was your experience with renting from VRBO? I met a lady in Myrtle Beach who told me that she got a great deal but I was always afraid to try it?
I have used VRBO twice....two different owners, two different condos. Great experiences both times.
vrbo was fine. Price was perfect. We were allowed to check in on a sunday at 8am and checkout was wed at 11am. Most resorts wont let you check in until 3 or 4 pm. sun, mon, tues, night so a 3 night stay at the camelot one bedroom with two queen beds 15th floor oceanfront was total of 285. Only negative was vrbo site said linens provided, which they were provided upon arrival however housekeeping never showed and front desk said they are not included when going through vrbo...reused towels, took out own trash(which takes approximately 2-3 minutes out of your day) and brief cleaning on our way out..wad definitelly worth it.. by the way dont be in a hurry. we left the cameot parking lot at 557am and arrived in avon at 730pm...drop friends off and another two hours back home to fort wayne so for us 15hrs, from indy about 13. enjoy.
Hi all
We have arrived at Kiawah! We haven%26#39;t gotten out too much due to the rain, but it is clearing nicely as we prepare for a beautiful week!! I was wondering if you could advise me on where to get breakfast. We would love a buffet style breakfast. I am traveling w/a baby so it would have to be kid-friendly. Also, if you might know the cost, it would be appreciated as my aunt is on a budget for the week.
Thanks
Hi, leighleigh. Breakfast is served at all of the golf courses and at The Jasmine Porch at The Sanctuary. I suspect that the golf courses offer more what you are looking for. The old restaurant at The Ocean Course used to do a nice, family-friendly buffet, but I am not sure what they are serving in the new restaurant (The Atlantic Room).
Phone the resort at 768-2121 for information.
If cost is an issue, you might check out the breakfasts as the Town Market, not a buffet, but definitely less $$$ than any of the buffets would be.
The food there is the best bargain on the island, at lunch, the wraps are big enough to share, but don%26#39;t do any grocery shopping there, head over to Freshfields if you need anything of that sort.
Enjoy your time on Kiawah!
Other than the beach/pools, what%26#39;s to do for kids in the area? Mine are 7 and 9. We arrive next week.
Thanks,
KC
Many people recommended Le Grande Cirque to me when I asked the same thing. It is like Cirque de Soleil. It is at the Palace Theatre at Broadway at the Beach. If you go to the matinee show it is a lot cheaper. Also, I don%26#39;t know if it is still open, but Alligator Alley up by Barefoot Landing is on our list for next year.
With kids that age, your problem will be trying to choose between the many options. Just a few suggestions:
I highly recommend Ripley%26#39;s aquarium--fascinating and educational, but not too large so you can get through it in a reasonable amount of time.
Putt-putt is always a big hit--seems there%26#39;s one on every corner.
The Children%26#39;s Museum--http://www.cmsckids.org/
Feed the giant carp at Broadway at the Beach (they have food dispensing machines--only a quarter!)
Canoe/kayak the marsh. There are several outfitters in the area--just google ';Myrtle Beach kayak';.
Nascar speed park--http://www.nascarspeedpark.com/
Dolphin tours
Alligator Adventure park
etc., etc.
Medieval Times! If your kids like action they will enjoy the show and the food is good to. We always enjoy it. medievaltimes.com/Locations/Myrtle-Beach-Cas鈥?/a>
Dixie Stampede- We%26#39;ve been and while it was OK our family prefers the show style of Medieval Times. Stampede was more like a Broadway Musical with horses. Food was barely edible in our opinion. http://www.dixiestampede.com/myrtlebeach.php
I have a different opinion over coasterminister on Dixie Stampede and Medevil Times. We prefered Dixie Stampede over Medevil Times. I thought the show was more entertaining. THe food is basicly the same at both.
minigolf, minigolf, and more minigolf. MB has the best minigolf courses around.
Your options for children%26#39;s entertainment are endless:
Magic Quest
Build a Bear
Wild Water and Wheels
Waccatee Zoo
Nascar Speedpark
Pavilion Rememberance Park at Broadway
Kart Trax indoor go carts
Maze Mania
T.I.G.E.R.S. reserve
Medieval Times
Dixie Stampede
Le Grande Cirque
Deep Seas Fishing
Shopping at Gay Dolphin
Ripley%26#39;s Aquarium
Ripley%26#39;s Believe it or not museum
Arcades on the boardwalk by the old pavilion
OD Arcade in North Myrtle
Jungle Princess Cruise
Brookgreen Gardens
The SportsZone in Little River
Alligator Adventure
USS North Carolina in Wilmington.
Children%26#39;s Museum of South Carolina
Ingram Planetarium at Sunset Beach
Museum of Costal Carolina, Ocean Isle Beach, NC
Huntington Beach State Park
Movie Theaters throughout the Grand Strand
Mini-Golf courses:
Tropical Adventure Mini Golf 10124 Beach Dr SW Calabash, NC
Tribal Island Tiki Adventure Golf 901 Highway 17 N Little River, SC
Black Pearl Golf 614 Sea Mountain Hwy North Myrtle Beach (Cherry Grove)
Molten Mountain Miniature Golf 1010 Hwy 17 North North Myrtle Beach (Ocean Drive)
Mayday Golf 715 Highway 17 North North Myrtle Beach (Ocean Drive)
Mutiny Bay Hwy 17 at 3rd Ave South North Myrtle Beach (Ocean Drive)
Dinosaur Adventure Golf 700 7th Ave. N North Myrtle Beach (Ocean Drive)
Prof. Hacker%26#39;s Lost Treasure Golf 1705 S Highway 17 North Myrtle Beach (Crescent)
Hawaiian Rumble 3210 Highway 17 South North Myrtle Beach (Windy Hill)
Hawaiian Village 4205 Highway 17 South North Myrtle Beach (Windy Hill)
Rainbow Falls Golf 9850 N Kings Hwy Myrtle Beach
Jungle Safari Golf 7101 N Kings Hwy Myrtle Beach
Treasure Island Golf 4801 N Kings Hwy Myrtle Beach
Spy Glass Golf 3801 N Kings Hwy Myrtle Beach
Dragon%26#39;s Lair Fantasy Golf 1197 Celebrity Circle Myrtle Beach
Captain Hook%26#39;s Adventure Golf 2205 N Kings Hwy Myrtle Beach
Mt. Atlanticus Minotaur Goff 707 N Kings Hwy Myrtle Beach
Jungle Lagoon Miniature Golf 5th Ave South %26amp; Hwy 17 Myrtle Beach
Adventure Falls Golf 735 S Highway 17 Myrtle Beach
Pirates Watch Adventure Golf 1500 S Kings Hwy Myrtle Beach
Safari Golf 1811 S Kings Hwy Myrtle Beach
Cancun Lagoon Adventure Golf 2101 S Kings Hwy Myrtle Beach
Jurassic Golf 2900 S Kings Hwy Myrtle Beach
Shipwreck Island Adventure Golf 3103 S Ocean Blvd Myrtle Beach
Harbor Oaks Miniature Golf SpringMaid Beach Resort
3200 South Ocean Blvd Myrtle Beach
Sandy Harbor Mini-Golf Ocean Lakes Campground Myrtle Beach
Buccaneer Bay Golf 5894 S Kings Hwy Myrtle Beach
Wild Water Mini Golf 910 Highway 17 South Surfside Beach
Runaway Bay 1800 Highway 17 Garden City
Gilligan%26#39;s Island Funland 3009 Highway 17 Murrells Inlet
Jungle Lake Golf 3042 Highway 17 Murrells Inlet
Inlet Adventure Miniature Golf 3215 Highway 17 Murrells Inlet
We went to I-Max at Broadway at the Beach. We don%26#39;t have kids but there were lots there and they were loving the 3-D ocean and dinosaur films. Great on a cool or rainy day also. You can find discount coupons for 2.50 off ticket price and you can also see a second show for 1/2 price the same day. Regular price ticket is 13.00 .
Can you tell me if Sticky Fingers downtown has TVs? I will be there for a rehearsal dinner Saturday night and want to watch the SC-LSU game if at all possible.
Thanks!
I am not sure about that but I do know that you can try...Wild Wings on Market Street and another great place is King Street Grill!! Both casual and fun atmosphere!
They do have some TV%26#39;s. Not a sports bar to be sure, but you should at least be able to check the score every now and again.
Can anyone tell me if Sprint (Embarq) cell phones get good strong reception on Seabrook Island ??
