Seeking Advice From Coastal So. Carolina Peeps...

[Eileencc]

My family decided on a budget-friendly Griswold-type road trip vacation before we pack our daughter off to college in a few weeks. We rented a place near Myrtle Beach, SC and we'll be heading out on the road next Saturday. We plan to bake in the sun, swim, play, eat lots of food, and generally relax, while taking in as much of the local scene as we can. We'll do a day trip to Charleston and do some exploring there, and also take in a minor league baseball game or two. We've never been to SC, but we've always sort of fancied it as a place we might like to live someday. Is there anything just gotta do while we're there? Thanks for all suggestions!

[alwaysmissinpdc]

Eileen, we just got back from a trip to my sister's in Aiken and we did a day trip to Charleston. Took the little ones to a county water park, then headed into Charleston proper.

I highly recommend a carriage tour. There are 4 tours, but since the city dispatches all of the carriage companies, you don't know which route you will get until you are on the carriage. I think they all cover most of the highlights, just on different routes. Adults $20.00, children $12.00. Charleston is definitely on my list for a long weekend trip.

Kaminsky's for dessert (but get table service, the bar service was very slow). I'm trying to remember where we ate dinner so I can tell you to find someplace else . All I remember is that it was an Irish place with a covered patio, located on a corner. Food was poor to average. You could do better I'm sure.

[Eileencc]

Originally Posted by alwaysmissinpdc

Eileen, we just got back from a trip to my sister's in Aiken and we did a day trip to Charleston. Took the little ones to a county water park, then headed into Charleston proper.

I highly recommend a carriage tour. There are 4 tours, but since the city dispatches all of the carriage companies, you don't know which route you will get until you are on the carriage. I think they all cover most of the highlights, just on different routes. Adults $20.00, children $12.00. Charleston is definitely on my list for a long weekend trip.

Kaminsky's for dessert (but get table service, the bar service was very slow). I'm trying to remember where we ate dinner so I can tell you to find someplace else . All I remember is that it was an Irish place with a covered patio, located on a corner. Food was poor to average. You could do better I'm sure.

Hey Kathy, thanks for the great tips...we'll definitely look into the carriage tour in Charleston. Let me know if you think of anything else!

Hey peeps...anybody else got any good tips for us?

[Babaloo]

tons for a family to do in Myrtle Beach
there is the Carolina Opry for live shows
there are amusement parks and rides
there's the Grand Prix go-carts (i love them)
there are water parks galore
there's all the typical corportate goodies (Hard Rock, Planet Hollywood, Ripleys Museum, Wax Museums, etc.)
You'll have fun.

And it is a good place to live, but I'd wait till the kids are done with school. School systems ain't the best in SC.
I said "ain't". I went to school in NC

[Eileencc]

Originally Posted by Babaloo

tons for a family to do in Myrtle Beach
there is the Carolina Opry for live shows
there are amusement parks and rides
there's the Grand Prix go-carts (i love them)
there are water parks galore
there's all the typical corportate goodies (Hard Rock, Planet Hollywood, Ripleys Museum, Wax Museums, etc.)
You'll have fun.

And it is a good place to live, but I'd wait till the kids are done with school. School systems ain't the best in SC.
I said "ain't". I went to school in NC

Hey thanks Babaloo! Lots of good ideas there! That sounds like the voice of experience. We like the idea of spending our older years down there because of the warmer climate, but retirement is still too many years off. We live in a town with pretty good schools now, and we'll most likely stay in the frigid north until our youngest vacates the nest. Still it's fun to think about...

Thanks again, and let me know if any additional suggestions come to mind for our vacation!

[roni]

My brother goes there to play golf with the guys every year. They play golf all day and then go to bars where some of the women do not wear much at all. Not a family thing. I have been invited, but since his buddies are, for the most part, a bit too red of the neck for me to spend a week with.

[Eileencc]

Originally Posted by roni

My brother goes there to play golf with the guys every year. They play golf all day and then go to bars where some of the women do not wear much at all. Not a family thing. I have been invited, but since his buddies are, for the most part, a bit too red of the neck for me to spend a week with.

