Isle of Palms is a few miles off the coastline of Charleston. The island is home to the Wild Dunes Resort, a family-oriented active beach resort, two golf courses and many beach homes. The island features golf courses, tennis courts, biking and hiking trails, and a chance to look at wildlife. The beaches have public and private access, but are rarely crowded. Although you will find a few restaurants on the island, most commercial and retail needs will require a short drive to Mount Pleasant. Mount Pleasant is the island located between Charleston and Isle of Palms. Kids will love the wildlife and wide-open beaches, while parents will enjoy relaxing on the beach, taking bike rides and spending an afternoon on the links.
Located in the northern part of the state, Myrtle Beach is an exciting vacation spot for families looking for plenty of activities aside from spending days on the beach. In addition to beachfront, Myrtle Beach offers the Family Kingdom amusement and water parks, a children's museum, an IMAX movie theater and various local historical venues. Myrtle Beach tends to be a bit over-commercialized, when compared to more tranquil beach locations in the state, but it is still far less touristy than other popular family vacation destinations, such as Disney World.
Hilton Head Island is located on the deep southern tip of South Carolina's coastline. Approximately an hour drive from Savannah, Georgia, the island is not only a family destination, but it is also nearby other possible day trip vacations in Savannah and Tybee Beach, Georgia. Hilton Head Island is a resort island, and you will find that the majority of accommodations on the island are either resorts or private residences. The island features great shopping locations, beachfront and wildlife. Located just on the mainland is a wildlife preserve, which allows families to walk along paths and explore alligators, armadillos, birds, fish, butterflies, crabs and numerous other species in their natural habitat. The sound areas of Hilton Head Island offer a chance to explore the island's waterways by pontoon boat, canoe, or kayak, but be warned that these areas are often very buggy even with bug spray. The island offers many fine restaurants, both chain and local, and your family will love the ice cream shops found on seemingly every corner. The best part of the year to visit Hilton Head is September, as summer crowds have begun to disappear, but the weather is still hot and all shops are still in season.