Our Sprint phones work well all over Kiawah, and the surrounding area. We use the phones in the house, on the beach, the bike paths, in kayaks, etc. I assume that reception on Seabrook would be similar.
There may be a few small dead zones (I have found one on Kiawah, and there is one along the Bohicket Road on Johns Island); but nothing that moving a few feet won%26#39;t correct.
We, like Villa, have no problems w/Sprint phones on Kiawah and the surrounding area. Love to call those at home from the beach (just so they can hear it waving at them, chuckle, chuckle!).
Most folks on SI report getting the ';best'; service with Verizon. I have AT%26amp;T/Cingular and have pretty good luck except at the Beach Club.
None of my friends have remarked good or bad on Sprint. According to Sprint%26#39;s website, there are spots on SI that have better coverage than others.
The French Quarter Inn was just named to the Top 100 Inns in America by Conde Nast, full list hasn%26#39;t been released yet I don%26#39;t think, but wanted to share that with the forum.
Nice! Thanks for sharing! That will definitely help some TA users make their final decisions.
going to charleston next week for 30th weddin anniversary. Would love recommendations for a special romantic restaurant, as well as which plantation to visit if we only have time for 1. We are in our early 50%26#39;s very active and love the outdoors..any other recommendations woul be greatly appreciated
Thanks!
If the weather is good, dine in the courtyard of 82 Queen. If it is rainy or too cool, I would suggest High Cotton for your dinner.
Middleton Place would be the suggestion for a plantation to visit. The restaurant is also very romantic in the evening. Many locals get engaged there!
Oh yes, congratulations!
I agree with SCBlossom re: 82 Queen. If you like jazz, as a backup I%26#39;d recommend Mistral. Tell them it%26#39;s your anniversary and request a cozy corner - if they%26#39;re booked up and can%26#39;t accommodate, High Cotton or Peninsula Grill or Charleston Grill would be lovely.
For an outdoor suggestion, try kayaking in the Low Country...
http://kayakcharleston.net/
Ralph is a personal friend and will take you to some beautiful places. He does trips for very small groups (no more than 6).
Traveling to Charleston area , first time, collect hand woven baskets from different parts of the world. Willing to travel outside Charleston or outside town to purchase/ souvenir basket directly from weaver
if possible. Are there any road side stands, small craft shops etc either in Charleston, Mt Pleasaant Area, St Johns/or Kiawah Island area where you can recommend such a purchase. I want to
purchase but at a fair and resonable price for this craft. Hope
to avoid the usual Souvenir traps. Please advise. Thanks
The weavers sell them at The Market, at Four Corners (Broad at Meeting Streets and at roadside stands along Hwy. 17 in Mt. Pleasant.
They are expensive and are handmade so do not expect a bargain on any of them. They are beautiful and are art form that is being lost. It is interesting to talk to the ladies about the baskets.
Bought a sweetgrass basket this spring from a stand on highway 17 .. It was quite interesting to talk to the young lady selling them . Baskets made by novices are less tight and thus not as expensive . Prize winning weavers have mastered the craft and so the prices are up there. Also she came down a little from the posted price
Thanks for the advice.
I was in IOP last week of May and was dying for a sweetgrass basket. Bought one from a very sweet older lady on Hwy 17 just north of the IOPconnector. It%26#39;s on the smaller side, but only cost me $40. Although the baskets in Chas. at the market are lovely, the costs were extreme.
I will be in Charleston in December and would love to purchase a few sweetbaskets for Christmas gifts. Where is Boone Hall on Highway 17 and is Miss Annie the name of the store? Who is the older woman off 17 near IOP? ( what is that?) Thanks for any help.
IOP is the Isle of Palms, and the IOP Connector is a major intersection in Mt. Pleasant on Hwy 17. Hwy 17 is ';Sweetgrass Basketmakers Highway'; and is dotted up and down on both sides of the highway with the occasional, often makeshift wooden frame ';hut'; where the basketmakers sit out of the sun%26#39;s rays and make baskets.
All of the basketweavers are pleasant and they each have their own ';favorites'; that they make. One could drive north and stop at each one, finding the design you like. At Mt. Pleasant Towne Center, a large (very nice) outdoor shopping center that is on Hwy 17 b/w I526 and the IOP Connector, there is a ';pavillion'; where several basket makers display their work. That might be a good place to stop for a first look. PS - since you%26#39;re coming before the holidays, you might get lucky and be there when they have their free carriage rides through the shopping center, which is I believe on weekends after Thanksgiving.
The price of the baskets reflect the amount of work required to complete the basket - you probably could not find even the smallest basket for less than $30. Wreaths make great gifts too and are easy to travel with! You will always get a better deal when you buy 2 or more - make a reasonable offer.
Enjoy your shopping and welcome to Charleston!
I bought two lovely baskets in April 2008
made from the three grasses, bullrush, palm,
and sweet grass. (They have three different
colors to them because of the three different
grasses, tend to be a little more expensive
than those made from one type of grass.) Plan
to spend between $75.00--$100 each depending on
the intricacy of the pattern and size. Also
take cash, I don%26#39;t think any take credit cards
or checks. Also if you buy them from the same
stand you can negotiate on the price and get
a little discount. Stay away from the Market
in downtown Charleston, unless you don%26#39;t have
a car. Take the scenic ride over the bridge
to Route 17, where there were many stands along
the way, Go up and down both sides to see
what you like. There are several books you
can also pick up in Charleston which will
tell you about the history and the art of the
baskets. I love my baskets!!
Try heading out to Angel Oak on John%26#39;s Island for a visit, there is usually a lady there making baskets (I took a class on how to make the baskets there years ago).
Her prices are about as ';reasonable'; as you will find. I have bought from her in the past and if I%26#39;m correct, I think she did take a charge card (but it%26#39;s not the norm, as mentioned above).
My friends talked me into going on vacation to Charleston, Nov 1 - Nov 6. I have heard a lot of good things about Charleston but I am a nature lover and I want to go on a 1 day trip from Charleston to Kiawah Island. I have looked it up on map of %26lt;a href=';citiesandvillages.com/city-Charleston-Charle鈥?/a>';%26gt; Charleston, SC travel and vacation%26lt;/a%26gt;. It looks kind of close but I am not sure how close. Did anyone make a day trip from Charleston to Kiawah Island?
Kiawah is a gated island with only one public access (onto the beach), through Charleston County%26#39;s Beachwalker Park. Unfortunately, Beachwalker County Park is closed in November through February.
If you want to visit Kiawah Island for a day in November, you will need to make a reservation for golf, or for lunch at one of the restaurants. Consider lunch at The Jasmine Porch, in The Sanctuary Hotel (the hotel is worth seeing).
Kiawah is about a 45 minute drive from Charleston, on narrow local roads.
Wish I could be more helpful!
Another thought -
If you know someone who owns a home on Kiawah, ask that person to phone security to arrange an owner/guest pass. With the pass, courtesy of your friend, you won%26#39;t need to worry about lunch!
Not to worry - nature is one of my favorite things about the Charleston area - there is nature everywhere - not only behind a gate.
Up highway 17, north of Charleston is the town of Mt. Pleasant. In Mt. P is Shem Creek - a great area for kayaking and viewing dolphins and pelicans, all from the comfort of your outdoor bench while sipping an adult beverage. (the kayaking part I wouldn%26#39;t recommend with the adult beverage!) Going north of there is Awendaw, where the Sewee Nature Center is located, which has a nice nature trail and a small education center. (since there is a National forest there, expect nature to be everywhere.) They are the folks who are involved in the Sea Turtle program on Cape Romain. Awendaw has the center for Birds of Prey - I haven%26#39;t been yet but it%26#39;s apparently open to the public now. From Awendaw and from Isle of Palms (the beach area adjacent to Mt. Pleasant) you can take an ';EcoTour'; to one of the islands (called the Barrier Island Ecotour). It%26#39;s apparently excellent and I%26#39;d have done it if I didn%26#39;t already have a way to get out to the Barrier Islands. McClellanville is the next town north of Awendaw and is a very quaint little village that hosted Kevin Costner et al recently while filming a movie. McC%26#39;ville has its own shrimp industry but not as ';commercialized'; as Shem Creek in Mt. P. (there aren%26#39;t any restaurants overlooking the water, as there are (so many) in Shem Creek) Someone said that it is what SHem Creek used to look like 20-30 years ago.
