Planning vacation, help!!

Hi! I am starting to plan for my family vaction for next year- I know it%26#39;s a bit early. I%26#39;ve been to Myrtle Beach before, many moons ago, and loved it, so I know my family will as well. Since i was in my teens when I was there the last time, I am hoping that someone can help me to try to start planning our vacation.

First, I am planning on an early June vacation, is the water temp. warm at this time or hit or miss? Secondly, should we go to North Myrtle Beach or Myrtle Beach? If it matters, we are planning on going to Alligator Adventure and Ripley%26#39;s Aquarium, so where you would recommend us to stay with that in mind (we actually won%26#39;t mind driving to these attractions).

Also, we (a family of 4- with a 10 and 3 year old girls- at the time of the vacation) and the possiblity of my brother, are looking for not actually a resort but at least a 2 room suite (possibly 3 rooms), that includes a kitchen, laundry and an indoor pool, that is a reasonable rate. It does not have to be oceanfront, but we would like to be able to walk to the beach. Any ideas! Thanks in advance!

Planning vacation, help!!

Considering the ages of your kids I%26#39;d lean towards NMB. Anything in Windy Hill section of NMB would put you within a few minutes of Alligator Adventure/Barefoot Landing and maybe 20-30 minutes to Broadway and the aquarium depending on traffic.

The more north you go in NMB, the less crowded it will be and only add a few minutes to drive times to attractions.

Here is a site to shop around on to give you some ideas.

northmyrtlebeachtravel.com/book/query.html

Planning vacation, help!!

Hey...if you%26#39;re going to be staying for a week, you should seriously consider a condo rental. You have a lot more space, and the per night price doesn%26#39;t turn out to be more than you%26#39;d pay for a 2-room suite at most hotels. Check out Elliott Realty, Beachcomber Realty, and the NMB Visitor%26#39;s Bureau to start your search. You%26#39;ll love NMB, don%26#39;t bother with Myrtle except for activity destinations...

I also would suggest looking into a condo rental. At vrbo.com you can rent directly through the owner. You will hardly recognize MB as it has changed/grown so much. Hampton Inn Oceanfront is a very nice hotel and they have 2 bedroom suites that are gorgeous %26amp; very clean as well. (hamptoninnoceanfront.com) In June the average water temp is 77 and average air temp is 87. Good luck and let me know if I can answer any futher questions.

There is a great section of Myrtle Beach between 50th and 79th st.Central location and sanwiched between residential neighborhoods. Some hotels in this section are Forest Dunes,Grande Shores,Southwind,Long Bay and Sea Island.

we just got back and the weather and water temps were great. i%26#39;m sure next June would be similar.

also, don%26#39;t be afraid to check out Surfside, also very family orientated and great condo rentals. Dunes realty

Thank you all so much! I think I may look into renting a condo, seems more economical!

Another question, when I was in Myrtle Beach- I believe it was %26#39;94 (yes a while ago! and a teenager who did not pay too much attention to names of places)- we stayed in a condo, about 1 block from the beach- right beside us (well seperated by a street) was a small park- it had a wooden roller coaster and a few other rides- it also had a bungee jump stand set up on the outside of the fence of the park- I was curious if anyone remembers this park- and if it%26#39;s still there? Thank You!

Sounds like the Pavilion area. Not an ideal location for families with kids the ages of yours. Congested and noisy. Lots of traffic.

But.....For sentimental reasons make it a point to visit the area. Most if not all will be gone next year...........

Thanks pop! It was out of curiousity, I loved the area for that same reason when I was a teen- I don%26#39;t really want to stay there with the little ones yet!

Unfortunately, we won%26#39;t get to see it before it gets torn down- we won%26#39;t be there until June 2007.

If you are going for the week, rgc1600 has the right idea - get a condo type unit. There is no doubt that North Myrtle is less crowded and congested than Myrtle. Staying at the southern end of NMB would be your best bet.

Try Barefoot Resorts - they have a bunch of different types and prices of units. One pro of BR is that it is located just across the Intercoastal Waterway from Barefoot Landing (thats where Alligator Adventure is). One con of BR is that you will need to take their bus/tram over to the beach (proabably a 10 minute ride - but BR does have a small clubhouse right on the beach for BR guests).

If you want to walk to the beach, check out Ocean Creek. OC is right across the street from Alligator Adventure and Barefoot Landing. They also have a variety of units. The towers at OC can get a little pricey as they are right on the beach - and maybe more space then you need as they are all 2 and 3 bedroom units. So you might look in the lodges - they are just off the beach (behind the towers) and have studio, 1 and 2 bedroom units. Its a short walk to the beach and they are considerably cheaper than the towers. Each lodge has a pool - lodge II has the indoor pool. The indoor pool can be used by everyone at OC - so you don%26#39;t have to stay in lodge II.

If you go farther south of BR and OC, it puts you in the Kingston Plantation area. KP will put you about half way between Alligator Adventure and Ripley%26#39;s. KP has a bunch of different types of units as well - towers on the beach will again be pricey. But they also have units behind the towers that are considerably cheaper than the towers. Note that while KP is on the ocean, it is a large property - so depending on what you rent you could have a long walk to the beach. I%26#39;m not sure if they have a tram running thru the property that takes people to the beach or not.

Note that BR, OC and KP are larger developments - BR is about 2000 acres (has 4 golf courses), OC is around 55 acres and KP is about 150 acres. I%26#39;ve listed these places since they are all very nice properties that have a lot of different types of units, with various amentities and wonderful grounds. OC and KP have direct ocean access. Since these properties have some acreage to them they are extremely peaceful and relaxing. If you are looking for alot of action, do not book BR, OC or KP - stay at a tower or low rise condo building on Ocean Drive. By their basic location, Ocean Drive accommodations are closer to the street and action.

As far as the water temp goes - the later in the summer the warmer it gets. anybobnmb has the June water temp avg at 77 - keep in mind that the later in June you go the warmer it will be. We usually go in late July and early Aug when the water is up to 83 or 84.

You might also want to check out the Family Kingdom....they also have a wooden roller coaster.......and they will still be here when you come down!

:)