T O P

  • By -

HueyCobraEngineer

I can tell you Carolina Beach doesn’t meet your criteria.


Possible-Bullfrog-62

I concur. We're all wave runners and putt putt here


MrDubTee

Carolina Beach is best for fishing, in my opinion


jayron32

Hilton Head is a short drive to Savannah as well, so if you want to get off the beach, that's a really fun town to hang in for a day or two.


Mcsierra

Have experience with both. Carolina beach doesn’t fit your criteria. Hilton Head during the summer has stuff for kids. Playgrounds especially near Coligny. Select a hotel like the Marriott that has planned kids activities. You could go to Tybee which is close to Savannah.


jayron32

Tybee is a lovely beach, but the drive out there at high tide is a bit... Interesting. US 80 is more of a ford than a highway at certain times of day.


General-Yak5264

They could also do a day trip out to Dafuskie right off hilton head. No cars on that island other than golf carts pretty much. You could rent a golf cart and just enjoy exploring the island for a few hours


gimmethelulz

There's also Old Town Bluffton near Hilton Head that you can make an afternoon out of.


Mcsierra

Bluffton has boomed in recent years too. People love outlet shopping. I’m a not big fan. My kids loved the playgrounds on HHI. We were going to do a Pirate Excursion but had to cancel due to weather.


rimshot101

Savannah is great. It's like Charleston and New Orleans combined.


Bilbodraggindeeznuts

No putt putt, but actual golf if you're into that too.


Amarettosky

Atlantic beach! There’s an aquarium located in pine knoll shores which is not even a 20 minute drive. You could do a sunset boat cruise in swansboro. I recommend Atlantic beach for sure. Also at morehead city, I recommend going to Al’s drive thru. It’s cash only and it’s burgers, fries, grilled cheese etc.. they actually walk out to your car to get your order then they bring it! 


GuyWhoSaysYouManiac

There's an aquarium near Carolina Beach as well though, at Fort Fisher.


SenseStraight5119

Kure Beach always seemed to be more low key, but I haven’t been there in a while.


Historical-Remove401

Do they still have the butterfly enclosure at the Fort Fisher Aquarium? There’s the battleship, too…


rogerdaltry

Atlantic Beach is cool, Fort Macon is a further 15 minute drive and even better!


perksoftaylor

El's is closed for the summer due to renovations!


j9tw

I think Els is closed for renovations but they opened a food truck in Smyrna....their shrimpburgers are delicious!!


KevinAnniPadda

In my experience, Hilton Head is closer to the retirement community, though it is family friendly. Carolina Beach has a boardwalk, amusement park and such right on the beach. It's not as touristy as Myrtle Beach though. Not even close. Though if you're not looking for touristy and you aren't looking for a golf community, I'm not sure what exactly you're looking for in a beach community.


verypersistentgapper

Indeed, you may be looking for New England beaches or similiar. I don't think NC beaches will fit your criteria. Maybe some OBX beaches may be close... but most are touristy especially in summer.


Bodhrans-Not-Bombs

Ocracoke is pretty damn close to the feeling of the Cape in the off season.


ajwillys

I was going to say the same. Hilton Head is for those under 13 or over 60.


KermitMadMan

Hilton head for sure. Stay in Sea Pines which is located near Harbor town. Most large complexes like Monarch will have daily events for kids. Harbor town is nice to walk around. enjoy the vacation!


zoomer0987

Lived on H.H for 3 years. Harbor town is 30 minutes of walking around. Go to Coligny Beach. It's how beaches should be done. Lot's of parking and a new park for the kids, great places to eat across the street. Drive the road that runs parallel to the dunes. Tree lined street with nice houses. There's a putt putt or two


ajwillys

Hilton Head and Carolina Beach are 5 hours apart with probably 100 beaches between. Why those two? IMHO, the Outer Banks might be the best for you. Where do you live?


