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mamaslearning
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| Posted: May 07 2012 at 12:48pm | IP Logged
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We want to plan a vacation for this fall with our 4 kids ranging from 2 - 8 years old this fall. A beach is a definite on this trip, so we can do North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Pan Handle Florida. I'm not sure I want to spend an entire week on the beach, so I'm looking at other stops along the way.
We are coming from Kentucky, so places in KY and TN are easy to get to for weekend trips. I want this to be an educational trip, but nothing too overwhelming (I'm just not ready to tackle places like Williamsburg, VA yet).
Any ideas? I know there's an Air Force museum close to Gulf Shores, and then Charleston has some educational opportunities as well, oh and Savannah, but could use some help finding resources for other areas.
If you live in the south, do you have a "must see" list for neck of the woods?
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Lara
DD 11, DS 8, DS 6, DS 4
St. Francis de Sales Homeschool
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ShannonJ
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| Posted: May 07 2012 at 8:30pm | IP Logged
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Wow, that is a huge swath of the south. Do you have an idea of what direction you want to head yet? Chattanooga and Atlanta both have great aquariums.
If you are headed out towards NC the Outerbanks has beach mixed with the Wright Brothers memorial where you can take hang gliding lessons. There are also wild horses and such.
There are some great camping areas on the beach in the panhandle. Of course, there are places for those folks that don't like to camp too! I love it when we get a chance to head to one of the parks down there. So much life to explore! Crabbing, fishing, hiking the boardwalks in the swamps, beach time. Heaven for me! 
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St. Ann
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| Posted: May 08 2012 at 1:56am | IP Logged
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Lara, do you want to cover all those states or is that just a general area that can be considered?
If you are open to North Florida then St. Augustine is a wonderful place to visit. American history, Church history, a Holy Shrine and lovely little shops and museums.
And of course....Beaches!
If you go inland toward Gainesville, there is some wonderful countryside and state parks. Great museums in Gainesville. I really like north Florida 
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JennGM
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| Posted: May 08 2012 at 9:59am | IP Logged
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ShannonJ wrote:
Wow, that is a huge swath of the south. Do you have an idea of what direction you want to head yet? Chattanooga and Atlanta both have great aquariums.
If you are headed out towards NC the Outerbanks has beach mixed with the Wright Brothers memorial where you can take hang gliding lessons. There are also wild horses and such.
There are some great camping areas on the beach in the panhandle. Of course, there are places for those folks that don't like to camp too! I love it when we get a chance to head to one of the parks down there. So much life to explore! Crabbing, fishing, hiking the boardwalks in the swamps, beach time. Heaven for me! |
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The Outerbanks also has a nice aquarium, and a nature center. They aren't super, but we enjoy going every year. You can bring in Civil War history, lighthouse history, and Early American history with Roanoke Island. Include the Wright Brothers and you won't be spending all your time on the beach, but lots of little side trips that will make your week full, but having a home base and time on the beach so it's more relaxing.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Family in Feast and Feria
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mamaslearning
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| Posted: May 08 2012 at 2:10pm | IP Logged
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So, after talking it over last night, I think we are leaning towards a week stay at either Gulf Shores or the Myrtle Beach Area (north or south ???). I'm just afraid that Gulf Shores might not have enough to occupy our time if it is rainy or if the kids get tired of the beach.
Jennifer - I was looking at the Outer Banks, but a friend said that the water is really rough and the riptides are strong in that area; whereas Myrtle Beach is gentler and has a longer, gentler slope into the ocean. ??
I'd love a resort that is family friendly or a house. With six of us, a hotel room is sometimes too restrictive.
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Lara
DD 11, DS 8, DS 6, DS 4
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Mackfam
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Gulf Shores is a fantastic area, although we haven't been through since so much was rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina.
It's very family friendly, and there are some really nice, beautiful, quiet beaches. We chose to go in the fall, like you. That's a great time to visit because it is off-season there, and the prices were very affordable. It allowed us to rent a condo on the beach that had a full kitchen in it as well as a washer and dryer. Wonderful! We enjoyed one very nice meal out for dinner and ate in our condo the rest of the week. And the washer and dryer were PERFECT for frequent trips to the beach. Another bonus was that the condo had an indoor pool that was nice on a rainy afternoon.
I don't remember specifics or names (sorry!), but we chose to take a charter around a few of the inland areas. It was a dolphin spotting charter, and it did not disappoint. The kids really enjoyed watching them ride in the wake of the boat, and coming alongside.
If you head to Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area, make sure you take time to head up to Mobile Bay (a very short drive from Orange Beach). The USS Alabama is there and it's a fantastic tour. You could make an entire day of that!
Such fond, fond memories of our trip to Orange Beach/Gulf Shores!! Mid-September is a wonderful time, but do be aware that you'd be booking in the height of Hurricane season when you go in the fall.