Off the IOP connector are some Osprey nests and an area that is frequented by egrets and herons. So many that you%26#39;ll swear they%26#39;re something else.
All of these places are open to the public; no reservations needed, unless you go on a boat tour. The Aquarium is nice - much smaller than the GA Aquarium but nice nonetheless. And you can take ';behind the scenes'; tours there that I%26#39;d recommend. ENJOY!
If you want to see nature, away from Charleston, contact Ralph, below:
http://kayakcharleston.net/
He runs kayak trips in the ACE Basin (about an hour south of Charleston) where, depending on the time of year and tides, you may see alligators, dolphins, relics from some of the old plantations, and just the wonderful peace of the marshes. Great trips!
Do think about making a reservation for lunch at one of the restaurants on Kiawah, like Villa suggested. That way you can at least see what Kiawah looks like and maybe find a way to stay on the island the next time you are in town. The best way to see the island is on bike.
Have fun!
Going to be in myrtle beach end of December. Two boys 10 and 7. What activities will be open such as mini golf, amusement parks, etc. Also can anyone suggest a great hotel.
Thanks
Would probably be easier to list what is NOT open. Water parks are the only things that come to mind right now....
Alas...Painter%26#39;s Ice Cream will be closed for the season. :(
Seriously, winter time is great at the beach. The beach is deserted, and often it%26#39;s pleasant enough to walk along the shore in a light jacket and sweats. As noted above, most restaurants and attractions are now open year-round, so you%26#39;ll definitely find plenty of things to do.
Sorry I can%26#39;t help much with the hotels question, as we own property there so I never stay at hotels when I visit. I do know you can get incredibly cheap rates during the winter, so the very best places are within most people%26#39;s budget. Come on down and enjoy the sunshine!
The Dunes Village Resort has a indoor water park. My Kids love it... Also try Ripley%26#39;s Aquarium...
I%26#39;d be curious to know when you went to Dunes Village, my family and I are consdiering a trip to MB the week of Thanksgiving (Sat-Wed prior) and were thinking the Dunes Village would be great because of the waterpark. Love to hear from you and others of November stays at Dunes and whether it was worth it.
Planning a family/friend vacation for June 2009. Flying down, looking for best area to stay and hotel suggestions. Want 2 bedroom condo on the beach. Will have to rent a car. Heard North Myrtle is where we want to be but with the two 20 year olds we need to be close to places they can walk to as not sure if the 21 year old will rent a car. So basically looking for an area that we can all be happy in, close to activities on the beach Husband wants to golf. Any suggestions?
Can anyone out there help with this question?
Thanks
Hi,
You might try Kingston Plantation鈥?seems to cover a lot of your needs鈥?has an on site golf pro to manage your golf reservations.
frommers.com/destinations/鈥39159.html
Also maybe the Breakers鈥?/p>
www.breakers.com/鈥?/a>
Stayed a both over the years but now we (group of guys) always stay at Legends Golf Resort. Not really a family place鈥ll golf and all guys.
We stayed at Sea Watch with our 18 year old son %26amp; 22 year old daughter, they both loved the location. There were plenty of other people their age and the pool had a DJ a couple of days during the week. Several nights they just stayed at the pool until closing (11:00 PM)with a lot of other people their age.
If they plan on going to Barefoot landing or Broadway at the Beach they will need a car or get a cab.
Those places all look great but I am thinking they are all in North Myrtle. If the 20 year olds want to be in Myrtle Beach closer to the places they would want to go to, what places should I be looking
at?
I have been staying at Camelot By The Sea. It is located at 20th and N. Ocean Blvd. I have teenagers and they did walk to Broadway at the Beach. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the location of Camelot. A lot of people though have negative things to say about it but I have never had a bad experience with them. And, like I said, I think the location is great.
Hope this helps,
Cheryl
Here are some to check on that are on ocean blvd that should be walking distance of where young people seem to hang out. Camelot, Anderson Ocean Club, Bayview, Bestwestern Carolinian, Roaxanne Towers, Atlantica (make sure you would staying in II or III - same building, newer than the rest), Holiday Inn at the Pavillion - I don%26#39;t think they have 2 bedrooms, maybe even Oceans One or Sandy Beach but they are a little further south and would be a longer walk. Be sure to check the reviews on here and parking as I know some places in that area the parking is across the street, down 1/2 a block or so. I know that strip of Ocean Blvd doesn%26#39;t have as much as it used to but in June there will be a lot of people cruising and hanging out there. Plus it is probably less than two miles from Broadway at the Beach. If you have any younger ones you are very close to Family Kingdom as well. I know lots of people like NMD better but I personally like that area better.
There really aren%26#39;t any walking-friendly places in Myrtle Beach. So, either be prepared to rent 2 cars (that is, if they%26#39;ll let a 21-year old rent one ) or find a place with lots to do. My husband also plays golf almost every day of our vacation. I%26#39;m happy with a book and the beach. If the kids want a car they usually wait til their father gets back from golf ( around 12:30-2:00 ). We%26#39;ve never stayed in North Myrtle Beach, so I can%26#39;t comment on any of their hotels. We have stayed at Kingston Plantation ( many times ). There%26#39;s tons to do besides the beach: sports club, tennis, bars, restaurants. The outlet mall is close by. It%26#39;s at the north end of Myrtle Beach. Other nice places that are a little further south in a nice residential area are: Dunes Village, Island Vista and South Wind. Hope that helps.
We will be coming on Nov. 1. Do we need to purchase our tickets for Opry, etc. in advance?
We are looking for a beach house (oceanfront) to rent next spring, apprx. 4 - 7 bedrooms, anywhere in the MB area. I have been on the Dunes Reality website, but would really love to have some input from someone who has rented one.
Thanks.
Visit http://www.surfsidebeach.org and click on the visitor link. They have an accommodations page which has direct links to all the local realty sites.
Can anyone tell me whether shops/attractions/museums have different opening hours over Easter please?
We might be in Savannah (or Charleston) but don%26#39;t want to find everywhere shut on Good Friday or Easter Monday!!
I don%26#39;t think you%26#39;ll find any problems with public attractions being closed on either day. There might be restaurants and stores closed on Easter Sunday, or maybe limited hours (closing early).
On the other hand, there are plenty of restaurants that have special Easter buffets (reservations in advance) on Sunday. This type of information probably won%26#39;t be posted till after the first of the year (guess you could call, if you have someplace in particular in mind and ask).
Easter weekend is usually in conjuction with a lot of schools Spring Break, so it is a big family tourist time.
Thanks Kiawahbeth
Just in case and perhaps with it being not quite so busy would it make much difference to hold back for a week? Wider choice of accommodation perhaps?
Might be a good idea if you can work it out, some schools are out the week prior to Easter, some are out the week after Easter.
Waiting till after Easter will also make the water temps a little warmer, in case you are planning any water activities.
This Southern delicacy, uniquely South Carolinaian, has developed into an art form when done right. Served over white rice then ladeled on top and covered with bbq sauce and a smattering of pulled pork is the way I like it best. I%26#39;ve had many good renditions but who has the best you%26#39;ve ever tasted? And the nominees are...........?
We plan to stay 3 nights in Charleston beginning Sunday night and looking for best choice for the money and location. Please help!
Of the hotels you mentioned, I%26#39;ve stayed only at Mills. Last time I was there was several years ago, and I had generally good feelings about the stay. The location was superb, the rooms nice but not luxurious, and the rates were decent for the historic district. However, that was a few years back. Now that the rates are about 70% higher, I doubt I%26#39;d return to Mills. One drawback was that the staff was a little less than accomodating (never got the mini fridge we were promised). Hope that helps some.
The good news for you: rates are always better near the beginning of the week, which is when you%26#39;re traveling. Enjoy your stay, and be sure to take the boat ride over to Fort Sumter!
I%26#39;ve stayed at Mills House and Fulton Lane - enjoyed both. Mills house is a larger hotel and Fulton Lane is smaller and more intimate. It%26#39;s also off the main road. Parking is easier at Mills House. Best wishes.
King Charles Inn just did a $7 million renovations, new rooms are beautiful. Handcrafted furniture, safes, mini-fridges, flat screen TV%26#39;s, IHOME radios that have an IPOD docking station. Parking is free at the King Charles as well...very rare for downtown.
We stayed at the Pinckney last year and would never go back. Lousy rooms for the high price.
That said, the Vendue has received rave reviews, but it also is quite pricey.