Sounds like Boys Gone Wild...my bro and his buds golf there every spring too. But I've never heard about the bars with the scantily clad women. I guess I never asked! I don't guess we'll be spending too much time in those places --not on this trip anyway.

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by alwaysmissinpdc

Eileen, we just got back from a trip to my sister's in Aiken and we did a day trip to Charleston. Took the little ones to a county water park, then headed into Charleston proper.

I highly recommend a carriage tour. There are 4 tours, but since the city dispatches all of the carriage companies, you don't know which route you will get until you are on the carriage. I think they all cover most of the highlights, just on different routes. Adults $20.00, children $12.00. Charleston is definitely on my list for a long weekend trip.

Kaminsky's for dessert (but get table service, the bar service was very slow). I'm trying to remember where we ate dinner so I can tell you to find someplace else . All I remember is that it was an Irish place with a covered patio, located on a corner. Food was poor to average. You could do better I'm sure.

Aiken is about 3 hours drive from here ...Myrtle Beach is about 5 hours with Charleston in the middle at 4 hours....in Charleston, Peninsula Grill, Hanks Seafood and Tristan are superior restaurants...have fun....and come visit sometime when you are in the area...both of you!

[Eileencc]

Visiting your lovely inn is definitely in my future plans Jacko. Would love to meet you and Linda. I'm sure you are wonderful hosts. Sounds like we're a little far off this time. A future trip for sure.

[alwaysmissinpdc]

Originally Posted by Babaloo

I said "ain't". I went to school in NC

Ha, my sister and her husband treat the use of ain't like a curse word. But when my nine year old niece returned from cheerleading practice I didn't know whether to grimace or grin. The girl can put on a drawl. "Go oraaaaange go whiiiiii come oooon tygahs, let's fiiiiiiigh." But she can put on a decent Brit accent too.

Jacko, glad someone could come up with good Charleston restaurants. We declined the high end as one of us was eating a cereal/forumal mix with a side of pureed pears and needed a restroom with a changing table (It wasn't me btw )

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by alwaysmissinpdc

Ha, my sister and her husband treat the use of ain't like a curse word. But when my nine year old niece returned from cheerleading practice I didn't know whether to grimace or grin. The girl can put on a drawl. "Go oraaaaange go whiiiiii come oooon tygahs, let's fiiiiiiigh." But she can put on a decent Brit accent too.

Jacko, glad someone could come up with good Charleston restaurants. We declined the high end as one of us was eating a cereal/forumal mix with a side of pureed pears and needed a restroom with a changing table (It wasn't me btw )

[Mercy]

We vacationed in MB several years ago, had a great time, kids loved it. We always said we would go back, but we just haven't made it. Anyway, if you want to do some touristy things in MB, there's Broadway At The Beach, kind of a big shopping/restraurant complex, and Barefoot Landing another shopping/restaurant complex.

Hope you have fun! Where's your daughter going to college?

[Commando]

Originally Posted by Mercy

We vacationed in MB several years ago, had a great time, kids loved it. We always said we would go back, but we just haven't made it. Anyway, if you want to do some touristy things in MB, there's Broadway At The Beach, kind of a big shopping/restraurant complex, and Barefoot Landing another shopping/restaurant complex.

Hope you have fun! Where's your daughter going to college?

thanks for the info on things to do. our daughter kelsey is going to umass-amherst. move in day is sept. 2nd, should be a mad house. maybe we'll post some pictures of the madness.

[MsRubio]

My parents took our kids to MB for five days in June. They loved it! Their favorite show they saw was the Dixie Stampede....horses and stagecoaches and gun fights. Click HERE . They liked eating with their hands and the food was excellent.

Have fun!

[Eileencc]

More great ideas! I can't wait...MsRubio...we just might look you and Zoom up on our return trip. We're thinking of stopping over for a night or two in the Baltimore-DC area. We're wishing we were there for the Sox-Orioles series this weekend. One week off!