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SallyT
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Lara,
If you're leaning towards Gulf Shores, check out Dauphin Island, AL. It's our favorite beach place: on the Gulf, so quieter water, plus it's quiet and laid-back -- no miles of oceanfront condos, just houses and small motels. There are a Civil War fort and estuarium at one end of the island which are very nice to visit, and you're close enough to Mobile to do things there as well, like touring the USS Alabama. Oh, there's also a bird sanctuary which is fun to hike through.
We've gone several times with my mother, who drives from Memphis to meet us driving from NC. The houses we've rented have been very pleasant, and in the off-season, I think it's really quite reasonable as these things go. I'd take this over Myrtle Beach any day of the week -- MB is closer for us (in western NC), but the laid-back, quiet atmosphere of Dauphin Island is well worth the drive.
Sally
PS: In fact, we're going again the first week in June, which will be the first time we've gone "in-season." Last year we went in May and had a grand time, though it was still coolish and windy, and on several days the water was a little roughish, though still not nearly what you'd see on the Atlantic coast. We've also been in late September, which was glorious (though as Jen notes, that is hurricane season). My kids LOVE Dauphin Island, and it's one of those great places to arrive -- you drive out over a causeway/bridge, with the pelicans and gulls all around you, very dramatic. It's really does feel like leaving the world behind.
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Betsy
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| Posted: May 08 2012 at 2:54pm | IP Logged
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PM me with any questions about Myrtle Beach, we have stayed there many times!
The hotel that we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! is Dunes. It has two indoor water parks each with two slides, little kid area, lazy river and pools and hot tubs. As well, as pools and hot tubs out side. They are VERY, VERY family friendly and the rooms are very clean and nice. The also have a little play ground out side for 1-7 year olds and a small put-put area that my kids really like. Trust me, this is a great place for families to stay in MB!
Plus, all of the rooms have full kitchens, so you can bring quite a bit of food or grocery shop in MB and eat a few meals in your room---which is what we do to maximize our beach time during the day!
The Dunes is located in Myrtle Beach, but it is in the Northern Side. Its great because it's pretty far away from the older, tatoo parlor area that I don't care to be near. 
Let me know if you have any more questions about the Dunes or MB, I would love to help if I can!
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JennGM
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| Posted: May 08 2012 at 4:13pm | IP Logged
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mamaslearning wrote:
| Jennifer - I was looking at the Outer Banks, but a friend said that the water is really rough and the riptides are strong in that area; whereas Myrtle Beach is gentler and has a longer, gentler slope into the ocean. ?? |
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I like waves, and we haven't found it too much, but our family is young and doesn't go out too far. We follow the flags and don't too much rough stuff. Myrtle Beach is gentler, definitely. So gentle I don't think there are waves? 
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Jennifer G. Miller
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stacykay
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| Posted: May 09 2012 at 12:18pm | IP Logged
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We have stayed at Hilton Head, SC, many times. I think it is our family favorite. Not commercialized or touristy at all. Lots of outdoor activities, too. Golf is biggest (dh would go early in am, before we would get going for the day.)
There are bike rentals, horse-back riding, boat tours, evening entertainment especially geared toward families and littles.
We have taken day trips into Savannah, also. On our way home (not sure just how far it is from HH,) we have stopped in Charleston to tour the USS Yorktown and Silversides. That would be more fun for olders, but my boys just loved it!
Most of HH rentals would be time shares or individuals who own condos. The first few times there, we rented someone's time share, but now we rent our next-door neighbor's condo.
In Christ,
Stacy in MI
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CrunchyMom
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When my family goes to Gulf Shore, they prefer to stay in Fort Morgan.
There, you of course have the fort itself to visit (which you can obviously visit even if staying in Gulf Shores).
We also really enjoyed the National Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL last time we went. It isn't too long a drive, iirc.
I've always wanted to go to Dauphin Island, and it has just never worked out.
We, too, have enjoyed the USS Alabama and submarine (I can't recall the name of it ATM).
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Lindsay
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mamaslearning
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| Posted: May 10 2012 at 12:12pm | IP Logged
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Thank you for all the suggestions! I've done some browsing and just can't decide! I think we are leaning more towards the Gulf Shores area.
Does anybody have any recommendations on whether to splurge for a house or just find a condo. We are a family of 6 with the oldest child 8 yo. I'm thinking a house might allow us to spread out a bit more?
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Lara
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stacykay
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| Posted: May 10 2012 at 12:32pm | IP Logged
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I think it would depend on the size of the condo and your budget. We have six boys and our last trip with all of them, the oldest two were man-sized . We all fit comfortably into a two-bedroom condo, that had pull-out sofa and love-seat.
In Christ,
Stacy
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Help! Planning Vacation Oct. 2012