By the looks of it, the King charles would be my choice. Location is great, and the recent renovations sounds like it has become THE place to stay. Two big positives are the rates and the free parking.....
We would like to try this cruise. We were told to take something for sea sickness. Is this true?
Unless they are forecasting seas above 3-5ft, you should be fine. But if you get seasick easily, it shouldn%26#39;t hurt to some Dramamine.
There is a product called travelease. They are wrist bands with a presure point on each one. I am extreemly prone to sea sickness but when using these bands I can stay below deck for hours playing black jack. Without this product I can not even stay above deck without feeding the fish multiple times.
A little info from someone who has been there. When the dealer changes at mid cruise to the large male cash out if you are playing black jack. I have played there a few times and have gone up by almost 200 by mid cruise. When he came on I lost 3 hands in a row so I got up. I came back around the end of the cruise to see how things were going. We all had money and were doing well under the origional dealer. I walked away with 180 in the boats money. The ones who stayed had their clocks cleaned. He is not just a dealer he is a mechanic. When the dealer changes run run run.
Thanks for the info. I really didn%26#39;t want to take the pills.
Someone said that they have two different casino cruises. Which one did you go on?
Also, thanks for the heads up on blackjack. My DH plays Let it Ride. I usually play poker slots.
I should have mentioned we will be staying in North Myrtle beach
If you do a search in the MB forum you can see where each restaurant%26#39;s are and read reviews by visitors; hope this helps........dan
http://www.myrtlebeachscrestaurants.com/
Thanks for the info. I%26#39;ll check out the forum and the web site.
what golf courses would you recommend for my husband and his friend?
Recommend Glen Dornach or Heather Glen . You can view
the courses at their web site.
Also, if you are staying in N Myrtle, there are some
great courses to play in N Carolina including
Rivers Edge which is a Palmer signature course
and a group of courses in Sunset Beach called the
Cat courses. Of this group, Tiger%26#39;s Eye is excellent.
You may want to visit the Myrtle Beach Golf Assocation web site for course reviews , locations etc.
Thanks for the info. I wrote down the info and gave it to my husband.
MBGOLFDESK.COM has a great forum on their web site which deals with a variety of M.B. golfing questions.
Some variables to consider in your question are , handicaps, cost,scenic courses,courses without housing and distance from hotel.If you can be more specific it would help.
I%26#39;ve never been to Hilton Head, but a friend just told me that many of the condos have cockroach issues - does anyone know if this is a problem at shorewood villas (in March)? Thanks,
We have been to HH countless times and i have NEVER had cockroach issues. We have stayed in Shorewood and it was wonderful. If you go through a reputable rental agency, this should not be an issue.
Being in a semi tropical climate, we have a fairly large beetle here called a Palmetto bug. This creature is mistaken by some visitors for a very large cockroach.
On your trip you may encounter one, but they are harmless.
The various condo associations do employ exterminators who generally spray the interiors monthly, so I think it is not an issue.
Stan (hhiguy)
Thanks for the info - sounds like it%26#39;s similar to Florida - a few tropical ';friends'; come with the territory - not an issue for us. Looking forward to our first trip to Hilton Head.
Aiming to come to Savannah/Charleston next spring and have some questions about flights and hotel bookings.
We intend using Air Miles with BA to fly from the UK and have enough to fly into either New York/Philadelphia/Washington then pay to fly down to either Charleston or Savannah. Which would be the best option and would we be better getting return flights south or fly into one and leave from the other?
If we hired a car I take it%26#39;s not a problem to pick up from one place and drop it at the other?
I%26#39;ve been told Quikbook is a reliable booking agency for hotels. Is it going to be more expensive to use them rather than Priceline or Hotwire? I have to say I do prefer knowing exactly where I%26#39;ll be staying beforehand and was wondering how far in advance you%26#39;re told with Priceline or Hotwire (I%26#39;ve never used them).
Either New York or Washington will have more direct flights to Charleston than will Philadelphia.
If you fly BA into NYC, fly into EWR (Newark International Airport) so that you will not have to make the change from JFK for you flight to CHS. Continental Airlines has direct service several times per day from EWR to CHS.
Similarly, before you purchase a ticket into any of the three airports serving Washington, determine from which airport your CHS flight will depart, as well as how you will travel between airports.
You can pick up a car in one city and drop it in the next, but it does cost quite a bit more to do it that way. Charleston %26amp; Savannah are only 100 or so miles apart, so it%26#39;s not difficult to return to where you flew in (and gas is dropping measurably right now).
We%26#39;ve used Travelocity and Expedia many times for trip planning, never had a problem. Have not tried any of those you list. We do like to know exactly where we are going to stay. After making reservations on-line we have called to make sure of specifics (handicapped room when traveling w/my mother, 2 rooms next to each other when traveling w/friends, etc.).
Not all car rental companies are ';one way friendly'; - some overcharge you for drop off fees. One that we%26#39;ve always used as we found ourselves often going one way to Florida or within Florida is National. (they%26#39;re affiliated with Alamo) Enterprise is not an option as although they%26#39;re great to use in town, they don%26#39;t offer one way rentals.
If you use Hotwire or Priceline, you find out the name of the hotel as soon as you pay. The Mills House (a favorite of locals and visitors) is often on Hotwire in the 100=125 dollar range; I believe as a 3 star hotel in the Historic District. If you need more details, send me a message with your prospective dates. I am not familiar with Quikbook (sounds like accounting software to me) but Kayak is a good place to do a general comparison.
As far as flying into/out of, if you throw Myrtle Beach into the list of options, sometimes you can get a better deal than Charleston. Then rent in MB, drive to Charleston (about 90 minutes drive); stay in Charleston and drive to Savannah. By far the best airfares in the area are into and out of Jacksonville, FL but that%26#39;s quite a few hours%26#39; drive even to Savannah.
I%26#39;ve looked on the betterbidding website but am confused as to how hotwire and priceline actually work. Do you bid on both sites and do you bid really low? How far in advance do you bid/book?
I%26#39;m planning a holiday to the eastern side of the USA in April next year.
I want to visit NYK, Philadelphia, Washington, Charleston and Savannah and will use BA Air MIles to fly into and out of either NYK or Washington. As I see it I have 8 options (without backtracking) and would be interested to hear what people think of them. (I%26#39;m going to post this on the forums of all 5 cities):
1. NYK - train to Phil - train to Wash - fly to Sav - train to Charleston - fly to NYK.
2. NYK - train to Phil - train to Wash - fly to Charleston - train to Savannah - fly to NYK.
3. NYK - fly to Sav - train to Charleston - fly to Wash - train to Phil - train to NYK.
4. NYK - fly to Charleston - train to Savannah - fly to Wash - train to Phil - train to NYK.
5. Wash - train to Phil - train to NYK - fly to Sav - train to Charleston - fly to Wash.
6. Wash - train to Phil - train to NYK - fly to Charleston - train to Savannah - fly to Wash.
7. Wash - fly to Sav - train to Charleston - fly to NYK - train to Phil - train to Wash.
8. Wash - fly to Charleston - train to Savannah - fly to NYK - train to Phil - train to Wash.
I%26#39;m aiming to fly from the UK around the 8th April and return on about the 2nd May and thought going south first might be the best option.
Provisional stops would be 4 days in Charleston, 3 in Savannah, 4 in Washington, 4 in Philadelphia and 7 in NYK.
I%26#39;d like to visit Gettysburg and the Amish country so was wondering whether it might be sensible to stop somewhere for 8 days between Wash and Phil and just commute to the two cities.
If possible I would also prefer not to hire a car.
Many thanks and sorry to be so long winded.
You%26#39;ve obviously done your homework with respect to the transportation options! (I assume that by ';NYK'; you mean ';NYC'; - New York City.)
I would choose Option 1, with your BA flights into and out of EWR (Newark Liberty International Airport). The big advantage of flying into EWR intstead of into JFK, is that you can pick up an Amtrak train to Philadelphia directly from EWR, without extra ground transportation or ovrenight accommodations.
For your internal flight from Charleston to New York, you will find many options out of CHS, flying into either EWR or LGA (LaGuardia Airport).
You might consider getting an Amtrak rail pass. Pay one price and get a number of segments over a number of days.
I%26#39;d suggest...