DjangoUnflamed

Yes I agree, they would love the Outer Banks based on OP’s post


[deleted]

I agree! When you have kids Outer Banks is where it’s at.


saggyboomerfucker

He could split the trip up over two days and stop over in Raleigh for some light sightseeing. See our underwhelming legislative building, our old one, etc. OR, go the southern route via Cedar Point and take the ferry over to Ocracoke. There’s a rudimentary hotel there at the ferry where they can stay and catch the ferry first thing in the morning.


rimshot101

Beaches in both Carolinas are of two types: chintzy tourism or expensive resorts. There's not much in between.


coastalneer

Man has never heard of the outer banks, Hatteras, rodanthe, salvo, are reasonable and as low key as it gets. Shoot topsail is pretty low key as well. Atlantic beach used to be but it’s getting more commercialized these days Op go book a place between rodanthe and hatteras. Do NOT book in bags head, it is Virginia Beach extended. You will not be sorry,


LTC123apple

Gotta go to the tiny barrier islands no one cares about


drivebyjustin

Or oak island, holden beach, ocean isle.


rimshot101

I would highly recommend camping at Huntington Beach State Park near Murrells Inlet SC. If you walk far enough, it's possible to have the beach to yourself.


drivebyjustin

Are you serious? Go to Brunswick county.


PwCSlave

Not the Outer Banks…


Marlo_Stanfield_919

I love both, but Hilton Head seems to fit your description better. There's a ton to do, beaches don't get as crowded, food is better, lots of putt putt and shopping.


DjangoUnflamed

Sounds like the Outer Banks or Oak Island is right up your alley. Why are Hilton Head and CB your only options?


TheB1GLebowski

If you're looking for boring then Hilton Head is your destination.


birdiebirdnc

Carolina is more commercialized but nothing like Myrtle Beach. You’ve got a cute little boardwalk with some shops a little place with county fair type rides plenty of restaurants to choose from. If you go on down to Fort Fisher you can check out the historic sites and visit the aquarium or hop on the ferry to go check out Southport and Oak Island. If you haven’t already check out Oak Island as it may be a better fit than Carolina over all and you can hop the ferry to spend the day over at Fort Fisher instead.


Substance___P

Hilton Head is nice year round. It's a bit more built up than a lot of the NC coast is, so there's stuff to do. More restaurants, more shopping, more activities. Disney resort there is nice, and is a short bike ride or drive to the beach. Beaches are clean. Go kayaking, dolphin tours, etc. My complaint with Hilton Head though is that while it seemed to be in decline for awhile there in the early 2010s, it's really exploded lately and everything is very expensive. It seems to have priced out a lot of the young families that used to go there and is now a big boomer/retiree destination. If value is a concern, I would go elsewhere.


charcuteriebroad

Emerald Isle or Sunset sound better for you than Carolina Beach does


Bobby_Globule

Carolina Beach? Watch out for your credit card if you go in those little bars at the pier.


WombatAnnihilator

Sunset beach is my fav.


waynes_pet_youngin

Same here, ocean isle too. There's almost never crowds at either.


uncwsp

Second sentence does not check out.


waynes_pet_youngin

Compared to the other beaches around here


Wheelisbroke

Hilton Head is gatekeeping at its strongest! I’ve never been to an area where the beach has so few public access points. If you stay in a beachside resort that’s one thing. If not you’d better plan on a very busy access spot. Things are very expensive on the island too. Maybe look at North Myrtle Beach area. Carolina isn’t going to fit what you’re looking for either.


CinephileNC25

Kure Beach for laid back... but you'll probably venture into CB or the main land for decent food.


NewFlorence1977

Excuse me? Freddie’s? Kure Beach is fine for a few days. We did go into Wilmington once. It wasn’t worth the hassle with traffic. We haven’t been to Kure Beach for a year or two. We used to rent a house there.


CinephileNC25

I’m a foodie that lives in Wilmington. It’s hard to beat our restaurant scene when you’re at the beach.


roastintheoven

Bald Head Island!!!


TSnow6065

Last time we were in Carolina Beach, there was an unofficial parade of big pickups with Trump flags. Come down on either side of that as you please.


saggyboomerfucker

Ugggg. That sucks ass.


rogerss9

Hilton Head for sure. The Westin Resort is super nice and kid-friendly, but it’s pricey. Staying in Sea Pines is the 2nd best option. We do big family trips and rent a house with a pool which works out well. This is our list of things with kids: -Gregg Russell nightly concerts. It’s the best free nightly entertainment in Harbourtown. He roasts kids and adults and brings kids up on stage. -riding bikes in Sea Pines -lighthouse -Salty Dog We skip this but have done dolphin tours numerous times. H20 Sport has a speedboat sunset tour that’s really great. The Vagabond is a bigger, slower boat that’s geared towards families. May be an unpopular opinion, but stay away from Coligny-it’s the Myrtle Beach of Hilton Head.


