Summer trip suggestions...with teens

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

It is my task to research an alternative to STJ for our summer family trip. The kids love STJ but, expense is an issue and some are interested in beach activities and having other kids around. Keep in mind, there are six of us-the four kids range in age from 18 to 13, three girls, one boy.

Here is what I am looking for in an ALTERNATIVE:
~ Hotel/Condo ON a beach. With at least a kitchenette.
~ A really nice pool at the resort for the girls to sunbathe by (their favorite activity). Actually, Sam likes to chill in the sun, too.
~ Stuff to do for the teens like boat rentals, mo-peds, etc...
~ A long beach to walk on
~ A balcony/patio, for us to enjoy sunsets from
~ Lots of local restaurants to walk to or, if we have a car, drive to. Not too fancy/expensive.
~ Cannot be in Mexico or Jamaica
~ Does not have to be Caribbean. Could be in the continental USA.

I've done a little comparison shopping and for example, I've found a full week at the Colony Resort on Longboat Key, FL with a mini-van and non-stop flight from Chicago for $5700.00. STJ, at the villa we like, with the air and car rental comes to $10,100.00. I'd jump on the Colony but, my parents live near there, we've stayed there several times and it's just not that kind of trip. We want to go someplace new.

Any ideas?

[Kathyzhere]

Hi Marcia,

How's Butkus doing??

Okay for a teen family trip...how about
Atlantis in the Bahamas, or Ocean City, Maryland.
Martha's Vineyard, coast of Maine, FLA Keys, Cape Cod.

I'm thinking that a nice beach and a fun-filled
boardwalk with lots to do and places to eat.

As beautiful as LBK or Sarasota is I think the
teens may be bored there. I hear that the panhandle
area of FLA is nice with beautiful beaches.

Good luck with the planning!

Kathy

[joanybelle]

Teenagers LOVE Myrtle Beach, SC. Lots of condos on the beach...lots of beach to walk...lots of restaurants at all price points...lots of activities...lots of shopping...lots of golf...lots of families and teens.

[kellyanna]

I don't have a teenager, yet but a many of my friends take their teenagers (and we take our toddler) to the Florida panhandle as well as the Alabama/Mississippi Coast (Mobile, Gulport, Pensacola, Destin, Grayton Beach, Seaside) also known as "Redneck Riviera". We found condos on VRBO.com. Nothintolose stayed at Rosemary Beach during their evacuation from Gustav. It is really nice. That entire area has long stretches of beach to stroll.

Longboat Key is great. Have fun planning!

[Kentuckygirl]

Our kids really liked Grand Cayman. You can't get much more beach to walk on than on seven mile beach. There is parasailing, jet skiing, boating... plenty for them to do. We stayed in a condo that sat right on the beach. To me, it wasn't St. John, but it was quite nice.
Our kids also like Destin. I really don't like the traffic there, but the kids love the area. I prefer Sandestin, or my favorite panhandle beach, St. George Island. There just isn't as much for the kids there.

[nothintolose]

Before we found St. John, we used to do all of our beach trips in the Florida panhandle. The beaches are gorgeous white sand beaches and the water is a beautiful blue. There are sometimes sand dollars in the water but not much else as far as snorkeling goes.

Destin is a very popular destination for alot of people from New Orleans while some like the newer beach communities like Seaside, Rosemary Beach, etc. Pretty much everything between Destin and Panama City has stuff to rent on the beach or across the road from the beach. If you want on the beach, make sure you are on the beach and not that you have an ocean view.

We did our hurrication this past summer in the community of Rosemary Beach, but the place we were in was not on the beach nor could you see it from where we were. They do have cottages "on the beach" but they are up high from the water where in Destin, they are on the beach.

We stayed on Navarre Beach one Easter and LOVED it because it was less crowded than places like Destin and the townhouse was about 10 feet from the water. The teenagers would probably prefer somewhere like Destin or the other beach communities.

If you opt for anywhere around there, feel free to ask more questions. Definitely check vrbo.com as that's where we find most of what we rent.

[sherban]

Marcia- We don't have teens yet...I'm way too young for teens(yeah, right....anyway...).
I have been down to Seabrook Island SC several times over the past 4-5 years and we love it...it is idyllic. There are all kinds of rentals, condos, townhouses and private homes. There's stuff to do like rent bikes, awesome beaches, tennis, ride horses, boating trips from the marina...and Charleston is only ~25 minutes away for shopping and restaurants. It is a very special place with genuine southern charm. We love it.

...related thread...http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... t=carolina

Cheers-
Sherb

[sherban]

Here's some pics from a visit in 2004...just to give a little view of what Seabrook Island SC looks like...
http://s240.photobucket.com/albums/ff71 ... brook2004/

[KatieH]

How about Hilton Head? There's lots of beach for sunning, swimming, and strolling, restaurants, boat rentals (we had dolphins riding along side), a bike path etc. You could also run over to Savannah.