Days 1,2, - New York (get used to the time change)
Fly to Savannah
Days 3, 4,5 - Savannah -
Days 6,7,8,9 - Charleston (just be sure you%26#39;re in Charleston before April 18 to attend some of the Historic Charleston foundation tours - www.historiccharleston.org then click on ';Festival of Houses and Gardens';)
Train to Washington DC (it%26#39;s not that bad a ride, plus the train is comfortable)
Days 10, 11, 12, 13 - Washington DC
Days 14,15, 16 Philadelphia (with a side trip to Lancaster via Amtrak to visit Amish country). However, I have no idea how convenient the station is to the ';sights';. Having lived just outside of Lancaster I can tell you that it is definitely worth a visit but I recall the best part was being in a car and driving past the farms, seeing all the carriages, and stopping for pretzels, handmade items, and scrapple. (well, the scrapple is an acquired taste that I never acquired much like Vegemite would be). I never did visit the Gettysburg site - can%26#39;t comment on that but you%26#39;ll get good info from the Philly forum.
Day 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 - New York
By my count, you have a few extra days. You might consider adding Boston, esp. if you get the rail pass, as Boston is not a bad ride from NY. (If there is any chance you can fly out of Boston back to the UK, all the better)
In summary, I think your #3 and #4 choices are good options, considering weather and the Historic Society tours.
Welcome to Charleston and enjoy the planning and your visit!
I normally completely agree with CultureHound, but not in this instance.
DO NOT take night(s) in the expensive, busy NYC area just to recover from jet lag. You can easily recover from jet lag in Phillie and Amish country.
The train trip from EWR to Philadelphia is SO quick that it is no more than a few minutes more than getting yourself to a hotel in New York.
My daughter frequently travels from London to Baltimore (south of Philadelphia) flying BA to EWR, and jumping on the train. It%26#39;s a no-brainer.
Come to think of it, Baltimore is another historic port city that you might enjoy. Check it out!
The train between Washington and Charleston is an option.
Going north from Charleston, the advantage is arrival at Union Station (Amtrak, Wash. DC), right in the heart of the city. Depending upon where you are staying, you may save big on cab fare. The disadvantage is that the train runs only twice each day and takes almost 12 hours.
The train passengers in ';coach'; between Charleston and Washington are an interesting assortment of regular people. If you enjoy meeting oddballs who love to talk, the train is ideal.
The scenery is interesting if you are traveling in daylight. The train goes virtually right through Quantico Marine Corps Base (famous to Americans, at least) in Northern Virginia.
The NY stop was suggested since I find that when I travel my visit is always better the second time around (and staying for a couple of days you get the lay of the land, maybe find that perfect hotel for the latter part of your trip.) Additionally, you%26#39;ll probably meet lots of locals on the remainder of your travels who will give you pointers on what to do, and you%26#39;ll already have a bit of the lay of the land so everything isn%26#39;t so new and confusing. Getting a couple of days of NY in early on leaves you with the option of adding Boston or maybe even the Jersey Shore (from Philadelphia you%26#39;ll be about 1 hour away from Atlantic City - a sight in itself). You might even get free transportation from NY or from Philly since there are numerous casino ';junkets'; that take busloads full of people daily. They don%26#39;t require that you gamble, (they just assume you will) and the Jersey boardwalk is unlike anything else in America. Just a thought!
If you can get an open jaw ticket with your BA miles, you might consider flying into Miami, working your way noth on the train, and flying home from New York. Or visa versa.
Along the coast between Miami and Savannah, you can visit the Kennedy Space Center, from which the shuttle departs, and St Augustine, FL, which is the oldest European city in the the United States (unless you count San Juan, Puerto Rico).
Or, taking CultureHound%26#39;s suggestion, start or end at Boston.
Thanks everybody - much appreciated.
I%26#39;ll have to double check with Air Miles but I don%26#39;t think it will let me fly into one city and out from another - it was possible at one time but not anymore.
Boston is not really an option as we spent a week there just after 9/11 and would really like to see the other cities.
I%26#39;ll look at the train options though.
Have a wonderful trip! I envy you, and I look forward to your trip report.
WaltR - for the Charleston part of your trip - to make sure you can fit in everything you would like to since you will only have 4 days here - I%26#39;m just listing some things you might like to do. Please let us know which interest you as some might only be available on weekdays, some only on weekends, etc.
1. Historic Society Tours of Homes and Gardens - www.historiccharleston.org - each day there are about 9 homes featured on a walking tour that you do at your own leisure, visiting the private homes and gardens of residents of the homes South of Broad Street. This goes on for a month, and you%26#39;ll be here then, so it%26#39;s a ';must do';. Beautiful; takes a few hours total.
2. Carriage ride - a horse, or mule, and driver take you and about a dozen people on a narrated tour of the historic district. There are a number of routes and technically you could go several times and not overlap tours. About 1 hour.
3. Walking Historic Tour - there are several of these, each with a theme. We like the Historic tour and the Civil War tour. I like the ones that leave from the Mills House. About 2 1/2 hours. [some people like the Ghost tours as well)
4. Harbor Cruise to Ft. Sumter - Lovely boat ride takes you in the Charleston Harbor to Ft. Sumter. While at the Fort, a Park Ranger explains the history of the ';Conflict'; and there is a nice museum. About 3 hours total.
5. Yorktown/Patriot%26#39;s Point - you could take a harbor taxi across the Cooper River to Mt. Pleasant, where you can tour the Yorktown (aircraft carrier) and see other items of military interest. About 5 hours total.
6. The Hunley - this is the Civil War submarine that was dredged up (very carefully) from feet of silt in the harbor only a few years ago. It is undergoing preservation so it is only open to the public on weekends, but is quite fascinating. About 4 hours total.
7. The Plantations - you can spend 1/2 day or more at each one. Most visitors only have time to visit one, but the ';big 4'; are: Boone Hall, Magnolia Plantation, Middleton Plantation, Drayton Hall. THey typically have re-enactions of what life was like on the plantations in the early days.
8. The beaches - if you do everything above, you%26#39;ll need a 1/2 day or so to just relax. Our beaches are VERY close by and very nice. It will be too chilly for locals to swim in April but, trust me, there will be swimmers! The beaches north of Charleston (10 minutes to 25 minutes north) will also be good places for looking for shells -(good time of year for sand dollars) and a great place to go for long walks on a beach ';made for'; beachwalking. Also good for windsurf watching. On the way, you%26#39;ll pass Shem Creek which is the year-round place to view dolphins and pelicans.
9. Take the Gullah tour - shows the unique perspective of the history of the Gullah culture in the Lowcountry.
10. Take an ';eco-tour'; - a boat leaves from Isle of Palms or from Awendaw, taking you to an uninhabited island where you%26#39;ll see (depending on the time of year) alligators, snakes, birds, turtles, etc. Along with the eco-theme is the Birds of Prey center. Shem Creek is worth a visit if you have the time (it is the place were the shrimp boats are docked; the creek is lined with restaurants and bars)
11. Our museums and art galleries and aquarium would be great for rainy days, as would an afternoon at a Lowcountry cooking class.
12. Just walking around the area south of Broad Street; shopping on King Street or at the Market; spending some relaxation time at Waterfront Park, etc.
13. You could take additional tours to see: the Charleston Tea Plantation (only place in America that grows its own tea leaves) and see the famous Angel Oak.
14. You should also be aware that Charleston is a place where there are MANY all-city events, such as Harborfest, the Cooper River Bridge Run, Tall Ships Festival, Dragon Boat races (new), the Spoleto Festival and Piccolo-Spoleto, etc etc. If you should come during one of those events you might want to participate in them instead of one of the other things on the list.
I%26#39;m sure I left some things out that later I%26#39;ll be horrified to have missed, but let us know what interests you so we can help you pare down the acitivites to your schedule. Don%26#39;t try to do it all - take a day just to relax and enjoy. If you have time to eat and sleep, we have restaurants and hotels as well! :)
(see ';Things to Do'; for more ideas!)
We will be in Charleston the weekend of the Christmas Boat Parade. We are also planning on seeing the downtown Charleston Christmas Parade. Staying at the Best Western King Charles Inn. Five downtown hotels are already sold out for that weekend! Anyone been in Charleston during that Christmas Boat Parade weekend in Dec (6/7)? The last Christmas Boat Parade we saw was in So Calif in 2001.
Looking very forward to that weekend. Of course, no snow, but that is quite ok with us.
Any recommends or suggestions for that weekend?
What type of dining experiences do you want? How long are you staying?
Definitely take a horse carraige tour.
