Cheap family beach getaways offer budget-friendly accommodations, dining and recreation options. Saving money by driving rather than flying to a destination, or by substituting family camping for a luxury resort, allows for a bigger budget for other activities.
Hilton Head Island is considered part of South Carolina's Lowcountry as one of Beaufort County's Sea Islands. The vacation destination is located 95 miles south of Charleston and approximately 25 miles north of Savannah, Georgia.
Hilton Head is a family-friendly getaway with an array of lodging, dining and recreational activities. The island offers luxury resorts, villas, hotels, inns and campgrounds, accommodating various budgets and preferences. Hilton Head Island provides 12 miles of beaches for swimming, boating, fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving.
Families can rent a charter fishing boat, or experience a cruise out of one of the marinas, such as Shelter Cove Harbor's Dolphin and Nature Watching or Crabbing Adventure Cruises. Other attractions are Island Playground, Adventure Cove, the Coastal Discovery Museum and miniature golf at Pirate's Island Adventure Gold. Hilton Head Island is home to a plethora of tennis courts and 24 golf courses, including Oyster Reef Golf Club and Palmetto Dunes. Bicycle rentals through Hilton Head Bicycle Company are available for island touring. Coligny Plaza offers beachfront shopping, dining and entertainment. The island has more than 250 restaurants with a variety of cuisines including Caribbean, Greek, Thai and American.
The Florida Keys offer an array of lodging choices that include luxury resorts, inns, motels, hotels and RV parks. Budget-friendly lodging possibilities include camping on the beach at Bahia Honda Key or at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo. The state parks offer scuba, glass bottom boat and snorkeling tours. Boat rentals, picnicking venues and snack shacks are available on site. Renting a villa or guest house equipped with a kitchenette allows for economical dining in.
Recreational activities include swimming, boating, snorkeling and fishing. Throughout the Keys are attractions such as the Butterfly Conservatory and southernmost point of the United States in Key West, Dolphins Plus in Key Largo and the National Key Deer Refuge on Big Pine Key.
Cape May rests in the southern part of New Jersey, offering a central location for a cheap northeastern beach getaway. Cape May offers a variety of seaside inns, cottages, hotels, motels and camping grounds. Family recreation spots include the Cape May County Park and Zoo, Cape May Miniature Golf and Cape May Jet Ski. Families can go on whale and dolphin watching cruises, or charter a fishing boat. Cape May's close proximity to Wildwood, New Jersey, allows for day trips to Morey's Piers Amusement and Waterparks. Cape May restaurants that are family-friendly include Cabana's, Harpoon Henry's and Della's 5 & 10.