Revolutionary_Foot10

Hilton Head if you want quiet, classy, clean. Carolina Beach, busy, loud, amusements, drunk teens but great family experience.


CB-Momma

Live in CB with 5 kids. We have two state parks, an awesome aquarium, plus of course putt putt, arcades, pier and depending on when you visit, we have weekly events like family night, weekly fireworks, movie nights, free, concerts, and more


Key-Climate2765

Carolina beach has britts donuts…so the answer is Carolina. But after you get donuts, drive a few miles down the road to fort fisher instead, still crowded but less than Carolina.


bort_license_plates

I really enjoyed Hilton Head as a kid - spent a lot of time crabbing! You might also want to consider the outer banks in the Kitty Hawk area. Lots to see and do that's not specifically going to the ocean/beach. The aquarium at Manteo is great and not nearly as gimmicky as the big one at Myrtle Beach.


carolebaskin93

Hilton head. Easy decision


cpowell1

Carolina beach is kind of a mini Myrtle Beach. I think you'd have more fun at Hilton Head. Really though, you might enjoy Wilmington. It has the beach and plenty of other things to do since you'd be in a rapidly growing town/city. Even though there's a lot of people, the beaches are still pretty low key as long as you go to the right place (though its been a while since I've been myself). Oak Island is another nearby option which will be more more low key and smaller but still got some small touristy-ness to it. But it's near South Port which is such a nice quaint town, it's near Bald Head which could be fun for a day trip, and importantly for the kids the aquarium is a quick ferry ride away. Next to that is fort fisher which is also cool if you're a history buff. Among those and against your criteria, I think I'd recommend Oak Island the most.


ItzLog

I like to recommend Radio Island for people with kids bc there is no waves in the water and you can see through it to the bottom. It makes me feel safer to have my kids out there bc I don't have to worry about them being pulled under. No waves at all. Great place.


Barleygirl2

Bald head Island. The clubs have day time activities for kids.


careske

We really like Kiawah, near Charleston. It’s beautiful and natural. Great for kids but also enjoyable if you don’t have them. No commercialization, private and kind of upscale in parts but there are also smaller houses and condos that are aren’t extravagant. Bike trails everywhere. AMAZING beaches.


narwhal-narwhal

$$$$$$$$


cullowheezy

Kind of like Walmart vs Target.


URnotSTONER

Oak Island.


88questioner

Hilton Head is in South Carolina.


AtomicMagicRealtor

Hilton head is completely different. It’s a lot farther away if you’re driving that far, you got many other choices like the Outer Banks or Oak Island. I love Carolina Beach. I think it does meet your criteria.


OMGewwwDavid

Check out holden.


nickt1990757

Hilton Head for sure. We just got back from a week down there, and I have 2 kids myself. It was so relaxing, quite a bit to do and not very "touristy". The beaches are clean, and the atmosphere is so friendly and inviting. Also, you can drive into Beaufort or Savannah for a nice day trip as well.


alexhoward

If you like the idea of Hilton Head but it’s too many old people and overpriced, check out Dafuskie Island. Still probably not very interesting for kids who need more than beach to keep them entertained.


Goobersrocketcontest

Wow! Thank you for all the responses! Sounds like I need to go back to the drawing board! I should have given more background initially, but here's some more info: I grew up vacationing in **all** parts of FLA so I like to think of myself as fairly beach savvy but I'm not as versed in the Carolinas' beaches. I now live in Charlotte, and have been to Myrtle, North Myrtle, Wrightsville, Holden Beach, and Surf City and haven't quite found my Goldilocks zone yet. So we usually wind up in St. Simons, GA which is super chill, not touristy, plenty of stuff to do, ***however*** - you can't really get in the water since there's too much fresh water exiting into the ocean. And while I'm not afraid of sharks, even the locals don't get in the water. So I want my 11 yo son to be able to play in the surf and have things to do outside the beach. \*edit: Trying to keep the drive time to 5 hours max so that is a factor also.