We will be in Charleston on both Saturday and Sunday, leaving on Monday. We are not into expensive dining, but would like a taste of some seafood. As far as that carriage ride goes, don%26#39;t know if we will have time for that......two days can go mighty fast, but that is all we can do! We are actually visiting there for the Christmas displays/lights, Boat Parade and Downtown Parade. If time permits, would also like to see the USS Yorktown area (I spent time in the Navy). We will arrive in Charleston early on Saturday morning.
You are on a tight schedule! Even so, the carriage ride is a ';must';.
Hank%26#39;s would be a good choice for seafood, but Charleston is a ';foodie'; town so it%26#39;s tough to go wrong. The water taxi schedule slows down sometime in winter, so if you were planning to see the Yorktown via a boat, check their schedule first. (You can get there by bus if you don%26#39;t have a car).
The rooftop bars and California Dreaming will be crowded that night so go early. The boat parade is beautiful! All the boats are decorated for Christmas and many continue to light their lights every night through the holidays.
You picked a great time to visit. The boat parade is always so much fun.
Jestine%26#39;s is a great local non-expensive place to eat. It%26#39;s at the corner of meeting and Wentworth.
A little over a month to go before we head to Charleston for a December weekend of Christmas fun. We can hardly wait!!!! AND, will be having a nice dinner there that weekend also!
We are driving to Charleston and our friends are flying into Charleston. Can anyone recommend a good restaurant(preferably not a chain) that we could meet for lunch between the airport and downtown. We like to eat where the locals eat. Also, we will be staying at the Hampton Inn Patriots Point so we are looking for a good restaurant for dinner.Thanks
You are only 15 minutes from downtown at the airport. Might be worth waiting...
I agree. We often go downtown for lunch after an airport pick up ... even though we don%26#39;t need to drive through town when we are heading to Kiawah, which is south of Charleston.
It%26#39;s just so easy to park in a garage and grab a nice lunch. Gets the vacation off to a wonderful start.
Indeed, here is a secret about Charleston - it%26#39;s easy to get around everywhere - and from the airport to downtown is 20 minutes-ish. (if you%26#39;re from a busy or high-traffic city, you%26#39;ll laugh at what we call ';traffic';. I still do! Watch the morning news to see the traffic on the Ravenel Bridge at 7:30am - it has made me laugh more than a few times!) Also - even if your friends check in their luggage, we only have 2 terminals and each has only about a half dozen gates so we%26#39;re talking 2 minutes from the gate to the baggage claim. Really makes picking up luggage fast, too. If you park in the lot by the baggage claim, I believe the first 30 minutes is free, so if you time it right it%26#39;s not only convenient but cheap. There is a cell phone waiting area so you can park when your friends call to tell you they%26#39;ve landed.
Just another reason to love the area!
If you%26#39;re all staying at Patriot%26#39;s Point and want something local before you check in to your hotel, I%26#39;d suggest perhaps Vickery%26#39;s on Shem Creek if the weather is nice, or if you%26#39;re adventurous and want to try Gullah food, there%26#39;s Gullah Cuisine on Hwy 17 near where 526 and 17 meet. Another nice outdoor place is 5 Loaves on Hwy 17. All of those would be within 10 minutes of Patriot%26#39;s Point, with Vickery%26#39;s and 5 Loaves less than 5 minutes.
For dinner, Charleston is as easy to get to from Patriot%26#39;s Pt as almost anyplace in Mt. Pleasant, so do you want rec%26#39;s for Charleston? Also - what type of cuisine and what price range are you looking for? Atmosphere? (outside dining, music, etc??)
I love seafood and I know that everyone likes steak. We will be in the area 3 days so maybe we could go eat seafood one night and then they could have steak one night. It doesn%26#39;t have to be a fancy restaurant we just like good food.As I said earlier we like to eat where the locals eat not the tourist traps.
For a very casual, inexpensive local lunch downtown, I like Joseph%26#39;s - http://www.josephsofcharleston.com/
For a slightly more elegant, but still casual, lunch, I like 82 Queen, especially if the weather is good for eating on the garden patio -
http://www.82queen.com/
You can park at the municipal garage on Queen Street, which is just behind (and connected to) The Mills House Hotel. No worry about security for your friends luggage. The garage is right across the street from 82 Queen and just around the corner from Joseph%26#39;s.
I agree with 82 Queen if you%26#39;re lunching in the city (or it makes for a nice dinner, too!)
If you%26#39;re lunching in Mt. P near Patriot%26#39;s Pt, an upscale place (gorgeous) is Langdon%26#39;s (www.langdonsrestaurant.com/index.php?s=mw
Another Mt. P breakfast or lunch place - really casual but completely local place is the Boulevard Diner (really casual but nice selection, great food and great prices). It%26#39;s near Shem Creek. Do try to go there for breakfast one day (closed Sunday) and have the crab and shrimp omelette. Take 2 extra Lipitor that day! (but I am not a doctor so you%26#39;d better not!)
Enjoy!
We are staying in Mount Pleasant. Any restaurant recommendations for that area. I just received an email from the couple that we are meeting and it simply said ';SEAFOOD';. So, I do need seafood restaurant recommendations. Thanks
If you head a little further out toward the beach you could try the Boathouse at Breech Inlet. Great for seafood and a sunset.
Have fun!
The Shrimp and Grits at the Boulevard Diner is excellent for lunch, and Shrimp and Grits is of course a Charleston specialty, as is She Crab Soup. Remember - BD is very casual and you will often encounter lines to get in. Across the street from that I%26#39;d recommend Locklear%26#39;s for great seafood dishes, and either before or after dinner, enjoy a cocktail (if that%26#39;s your thing) at one of the creekside bars/restaurants.
Red%26#39;s Ice House is a great place for a bucket of oysters and a bucket of beer and one of the best views of the creek and sunset, shrimp boats, dolphins and pelicans. The back deck at Vickery%26#39;s is great, too for drinks and sunset views. It is worth checking the sunset time before you make plans for dinner! Enjoy.
Looking for anyone who has stayed at southwind hotel/condos?Address is 5310 North Ocean BLVD
Have not stayed there but have toured the property.Upscale,3 to 4 year old complex located in a great section of Myrtle Beach.Very large balconies.
Is it the familt with children or without type?
They look to be very nice condos. We walked by the complex when we were staying at the Dunes Village in June. They had a outdoor pool, and lazy river. They do have a web site www.thesouthwind.com. If your looking to rent one try booe realty or maybe VRBO.com ... Good Luck!!
Our golf group stays there every year and it is wonderful. They have 2-5 bedroom units and we always get a 4 BR with a large wrap around balcony. No restaurant on site, but pleanty within a very short distance. I%26#39;ve never been one to eat at the hotel anyway. For your information you can go to www.vrbo.com and look at units that owners rent to you directly. You can look at the rooms of units and everything. We use them a lot wherever we travel to save money. Anymore questions you can call me at 770-423-0331 or e-mail at grh812@earthlink.net. Gary and Bonnie
OK, I know this forum is for Myrtle Beach however no one has been on the one for Murrell Inlet since August! so I am hoping to get a little advice here. I was looking to swap my time share for something in Myrtle Beach but that appears to be close to impossilbe. There are two in Murrell inlet i can swap for, ellington plantation Phase 1 or 2. Now my main question is how far is this from Myrtle Beach? What is there at Murrell inlet, is there a beach? Thanks for any help.
Murrell%26#39;s Inlet is roughly 15 minutes drive south of Myrtle, sometimes a little more when the traffic is heavy. There is no beach at Murrell%26#39;s Inlet. The closest beaches would be Huntington Beach State Park and Garden City.
Garden City Beach and Surfside Beach are close, easy drive, and they are quieter then the hussel and bussel of MB.
Murell%26#39;s Inlet is a quaint little area, great restaurants - especially seafood, and be sure to check out the Lasy Gator - great gift shop. And you are still within fair drive distance to MB attractions and shopping.
Hello from Sayreville N.J. We love Garden City and Surfside Beaches. MB IS 10 miles North or abt a 10-15 minute ride, Great restaurants less crowds very family oriented. Still has things for kids and grown kids too to do in the area. And yes the Lazy Gator is a really nice gift shop. And please take a ride to Pawleys Island and stop in at the Hammock Shops and across the street @ the Island Shops. Even if you buy nothing you will have enjoyed the day! At the Hammocks shop my fav is Candle Creations and at the Island Shops I love Earthly Treasures. I have talked to many people @ Garden City who do timeshares in the oceanfront condos and I would imagine Surfside is the same. Good luck and let us all know how you make out.
