Myrtle Beach is way more fun than HHI if you like high energy and lots of people. Hundreds of restaurants, numerous amusement parks, miles of beaches, too many mini-golf places to count. (Shout out to my favorite, Mayday Golf!, which has an actual plane in the middle of the course.) You are going on vacation, it’s ok to be a tourist for a week.
If you are going after school gets out, then I assume you have kids. They will like MB way better.
One word of caution- the first two full weeks in June are peak “Senior Week” weeks, and it goes for all of June really. At some places it will seem like nothing but kids, partying like idiots who got away from adult supervision for the first time ever. So if that’s when you will be in SC, make sure the place you rent does not rent to students. There are lots of those places. No idea what Senior Week will be like in Hilton Head, if those stuffed shirts even allow it. B-)
I own a condo in MB, so I’m very familiar with it.
@LYLMom Congrats on choosing HH. We’ve had a place there for many years now and love it there. There is tons to do for all ages; golf, mini-golf, fishing, boat tours, 55 miles of bike paths (lots of reasonably priced bike rentals), zip-lines, nature tours, beautiful beaches, theatre, concerts, shopping of all kinds, etc. There are hundreds of restaurants of all kinds and price ranges. I’m happy to recommend some if you’d like.
I mentioned Charleston and Savannah earlier, both of which are easy to visit from HH, and have their own particular attractions but another great town to visit is Beaufort, SC. Gorgeous old southern town with the typical architecture. There are carriage tours you can take, nice restaurants, a beautiful park along the waterfront with a great coffee shop and you can just sit on one of the giant swings and watch the people and boats go by.
Another great old southern town is Bluffton which is just over the bridge and has some of the best restaurants in the area. Beautiful downtown, cafes, restaurants, shopping, galleries and lots of friendly people.
Summer is prime season in HH so I would recommend you start looking at different types of accomodation now to get an idea of what you might want. There are a ton of different homes and condos for rent, of all sizes and prices, and there are also nice hotels on the beach. The Westin was already mentioned in Port Royal Plantation, and it’s a nice one with restaurants, pools and a nice beach.
Send me a PM if you’d like more detailed information. I’m happy to help.
Another vote for anything but myrtle beach. Too honkey tonk. Sea Island is beautiful - then go to cumberland island for the wildlife (natural, not the college partier wildlife). I love Charleston. Its charming, lots to do/see, and the architecture reminds me of the New Orleans french quarter without the vomit. Take a tour of the city from one of the members of the Ravenel family. Lots of interesting history. Then go out to Savannah and Tybee island.
Haha, pretty sure MB has about 50x as many mini-golf courses as HHI. Although in it’s defense, HHI does have a Walmart, those are pretty entertaining.
Charleston is fun for an afternoon, but somehow I doubt the OP’s school-age kids (assuming, since they are going after school gets out in mid June) are going to find a vacation touring plantations and looking at birds and gawking at pretty buildings to be very interesting.
You guys have to stop thinking like 50-something old people. Lighten up, have some fun!
I’ve never been to Hilton Head, but our family has vacationed at North Myrtle Beach many times. We’ve loved it! It can be crowded and touristy, but we’ve had great memories as a family there.Very family-friendly with things to do when you need a break from the beach.
With young/school age we enjoy Litchfield/Pawley’s…not too commercial but access to good food and Pawley’s Hammock Shops. Close to Murrells Inlet for seafood. And not to far (30-45 min depending on traffic) to Myrtle Beach for a day of tacky boardwalk/arcade etc fun. Plenty of options from houses to Condos and a few hotels. DeBordieu (pronounce Debba-do inexplicably) is more secluded and further south. Feels more private. No bad choices (other than downtown, full on MB).
Actually Charleston is lots of fun. Stay on Sullivan’s or Isle of Palms. Fort Moultrie is so cool. Food there and Shem Creek great. If active, stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking. Cool aquarium. Boat tours. Beautiful beaches.
Kind of comes down to what you want to do other than beach. If really just want to chill on beach, I’d go DeBordieu or Litchfield or parts of HH that are less “resort” feeling. I’ve only been to HH for conferences so I have more stuffy opinion of it, but I know lots of families that go there so I know there are parts I’m just not as familiar with.
Looks like the OP has a rising HS sophomore and, assume, a college age kiddo. There is nothing wrong with beach and mini golf, but that can be gotten in many places. There is somuch to see in Charleston, Savannah, Cumberland island (a nature preserve) and he other towns mentioned. And Tybee is like going back in time. Cool old lighthouse and bungalows, though there has been some newer construction too, but it still retains its charm and big beaches. Oh, and they have miniature golf too.
Thank you to everyone for all the wonderful suggestions! Our kids are older - DS is a rising HS sophomore and DD will be heading to college next month as a incoming freshman. I discovered College Confidential while going through the college application process for her this past year and continue to be amazed and very grateful for all the wonderful knowledge and information available here that I suspect I will still be visiting this site long after my kids have graduated. Who needs a travel agent when you have CC?
Years ago we spent a lovely week at Ocean Isle Beach, NC. I remember it being a very nice beach but near enough to myrtle beach to golf there but away from the busyness
In-laws have had a place in North Litchfield since 1983 - so we’ve been visiting that area at least yearly for quite a while. Can’t beat the beaches. When the kids were small we’d make a day trip up to MB proper and it was always a fun time. However, the last time we actually went up there (probably 3 years ago) we were pretty disappointed with what the “strip” has become. “Honkey Tonk” is almost too kind - we weren’t impressed AT ALL. I don’t think we’ll ever do that again! But, Broadway at the Beach is a good time, and if you can go to a MB Pelicans game, I’d highly recommend it!
Near N.Litchfield, like others have mentioned, tons of great restaurants, local shopping, and (if you’re interested), Brookgreen Gardens is a BEAUTIFUL spot.
@thumper1 Have they been there in the summer months? HH is filled with families with kids of all ages during the summer. It is a prime summer vacation destination. We’ve had a place there for years and have an entire family get-together there every summer. Kids, grandchildren, even my parents a couple of years, and there is certainly an abundance of things to do for all ages. And only two of the ~ 20 who come actually play golf.
My adult children have been going to HH since they were babies, and still love to go 30 and 33 years later! We have our favorite restaurants to visit and love to ride our bikes around the island.
B-)
