Beaches — take your pick
No matter your family's preferred type of beach vacation, there's a spot along the South Carolina coast to suit your style. The Grand Strand, a 60-mile stretch of sand that includes Myrtle Beach, is by far the most-visited beach resort area in the state. Myrtle Beach is a place of high-rise condos, country music variety shows, amusement parks galore and lots of traffic on the strip and the sands. Families seeking a slower pace of beach life in more natural surroundings should head to either Hilton Head Island or Kiawah Island, where development has been kept in check. One thing all three destinations have in common: There's no lack of golf and tennis options. scgrandstrand.com.
Patriot’s Point
No beach here, but Patriots Point is a prime location for a family vacation at the Cottages on Charleston Harbor (rates start at $309). The waterfront cottages comfortably sleep eight people and are within easy walking or biking distance (bikes provided) of the attractions and restaurants on the peninsula. Hop on the water taxi at the marina next door and you'll be in downtown Charleston in less than 10 minutes. 16 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant, S.C. 1-866-901-2688, thecottagesoncharlestonharbor.com.
Table Rock State Park
This park has been drawing families for generations, especially in the summertime. They come to escape the heat and cool off in mountain lakes and shady forests around the park's namesake mountain. Cabins ranging from one to three bedrooms are available, many built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Cabin rates run $95-$250. 158 Ellison Lane, Pickens, S.C. 864-878-9813, southcarolinaparks.com.
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