Hi. Have booked a week beginning 10/25 and never have been to HHI. Was looking for suggestions on what to pack. Is HHI a formal place for dinner or there alot of casual places. Are swimsuits and shorts still in season or should we consider jeans and light jackets. We are the casual kind. Thanks in advance for any help.
Be comfortable. The nights are getting cool now, so be sure to bring layers. Definitely bring your swimsuits and shorts ... We are still getting strong sun!
';Formal'; in the coastal areas of SC usually means khakis and a collared shirt (i.e. golf shirts are fine, but not collarless tee shirts) for men and skirts or trousers for women, as appropriate for the season. Jackets are generally not required for men except in a very few high-end restaurants in Charleston and Savannah. At this time of year, my husband sometimes wears a sport jacket just for warmth, but a nice sweater is fine, too. For a casual place, jeans are fine, although they are not worn as much down here as they are further north. You will not see locals in jeans at a fine restaurant.
kiawahvilla,
Can you give me an idea of temps at this time of year? Are we talking 70-80 daytime and cooler at night? Winds have shifted and are coming down from Canada here and the heat is on. Last week the windows were open and we were in shorts. Gotta love the Fall. Thanks for your help.
Best advice is: Bring layers.
The temps are very hard to predict. Some years we swim in the ocean through Thanksgiving. Other years, we walk around in sweaters and wind breakers.
This week, a cold front has just come through, bringing nightime temps into the mid-forties. This afternoon, temps were into the mid-seventies, but it has felt much warmer in the direct sun. Water temp in the ocean is around 70 degrees. The humidity has been delightfully low.
Meanwhile, a tropical system, forming in the Caribbean, is expected here Friday/Saturday. It will bring higher humidity, so the air will seem warmer, even if it is not.
Your guess is as good as mine! LOL
When I moved here permanently, I changed my wardrobe. I%26#39;m down to 2 suits and a blazer.
I usually don%26#39;t wear a jacket, even when I go to see a show at the Arts center.
Stan (hhiguy)
Thanks for the good advice. I have been using trip advisor advice and have never been steered wrong. I cannot wait to see HHI for the 1st time.
I%26#39;m sure my husband will be relieved to leave the ';uniform'; at home! LOL.
My wife and I will be in Beaufort for the Fall Festival of Homes tour on Friday, October 24. We%26#39;ll also attend the noon organ concert at St Helena%26#39;s. Any suggestions for a great lunch place that is not a chain? My wife loves tea room type food; I%26#39;m not picky--just don%26#39;t want to eat at a chain restaurant. Any suggestions?
There are several local places right on Bay St downtown - Panini, Luther%26#39;s, Kathleen%26#39;s, Plums. Most have been reviewed here and elsewhere.
For memorably delicious chicken salad in a tea room atmosphere, it would have to be the Sea Island Gourmet and Wine place on Boundary Street, just a few blocks up from Bay St. (away from the bridge).
Mmmm - mmmmm!
I second the vote for Sea Island Wine and Gourmet - - amazing food. Also, Panini%26#39;s and Plum%26#39;s are two of my favorites.
Can anyone recommend a coach tour for a week that we can pick up when we get there and covers both Savannah %26amp; Charleston.
We are a couple in our 50%26#39;s from the UK and will be in SC in May 2009.
Hi,
We are in North Charleston and looking for some authentic bbq. We ate at on of the chain restaurants tonight, and it was really good. But it wasn%26#39;t any different than a good bbq chain in California. I want to find a place that the locals go; a mom-and-pop, homestyle joint that was not meant to cater to the tourists. We like smokey and spicey. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
If you want to take a drive out to John%26#39;s Island, here%26#39;s one...
http://www.jbssmokeshack.com/default.asp
You could make a real adventure out of it and go visit the Angel Oak, the tea plantation and the winery while you are out that direction.
Have fun!
melvins is good, as is jim and nicks
We arrive tomorrow for three nights! Weather will be ';iffy'; (40% chance of rain), but hopefully we%26#39;ll still get some beach time.
Where do you recommend to eat - with kids (7 %26amp; 9)? also, where is the best buffet with crab (kids love all you can eat crab)?
Thanks!
KC
My favorite is Crabby Mikes which is located in Surfside.
We were in MB in August with 3 kids (14, 10 and 4). We went to Crabby Mike%26#39;s and we all loved it.
Original Benjamins at restaurant row followed by Captain Georges for crab legs.
Back porch of Hamburger Joes( great view of salt marsh).The Chesapeake House with a window seat gives you a view of the lake with 3 alligators that hang near the shore waiting for people to throw them food.Both places are good for kids.
Good breakfast buffet at House Of Blues.
Definitely Captain George%26#39;s.Over the past few yrs we have tried Orig. Benjamins, Giant Crab, and Bennetts. Went to Capt. George%26#39;s for 1st time this year.They had the BEST crab legs and scallops we have found. We will go back for sure.
Either Seafare or Crabby Mikes...both in Surfside. The kids would probably like the pirate theme and live ';mermaids'; at Seafare but it seems like Crabby Mikes had a little more selection on the buffet.
Captain George%26#39;s..you won%26#39;t be disappointed. Their she-crab soup is the best also.
Looks like I will make it to area late Feb. for 4 or 5 nights and both of these are in same price range ie under $50/night at that time. Best Western seems to have oceanfront view whereas not sure about Edgewater from their site although they seem to get better reviews. Appreciate any thoughts about this.
I%26#39;d go with Best Western.
Best Western is probably twice the size of Edgewater. Plus Edgewater is second row property so oceanfront is out of the question there. Also yuo get continental breakfast at Best Western.
Thanks - have booked there and will have time when there to check out longer term rentals for future possibilities as suggested by you and others on earlier posts when I was looking at weekly/monthly rentals.
We%26#39;ll look forward to your report when you return. Our family stays at the Best Western Ocean Sands every July, and we love it. However, we%26#39;ve never been there in February. Most of the things we love about this hotel involve summer-time activities (pool area, tiki bar, outdoor breakfast area) which may not be open during February.
I can say this about the BW Ocean Sands: it is in a great location, the rooms are large, and the folks that work there have always been wonderful to us.
Thank you - still firming up travel plans but when I do make it BW it will be. Many Canadians head to MB in Feb. often for month - usually much better weather than Ottawa area and rates at places like BW a bargain, particularly monthly rates. With Canadian dollar down to 80% of US this is also a consideration for Canadian snowbirds these days.
We will be staying at Sheraton Broadway Plantation June 26 thru July 3rd, 2009. We would like a unit on the beach for July 4th and 5th. What are our chances for staying at the Royal Palms or Marriott OceanWatch. I tried booking through Hilton and Marriott with no availability. Do owners ever rent by the day during the holiday season?
Most places are going to have a 3 to 4 night minimum over the 4th of July holiday.
Owners rarely rent just a night during that holiday because there are so many requests for week stays. You may be able to get a room at the Hilton but highly doubtful at Royale Palms. However check VRBO.com and email owners directly. Some have lock outs. That being said it%26#39;s also unlikely they%26#39;ll commit this early since they%26#39;re pretty sure they%26#39;ll rent that entire week out.
Would you consider heading further north for the 4th?
Maybe a smaller beach area....Ocean Isle, Carolina or Kure Beach NC, might have something available.
Still...hard to book just a day or two that time of year...anywhere.
Hello All
My Dad was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer and given a limited prognosis...with that said he has always wanted to go to Myrtle Beach S.C. We are looking at Thanksgiving Weekend...Anyone have any input for me? I appreciate you suggestions in advance.
Lisa
I am SOOOOO sorry to hear this news! How great of you to give him this wish. I am certain you will get many wonderful ideas. Blessings to your family and you,Jen
Check vrbo.com for rent-by-owner places. The listings show availability calendars, so (in most cases) you will know in advance what is available. Thanksgiving is a popular time fo owners to use their own homes, but I am sure you will find something.
All best to you and your family.
I am bumping you up in hope that someone else will respond.
Meanwhile, it would be helpful if you would post the number of people in your group, the exact dates, and your approximate budget.
Good luck!
First of all I am sorry to hear about your dad. I don%26#39;t know if you have been to MB or know any area you want to stay but Oceans One looks really good and it is new. We just went a couple of weeks ago and that is not where we stayed but we always look for future stays. They have floor to ceiling glass and great views, he may enjoy that. Sandy Beach also has a new building right next to Oceans One and it looks great as well. Everyone is going to have some good deals this time of year. Also Roxanne Towers is nice. Check out their websites. Hope that helps!