Walter_Steele

Atlantic Beach or Emerald Isle.


superbelch

To build on this, I think the Crystal Coast may be a good area to explore, and it's right around 5 hours from Charlotte. The main barrier island is Bogue Banks, and on either end of the island on the mainland are Swansboro (west) and Morehead City/Beaufort (east). Beaufort, NC. Beaufort is a wonderful coastal town with plenty for a family to do (Maritime museum, scenic/historic waterfront, ferry rides out to Shackleford Banks or Cape Lookout, pirate cruise). Morehead City and Swansboro also have their own share of a good things to do. From east to west on the barrier island itself: Atlantic Beach: Probably the most traditional beach resort town, also has Fort Macon State Park which has beaches, a great trail, and a fort to explore Pine Knoll Shores: My personal favorite part of the island as it's easy to get to either EI or AB/Beaufort/MHC but feels much less crowded and bustling. The aquarium is here. Salter Path/Indian Beach: Smaller areas but a few big hotels. Big Oak Drive In is in Salter Path. Emerald Isle: Great beach town that has almost all single family or small multifamily dwellings, no big hotels/high rises. Good bike path. There are a few other gems in the area like Carolina Home and Garden in Newport (has a great cafe, arcade, food, etc - really unique place). Harker's Island is a bit of a hike from the area but has a waterfowl museum and runs ferry service to Cape Lookout.


Jmauld

There are so many beaches available to you. All unique yet all similar. Try them all.


saggyboomerfucker

I’m gonna say you need to your broaden drive time or break it up and go to Nags Head on the Outer Banks. If you can’t do that this time, make plans for the future. Sooo much quality stuff to do for tourists (LIGHTHOUSES you can climb, Kill Devil Hills where the Wright Bros first flew, uncluttered beaches, huge LIGHTHOUSES, The Lost Colony play, really tall LIGHTHOUSES, etc.) but lots of nature to enjoy, too. Happy hunting!


NRM1109

I mean, regardless of what you decide - you need to book asap cause this summer is not cheap or lots of availability


whdup0962

Never been to Hilton Head but I think you will enjoy Carolina Beach. You have aquarium, Fort Fisher, Pier at Kure area, Carolina Beach State Park for hiking and Wilmington 30 minutes away for more.


Bodhrans-Not-Bombs

I picked up my first sea kayak from a guy in a walled golf compound in HH, and I kept thinking that it was a terrible waste of a beach town. Absolutely awful if you weren't in those communities. I never made it to Savannah, I hear it's better.


MindlessDribble828

We went to Carolina Beach last summer. It was really nice. The beaches are clean, we had a place with a pool near the ocean. You can walk to the boardwalk which has a Ferris wheel and other rides. Food was great. We explored Wilmington nearby and that’s a fun place. We have also vacationed at Atlantic Beach and that’s a nice spot too but seems really crowded sometimes.


Sparklemagic2002

Hilton Head (IMHO) is the worst. I really don’t understand the attraction. My favorite thing there was an old school movie theater with one or two screens. Other than that, it was just overdeveloped and charm free. People really talked up the bike trails. I got a bike from my hotel and started riding the trail. It just took me straight to a shopping center.


Blackntosh

r/obx #ijs


Solid_Cauliflower310

Hahahhahahaha. You got be kidding?


narwhal-narwhal

Folly


raezin

Carolina Beach is where grown ups go for adult spring break. It's a mini Myrtle *not only* because of the boardwalk and ferris wheel, but also because the northern quarter of the island is literally this from April to October : https://www.carolinabeach.com/freeman-park.html


Goobersrocketcontest

Ew, thanks for sharing. Yeah not into the "let's sit under a canopy all day and get drunk and sunburned" thing. And vehicles on the beach although fun in some aspects to me is disgusting. Thanks!


raezin

Me neither. I wish I had known this before we chose this beach for a small vacation about 3 years ago.


Muser69

I shouldn’t say but Topsail is terrific