[LMG]

Hi Marcia--

Thanks to a recommendation from a fellow forumite, last Memorial Day week, some of my family and I spent a few days in Emerald Isle, NC. We loved it and had a really great time. Even for a holiday weekend, the beaches were not crowded and there was still plenty to do, but because it's small it has that laid back island feel. (The people were very nice and laid back, too!)

The family staying in the house next door to us had four teenagers and they all said they were having a lot of fun. They'd rented paddle boats, gone fishing, rented bikes (there's a bike path that stretches, I think, almost the full length of the island), and of course went to the beach. They said they usually go to Myrtle Beach but that was getting too busy and stressful for their liking.

I have rental information I can share if you'd like.

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

Thank you everyone! I'm going to start looking now, at all of these suggestions. I knew I could count on my forum family to point me in the right direction.

[alw1977]

Marcia -

You've already received this suggestion, but I second the idea of Hilton Head Island. Hilton Head has very long, wide stretches of beach, and the preferred way to get around is by rental bike. There are a ton of restaurants, in all price ranges, and plenty of places for teens to walk around, shop, etc. I am lucky and have friends that live there, so I don't know a ton about accomodations, but there are a many major hotels and timeshares, plus rental houses in the various "plantations" on the island (think large, mixed use developments, though mostly residential).

Being from the South, I've been to virtually every major beach destination from NC to FL, including the panhandle. While I think FL panhandle beaches win, hands down, as far as beauty go, I think HHI is my favorite. Why? HHI developed the island with strict building codes, so there are no obnoxious billboards, towering high rises, or neon signs. If you love the natural beauty of St. John but want more "stuff" to do, HHI is a good continental US destination.

[piscesgirl0314]

We are fans of The Outer Banks of North Carolina...Nags Head area. GREAT beaches and restaurants, there is an Outlet Mall and the best part is there is not a lot of commercial high rise type hotels. We try to get there atleast twice a year...

[AnyTing]

Marcia,

In the U.S., I will second what many have suggested in the area of Florida that stretches from Destin to Panama City. Destin and Panama City are more resorty and populated if that's what you are looking for and the area in between, called "South Walton County" or "Highway 30-A" is dotted with several sleepier beach communities that are very beautiful and unique. The ocean waters in that area are very clear, very blue which is nice if you are used to gorgeous STJ.

One of the most affordable Caribbean destinations would be the Bahamas. I am guessing the super-commercialization of Paradise Island is not your style, so you might consider Freeport on Grand Bahama. I checked and flights from Chicago are at $205 right now. There are several nice hotels and condos right there in Freeport which has all your beach sports and amenities and there is a large shopping/dining area across the street on the harbor side, so lots of things are walking distance. It's no STJ, but it isn't too bad. It does have some cool and unique things too like this really great little lobster shack on the beach where you order up conch or grilled lobster and cold drinks and eat them on paper plates at picnic tables by the ocean with the sand between your toes and great live music. It can be a pretty cool place with proper planning!

Good luck!

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

Seriously, you guys are great. Almost too much so. Phew, what a day of vacation hunting here! This whole thing was supposed to be on the DL but, some kids have really big ears and overheard my phone conversation with Pete this morning after some searches. Now I'm getting ideas from the peanut gallery. But, that's not a terrible thing. It's their vacation so they should have some input. Here is what I have discerned and have modified in my searches:

~ All inclusive vacations are really affordable for families like ours (have you ever tried to feed a growing 17 year old boy?).
~ We have not completely ruled out Mexico. Looking at Cozumel.
~ The concept of letting the kids "go" from morning until night (like taking them to the Dells if you are from Wisconsin or Illinois and know the layout there) is rather appealing to me and Pete. We can find our own piece of paradise wherever. That's just the way we roll.
~ Having a lot of "beach" activities and such is pretty important to some of these teens.
~ A pool or three is also rather appealing to them (resort). They don't care if it's private. They just like pools to sunbathe by and float in.

It's so not a Pete and Marcia vacation. We have always been kind of grossed out by the concept of big resorts and lots of action but, again, it's not our vacation. We still get our STJ this year. And, dang, it's so, so, so much cheaper than STJ for a family of six.

Will you all laugh at us if we take our kids to an all inclusive someplace?

I'm gonna take Vicki's advice and look at the Bahamas now. Another place I always swore I'd never go to but, who would have thunk I'd look at Cozumel? Kids.

Thanks again everyone. I'll let you know what we decide. There will be a secret family vote once I get things narrowed a bit.