vacationing on NC or SC coast

[Annamarie]

For various reasons I backed out of the Wisconsin trip this summer and Josh and I want to take the kids to the beach...NOT Myrtle though. I love the Carolina Beach/Wilmington area and have considered Oak Island. Has anyone stayed there and could reccommend a reasonable place for our family? I would like the option to prepare some meals at home so a house or condo is ideal. Other areas are open to consideration as well-I want a more quiet beach that also has restaurant and other entertainment near by.
Thanks

[elsie]

Abel's grandparents live in Wilmington, so we've often gotten beach houses there. This year we're staying in Kure Beach (http://www.visitkure.com/), at This House (http://www.vrbo.com/174411) That site is a for rent by owner thing, and we gotten good deals there before.

We also have stayed in Sunset Beach (http://www.sunsetbeachnc.gov/) and Ocean Isle Beach (http://www.oibgov.com/)...we love both of them. Sunset beach is the quieter of the 2. We've used McClure Realty (http://www.rhmcclurerealty.com/) to get houses. There are some deals there too.

We always stay w/ multiple families, so you probably wouldn't be looking at the same size house we do, but McClure's houses have always been nice, clean, and well taken care of.

Basically the closer you stay to Wilmington, the busier they get. Sunset beach is my fave for being relaxed, but there is little to do except actually go to the beach. I've only been there sans kids.

Ocean Isle I think, is a good mix, with a couple of restaurants and a pier/arcade set-up, but the beach is not too too crowded.

Any other questions, let me know!

[renee]

I'll second the Ocean Isle recommendation. We absolutely love it there. I think my mom has used that same realtor too. I can probably give you two home recommendations there...one is a beautiful canal home we've stayed in twice, the other is a house right across the street from the beach and we've stayed there twice.

[~PQ]

Being very familiar with both I say you can't beat the OBX. Personally we love Avon, but really anywhere along the Outer Banks, especially the northern to central part, is my idea of heavan.

[Annamarie]

What do you love in Avon? (just curious) Dh wants to spend some time in Buxton so I think we will reserve a night or two there. I think we will go to either 2 or 3 locations so we can see more sights.

[Angela]

My aunt owns a condo on Harbor Island, outside of Beaufort, SC. It's a nice complex, with a decent beach (very shallow water that goes out a long way, with little surf, so good for little kids). And it's right next to Hunting Island State Park, which is the beach I grew up going to. Nice park facilities, lovely beaches, a lighthouse that you can climb to the top of. Beaufort has a lot of good restaurants and little shops, not too far away.

[Annamarie]

I think I remember going to Beufort a few years ago with my mom. There are lots of old homes and antique shops there, right? If its the place I remember it was a nice day.