So sorry.
How big is your group? Is he interested in just enjoying the beach %26amp; a view? Or lots of sightseeing?
We rented a great 2-bedroom condo in Surfside Beach through vrbo.com. Immaculately clean %26amp; on the first floor. It has 2 o/f balconies %26amp; is fully equipped for everything.
Most owners will rent for less-than-a-week during the off-season.
If interested I could give you the unit # or there are lots of others on vrbo.com.
Another good value is Dayton House. It%26#39;s in the center of MB %26amp; is a basic, but very well-kept hotel. They have a nice oceanfront lawn with picnic table, umbrellas. Different types of rooms, suites, etc.
What is the water temperature like in early July?
Water temps in July average low 80%26#39;s.
Food prices are like any other vacation area, from cheap burgers to fine dining. Seafood buffets will run$19-$25, good streaks $15-$35.
As another poster replied,buying beach chairs and umbrella not a bad idea as opposed to renting for a week. Some individual condo owners will furnish beach items as a normal amenity. We supply beach chairs, umbrella and beach toys for kids.
I posted a similar question in the Georgia forum, and it was a popular post. Since I spent several years of my youth in the Berea/Greenville area, I thought I would post here as well:
I was recently reminiscing on ';Memory Lane:, and recalled my younger days while living in the Greenville area --- I remember Weiner King and the White Horse Drive-In Theater, which no longer exist. I also remember Kindergarten at The Chrisitan Tabernacle School (which may still be in existence), where my hand was frequently spanked by the Nuns with rulers. I remember picking beans by the bushel (and then shelling them), and a big rail-road track hill, that when you crossed it in a car, you could only see sky out of the windshield (somewhere in greenville, and probably not that big of a hill).
So I was wondering -- what is the best ';old school'; attraction or institution that still exists ? Which attraction or institution do you wish you could bring back ?
OK, I%26#39;ll play. Both are no-brainers for me.
In the still-around category, the Beacon drive-in in Spartanburg. This old boy would have starved to death many years ago had it not been for the Beacon. Still can%26#39;t go back to Spartanburg without at least one trip to the Beacon. It%26#39;s a classic.
In the gone but not forgotten category, it can only be the old Pawleys Pavilion, on Pawleys Island, which burned down about 1970. It was not just a place, it was a symbol of a simpler, more innocent time, when kids could have fun without cell phones, video games or guns.
Associated Press
Published: October 26, 2008
Archaeologists and members of the public alike take part in a dig this week at Drayton Hall near Charleston, the oldest plantation house in the nation open to the public.
Those participating will learn skills used in excavating and identifying artifacts.
Teams will work to solve the mystery of a 1765 watercolor that shows walls reaching from the existing main house to flanker buildings. There have been no previous digs to find remnants of the walls.
The group also will look for signs of a house that once existed in the same area. Evidence of that house was found during drainage work 20 years ago.
The 2008 Archaeological Institute opens Sunday at Drayton Hall, which dates to 1738. Field work begins Monday and wraps up Friday.
wish i could attend, will you let us know here of progress and findings. thanks for the info!
I love Drayton Hall. I wish I could participate!
I%26#39;ll be back in Mt P by then! Maybe I can find my way out there. Been in OK for 6 weeks and I%26#39;m ready for some ocean air and Atlanticville oysters.....
My husband and I will be traveling to South Carolina in a couple weeks. We will probably be in the areas of Charleston, Hilton Head, Beufort, Augusta, Columbia, Orangeburg and Gaffney. I%26#39;m looking for some good old fashioned southern food resaurants, not touristy where the locals might like to go. Also looking for fun things to see or do.
Any ideas, especially from locals would be appreciated.
Thanks.
maurice bessinger%26#39;s piggy park bbq
gotta be Lizards Thicket - there is about 10 of them now, best one is on St Andrews Road. They have a website complete with menu if you want to check it out.
The North East side of town has a Live/Work/play style outdoors mall called Village of Sandhills. Lots of stores and places to eat! My wife and i enjoy Hola Mexico. They have great food that is locals only type place. Very fast service and never crowded. My self personally i don%26#39;t like lizards thicket, but just my preference.
The North East side of town has a Live/Work/play style outdoors mall called Village of Sandhills. Lots of stores and places to eat! My wife and i enjoy Hola Mexico. They have great food that is locals only type place. Very fast service and never crowded. My self personally i don%26#39;t like lizards thicket, but just my preference.
Here are Charleston-area restaurants just in case you%26#39;re not posting on the Charleston forum,...
Seewee Restaurant in Awendaw;
Boulevard Diner in Mt. Pleasant;
Long Point Grill or Mustard Seed in Mt. Pleasant;
Hominy Grill in Charleston (though it has been in the news a lot lately since the Chef won the award for best chef in the southeast);
Melvin%26#39;s Barbecue in Mt. Pleasant;
Red%26#39;s Icehouse (Not great food but a FUN FUN place) in Mt. Pleasant at Shem Creek); for ';buckets of beer'; and great views of Shrimp boats, dolphins, pelicans; outdoor live music
Gullah Restaurant, Mt. Pleasant
Welcome and enjoy!
The best bbq is at Little Pigs, although it is a bit hard to get to. http://www.littlepigs.biz/ But then everyone has their own favorite bbq restaurant. Maurice%26#39;s is good, but not even close to the best. Also Little Pigs is a buffet, so that makes it all the better--and even more %26#39;traditional.%26#39;
As far as things to do, it all depends on you. We have a really nice National Park, but being from Idaho, it might not impress you too much. But, if you are outdoorsy and can handle the mosquitos, I would definitely check out Congaree National Park http://www.nps.gov/cosw/. It%26#39;s swampy and they have guided walks and stuff like that.
Our state museum is pretty neat and although I%26#39;ve never been to it, there%26#39;s a kid%26#39;s section.
Our zoo is very nice for a city our size and really just all around. (I hate to say it, but I wouldn%26#39;t bother with the Charleston Aquarium, but I have heard GREAT things about the aquarium in Atlanta if you%26#39;re going that way.)
We have two different bar areas. The Vista is much nicer than 5 Points (and more expensive), but if you%26#39;re not a sorority girl/frat boy, I%26#39;d stick with the Vista.
Good luck, have fun! It%26#39;s hot!
I%26#39;m from Northeast Columbia and have NEVER heard of Little Pigs. Thanks for the post! I%26#39;m going this weekend and must eat there!
I just ate at little pigs last week for the first time and wasn%26#39;t the slightest bit impressed.
Many great eats in Columbia, SC. If you like good ol%26#39; southern home cookin%26#39;, go with Lizard%26#39;s Thicket (which is essentially a ';meat and three (veggie side dishes)'; joint and the barbecue kinds of places.
If you%26#39;re a foodie, you may wish to opt out of those and instead hit one of these places around town:
Gourmet Shop - great for casual lunch and people watching (outdoor seating)
Gervais and Vine - tapas selections and great wine
Solstice - one of the best new restaurants to open in Columbia in recent years (New American) - close to Village at Sandhill
Mr. Friendly%26#39;s (New American fused with Southern twist (not to be confused with the chain Friendly%26#39;s)
DiPrato%26#39;s - an upscale deli - casual and delicious
Mai Thai - GREAT new Thai place in a strip shopping center (but don%26#39;t be turned off by its placement - well worth a trip!)
Almost all of these are listed on the Restaurants in Columbia list on this site. Feel free to send me a message if you want more recommendations!
I do like barbecue and find that Hudson%26#39;s in Lexington SC (about a 20 minute drive) has the best ribs I%26#39;ve ever had. But people take their barbecue seriously around here, and we%26#39;ll all have very strong opinions about that topic. :)
Okay, if you%26#39;re really up for an adventurous, local, Southern dining experience, you can go to Shealy%26#39;s in Batesburg/Leesville. It is a buffet with barbecue, friend chicken, and all the sides that would go with that. It is not fancy at all, and the lines can be really long. Also, they are not open always, so you have to check to make sure they%26#39;re open. It is kind of a drive from Columbia, though, but it is the best fried chicken you will find, in my opinion (and that of my Yankee husband!).
http://chefmoz.org/United_States/SC/Batesburg-Leesville/Shealy%26#39;s_Bar-B-Que_House_1051364923.html
Copy and paste this link for some more information.
