Beach vacation help

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Here's the deal...
Our annual OBX vacation is becoming more than we can afford. Do does anyone no of any nice, beach areas like the Outer Banks in NC, Va., or Maryland?
I am NOT looking for Ocean City or Nags Head. I want miles of rental places, a few places to eat, a grocery store and miles and miles of sandy beach...
Anyone?

 

[eiregi]

shore drive in myrtle beach... secluded from the rest of myrte and within a half mile of a Krogers and restaurant row on 17. google 'shore drive myrtle'... the rates are fair and offer many different options. laid back area with a wide beach and a swash which keeps the quiet...

 

[John]

You might check out Fripp Island, S.C. It might now be cheaper than the Outer Banks.

 

[Moderator1]

Sandbridge, just outside of Virginia Beach.

Haven't been there in a while, though, so I'm not sure what prices are like now.

I swore I'd find an isolated beach this summer and take my dogs. My big girl died last summer and we never took her to the beach, which bothers my son and me to no end. A Lab needs some time on a beach.

 

[Shoeless Joe]

Topsail Island (Surf City and Topsail Beach are the towns) in North Carolina.

 

[Shoeless Joe]

If you go to Topsail, go to Buddy's and get the steamer bucket -- crab legs, shrimp, clams, oysters, corn, spuds -- cost about $40 but enough for two. My goodness it's good. If you want to cook your own, the Crab Pot right after you come off the bridge is a good place for fresh seafood.

 

[Mitch E.]

Love the OBX. Not sure about your situation, but if you can swing an off-season week, the prices drop considerably. Usually early June and Sept. are still considered off-season, although if you have kids this may not work.

 

[John]

I worked for the Outer Banks paper for a couple of years in the early 2000s — lived in Nags Head one year and Manteo the other — and I still miss the place. At least the place I grew to love in the offseason. It's hell there in the summers because of the crowds and the limited ways to get around.

I was glad I left when I did because the place was losing a lot of its charm due to so many of the smaller houses being knocked down to build 8-bedroom mansions.

Mitch is right, if you can swing an offseason trip, you're probably much better off.

The Morehead City-Atlantic Beach-Beaufort area isn't as glamorous, but it's definitely cheaper.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Love the OBX. Not sure about your situation, but if you can swing an off-season week, the prices drop considerably. Usually early June and Sept. are still considered off-season, although if you have kids this may not work.

THat;s when we go... Early June. Usually a week or two before the "peak" season.
We've been going there since the early 1990s.

 

[Pancamo]

How much does a week in off-peak times run in the OBX?

 

[part-timer]

I know it's a little more south, but Kiawah Island in S.C. may be worth a look. We went through vrbo.com a couple of times and got a week for a little over $1000.

 

[Mitch E.]

I'm going off the top of my head here, but late May, early June will be between 1K and 2K for a week, depending on number of bedrooms, vicinity to the beach, etc. Thankfully, and this is something I am grateful for every time I wake up in North Carolina, is my wife has a connection down there, so we are hooked up. If that wasn't the case, the only way we could swing it would be to do a joint vacation with family or friends, so we could split the cost of the house.

Another good thing about the area is you don't need to spend a ****load of money on amusement park tickets and such. And with a house, you can make a trip to the Food Lion and cook from the house instead of going out for meals. Of course, throw in a round or two of golf and your budget is screwed.

 

[User 1019]

You could join me in summer '10 in Lashkar Gah, nestled neatly on the banks of the fragrant Helmand River.

 

[EStoess]

Second the Surf City, NC recommendation, based on your wants. And the price has got to be significantly better than OBX. Been going for 35 years and parents retired there about 10 years ago. Laid back, 25 miles of mostly rental cottages and sandy beaches along Topsail Island, one crappy grocery store, one decent grocery store, several surprisingly good restaurants, plenty of nearby golf and not far from Wilmington if you want something a little more.

 

[Boom_70]

Second the Surf City, NC recommendation, based on your wants. And the price has got to be significantly better than OBX. Been going for 35 years and parents retired there about 10 years ago. Laid back, 25 miles of mostly rental cottages and sandy beaches along Topsail Island, one crappy grocery store, one decent grocery store, several surprisingly good restaurants, plenty of nearby golf and not far from Wilmington if you want something a little more.

I too would second the Surf City/ Topsail Beach recommendation. Miles of white sandy beaches without a lot of clutter and distraction.

Since it's next to Camp Lejeune you are also very safe from the enemy.

 

[Dirk Legume]

You could join me in summer '10 in Lashkar Gah, nestled neatly on the banks of the fragrant Helmand River.

You're just looking for someone to pitch in on the beer. :)

 

[2underpar]

what about bars in surf city? the wife and i are looking for somewhere new this summer instead of Fla (not gulf shores), and surf city sounds like what we're looking for -- laid back, good beaches not a huge crowd.

 

[Shoeless Joe]

I mentioned Buddy's earlier as a good place to eat, and it also has a good bar. The Brass Pelican is OK. They promote XX number of TVs, but you get there and they're all 13-inchers. Pretty funny. There are a few other places, but can't think of the names. Most of the places aren't "jumpin or happnin" bars. They're somewhere to get a beer and chill.

If you do go, stop at Food Lion at the stop light before crossing the bridge. The groceries are a lot cheaper there than at the IGA.

There is also a New York style pizza place on the island that is really good. Most of the stuff is located in the middle of the island in the Surf City area. There are some things on down toward Topsail, but not as many.