South Carolinas + Islands with teens

[jeaux90]

Hi All anyone done these Islands or a road trip incorporating them? We have older teens and after a few US trips doing the usual things we wanted to do something a bit different with them.

They like to have an activity or plan every day.

Following as I remember reading about these islands a while ago and it sounded lush.

I'm completely unfamiliar with this area, would love to hear what it's like!

So Kiawah island is where my sister has stayed (she lives in the US) and as it quite accessible from Charleston it's really expensive but absolutely gorgeous.

I was looking for recommendations a bit further afield on the islands and maybe some must do inland places

Is there an American equivalent of Mumsnet (Momsnet?) you could post on?

@TheGander actually I did a very cool trip in Florida with the teens a couple of years ago, got some great advice about a specific area from women who live in or around the Gulf Keys, Petersburg etc so was kind of hoping for similar.

I’m sure it’s just a question of taping into the right info source. Americans are usually pretty generous with their advice/ knowledge re their country. Maybe worth posting something in the Living Oversas board?

I did a trip to Charleston and Savannah a few years ago, I'd recommend both towns. You can walk around both very easily, we did a horse-pulled carriage in Charleston to get our bearings and a trolley in Savannah. From both you can do days out to plantations and the islands, we managed to visit Boone Hall Plantation, Folly Island, Hilton Head, Hunting Island, Beaufort and a few other places, we also did a sunset cruise in Charleston. We were only away for a week but managed to see a lot, BA used to fly direct to Charleston (not sure if they still do) and the airport is only 15-20 minutes from the town.

@AKAanothername amazing thank you! Was there a favourite Island you would have stayed for a few days?

You are so right, some of the recommendations I had on here last year for the Florida trip were so detailed from people that lived there. I was so grateful

Really liked Folly Beach but that may have been because there was a festival on that day and we ended up getting quite drunk! Beaufort, although not an island, was really pretty too, wasn't keen on Hilton Head it was a bit too 'country club' for us.

Top tip - use lots of bug spray, we went end of September and the mosquitoes/bugs were awful.

I was in the Carolinas a few months ago, just before the hurricane hit. It was a road trip incorporating Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville, Charleston, Savannah & Myrtle Beach.

Savannah is beautiful with all the live oak trees. I done a cheesy ghost tour, Bonaventure cemetery tour (fab & free!), Riverwalk, visited Tybee Island for the day, and spent most of the time on the beach. It was very pretty, lovely sand & warm water.

Went to Beaufort on the way to Charleston. Nice place to spend a day.

Charleston I visited Boone Hall plantation, City Market, Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter, The Olde Pink House for food. Good shopping, plenty of nice bars & restaurants.

Myrtle Beach reminded me of a Spanish holiday resort. High rise hotels the length of the beach, bars & restaurants on the street behind. Spent most of the time at the pool or beach, but also went to Broadway at the Beach one evening. Kind of like a Disney Springs vibe.

Also recommend watching Forrest Gump & The Notebook to get you in the mood. So many locations used in the films.

www.southernliving.com/best-islands-south-carolina-8422905
A few suggestions for you.

A good few years ago I visited Kiawah and only on the last day of the holiday did I see the sign that said "Please Don't Feed the Alligators" as I tramped over the wetland on the wooden path.

gardenandgun.com/articles/six-lesser-known-south-carolina-barrier-islands/
A few more.

I spent a week on Fripp Island a few years ago with some women friends, and we really enjoyed it. It's close to Beaufort, which is definitely worth a visit.

Farther south, there is St. Simons Island, Georgia, which is a great family holiday destination.

Second the tips above Charleston & Savannah, plantation homes etc. We liked Hilton Head. Rent bikes and cycle under the Spanish moss to the beaches etc. Kiawah is beautiful but pretty quiet. Lots of vacation homes and golf. HH is a bit more lively without being tacky. My H does not like Myrtle beach as a resort (high rises etc) so we didn’t return as a family. palmetto bluff if you have a big budget!

BA doesn’t has a direct flight to Charleston since covid, unfortunately. Folly Beach is really fun, but my go-to beach is Sullivans Island which is closer to home. Kiawah is lovely, but a bit quiet. The Sanctuary resort is very nice though. I quite like Cypress Gardens for a day out - you can take a boat out through the swamp. There’s some great hotels in downtown Charleston, and lots of good restaurants. When are you thinking? It’s very hot and humid here in the summer.

Would you please be willing to share your itinerary? My husband is going for work next year and I was thinking of adding a holiday to it.

Thanks for the amazing tips so far! Really appreciate it. Now wondering about the mosquitoes as my partner's teen is a moz magnet but we survived ok in Florida.

@Persimmons123 where will you be flying into for the trip?

Also @Persimmons123 just you or DC with you?

thanks so much for taking the time on your thread!! It would be Miami and it would be with a 13 and an 11 year old.

@Persimmons123 I would spend a couple of days in Miami. Drive across to Everglade city and do the Captain Jacks airboat through the glades. There is a fab place to eat on the water there, you can spot alligators over lunch.

I'd then consider a drive down the keys, stay on one of them for a couple of days, I loved key west but also did the dolphin research centre.

I spent most of my time up on the gulf keys etc so most of my other tips are further north.

Thank you so much!